Looking for reliable and affordable state-to-state moving companies? You can be sure that you’re not the only one.
It’s no secret that if you’re facing a residential move to another part of the country, a smart tactical move that will almost certainly guarantee the successful outcome of your cross-country moving adventure is to hire the services of a top-rated out-of-state moving company.
Read on to learn how interstate movers cost is formed, how moving reviews can help you find trustworthy and cheap state-to-state movers, and why reputable moving companies pride themselves on their professionalism, experience, reliability, and safety.
Where to find state-to-state movers that support your route
It is important to contact several different providers of relocation services and ask them for price estimates so that you can plan your moving budget better.
Find movers that are near your place: browse reputable movers by state.
Check out the most popular long-distance moving routes in case you are moving from one big American city to another.
Read moving reviews by former customers to make sure you are dealing with a reputable out-of-state moving company that will deliver their promises.
Make sure you do your full research – verify their license information and accreditation, verify their insurance information, and request a written binding estimate in advance.
Read on to obtain more detailed information.
How Much do Movers Cost?
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Now that you are familiar with the clear benefits of using the professional services of reputable interstate movers, it’s time to initiate the hunt for the relocation partner that will
prove to be affordable, meaning that they should fit your preliminary moving budget;
meet any specific requirements you may have regarding the organization and execution of your fast-approaching move to another part of the country;
respond to your individual needs as a shipper of household goods.
Step 1. Define your needs and requirements
Trustworthy recommendations from friends and moving reviews can really guide you to find the best state-to-state moving company for your move.
Before you decide to turn to relocation professionals for assistance, you need to know the approximate range of services you will require as well as exactly what items you plan to move to your new house or apartment.
Before you have a moving expert come to your home for visual inspection, you are expected to have inventoried your home and reduced the number of household items in it to the absolute minimum.
If you are still unsure why you should optimize your possessions, then it’s useful to know that the moving price will depend directly on the total weight of your shipment.
Knowing in advance which items you will take with you will greatly facilitate the whole process. However, you need to also be aware of any special circumstances regarding the future relocation of overly expensive, delicate, antique, heavy, and/or bulky items so that you can inform your hired best-rated moving company as well.
Make a mental note to voice any worries, concerns, and fears you’re having to the best state-to-state movers in your case.
Step 2. Get recommendations for top-rated movers
While looking for the best state-to-state moving companies, it’s definitely worth asking for advice from people who’ve been there and done that.
Keep in mind that recommendations from people you trust can be exactly what you need to reach your final decision.
It’s perfectly possible that some of your good friends, colleagues, and neighbors have changed house recently – in which case, they will be glad to recommend you an affordable long-distance mover provided that have been happy with their services.
If you do happen to learn the name of a reliable and low-cost mover from state to state, then ask the person who has just nudged you in the right direction the specific reasons why they are satisfied with their professional partner.
After all, what worked for them may not necessarily work for you.
Step 3. Be aware that moving reviews can be really helpful
Regardless of whether you have managed to get any good recommendations from your friends or not, an excellent way to learn more about your future professional partner is to read state-to-state movers reviews.
In reality, how past customers have rated the services of a professional relocation company can help you get a preliminary idea of what to expect from its team of packers and movers.
You may decide to go with an independent company or with some of the large van lines that have regional agents throughout the country. No matter what you choose, you need to do your own research before going with them.
It’s interesting to note that the testimonials and ratings you will find online can only serve as guidelines and shouldn’t always be taken at face value. You should understand that top state-to-state moving companies do their best to keep their online reputation unblemished, and the best way for them to do just that is to deliver what they promise to deliver the way they promise to deliver it.
As a rule of thumb, avoid moving companies with too many negative reviews as that can often be an indicator that something is not the way it’s supposed to be.
Step 4. You must do a more thorough research
Discuss with your state-to-state movers any type of moving-related issues that may be troubling you so that your final bill won’t hold any unpleasant surprises.
In addition to reading state-to-state moving companies reviews, you must stay on the safe side of your relocation and research your future moving experts more.
USDOT number. Interstate moving companies are required by law to be registered with and licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation. As a result, you can easily check the licensing and accreditation information about a specific shipper of household goods by visiting the department’s official website. Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that trustworthy out-of-state moving companies display proudly their USDOT numbers on their respective websites.
BBB-accredited. Another way to make sure your candidate companies are safe is to check whether they are registered with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and see what their overall ratings are.
And the winner of your moving job is…
Well, before you can choose the right candidate for your relocation job, let’s say a few words about how the cross-country movers cost is formed, as well as why and how to request in-house moving estimates.
How much do state-to-state moving companies cost?
The most important question when moving to another state is believed to be about the state-to-state movers prices. Before we move on to explain the best way to learn how much your professional partner will charge you in the end, let’s cover briefly the subject of how the overall interstate moving price is formed in the first place.
What’s the average cost of state-to-state movers?
Without a doubt, it’s very useful to know the average cost of hiring state-to-state movers. Why?
By knowing how much interstate moving companies charge on average, you will be able to set up your budget correctly and you won’t get surprised unpleasantly when you get quotes from long-distance movers.
The national average cost of a state-to-state move ranges from $2,363 – $4,930 (1-bedroom) to about $4,208 – $6,885 (4-bedroom) for a distance of 1,000 miles.
Find below the average moving costs when hiring professional state-to-state movers to transport your household items over a distance of 500, 1,000, and 2,000 miles respectively:
Home Size
Move Distance
Moving Price
1-bedroom
500 miles
$1,598 – $3,213
2-bedroom
500 miles
$2,083 – $4,352
3-bedroom
500 miles
$3,250 – $5,375
4-bedroom
500 miles
$3,788 – $6,783
Home Size
Move Distance
Moving Price
1-bedroom
1,000 miles
$2,363 – $4,930
2-bedroom
1,000 miles
$2,567 – $5,801
3-bedroom
1,000 miles
$3,570 – $6,163
4-bedroom
1,000 miles
$4,208 – $6,885
Home Size
Move Distance
Moving Price
1-bedroom
2,000 miles
$2,576 – $4,998
2-bedroom
2,000 miles
$3,460 – $6,146
3-bedroom
2,000 miles
$4,693 – $7,523
4-bedroom
2,000 miles
$6,481 – $10,625
Note that these cost ranges are only average price values, meaning that using the services of an interstate moving company may cost more depending on your specific move parameters.
It’s a well-known fact that a score of factors will influence the final relocation bill, some more drastically, others almost unnoticeable.
Here are some of the more major price factors to watch out for and respond to accordingly:
1. Total shipment weight
You don’t have to be a math genius to figure out that the more items you choose to relocate, the more money you will pay for their transportation due to the higher total weight of the shipment.
The recommended course of action: take only the belongings you do need and will use in the foreseeable future.
2. Moving distance
Whether you like it or not, the distance between your two homes remains a constant value.
If you’re moving during the off-peak moving season (September – May), in most cases you should expect to pay less for the moving services than if you were relocating during the summer when the demand for reliable out-of-state movers reaches its peak.
Also, staying away from weekends, national holidays, and beginnings and ends of months should contribute to a better deal.
The recommended course of action: if you have any control whatsoever over your moving date, avoid the busiest relocation periods to save hard-earned money.
Request on-site binding estimates
Be prudent enough to select affordable state-to-state movers and you won’t have to dip into your savings.
Having followed our proven method of finding top-rated moving companies that can move your belongings to another state, you should have already selected a few reputable professionals.
The only question now is which company to choose. This question will be answered when you have the chance to compare their actual offers.
To understand how much state-to-state movers cost, ask your candidates for accurate price estimation based on visual in-home surveys. A dependable interstate transportation company won’t refuse to send a representative of theirs to your home for an expert inspection of household items, moving conditions, and special circumstances.
After the survey, request a binding moving estimate in writing to get an excellent idea of how much your out-of-state move will cost you.
With a few estimates from top state-to-state movers, it shouldn’t be too hard for you to pick the best relocation offer in terms of sheer price and included services. Be sure to understand every word and digit contained in an estimate and ask for clarification if you don’t.
Carefully analyze the prices, services, and conditions of each written estimate before you form any kind of decision in your head. An interesting tactical move you can use is to contact the pre-selected movers and attempt to negotiate a better deal – their reaction to your request for a discount will tell you a lot about the professionalism of your potential partner in relocation.
A word of advice: Be cautious with estimates that appear to be way lower than the rest. Try to figure out where the catch is (in most cases there is one) and contact the respective mover for a clear explanation.
Paying less for the move and having a professional service is what everyone is looking for.
What you can do is fill out the free moving quote from the top of this page to get contacted by top-rated moving companies. That way you will receive multiple state-to-state moving cost quotes you can choose from.
Compare the received moving estimates and save on your move. Make sure you research the cross-country moving companies that have provided too low quotes online as sometimes they might increase the overall price during the move.
However, keep in mind that the price stated on the moving cost estimate supplied by your selected movers may not be the final one due to a number of extra charges and hidden moving fees (hence the name “estimate”).
Here are the most common extras that could further inflate your final bill:
1. Packing service
The packing labor and packing materials should be included in the estimated final cost of your full-service move but that is not always the case – sometimes you get charged for things you have taken for granted.
To avoid unexpected unpleasant surprises, make sure you have read carefully your moving contract (Bill of Lading), as well as any other documents you are given before agreeing to the contractual terms by putting your signature on them.
Also, make sure you have your moving boxes delivered in advance as this could save you some more on the final bill.
Ask your moving provider if they use day labor help or if all of their employees are screened in advance. You will want to have only reliable people packing your household goods.
2. Extra charges for bulky items
If some of your household items appear to be bulkier and heavier come Moving day, then you will most likely be charged extra for their handling.
This is another common hidden expense of which you should be aware in advance. But the question is whether you can do something about it and the answer is, “Yes!”.
While providing your out-of-state movers with detailed information about what possessions you have for moving, be upfront about the number, condition, and size of each item, and remember that any attempt to hide an important detail to save a few bucks will probably backfire on you.
So, don’t do it. Instead, get off on the right foot with your long-distance moving company or van line agent for a guaranteed smooth and trouble-free interstate move.
3. Insurance
The moment you sign your moving contract (Bill of Lading), you receive basic limited liability protection for your household items. Also known as moving valuation, this basic coverage will not cost you any additional money but it is something you do need to be careful about. Why?
Simply put, with its coverage rate of $0.60 per pound per article, the protection is more than basic – it’s practically nothing. Let’s say you entrust your brand new 30-pound 32’’ flat-screen LCD TV to your movers, and then the worst happens while your TV is on the road to your new home – it ends up being broken or missing.
Now, according to your minimal moving valuation, you are entitled to receive no more than $18 as compensation for the damage. Therefore, discuss the available insurance options with your interstate movers and consider purchasing Full Value Protection for your long-distance move.
Under the full coverage, your selected movers will be liable for any damaged or missing household items during the transportation and, most importantly, will be responsible for the reimbursement of their replacement value.
Your cross-country movers will charge you a long carry fee if, for some reason, they are unable to park their moving truck close enough to your doorstep. Finding a good parking spot in large cities (New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, etc.) can be a real challenge so thinking a few steps ahead will help you keep your moving budget reasonably low.
It’ll be great if you can arrange convenient parking space for the truck for free but should it turn out to be an impossible mission, try to issue a parking permit from the city hall or ask your moving company representative for assistance.
5. Cancellation fee
Each moving provider has their own cancellation policy so make sure you ask them about it because, you know, you never know.
Willingly or unwillingly, plans change all the time and it’s good to know how much you will owe your movers if you are forced to change the moving date or decide to go with another state-to-state moving company at the last minute.
Besides the four most common hidden costs and fees stated above, there are a bunch of other charges that may be waiting for you around the corner, such as moving valuation, elevator, storage and travel fees, and even more.
To learn more about these hidden moving fees and charges, as well as the ways to deal with them before they jump on you, check out this useful article:
Why hire professionals when moving to another state
There are many reasons why you should hire the professional relocation services of out-of-state movers for your forthcoming interstate move, and the most important ones are:
Experience: In fact, nothing can surpass experience when it comes to pulling off a successful move across the country. Experience is obtained through years and years of perfecting a specific set of skills until one gets exceptionally good at what he or she is doing. You can rest assured that the state-to-state movers that you select will have been rigorously trained to take care of each step of your cross-country relocation and do it the best way possible.
Reliability: With experience comes a developed set of problem-solving skills as well. Even if you think that you’ve come across a unique problem during your moving preparations, the chances are that your chosen interstate movers have already been there and done that. Ultimately, you’ll end up paying for a high degree of reliability, assurance, and peace of mind before and during your move to another state.
Safety: Regardless of the interstate relocation phase you currently find yourself in, your safety and the safety of the people around you must remain your top priority. Professional movers know perfectly well what it takes to provide that optimal level of safety combined with a noteworthy speed of packing, carrying, loading, transporting, unloading, and unpacking your personal possessions. They come with high-quality packing materials and have the know-how, the physical strength, and the proper equipment to find the best possible solution in each moving situation, no matter how challenging it may be.
Thanks for the tip to determine what services you’ll need for a move by determining exactly what you will be bringing. My bother will be moving soon so I’m helping him find some movers to help him move to another state. I’ll have to have him tell me what it is he’s going to be moving so I can better look into what type of services he’ll need and then find a company with those services.
My nightmare move from hell started with the best state to state moving company brokers from Florida. Don’t waist your time with brokers, it’s the begining of a very costly nightmare and they will not even answer the phone in the end or call you back. This ‘Broker’ hooked me up with the bottom of the barrel movers out of Denver Colorado. It took me 4.5 months to get my stuff back. I did not get my stuff until I had to start complaints with 3 different states attorney generals offices and ended up having to call the FBI. They gave me a very reasonable binding contract at the beginning and 2 days before moving there was a 2nd binding contract that tripled the cost. By the time I had to rent my own usual to get my stuff from a storage unit I ended up paying out a grand total of about 50 dollars shy of both binding contracts put together. For a move that did not even fill half of a 15 foot Uhual truck. And because the cost kept increasing I was forced to leave a great many things behind. Things I could have put on that same uhual truck and still not filled it. A great many things in my move was trashed. Not only was my stuff in the storage facility but the belongings of 2 other people’s moves were in that unit along with mine. One other family got their stuff back in part, the other families items did not have the paperwork and will probably never get their stuff back. There were boxes and bags from other people’s stuff mixed with mine and some boxes were utterly destroyed. When you hire these companies they work for you. They will use these binding contracts to intimate you, gaslight you and to back paddle their way out of making it right when things go bad because they subcontract out to the lowest common denominator of movers. When they stop answering the phone, start contacting state AG’s and the FBI. OR be prepared to pay the cost of the move, replacing your stuff and say good bye to the memories you had. Good luck.
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Thanks for the tip to determine what services you’ll need for a move by determining exactly what you will be bringing. My bother will be moving soon so I’m helping him find some movers to help him move to another state. I’ll have to have him tell me what it is he’s going to be moving so I can better look into what type of services he’ll need and then find a company with those services.
My nightmare move from hell started with the best state to state moving company brokers from Florida. Don’t waist your time with brokers, it’s the begining of a very costly nightmare and they will not even answer the phone in the end or call you back. This ‘Broker’ hooked me up with the bottom of the barrel movers out of Denver Colorado. It took me 4.5 months to get my stuff back. I did not get my stuff until I had to start complaints with 3 different states attorney generals offices and ended up having to call the FBI. They gave me a very reasonable binding contract at the beginning and 2 days before moving there was a 2nd binding contract that tripled the cost. By the time I had to rent my own usual to get my stuff from a storage unit I ended up paying out a grand total of about 50 dollars shy of both binding contracts put together. For a move that did not even fill half of a 15 foot Uhual truck. And because the cost kept increasing I was forced to leave a great many things behind. Things I could have put on that same uhual truck and still not filled it. A great many things in my move was trashed. Not only was my stuff in the storage facility but the belongings of 2 other people’s moves were in that unit along with mine. One other family got their stuff back in part, the other families items did not have the paperwork and will probably never get their stuff back. There were boxes and bags from other people’s stuff mixed with mine and some boxes were utterly destroyed. When you hire these companies they work for you. They will use these binding contracts to intimate you, gaslight you and to back paddle their way out of making it right when things go bad because they subcontract out to the lowest common denominator of movers. When they stop answering the phone, start contacting state AG’s and the FBI. OR be prepared to pay the cost of the move, replacing your stuff and say good bye to the memories you had. Good luck.