Our top picks for interstate movers
To select our top picks, our research team compared top moving companies based on customer ratings and reviews, costs, packing services and storage options to help you find the best interstate moving company for you.
| Company | Customer rating | Local moves | Long-distance moves | International moves | Availability | USDOT number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Colonial Van Lines | Get a Quote | 4.3 |  |  | | 48 states and Washington D.C. | 1434373 |
 Allied Van Lines | Learn More | 3.0 | | | | 50 states and Washington, D.C. | 076235 |
 International Van Lines | Get a Quote | 4.6 | | | | 50 states and Washington, D.C. | 2293832 |
- Availability
- 48 states and Washington D.C.
- Packing services
- Yes
- USDOT number
- 1434373
- Availability
- 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Packing services
- Yes
- USDOT number
- 076235
- Availability
- 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Packing services
- Yes
- USDOT number
- 2293832
Interstate moving companies buyers guide
An interstate move is any move that crosses state lines, regardless of mileage. Many interstate moves are long-distance moves, which are moves that require traveling 400 miles or more, though some interstate moving companies may consider moves of anywhere from 100 miles to 1,000 miles to be long-distance moves.
Given the distance and that you’re crossing state lines, you can typically expect to spend at least a couple thousand dollars on a move when you hire an interstate moving company. However, costs vary depending on how far you’re moving, among other factors.
Interstate moving costs tend to range from around $2,000 to $10,000.
Jump to insightCompare at least three interstate moving companies based on quotes, services and reputation.
Jump to insightIt’s best to book an interstate move at least two months in advance.
Jump to insightInterstate moving costs
Interstate moving costs tend to range from around $2,000 to $10,000, according to our research. How much you’ll pay depends on factors like how far you’re moving, whether you’re hiring movers or a company, the weight and volume of your belongings and what time of year you’re moving.
Interstate moving cost factors
According to Shannon Steinberg of Allied Van Lines, the following are the other biggest cost factors:
- Packing quality: If you have well-packed boxes that aren’t too heavy and are flat on top, you’ll have a smoother move. If you have overly heavy boxes that break apart or close improperly, or if your furniture isn’t properly wrapped and secured, the movers will have to take care of this, which adds time and money to your bill.
- Volume of goods: How much stuff you have and how much it weighs affects the overall cost of your move. The more items you have, the bigger the truck you’ll need, and the more time it will take to load and unload.
- Laborers required: If you have a small home or few possessions, you won’t need as large of a moving crew, which will keep your costs down.
- Demand for location: If you live in an area with a high demand for movers, you’ll likely pay a premium.
What to look for in an interstate moving company
You’ll generally want to look for an interstate mover that has competitive and reasonable pricing, the services you need, a good reputation and the necessary licensing and registration.
When looking for an interstate moving company, be sure to:
Research movers
Start your search by asking friends or family for recommendations and checking out interstate moving companies online. As you search, compare movers based on prices, services, reputation and customer reviews.
Moving carriers vs. brokers
Some moving companies are carriers, while others are brokers. A moving carrier owns moving trucks, employs movers and handles the move itself, while a broker arranges your move by connecting you with a moving company. Working directly with a carrier can offer more control, but brokers may provide more options.
Check services
Make sure the interstate movers you’re considering provide the services you need, such as if you have bulky or fragile items to move or if you need professional packing services.
Review credentials
Every interstate moving company should have a USDOT number. You can use a USDOT number to search the company’s safety and complaint record on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) website.
Get quotes
It’s best to get quotes from at least a few companies. Then, choose the company that offers the best price for the service(s) you want.
Should you get moving insurance?
Moving with an interstate moving company includes basic moving insurance. This insurance goes by the weight of your items, not the value, and it typically covers less than $1 per pound. You can generally upgrade your moving insurance to full-value protection if you have valuable, fragile or sentimental items.
“If you hire a professional and registered mover, by law all of your belongings listed on your bill of lading [the detailed list of goods transported] will be covered with free basic insurance coverage of 60 cents per pound per article [item] by default as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation,” said Voyo Popovic, CEO of Piece of Cake Moving & Storage.
How much additional insurance will cost comes down to what your items are worth and how far the move is. According to Popovic, very expensive items, like jewelry or valuable art, are usually excluded from this insurance.
Tips for moving to another state
Here are some tips for simplifying your move across state lines:
Book your move in advance
It’s best to book an interstate move at least two months in advance.
Pick a moving company and lock down a time and date for your move. Once you select an interstate mover, have the company come to your home to give you an estimate.
Declutter your home
Think about what you want to take to your new home and what you want to donate, sell or throw out. Remember that you pay for everything you move, so it can make sense to get rid of furniture or items that you no longer want.
Collect and label boxes
It helps to get packing materials for your move at least a couple of months in advance, depending on how much stuff you have to pack. When you pack, label what’s in each box, along with which room it’s going in.
Change your address and set up utilities
About a month before you move, look into the steps you need to take to change your address as every state has different rules and processes. If you’re responsible for utilities, you’ll need to call in advance to activate utilities in your new home and deactivate them in your current home. Generally, you’ll select the day you want your changes to take effect.
Research parking restrictions
Be sure to research any parking restrictions at your current home and your new home to ensure your movers will be able to easily access your home. If you’re renting a small truck, this may be less of an issue.
FAQ
Is it cheaper to buy new furniture or pack it when moving to a new state?
Whether it’s cheaper to buy new furniture or pack it when moving to a new state generally depends on how much stuff you have, how replaceable your items are, whether your new place accommodates your stuff and how far you’re moving. For example, if you have a lot of cheap, worn out or heavy furniture, buying new furniture is likely cheaper than hiring a moving company to move it, particularly if you’re moving far away. But if you have a lot of expensive furniture, it’ll likely be cheaper to move it rather than purchase new furniture after you’ve moved.
How far in advance should I book movers?
It’s best to book movers at least six to eight weeks in advance. This gives you more flexibility in scheduling and helps you secure better pricing, especially during peak moving seasons.
Do interstate movers offer binding estimates?
Yes, many interstate movers offer binding estimates, which means the price you’re quoted is the price you’ll pay as long as the inventory and services don’t change. This provides cost certainty and protects you from unexpected increases on moving day. However, many movers also offer nonbinding estimates and binding not-to-exceed estimates. A nonbinding estimate is an approximation based on the mover’s assessment, so the final cost is calculated after your shipment is weighed. This means you could end up paying more or less than the original quote. For binding-not-to-exceed estimates, you won’t pay more than the quoted price but could pay less if your shipment weighs less than expected.
What are red flags to watch for when hiring an interstate mover?
Some of the red flags to watch for when hiring an interstate mover include:
- Asking for a large upfront deposit
- Extremely low initial quotes
- Refusing to provide a written estimate before your move
- The company’s website doesn’t have a physical address or contact information
- The company won’t provide information about its registration or insurance
What is the difference between an interstate and intrastate move?
The difference between an interstate and intrastate move is that an interstate move is when you move across state lines and an intrastate move is when you move within the same state.
Methodology
To make our choices for the best interstate moving companies, we collected 17 data points each for 70 companies. We used this data to evaluate cost, availability and add-on services to make our final selections. We also looked at customer reviews on our site to see which companies have the most consistently happy customers.
Our picks may be Authorized Partners that compensate us — this does not affect our recommendations or evaluations.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association, “Tips for a Successful Move.” Accessed July 25, 2026.
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association, “Spot the Red Flags.” Accessed July 25, 2026.
