Moving101

Everything you need to know before you get a moving company quote

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The Best Online Guide to Moving

Moving101 has up-to-the-moment moving company prices, pros and cons for every moving option out there, and honest reviews from real customers who've already moved.

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HireAHelper has data from tens of thousands of moves after over a decade of helping people. Now we're handing over all of our moving knowledge to you. Learn exactly what to expect on your move, including if there's a better option for you out there. That's why Moving101 exists.

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Moving Cost Calculator

Directly hooked up to our massive database of pro movers across the country, including all their prices. Just answer three basic questions about your potential move and instantly see estimated quotes for every single way to move in your area. It's basically magic.

Local & Long Distance Moving Options

Read about the three different local and long-distance move types. We've gotten how much time and money each moving option takes down to a science!

Moving Trucks & Container Guides

The most updated guides online for Moving Trucks, Moving Containers and Freight Trailers. Find out absolutely everything about the competition - real user reviews, truck sizes, and way more. You'll be a pro before you make your first call.

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MOVING COST CALCULATOR

Find out approximately how much your move will cost based on which moving option you go with. Spoiler alert: hiring an expensive moving company or breaking your back aren't your only two options.

MOVING OPTIONS COMPARISON

D.I.Y. Move

Just You

Packing & Unpacking You
Loading & Unloading You
Driving You
Average Cost $660
Local Move: $273
Medium Distance: $576
Long Distance: $1,921
Average Time 31hrs
Planning: 6hrs
Packing: 13hrs
Moving Day: 12hrs

Very cost effective, and you have complete and utter control over every aspect of your move.

You have to ask your friends & family to help you move, again. There goes your weekend, and maybe even your back!

Hybrid™ Move

Helpers + Your Own Truck

Packing & Unpacking You
Loading & Unloading Helpers
Driving You
Average Cost $910
Local Move: $523
Medium Distance: $826
Long Distance: $2,171
Average Time 21hrs
Planning: 5hrs
Packing: 13hrs
Moving Day: 3hrs

You won't break your back or the bank! Takes minutes to book movers on your phone through HireAHelper.

You have to take more time to research your options and spend a little more than the DIY move.

Full Service Move

Movers + Truck

Packing & Unpacking You
Loading & Unloading Movers
Driving Movers
Average Cost* $2,568
Local Move: $1,300
Medium Distance: $3,000
Long Distance: $6,000
Average Time 51hrs
Planning: 48hrs
Packing: 2hrs
Moving Day: 1hrs

Someone else does all the work on moving day!

Takes days rather than minutes to get quotes. You may have to file for bankruptcy after the move. Seriously.

HYBRID™ & DIY MOVING COMPANY GUIDES

Synonymous with moving, their orange trucks are all over the place (as are their many moving services.) Call them for truck rentals, storage containers, equipment and more.
A major force in the moving world, these transportation gurus offer competitive rental rates for their fleet of yellow trucks. They provide a wide variety of moving supplies and customer discounts.
Authorities in the truck rental business, from flatbeds to moving trucks. Budget rentals are many people's go-to for completing a Hybrid Move.
The Rent-A-Car giants offer up moving and transportation options with their Truck Rental division, which is flushwith a wide variety of rental trucks to transport virtually anything imaginable.
For businesses only. A steady hand in the freight trailer and rental truck ecosystem. Easy to book moving trucks for your business needs.
Need to keep your things somewhere while you move? PODS provides portable containers so you can pack, store and have your things transported on your own schedule.
Storage containers that are delivered and driven away at your beckoning. They are the official storage containers of Lowe's Hardware and are often paired with professional labor to complete Hybrid Moves.
Now a part of U-Haul/U-Box. An original pioneer in the storage container industry. Door to Door has been storing and delivering container units since 1996, largely retaining a west coast presence.
Local storage container company with a personal touch. Provides a large variety of container options wherever they operate, including the industry's largest sizes for portable storage.
A growing storage and moving solution to keep your things safe while they're moved, near or far. A great company to combo with a Hybrid Move.
For your long-distance storage container needs, Zippy Shell is one of the safest options on the market. Zippy Shell is a subsidiary of 1-800-PACK-RAT, and are experienced at fulfilling Hybrid-Long Distance moves.
U-Pack offers a little known way to move your stuff across the country: shared storage space shipped together in a freight semi-trailer.
Veterans of the trucking industry for over 80 years, SureMove is Estes' attempt at providing the Full Service move option for personal moving all across the country.
Driving across the country since World War II, the Old Dominion freight trailer line has spent the last decade renting out space on their white and green trucks to people moving long distance.

Recent HireAHelper Customer Move Costs & Reviews

Alison G

Glendale, AZ
Wrote a review on 5/27/2025
ABF ReloCube Review
(5 out of 5 rating)

2nd time using UPack, won't use anyone else. They are very reasonable, efficient, ability to track pods as they travel myself & have excellent customer service.

Distance: 1,500 mi
Cost: $4,000
Per. Mile: $2.67
SqFt. Moved: 800

Bill C

El Paso, TX
Wrote a review on 5/26/2025
ABF U-pack Review
(4 out of 5 rating)

Make sure the movers pack the trailer tight as damage will occur. Also make sure the dividers wall is working properly as they will not come back and bring a new one.

Distance: 1,200 mi
Cost: $5,000
Per. Mile: $4.17
SqFt. Moved: 2,800

Blaine K

Spring Hill, TN
Wrote a review on 5/26/2025
PODS Review
(4 out of 5 rating)

Everything was good with PODS - I just think their communication was excessive and a bit overwhelming to keep track of. The POD delivery was fabulous.

Distance: 786 mi
Cost: $2,200
Per. Mile: $2.80
SqFt. Moved: 2,200

Sandra B

Chicago, IL
Wrote a review on 5/24/2025
PODS Review
(5 out of 5 rating)

I've used PODS in the past, had a great experience then, and had a great experience this time around as well. That's why I keep going back to them. Love PODS!

Distance: 2,124 mi
Cost: $1,052
Per. Mile: $0.50
SqFt. Moved: 1,650

Lucy C

Chicago, IL
Wrote a review on 5/22/2025
Penske Truck Review
(4 out of 5 rating)

Truck was a little beat up and didn't come with the moving blankets that I paid for but the price was pretty good. I would see when they have a sale and really take advantage of that!

Distance: 600 mi
Cost: $890
Per. Mile: $1.48
SqFt. Moved: 2,000

Brian M

Fort Collins, CO
Wrote a review on 5/21/2025
Uhaul Truck Review
(5 out of 5 rating)

We used a 26 foot Uhaul truck. It worked great and was easy to drive as I have almost no experience driving a large moving truck. My only small complaint is the fuel gauge was only at 3/8ths full when I picked up the truck, so we had to get gas on drive to our new residence which was right over 100 miles away.

Distance: 116 mi
Cost: $665
Per. Mile: $5.73
SqFt. Moved: 1,350

Julie H

East Haddam, CT
Wrote a review on 5/20/2025
Uhaul Truck Review
(4 out of 5 rating)

The truck was clean and comfortable. The car transport trailer worked very well for a one way move of 450 miles. U-Haul accommodated my rush requests when PODS called at delivery time to let me know they were unable to deliver but would bring a pod to me 1 week late. My only complaint was the length of time it took for paperwork and that the headlights on new truck do not strike high enough to read street signs at night.

Distance: 500 mi
Cost: $600
Per. Mile: $1.20
SqFt. Moved: 900

Julie H

Pasadena, CA
Wrote a review on 5/19/2025
1-800-Pack-Rat Review
(5 out of 5 rating)

Everyone was great, from the fellow who took my call to give me information and schedule my move, to the four different drivers who picked up or dropped off the pod.

Distance: 1,080 mi
Cost: $2,500
Per. Mile: $2.31
SqFt. Moved: 340

Bill D

Bradenton, FL
Wrote a review on 5/16/2025
ABF U-pack Review
(5 out of 5 rating)

Professional. Thorough. Clear pricing, communication, and logistics expectations. We were overwhelmed with details and they helped us sort it out and make the best choice for our situation.

Distance: 1,182 mi
Cost: $2,100
Per. Mile: $1.78
SqFt. Moved: 450

Connie F

Lubbock, TX
Wrote a review on 5/6/2025
ABF ReloCube Review
(5 out of 5 rating)

Friendly and reliable service! I've used them for 2 long distance moves now and have had a great experience both times. I definitely recommend them and will use them again if needed in the future. Thanks y'all!

Distance: 1,500 mi
Cost: $6,000
Per. Mile: $4.00
SqFt. Moved: 1,750

Stevie H

Colorado Springs, CO
Wrote a review on 5/1/2025
1-800-Pack-Rat Review
(4 out of 5 rating)

First time using a pod - it was a little tricky making sure they had plenty of space to pickup/dropoff the pod, but worked out. Pod was dirty upon arrival so I had to sweep it out before loading anything. The driver was very nice on dropoff and pickup but was supposed to give hour notice before arrival on both occasions and didn't on pickup - thank goodness I was ready. I had a lot of moving pieces with my cross-country move and just needed something affordable and quick. Not thrilled I will be taking 2 days to drive to new place but the pod won't deliver for 10 days doing the same drive. Nervous my stuff is going to get moved around/damaged a bit so hopefully the movers packed everything extra secure!

Distance: 1,461 mi
Cost: $3,600
Per. Mile: $2.46
SqFt. Moved: 1,168

Dan K

Woodstock, GA
Wrote a review on 4/21/2025
Penske Truck Review
(4 out of 5 rating)

Truck was good. It rode like a truck (haha) but was very clean. I thought the gas mileage was decent. It was easy to book, easy to pick up and easy to drop off (one way rental). I chose Penske because of reputation and proximity to where I was living. I would use them again.

Distance: 600 mi
Cost: $930
Per. Mile: $1.55
SqFt. Moved: 800

Ryan A

Seattle, WA
Wrote a review on 3/14/2025
Budget Truck Review
(4 out of 5 rating)

My experience was good with Budget was good. The truck worked out well and everyone I talked to was professional. My only thought was that the truck was a little run down and could use a steering wheel alignment.

Distance: 1,250 mi
Cost: $1,400
Per. Mile: $1.12
SqFt. Moved: 650

Nancy S

Delray Beach, FL
Wrote a review on 3/2/2025
Budget Truck Review
(4 out of 5 rating)

Felt a bit rushed on the pick up end. The document I had to sign was hard to read. Very few details provided about the vehicle or 'rules'. The drop off was fine.

Distance: 1,200 mi
Cost: $3,000
Per. Mile: $2.50
SqFt. Moved: 700
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