Best Moving Companies of 2026
The nine interstate movers worth a quote this year, ranked on price transparency, who actually carries your belongings, and what the contract lets them charge you later.
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Best Moving Companies in August 2026
Moving is one of the few purchases where the company can raise the price after it already has your belongings. That single fact shapes this whole comparison. We ranked the nine interstate movers worth a quote in 2026 on who actually carries your things, whether the estimate holds, and what they ask for up front.
How to Choose a Moving Company
Most moving disputes come down to four things that are settled before the truck arrives, and all four are easy to check in advance:
Who Actually Moves You
A carrier owns the trucks and employs the crew. A broker sells your job to someone else. Know which one you are signing with before you pay anything.
A Price That Holds
Ask whether the estimate is binding, non-binding, or binding-not-to-exceed. Only the first two words protect you when the truck hits the scale.
What You Pay Up Front
A deposit is what you lose if plans change. The best companies in this comparison do not ask for one at all.
A Verifiable Licence
Every legitimate interstate mover has a USDOT number you can look up on the FMCSA SAFER database. No number, no booking.
How We Rank Moving Companies
We compared 90 data points across 24 interstate movers to arrive at the nine below. Where two companies score the same, the one that carries your belongings on its own authority is listed first. Every card carries that company's licensing and structure, including our top picks:
Who Actually Moves You
We rank companies that carry your belongings on their own authority above those that broker the job to a third party. Where a company does both, we say so, because the difference decides who is accountable when something breaks.
Price Transparency
We favour companies that publish planning estimates you can compare before you speak to a salesperson, and we treat a flat rate or a binding-not-to-exceed estimate as better than a number that can move at the scale.
What You Pay Up Front
Deposits are the most common way people lose money on a move that never happens. Companies that require nothing to hold a date score higher than those that will not say until you are on the phone.
Reach and Service Record
We weigh where a company operates, whether it can handle international and specialty moves, and what its customers say about the crews that actually turn up.
We may receive compensation when you click on links to products. Our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Advertiser Disclosure.
Allied Van Lines
Editorial Review
Allied is the most broadly recommended interstate mover for 2026, and the reason is the boring stuff: it does not ask for a deposit to hold your date, and its published estimates are specific enough to plan against. Its 2026 planning range runs $4,500 to $16,900 depending on distance and home size, with a two to three-bedroom move over 400 miles landing around $6,700 to $9,250. Like every major van line it runs through a network of local agents, so the crew at your door works for an Allied agent rather than Allied itself.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • No deposit required to book, so your money is not at risk before anyone loads a box
- • Published planning estimates are specific enough to budget against before you call
- • Full-service moving, packing and storage across all 50 states
- • Long-established van line with a nationwide agent network
Cons
- • Your actual crew works for a local agent, so service quality varies by market
- • The upper end of the published range, $16,900, is a long way from the lower end
- • A binding price still requires an in-home or virtual survey
Services & Pricing
Services
Full-service interstate and local moving, packing and unpacking, fragile-only packing, storage in transit, vehicle shipping and debris pickup. Available in all 50 states.
Pricing
Allied's published 2026 planning estimates put long-distance moves at roughly $4,500 to $16,900. Its own cross-country calculator estimates a two to three-bedroom home moving more than 400 miles at approximately $6,700 to $9,250. No deposit is required to reserve a date.
Licensing & Company Record
Allied operates as a van line: it holds interstate operating authority and moves are performed by affiliated local agents under that authority. Ask for the USDOT number of the specific agent assigned to your move, not just the van line, and look it up on the FMCSA SAFER database before you sign. The no-deposit policy is the single most consumer-friendly term in this comparison, because a deposit is what you lose if you need to walk away.
United Van Lines
Editorial Review
United is the largest van line in the country and the one to call if your move crosses a border rather than a state line, with service to more than 150 countries alongside all 50 states. On a 960-mile interstate move it quoted $8,469 for standard service and $10,820 for full service, which is at the higher end of this comparison. You are paying for reach and for a company that can handle a complicated move end to end.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Serves all 50 states and more than 150 countries, the widest reach here
- • Quotes clearly separate standard service from full service, so the upgrade is a visible decision
- • Full suite of packing, storage, vehicle shipping and corporate relocation services
- • The largest van line in the United States by volume
Cons
- • Among the more expensive options: $8,469 standard and $10,820 full service on a 960-mile move
- • Moves are performed by local agents, so the crew is not a United employee
- • Deposit terms are not published and are set at quote
Services & Pricing
Services
Full-service domestic and international moving, packing, custom crating, storage, vehicle shipping and corporate relocation. All 50 states plus more than 150 countries.
Pricing
On a 960-mile interstate move United quoted $8,469 for standard service and $10,820 for full service. Final pricing is set by weight, distance and season after a survey.
Licensing & Company Record
United operates through affiliated local agents under the van line's interstate authority. As with any van line, the agent performing your move has its own USDOT number and its own complaint history. Ask which agent has been assigned and check that number on FMCSA SAFER, rather than relying on the van line's national reputation.
North American Van Lines
Editorial Review
North American consistently rates at the top of the long-distance category for 2026. It is a full-service van line with the usual packing, storage and vehicle-shipping options, and it shares a parent company with Allied, which is why the two feel similar in structure. It publishes less concrete pricing up front than Allied does, so you will need a survey before you have a number worth comparing.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Rated at the top of the long-distance category for 2026
- • Full-service moving, packing, storage and vehicle shipping nationwide
- • Long operating history and an established agent network in all 50 states
- • Online tools and a dedicated move coordinator on interstate jobs
Cons
- • Publishes less concrete planning pricing than Allied, so early comparison is harder
- • Moves are carried out by local agents, so quality varies by market
- • Deposit terms are not published and are set at quote
Services & Pricing
Services
Full-service interstate and international moving, packing and unpacking, storage in transit, vehicle shipping and specialty item handling. Available in all 50 states.
Pricing
Not published as a planning range. Pricing is set after an in-home or virtual survey based on weight, distance and season. For reference, the average interstate move in 2026 runs roughly $2,400 to $7,500.
Licensing & Company Record
North American is a van line operating through affiliated agents, and shares a parent company with Allied Van Lines. Confirm the USDOT number of the assigned agent on FMCSA SAFER before signing, and confirm in writing whether your estimate is binding, non-binding, or binding-not-to-exceed.
JK Moving Services
Editorial Review
JK is the premium option here and rates accordingly, with the strongest service scores in the category. On the same 960-mile move that United quoted at $8,469, JK came in at $6,277 for standard service and $9,061 for full service, so it is not automatically the expensive choice despite the premium positioning. It is one of the larger independent movers in the country rather than a van line running on agents.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • The strongest service ratings in this comparison
- • Quoted below United on the same 960-mile move: $6,277 standard versus $8,469
- • An independent mover rather than an agent network, so accountability is not split
- • Offers financing, packing, crating, storage and custom services
Cons
- • Full service jumps to $9,061 on that same move, a large step up from standard
- • Coverage is nationwide for long-distance but local service is concentrated in the mid-Atlantic
- • Deposit terms are not published and are set at quote
Services & Pricing
Services
Full-service interstate moving, packing and unpacking, custom crating, secure storage, and specialty and high-value item handling. Nationwide long-distance service.
Pricing
On a 960-mile interstate move JK quoted $6,277 for standard service and $9,061 for full service. Financing options are available on larger moves.
Licensing & Company Record
JK holds its own operating authority and performs moves with its own crews rather than brokering them to a third party, which means one company is accountable from pickup to delivery. Confirm its current USDOT registration on FMCSA SAFER and get the estimate type in writing.
Atlas Van Lines
Editorial Review
Atlas is the value pick among the major van lines. Its quoted estimate of around $3,000 is among the most affordable in the category, and like Allied it does not require a deposit to hold your date. That combination, a low estimate and no money down, is unusual enough to be the reason to call. It runs on the same agent-network model as the other van lines.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Among the most affordable estimates in this comparison, at around $3,000
- • No deposit required to book
- • Full-service moving across all 50 states
- • Established van line with international and corporate relocation capability
Cons
- • A low headline estimate still depends on weight and season, so confirm it in writing
- • Moves are performed by local agents, so quality varies by market
- • Fewer published planning tools than Allied
Services & Pricing
Services
Full-service interstate and international moving, packing, storage in transit, vehicle shipping and corporate relocation. Available in all 50 states.
Pricing
Atlas quoted approximately $3,000 on a long-distance move, among the most affordable in this comparison, with no deposit required to reserve a date.
Licensing & Company Record
Atlas operates as a van line through affiliated agents under its interstate authority. Ask for the assigned agent's USDOT number and check it on FMCSA SAFER. As with Allied, the no-deposit policy meaningfully reduces what you stand to lose if plans change.
Mayflower
Editorial Review
Mayflower was the top-scoring company in 2026 customer surveys, with respondents specifically citing professionalism and service quality. It is one of the oldest names in American moving and shares a parent company with United. If your priority is the crew that turns up rather than the number on the estimate, this is the one to get a quote from, though it publishes little concrete pricing up front.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Top-scoring company in 2026 customer surveys on professionalism and service quality
- • One of the longest-established moving brands in the United States
- • Full-service packing, storage and vehicle shipping in all 50 states
- • Dedicated move coordinator on interstate jobs
Cons
- • Little concrete planning pricing published before a survey
- • Moves are performed by local agents, so the survey scores are an average, not a guarantee
- • Deposit terms are not published and are set at quote
Services & Pricing
Services
Full-service interstate and international moving, packing and unpacking, storage in transit, vehicle shipping and specialty item handling. Available in all 50 states.
Pricing
Not published as a planning range; set after a survey. Mayflower shares a parent company with United Van Lines, whose 960-mile quote was $8,469 standard and $10,820 full service, which is a reasonable reference point.
Licensing & Company Record
Mayflower is a van line operating through affiliated agents, under the same parent company as United. Its strong customer scores are an average across that agent network, so check the specific agent assigned to your move on FMCSA SAFER rather than assuming the national average applies to your crew.
Colonial Van Lines
Editorial Review
Colonial specialises in long-distance moves and completes roughly 12,000 of them a year, with better online tracking and account tools than most of the category. Importantly, it holds its own carrier authority under USDOT #1434373 and runs a fleet of more than 90 trucks, so it is not simply reselling your job. It does extend its reach through about 45 independent agents, so depending on your route the crew may not be Colonial's own.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Holds its own FMCSA carrier authority, USDOT #1434373, rather than operating purely as a broker
- • Runs a fleet of more than 90 trucks with crews trained in-house
- • Better online tracking and move-management tools than most of the category
- • Completes roughly 12,000 long-haul moves a year, so long distance is the core business
Cons
- • Extends coverage through about 45 independent agents, so your crew may not be Colonial's own
- • Long-distance only, with no local moving service
- • Pricing is not published and is set at quote
Services & Pricing
Services
Long-distance moving, packing and unpacking, storage and move-management tools. No local moving service. Nationwide long-distance coverage.
Pricing
Not published before a quote. Colonial completes roughly 12,000 long-haul moves a year; pricing is set by weight, distance and season.
Licensing & Company Record
Colonial holds its own carrier authority under USDOT #1434373 and maintains a fleet of more than 90 trucks, which puts it well ahead of the broker-only operators in this category. It does work with a network of about 45 independent agents to extend coverage, so ask directly whether your specific route will be handled by a Colonial crew or an agent crew, and get the answer in writing.
Safeway Moving
Editorial Review
Safeway's pitch is a flat rate rather than a weight-based estimate that can move on you at the truck scale, plus 30 days of free storage included. It is registered with the FMCSA as a carrier under USDOT #3756000 and MC #1335229, owns its trucks and employs its crews, so there is no handoff to a company you have never heard of. It is a much younger and smaller operation than the van lines above it, which is what holds its position here.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Flat-rate pricing rather than a weight-based estimate that can change at the scale
- • Thirty days of free storage included
- • Registered as a carrier, USDOT #3756000 and MC #1335229, owning its trucks and employing its crews
- • Veteran-owned, with nationwide long-distance coverage
Cons
- • A much shorter operating history than the established van lines above it
- • The flat rate is only as good as the inventory it is based on, so the survey matters
- • Long-distance focused, with limited local service
Services & Pricing
Services
Long-distance moving, packing, and 30 days of free storage included. Nationwide coverage.
Pricing
Flat-rate quotes rather than weight-based estimates, set after an inventory. Thirty days of storage are included at no extra charge.
Licensing & Company Record
Safeway is registered with the FMCSA under USDOT #3756000 and MC #1335229. It states that it is the carrier on your move, owning the trucks and employing the crews, with no handoff at any point. Note that several unrelated companies operate under similar Safeway names with different USDOT numbers, so check the number above specifically rather than searching by name.
International Van Lines
Editorial Review
International Van Lines is the most capable option here for a move that leaves the country, and it does hold its own carrier authority under USDOT #2293832. The reason it ranks last is structural rather than a judgement on the service: it operates as both a carrier and a broker, sometimes moving you with its own crews and sometimes outsourcing the job under a separate broker authority. Which one you get is not obvious at the quote stage, and that is exactly the ambiguity our ranking penalises.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • The strongest international capability in this comparison
- • Holds its own FMCSA carrier authority, USDOT #2293832
- • Full-service packing, crating, storage and vehicle shipping
- • Handles container and freight shipping that most domestic van lines do not
Cons
- • Operates as both carrier and broker, so your move may be outsourced to another company
- • The broker side runs under a separate authority, Ocean Star International, USDOT #2247789
- • Which entity is handling your move is not clear at the quote stage unless you ask
- • Pricing is not published before a quote
Services & Pricing
Services
Domestic and international moving, packing and unpacking, custom crating, storage, vehicle shipping, and container and freight shipping. Worldwide coverage.
Pricing
Not published before a quote. International pricing depends on volume, destination and shipping method as well as distance.
Licensing & Company Record
International Van Lines operates as both a carrier and a broker. It holds carrier authority under USDOT #2293832, and brokers moves under a separate authority, Ocean Star International, USDOT #2247789. Ask in writing which entity is contracted for your move before you pay anything. If the answer is the broker, ask for the name and USDOT number of the carrier that will actually load your belongings, and look that carrier up on FMCSA SAFER yourself.
Quick Comparison of All Movers
Swipe left to see more columns →
| Company | Best For | Typical Cost | Company Type | Deposit | Our Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Most Popular Allied Van Lines | Best Overall | $4,500-$16,900 | Carrier + agents | None | 4.6 | Get Quote |
United Van Lines | Best for Nationwide and International Moves | $8,469 (960 mi) | Carrier + agents | At quote | 4.5 | Get Quote |
North American Van Lines | Best for Long-Distance Moves | At quote | Carrier + agents | At quote | 4.4 | Get Quote |
JK Moving Services | Best for Premium, Full-Service Moves | $6,277 (960 mi) | Carrier | At quote | 4.3 | Get Quote |
Atlas Van Lines | Best Value on a Long-Distance Move | From ~$3,000 | Carrier + agents | None | 4.2 | Get Quote |
Mayflower | Best Rated by Customers | At quote | Carrier + agents | At quote | 4.1 | Get Quote |
Colonial Van Lines | Best for Tech-Supported Moves | At quote | Carrier + agents | At quote | 3.9 | Get Quote |
Safeway Moving | Best for Flat-Rate Pricing | Flat rate at quote | Carrier | At quote | 3.7 | Get Quote |
International Van Lines | Best for International Moves | At quote | Carrier + broker | At quote | 3.4 | Get Quote |
Costs shown are published planning estimates or quoted prices for a stated move, not prices you will be charged. Moving quotes are built from weight, distance and season; request a survey for a price specific to your move.
The Moving Company Buying Guide: What Actually Matters in 2026
Real prices, the three kinds of estimate, and the one check that separates a legitimate mover from the company that holds your furniture hostage.
What a Move Actually Costs in 2026
Moving quotes are built from three things: the weight of your shipment, the distance, and the time of year. Change any one and the number moves.
- The average interstate move runs $2,400 to $7,500, depending on home size, distance and season.
- A typical cross-country move is around $4,890, per the American Moving and Storage Association.
- A one-bedroom apartment moving 1,000 miles averages $2,800 to $4,200.
- A three-bedroom home over the same distance runs $5,500 to $9,800.
Those ranges are wide because the inputs are. The same three-bedroom move can be $5,500 in November and closer to $9,800 on the last Saturday in July. Season is the cheapest variable to change.
The Three Kinds of Estimate, and Why It Decides Everything
This is the single most important paragraph on this page. An estimate is not a price, and which of the three you are given determines whether the number can rise after your belongings are on the truck.
- Non-binding estimate. A guess. The final bill is based on actual weight, so it can come in higher than quoted. This is where most moving-day disputes start.
- Binding estimate. The price is fixed for the inventory listed. Add items and it changes; otherwise it holds.
- Binding not-to-exceed. The best of the three. If your shipment weighs less than estimated you pay less, but the price cannot go up. Ask for this one by name.
Get the estimate type in writing before you sign anything. A company that will not put it on paper is telling you which kind it intends to use.
Carrier or Broker: Who Is Actually Moving You
A large share of the companies advertising interstate moves do not own a truck. They are brokers: sales operations that book your job and sell it on to a carrier you did not choose.
- A carrier owns the trucks, employs the crew, and is accountable for your belongings from pickup to delivery.
- A broker arranges the move and hands it to a carrier. Brokers must be registered with the FMCSA too, but they are not the company that will be at your door, and they are not the company holding your things.
- Van lines sit in between: Allied, United, North American, Mayflower and Atlas all operate through networks of affiliated local agents, so the crew works for an agent under the van line's authority.
Brokers are legal and some are perfectly good. The problem is not the model, it is the ambiguity. If a company will not tell you plainly whether it is the carrier, that evasion is your answer. Ask directly: "Are you the carrier on this move, and if not, which carrier is, and what is their USDOT number?"
The One Check Everybody Skips
Every legitimate interstate mover has a USDOT number, and is legally required to display it in its advertising. Enter it into the FMCSA's SAFER database and read the company snapshot. It takes about ninety seconds and tells you:
- Whether the company is registered as a carrier, a broker, or both.
- How long it has actually been operating, which often differs from the founding date on the website.
- Its safety record and fleet size.
Two cautions. First, if a van line agent is doing your move, look up the agent's number, not the van line's, because the agent is who turns up. Second, similar company names are common: several unrelated businesses trade under variations of the same moving brand with entirely different USDOT numbers. Search the number, not the name.
Deposits, and What You Stand to Lose
You do not have to pay a deposit to book an interstate move. Allied and Atlas both hold dates with nothing down, which settles the question of whether the industry requires it.
If a company does ask for one, find out exactly how much is refundable and by what date, and get that in writing. A large, non-refundable deposit demanded before any survey has taken place is the most recognisable shape of a moving scam. The legitimate version of a deposit is small, refundable up to a stated date, and taken after somebody has actually looked at what you own.
How to Bring the Price Down
Roughly seventy percent of American moves happen between May and September, and pricing follows demand. The levers, in rough order of how much they save:
- Move outside the summer peak. Autumn through early spring is materially cheaper, often more than the gap between two companies' quotes.
- Move mid-month and mid-week. Month-end and weekends are when leases turn over and everybody competes for the same trucks.
- Cut the weight. You are paying by the pound on a long-distance move. Anything you sell or donate before the survey comes straight off the estimate.
- Pack yourself, selectively. Full-service packing is the largest single upgrade on most quotes. Books and clothes you can do; leave the fragile and high-value items to the crew, because self-packed boxes are typically not covered for damage.
- Get three surveys. Not three phone quotes, three actual surveys. A quote given without anybody seeing your home is not a quote.
What Your Move Is Insured For, Which Is Less Than You Think
Basic liability coverage is included by law, and it is close to worthless. Released-value protection pays 60 cents per pound per item. A 40-pound television is covered for $24, regardless of what it cost.
Full-value protection is the paid upgrade, under which the mover must repair, replace or pay the current market value of a damaged item. It costs more and usually carries a deductible, but it is the only option that reflects what your belongings are actually worth. Decide which you want before moving day, not after something arrives broken. Also check your homeowners or renters policy first, since some cover goods in transit and you may be buying something you already have.
Five Mistakes That Cost People the Most
- Accepting a phone quote. A price given without a survey is a sales number, not an estimate, and it will change.
- Not asking which kind of estimate it is. Non-binding means the price can rise after loading. Ask for binding not-to-exceed.
- Paying a large deposit up front. Two of the best companies here ask for nothing. Treat a big non-refundable deposit as a warning.
- Not looking up the USDOT number. Ninety seconds on FMCSA SAFER tells you whether you are dealing with a carrier or a broker.
- Assuming you are covered. The included protection pays 60 cents per pound. Decide on full-value protection before the truck arrives.
If you want to know more about moving, or you need more guidance, head to the blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to the questions people ask most before booking a mover.
What's the difference between a moving carrier and a moving broker?
How much does a long-distance move cost in 2026?
Should I pay a deposit to book a mover?
What is a binding estimate, and why does it matter?
How do I check that a moving company is legitimate?
When is the cheapest time to move?
David Kim
Home Services Editor
David is a home services editor at Screened with 7 years of experience reviewing warranties, insurance and home services. He focuses on the contract terms and licensing details that decide what a company can charge you after the truck is already loaded.