The Best Moving Companies in New York City

Whether you’re moving across town or cross country, we’ve found the best moving companies for you. We analyzed the services, customer reviews, and costs for more than 20 movers in New York City. These are our top picks.
Best long distance mover
internationalvanlines
International Van Lines
Our Rating
4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9
pro Full-service moves
pro Movers load and drive truck
Best for local moving
First National Van Lines
First National Van Lines
Our Rating
4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4
pro Professional moving services
pro Large US network
Best for container moving
pods
PODS
Our Rating
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
pro Container moves
con Customer loads container
Best for truck rental
penske
Penske
Our Rating
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
pro DIY truck-rental moves
con Customer loads and drives truck

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.

Move 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.


The best long-distance movers in New York City

Move.org researched over a dozen nationwide moving companies. These professional moving companies are our top picks. If you’re moving to a new home outside of New York, we recommend these movers.
Best long-distance moving company
internationalvanlines
International Van Lines
4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9
  • Icon Yes  Light
    Transparent pricing
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    30 days free storage
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    10% Move.org discount
Best for accurate pricing
safeway
Safeway Moving
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
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    Price matching
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    Charitable donations
Best premium services
americanvanlines
American Van Lines
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
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    Flat rates
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    Piano moving
Best for customizable services
northamerican
North American Van Lines
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8
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    A la carte services
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    GPS tracking
Best customer reviews
Mayzlin Relocation
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
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    Offers several discounts
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    Price-match guarantee

Local professional movers in New York City

If you’re moving locally (whether staying in New York City or staying in state), these high-rated local movers can do the job.
Moving company
Customer rating
Services
Phone
Learn more
4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4
- In-state moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing servies
- Office moving
866-854-4629
5 out of 5 stars
5
- White glove service
- Climate-controlled trucks
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
212-812-5240
4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9
- Packing services
- Piano moving
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
212-651-7273
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7
- Packing services
- Storage
- Local moves
- Tri-state area moves
855-405-2282
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7
- Fine art and piano moving
- Storage
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
203-583-8333

Best moving container companies in New York City

Move.org analyzed approximately 8,000 customer reviews and 300 quotes over 3 years to find the best moving container companies in the US.
Moving company
Move.org rating
Avg. cost for local move
Avg. cost for long-distance move
Phone
Learn more
podsPODS
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
$1,370$4,300866-229-4120
1800packrat1-800-PACK-RAT
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
$1,940$4,240800-722-5728
zippyshellZippy Shell
4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1
$1,500$3,880888-947-7974
upackU-Pack
4 out of 5 stars
4
$1,870$5,030844-362-5303
uhaulU-Haul U-Box
3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9
$1,730$4,100800-468-4285

Best truck rental companies in New York City

Move.org researched services, gathered over 100 quotes, and interviewed real customers to find the 5 best moving truck rental companies.
Moving company
Move.org rating
Avg. cost for local move
Avg. cost for long-distance move
Phone
Learn more
penskePenske
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
$328$1,944844-847-9577
budgetBudget
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2
$28$2,080800-462-8343
uhaulU-Haul
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2
$39$1,946800-468-4285
enterprisetruckrentalEnterprise
3.1 out of 5 stars
3.1
$130N/A888-736-8387
Home DepotHome Depot
3.1 out of 5 stars
3.1
$324$2,337N/A
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Not sure what kind of moving company you need?

Learn more about your moving options. Check out our list of moving truck deals and discounts from across the industry.


What to know about moving in New York City

Gather important info up front to keep the process as easy as possible. First, talk to your building’s owner (or co-op or condo association) to find out what rules they have about moving. Are there limited days or hours when you can move in or out? Do movers need to use the freight elevator? What about moving insurance in case the movers accidentally dent a hallway wall while moving that heavy bookcase? Find out the rules—for the building you’re leaving and the one you’re moving into—and share any critical information with your moving company.

If you’re moving in New York City, there are a few strategies for finding a parking spot for your moving truck. Where’s the closest fire hydrant? That empty space on the street is a great spot for movers to park their van while loading or unloading your things. If that’s not an option, consider how wide your street is. If your moving truck has to double park, can traffic still get around the truck? If not, what’s the closest cross street? That may be the closest your moving truck can park.

If you’re moving out of New York City, your total moving cost will be somewhere between $2,000 and $12,000.1 It all depends on your moving services, home size, moving distance, and the time of year you book your move (moving will cost you more between April and September).

If you’re on a tight budget, consider a DIY move (renting a moving truck and loading and driving it yourself) for the cheapest option. Professional movers save you the time and effort of loading and driving—which are worth the higher costs if you can afford it. If you need a Goldilocks option for cost and effort, moving containers might be the right choice. You load up the container with your boxes and furniture, and then the moving company transports it to your new home for you.

Local moves in New York City range from $400 to $3,500.2 It all depends on your home size, how much furniture you’ve moving, and how hard your apartment is to access (a six-story walkup is going to cost more than a second-floor apartment with a building elevator). Move.org recommends getting quotes from at least three moving companies to find a competitive rate. But remember—if a quote sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

On average, you’ll pay $2,217 a month to live in New York City—but of course the numbers can skew higher or lower depending on where you live and how big your home is. In 2021, New York City had the 12th most expensive cost of living.3

Sources

  1. Colin Holmes, “How Much Does It Cost to Move?” December 21, 2020. Accessed December 20, 2021.
  2. Piece of Cake Moving and Storage, “Average moving costs in NYC.” Accessed December 20, 2021.
  3. Joe Roberts, “US Cities with the Lowest Cost of Living in 2021,” September 30, 2021. Accessed December 20, 2021.