7 Types of Moving Companies to Handle Your Next Move

When you decide it’s time to move, is your instinct to call the first moving company you find? It makes sense—every moving service is the same, right? Not quite; there are many types of moving companies.

Although many companies provide complementary services, most offer specialized assistance to serve their clients' specific needs. Whether you need a residential, international, or small-load relocation, there’s a moving company that can handle the job. Read about the six types of moving companies to help you choose the best option for your move. 

1. Commercial Moving Company

Commercial movers focus on business relocation. They pack and move everything from small offices to large warehouses. Businesses choose commercial movers because their staff is highly skilled and familiar with specialized packing techniques, tools, and technology to ensure a successful transition when moving offices. 

Most moving companies specialize in either residential or commercial moves. However, some companies provide both services. If you’re interested in residential and commercial moves, ask the moving companies about quotes and estimates for both during your interview.

2. Residential Moving Company

Residential moving companies near you take care of all of the moving needs related to your home—from your precious heirloom china to your garage full of tools. You can choose a full-service move or get estimates for specific services like packing or loading. Residential moving companies are typically the most common type of moving service available.

3. Local Moving Companies

Professional movers usually consider a local move up to 100 miles within the same state and generally charge by the hour for packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking services. You’ll pay an average of $1,720 or between $100 and $200 per hour for a moving crew of four. 

Depending on your home size, you could have a large team of movers or two to three staff members transfer your items from your old location to the new one. When interviewing potential local movers, ensure they have the proper licensure, a thorough price estimate, and positive online reviews.

4. Long-Distance Moving Company

If you move long-distance (over 100 miles) or to a different state, you’ll want to hire a moving company specializing in cross-country moves. You can expect to spend between $2,700 and $10,000 or more for a long-distance move. 

Instead of paying by the hour like a local move, you’ll pay long-distance moving companies their fees according to your shipment’s total weight, the exact distance between locations, and any specialty services like extra packing materials.  

Before choosing a moving company, you should interview at least three different companies to find the best-qualified moving team. Long-distance moves are more complicated than local moves, and you’ll need a company that’s licensed, insured, and recognized by the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

5. International Moving Company

International moving companies take on the challenges of across-the-border moves by coordinating a vast amount of important paperwork, like customs and insurance forms, and the highly detailed logistics of sea shipments and air freight. Try to minimize the amount of household goods to ship because your costs are based on their volume and measured in cubic feet or meters. You could pay more than $20,000 to move internationally. 

It’s highly recommended that you research and interview multiple international moving companies to help you move to another country because you’ll rely on their language expertise and experience with international import laws. 

6. Specialty Moving Company

Some of your belongings need specialized attention to ensure their successful transport to your new home. Let your moving company candidates know about your beloved specialty items; some can move them. If they don’t, they can refer you to specialty mover partners.  

If you’re moving any of these items, you should consider hiring specialty movers. 

• Antiques

• Artwork

• Aquarium (with live animals)

• Cars

• Collectibles 

• Hot tub

• Musical Instruments

• Safe

• Sports equipment

7. Household Moving Company

If you’re planning to move your residence, you’ll need a local moving company that can accommodate the services you need. Moving home isn’t a one-size-fits-all operation, so you should ask them to tailor their moving services to your situation.

White Glove or Full Moving Service

Consider a full moving service if, on moving day, you’d like for your job to be letting the professionals take over. A full-service move includes every step of the process, from disassembly and packing to unloading and unpacking your belongings at the new house. Keep in mind that white glove moves cost the most of all the household move services. 

Partial Moving Services

Another option is to take on some moving chores to save money. Most moving companies offer à la carte options to help you stick to your budget. Choose the jobs you can handle and let the company take on the rest.

• Packing and unpacking: A crew comes with packing materials and expertly packs all of your items. Then, they’ll unpack and assemble your belongings at the new address. This service costs around $1,000.

• Loading and unloading: You’ll pay for the moving staff to load boxes and furniture at your old address and unload the moving truck into your next home. This service costs around $45 to $80 per hour.

• Pickup and delivery: A company transports your pre-filled portable container. Depending on the size of the container and the distance to be moved, this can cost between $1,800 and $8,300.

• Storage: Some moving companies have warehouse space for storage if you aren't ready to receive your household goods. Renting a storage unit costs around $240 per month.

Small Load Moving Companies 

You can thank the burst of online shopping for the new shipping options to transport a few large items at a time. Now, you can receive the dining room set you bought from an online auction or send your nephew your old sofa for his first apartment through small load moving companies. If you don’t have a small load moving company near you, some commercial shippers like UPS or FedEx could handle the load, depending on the size of your shipment.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire Movers?

The cost to hire movers generally falls between $880 and $2,570, though the national average is $1,710 for local moves within 100 miles. Long-distance moves will significantly affect your budget, costing between $2,700 and $10,000, depending on the exact distance of your move. Your total cost will also depend on the size and accessibility of your home and whether you opt for additional services like packing, cleaning, or storage. Finally, you can expect to pay more for movers during peak season between June and September and less in the off-season, particularly in the winter.

DIY vs. Hiring Professional Movers

Moving is a huge undertaking, but it’s possible to do it yourself. If you have a large enough vehicle, you could move entirely on your own (hopefully with the help of friends and family), but many people will need to rent a moving truck. You’ll also need to purchase packing supplies. For a local move, your total cost would fall between $150 and $250, with long-distance DIY moves costing between $1,550 and $2,350. 

However, while doable, DIY moves are labor- and time-intensive. For this reason, many people choose to hire local professional movers. A pro has the right equipment and experience to move your belongings safely and efficiently, and they carry liability insurance that will cover any accidental damage your items incur during the move. These benefits often make the cost of professional movers well worth it.