Oklahoma has seen stable migration patterns over the last few years. More people move within the state than out of the state. It’s a favorable state to move to or within because of its low cost of living, strong employment, and laid-back living opportunities. Whether you’re looking to move to Oklahoma City, Tulsa, or anywhere else in the state, we will point you to the moving services that are right for you.
Compare Oklahoma 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 |
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Out-of-date website PODS—Best moving container company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 living in Oklahoma
Population
Oklahoma has approximately 3.9 million people,1 and of the 610,000 people who moved last year, 83% moved within Oklahoma, according to US Census data. The state of Oklahoma is somewhat diverse—73% of the overall population is White, 7.8% is Black, and 11.7% Hispanic or Latino. Oklahoma is also home to one of the largest populations of American Indian and Alaska Natives in the US, roughly 9.7%.
Employment
Employment remained steady in Oklahoma over the past couple of years. Currently, there are roughly 1.69 million people in the workforce.2 The most common jobs are truck drivers, elementary and middle school teachers, and cashiers, and there are more tire builders in Oklahoma than anywhere else in the US.
Cost of living
Oklahoma made it twice on our list of metros with the lowest cost of living. Tulsa and Oklahoma City are in the top 10 most affordable areas in the US. Utility bills are higher in Oklahoma than in other states. Its average monthly utility bill is roughly $380 per month, scoring 39th place on our list of states’ average monthly utility bills. Overall, when including factors like housing, utilities, health care, and transportation, the cost of living in Oklahoma is 12% less than the national average.3
The average annual household income in Oklahoma is $53,840, and roughly 15.6 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.1 The typical value of a home in Oklahoma is $188,707,4 and the average monthly rent is around $1,400.5
Politics
Republicans make up 51.19% of Oklahoma’s registered voters, Democrats make up 29.95%, and independents make up 18%.6 In Oklahoma, the Republican Party oversees the offices of governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and both chambers of the state legislature. Oklahoma voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 election.7
Some of the biggest policy issues Oklahomans currently face are:
- Child and adult health challenges (better vaccination measures and smoking reduction, for example)
- Need for more investment in education
- An inequitable tax system
- Long-term structural deficits that state and local governments
- Long-standing structural racism that produces worse outcomes for Black, Native American, and Latinx Oklahomans8
Which long-distance movers have the best quality?
American Van Lines is our pick for the highest-quality interstate moving company. It’s expensive, but the company has decades of experience moving high-value items like pianos and artwork.
Best Oklahoma movers FAQ
Some pros of moving to Oklahoma include a low cost of living, short commute times, stable employment, low property taxes, and many family-oriented neighborhoods. Some cons include lower quality education, no public transportation, and a lack of investment in public health and the environment.
You can find a long-distance moving service in our list of the top interstate movers. We evaluated the pricing and services of more than 30 industry leaders like International Van Lines, American Van Lines, and JK Moving Services.
First National Van Lines is the best local mover in Oklahoma. It offers price-matching, has a long-standing reputation, provides optional unpacking and packing services, and receives many positive customer reviews.
The average cost of a storage unit in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is $82.24.9 Some of the best self-storage companies to look at include Extra Space Storage, CubeSmart, and Life Storage.
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
- United States Census Bureau, “Quick Facts: Oklahoma,” Published July 2021. Accessed November 22, 2022.
- Deloitte, “Data USA: Oklahoma,” Accessed November 22, 2022.
- RentCafe, “Cost of Living in Oklahoma,” Published September 2022. Accessed November 22, 2022.
- Zillow, “Oklahoma Home Values,” Published October 2022. Accessed November 22, 2022.
- Zillow, “Oklahoma Rental Market,” Updated November 26, 2022. Accessed November 22, 2022.
- Oklahoma State Election Board, “State Election Board Releases Official Pre-Election Voter Registration Statistics,” Published November 1, 2022. Accessed November 22, 2022.
- Ballotpedia, “Presidential Voting Record in Oklahoma,” Accessed November 22, 2022.
- Oklahoma Policy Institute, “Challenges We Face,” Published July 1, 2021. Accessed November 22, 2022.
- Sparefoot, “Storage Units in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,” Accessed November 22, 2022.
