Ohio is the seventh most-populated state, and more than 1.6 million people moved there last year. Our pick for the best Ohio moving company is International Van Lines. Its professional movers have decades of experience with long-distance moves and provide top-notch packing services. We also have alternatives if you’re doing a local move. We’ll walk you through the state’s top moving services, whether you’re looking for a Columbus moving company or a local mover in Cleveland.
The best moving companies in Cleveland and Columbus
We also have lists of the best Cleveland movers and top Columbus moving companies. They explain which companies we like best—and why.
Compare Ohio moving companies
Moving company | Move type | Move.org rating | Cost | Learn more |
| Full-service (long distance) | 
| $$$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Full-service (local) | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Moving container | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Truck rental | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Hourly labor | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices |
Best Movers in Ohio
International Van Lines—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.
Pros
Transparent pricing
Local and long-distance moving
15% car shipping discount
15% senior discount
30 days of free storage 
Cons
Below-average customer reviews
Annoying pop-up ads First National Van Lines—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.
Pros
Services most U.S. cities
Excellent customer reviews
In-home and virtual quotes
30 days of free storage
Remote video storage Cons
Out-of-date website PODS—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.
Pros
Low prices
Multiple container sizes
Lots of storage options
Positive customer reviews
46-state availability Cons
Confusing prices Penske—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.
Pros
Lowest moving prices
Local and long-distance rentals
Excellent customer reviews
Moving discounts
Reliable reservations Cons
No service in Alaska HireAHelper—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.
Pros
Professional contractors
Packing and loading services
4,750+ locations
50-state availability
Positive customer reviews Cons
High prices
Two-hour minimum Move.org's top pick
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 Ohio
Population
Ohio is the seventh most-populated state in the nation.1 It has a population of approximately 11.8 million, and the prominent ethnic groups are Whites, African Americans, and Latinos. Almost 30% of Buckeyes have a college degree, and all but 10% have graduated from high school.2 The median age is 40,3 and there are approximately 2.4 people per household.2 The state also has high moving demand, with more than 1.6 million people moving in or out of Ohio in the last year.4
Employment
The median annual income in Ohio is approximately $58,120. About 58% of the state participates in the labor force,2 and Ohio added roughly 83,000 payroll jobs last year.5 Its largest industries are food services, general medical, and education. The state’s highest-paying non-medical occupations are financial investments, agriculture manufacturing, and software publishing, and the wealthiest counties are Delaware County, Warren County, and Union County.3
Cost of living
It costs more to live in Ohio than about two-thirds of the country. For example, the state ranks 17th on a list of the nation’s most expensive areas. While groceries will set you back much more in Ohio than in other places, things like water and electricity are more affordable.6 For example, our analysis of Ohio utility bills shows that you’ll spend around $390 on expenses such as broadband internet, TV streaming services, and natural gas.
Politics
Ohio is a red state. Approximately 53% of the population voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election (compared to 45% for Joe Biden).3 However, the numbers skew more to the center outside of national elections. For example, a Pew Research Center poll indicated that 42% of Ohio residents lean Republican compared to 40% who prefer the Democratic Party.7 Ohio’s representatives in the Senate are evenly split, while 13 of its 16 appointments in the House of Representatives are Republican.
The state’s most Democratic counties are Cuyahoga County, Franklin County, and Lucas County, while its most Republican areas include Holmes County, Putnam County, and Mercer County.3
Best Ohio movers FAQ
Who are the best Ohio-to-Texas movers?
PODS and International Van Lines are the best movers from Ohio to Texas. IVL specializes in full-service options like packing and transport, while PODS offers a lower rate but requires you to pack and load your belongings.
What is the cheapest moving company in Ohio?
You can’t do better than Budget Truck Rental if you’re looking for cheap movers in Ohio. It typically costs thousands of dollars less than full-service companies like JK Moving Services or American Van Lines.
What factors affect the cost of an Ohio move?
Home size and move distance affect the cost of moving to Ohio. For example, it costs more to move a large home than a small one. Similarly, cross-country moves are much more expensive than moving within the same city.
What are people saying about moving services in Columbus, OH?
First National Van Lines is one of the most popular Columbus moving companies. It receives an average customer satisfaction rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars and offers excellent packing services and office relocation packages.
What’s the cheapest way to ship your car?
You can save hundreds of dollars by shipping your car on open transport. You can trim costs even more by selecting one of the nation’s best auto transport companies like Montway or AmeriFreight.
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.
Recommended resources
People also asked . . .
Best moving companies by city in Ohio
Best moving companies by state
Sources
- United States Census Bureau, October 12, 2022, “U.S. and World Population Clock,” Accessed October 12, 2022.
- United States Census Bureau, “Quick Facts: Ohio,” Accessed October 12, 2022.
- Deloitte, “Data USA: Ohio,” Accessed October 12, 2022.
- United States Census Bureau, December 15, 2020, “Census Bureau Releases 2020 CPS ASEC Geographic Mobility Data,” Accessed October 12, 2022.
- United States Congress Joint Economic Committee, September 16, 2022, “Ohio Employment Report,” Accessed October 12, 2022.
- Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, “Cost of Living Data Series,” Accessed October 12, 2022.
- Pew Research Center, “Religious Landscape Study: Party Affiliation Among Adults in Ohio by Political Ideology,” Accessed October 12, 2022.
