The best moving companies in New York

We found the best New York movers by researching more than 30 moving companies.
Best long-distance moving company
Best local moving company
Best moving container company
Best moving truck company
Best hourly moving labor company

New York is one of the most expensive states to live in, so it’s not surprising that more people are leaving the Empire State than almost anywhere else in the country. International Van Lines is the best company to help you move away from New York. But, of course, there are some other interstate options—plus a few moving services that can help you with a local move. We’ll show you our top choices, whether you’re in the heart of New York City or the outskirts of Palmyra.


Compare New York moving companies

Moving company
Move type
Move.org rating
Cost
Learn more
Full-service (long distance)
4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9
$$$$
Full-service (local)
4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4
$$$
Moving container
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
$$$
Truck rental
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
$$
Hourly labor
4 out of 5 stars
4
$$

Best Movers in New York

International Van Lines—Best long-distance moving company

Best long-distance moving company

International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving company. It can move you anywhere in the country and is upfront about its prices (most moving companies aren’t). IVL also offers substantial discounts if you’re a senior or need to ship a car. Plus, the moving company provides 30 days of free storage to provide a buffer when moving into your new home. On the downside, it has below-average customer reviews and annoying website pop-up ads.

pro
Pros
pro Transparent pricing
pro Local and long-distance moving
pro 15% car shipping discount
pro 15% senior discount
pro 30 days of free storage
con
Cons
con Below-average customer reviews
con Annoying pop-up ads

First National Van Lines—Best local moving company

Best local moving company

First National Van Lines is our pick for the best local moving company. While most moving brokers focus on helping you move between states, FNVL’s expertise enables you to move within the same state. It has a network of movers in nearly all US cities and receives above-average customer reviews. First National Van Lines can also give you a quote virtually or in person and provides attractive storage options. For example, it offers all customers a free month of storage and a remote video stream of their storage space. On the downside, FNVL’s website isn’t always up-to-date.

pro
Pros
pro Services most U.S. cities
pro Excellent customer reviews
pro In-home and virtual quotes
pro 30 days of free storage
pro Remote video storage
con
Cons
con Out-of-date website

PODS—Best moving container company

Best moving container company

PODS is one of your best moving options. Think of the company’s containers as storage units that you can hang onto until you've set a date with a driver to pick up and hook onto the back of a specialized truck. A PODS truck drops off a moving container at your home. Once you load it, PODS picks the container up and transports it to your new home, where you unload it. The container company has top-notch customer reviews, excellent storage options, and nationwide availability. And despite confusing invoices, PODS has some of the lowest rates for moving containers in the United States. In some cases, it's even more convenient and cheaper than rental trucks.

pro
Pros
pro Low prices
pro Multiple container sizes
pro Lots of storage options
pro Positive customer reviews
pro 46-state availability
con
Cons
con Confusing prices

Penske—Best moving truck company

Best moving truck company

Penske Truck Rental is our pick for the best moving truck company. Renting a truck is the cheapest way to move, and Penske brings a lot to the table. It offers local and long-distance moving services everywhere in the country (except Alaska), provides reliable reservations, and has moving discounts. In addition, Penske has the highest customer satisfaction rating of any rental truck company. So if you’re able to pack, load, and drive, there’s no better option than Penske Truck Rental.

pro
Pros
pro Lowest moving prices
pro Local and long-distance rentals
pro Excellent customer reviews
pro Moving discounts
pro Reliable reservations
con
Cons
con No service in Alaska

HireAHelper—Best hourly moving labor company

Best hourly moving labor company

HireAHelper is an excellent solution if you need help with only a few parts of the moving process. The company’s professional contractors can help you with everything from packing and loading to furniture assembly and junk removal. It’s also easy to find, with nearly 5,000 locations in all 50 states. Plus, HireAHelper movers get excellent customer reviews. Just be aware that you must hire your workers for at least two hours. It’s not cheap compared to other hourly moving labor companies, but customer reviews suggest the premium price is worth it.

pro
Pros
pro Professional contractors
pro Packing and loading services
pro 4,750+ locations
pro 50-state availability
pro Positive customer reviews
con
Cons
con High prices
con Two-hour minimum

Move.org's top pick

internationalvanlines

International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving service. It has a vast network of cross-country movers, provides one month of free storage, and offers military and senior discounts. Want to move with Move.org's #1 pick?


What type of moving company is right for you?

Professional movers
They handle it all.

Professional movers load your stuff, ship it to your new home, and unload it all for you. It’s the easiest—but most expensive—option. Learn more.

Containers
You load, they ship.

You load up all your belongings, but the movers transport your container to your new home. It’s the middle road for effort and cost. Learn more.

Moving truck rentals
You do all the work.

Worried about costs? Rent a truck, load it yourself, drive it to your new home, and unload all your things. You do it all—and save a lot. Learn more.


What to know about moving in New York

Population

New York has a population of approximately 19.8 million people.1 While that’s enough to make New York the fourth most populous city in the United States, it’s getting smaller every day. Our proprietary analysis of Google moving trends shows that more people are moving out of New York than any other state except California. Notably, most (soon-to-be former) New Yorkers are looking for the Florida movers and New Jersey moving companies.3

bullet
What about Texas?

Most people moving out of New York are headed to Florida or New Jersey. But outside New York, folks often look for the best Texas moving companies.

Employment

The median income in New York is approximately $71,120. It takes the average New Yorker about 35 minutes to get to work,1 and roughly 61% of the population participates in the labor force.4 The Empire State’s largest industries are elementary and secondary education, food services, and general medical services. The state’s wealthiest counties are Nassau County, Putnam County, and Suffolk County, and the most lucrative non-medical jobs are in finance and internet publishing.5

Cost of living

It costs more to live in New York than in almost any other state. Its average cost of living ranks higher than every other state except California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.6  New York utility costs average about $390 monthly, with about $110 going toward phones, $60 for broadband internet, and $50 for streaming services. You can also expect to pay around $110 for electricity and $60 for natural gas.

Find internet prices for your new home

Bottom line: it’s not cheap to be a New Yorker, whether you live in Manhattan or Rochester.

Politics

New York is a heavily-Democratic state. Roughly 60% of the population voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election (compared to 38% for Donald Trump). Plus, both of the state’s U.S. Senators belong to the Democratic Party and all but 8 of the state’s 27 members of the House of Representatives. The most left-leaning counties are New York County, Bronx County, and Kings County, while the areas with the most GOP representation include Wyoming County, Lewis County, and Orleans County. 5


Best New York movers FAQ

What are the best New York City movers?

It depends if you’re moving from within New York City. First National Van Lines and Roadway Moving tops our list of the best local New York City movers, while International Van Lines is our pick for interstate moves.

How much are storage services?

The average cost to rent a storage unit is approximately $180 monthly. However, you may be able to trim costs or increase quality by choosing one of Move.org’s Best Storage Services.

Which long-distance moving company has the best customer service?

JK Moving has some of the nation’s best customer service, according to our mathematical analysis of more than 11,000 moving reviews. The moving service is known for its low $250 deposit and climate-controlled storage services.

What NYC mover has the best packing services?

Roadway Moving and HireAHelper have some of the best packing services in New York City. Both companies provide moving materials—or you can follow our moving tips to find free packing supplies.

Where can I find cheap movers in New York?

The most affordable way to move to New York is to pick one of the cheapest moving truck companies. Our top pick is Penske Truck Rental. It costs an average of $1,140 to move (not including discounts).


Methodology

We conducted intensive research to identify the best moving companies for long-distance moves and local moves, in addition to container moves, truck rentals, and hourly moving labor:

  • Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each moving company’s prices are trustworthy.

  • Review accreditation. We check every company’s records in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to confirm companies are properly authorized to transport household goods.

  • Mystery shopping. We review every company’s website, pose as customers in calls to companies, and read customer reviews to analyze every company’s moving services, transit protection, and customer service. We also interview actual customers to learn how their moves went from start to finish.

  • Site visits. We invite moving companies to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, to share data and expertise. We verify the information they provide by comparing it to data gathered through independent research and interviews with other movers.

  • Regular review. We routinely repeat this process to update our recommendations to reflect current data and trends. We also revise each review annually and make updates throughout the year.

Sources

  1. United States Census Bureau, “Quick Facts: New York,” Accessed October 11, 2022.
  2. United States Census Bureau, October 11, 2022, “U.S. and World Population Clock,” Accessed October 11, 2022.
  3. Google, 2021, “Moving Season Is On: 2021,” Accessed October 11, 2022.
  4. United States Congress Joint Economic Committee, September 16, 2022. “New York Employment Report,” Accessed October 11, 2022.
  5. Deloitte, “Data USA: New York,” Accessed October 11, 2022.
  6. Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, “Cost of Living Data Series,” Accessed October 11, 2022.
Kurt Manwaring
Written by
Kurt Manwaring
Kurt Manwaring brings nearly a decade’s worth of research experience as a business consultant to the Move.org team. He specializes in taking complicated issues (like moving) and presenting them in a way that everyone can understand. His writing has been featured in hundreds of publications, including USA Today, Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Heavy, Slate, and Yahoo! Lifestyle. He brings a BS in sociology and an MPA (masters of public administration) to the Move team. He would love to hear about your moving experiences and questions at kurt@move.org.