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Sean Donnelly is a writer for USA TODAY Homefront. His content draws on more than three years of experience in the moving industry. He started as a laborer and was quickly promoted to moving crew leader. Sean also served as a move coordinator, where he conducted in-home and virtual estimates for customers. During his time in the industry, Sean assisted more than 500 clients with their relocation needs. Thanks to his years of hand-on experience, he understands all aspects of moving — from proper preparation to the quote process to effective packing techniques. Sean studied English literature and creative writing at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and is still located in the greater Springfield area. When he isn’t writing, Sean is a cohead coach of the boxing team at his alma mater.
We reviewed JK Moving Services, Treasure Moving Company and more of the best movers with a local presence in Maryland. All of the moving companies listed rate well on our grading scale and provide a full range of services for local and long-distance relocations.
JK Moving Services’ nationwide reach, trained moving crews and direct service make it a prime candidate for any Maryland-based interstate move. If you’re planning a local Maryland move, consider getting an estimate from Treasure Moving Company, which offers a quick quote process and has high customer ratings.
We recommend getting at least three quotes from qualified movers before making your final decision. Review our provider summaries and homeowners guide to determine which moving company best fits your needs and how to get the most accurate quotes.
Here’s our list of the best national and local movers that serve Maryland and beyond:
We reviewed each mover below based on its customer review score, pricing structure, services and more. Getting a quote from each of the providers listed should give you a general idea of how much your Maryland move will cost.
The following nationwide moving companies offer direct interstate and cross-country service within Maryland.
JK Moving is a moving carrier based in Sterling, Virginia, that offers direct service throughout Maryland. Its movers are trained in an industry-leading facility that includes a fully furnished house, so all workers experience real moving scenarios before being assigned to move your belongings.
Service area: 50 states and 150 countries
Base services:
Add-on services:
Storage: JK offers climate-controlled long- and short-term storage options.
Quote type: JK offers binding estimates for all long-distance moves.
Pricing: All quotes take move distance and shipping weight into account.
Sample cost: We called JK and got a quote for a 1,812-mile, three-bedroom move. Without packing, the total price would be $8,500–$8,900. The total would be $11,000 with full-service packing.
Deposit: $250
Payment methods: JK accepts checks, cash and all major credit cards.
This mover provides the mandatory released-value coverage with all moves it handles. Aside from this 60 cents per pound per item in reimbursement, it also provides valuation coverage at an added cost. Under this plan, a $90,000 policy would cost $630, for example. The $90,000 would go toward reimbursement for any lost or damaged items during the move.
JK Moving has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. The 1,000-plus reviews mainly cite attentive crews that render quality service for both basic and complex packing requests. The most common complaints centered around damaged items and delayed damage claims.
Allied Van Lines is a nationwide carrier with more than 500 locations. These offices are spread throughout all 50 states and offer a full range of local and long-distance moving options. These offerings include in-house vehicle shipping and Allied Express, a moving-and-storage container service for expedited small moves.
Service area: 50 states and 130 countries
Storage: Allied provides short- and long-term storage options with each move.
Quote type: Binding quotes for long-distance moves
Pricing: Long-distance quotes are based on total move distance and shipment weight.
Sample cost: We got a three-bedroom, 1,812-mile moving quote from Allied. Our representative gave us a pricing figure within 10 minutes on the phone but stressed that this was a ballpark estimate. Without packing, this move would cost around $7,000. Full-service packing would run our cost to $10,000.
Deposit: None
Payment methods: Allied takes cash, certified checks and money orders for payment.
Allied offers Extra Care Protection (ECP) beyond the federally mandated released-value coverage. This ECP option comes at an additional cost but allows you to select a dollar amount of coverage. The added cost for this coverage will depend on the declared total value of your shipment. You’ll pay a percentage of this value as a premium for coverage. To opt for this protection, your move coordinator must assess your belongings before they render a quote.
Allied’s location in Jessup is located conveniently between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and currently has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. A recent review mentions the efficiency of a multiday move, despite the use of different moving crews for packing day and moving day. Negative reviews mention damaged furniture, but this is not the norm for this mover.
International Van Lines (IVL) is a nationwide carrier and broker that offers moving services in all 50 states. Its hub locations and local agents provide competitive rates for all types of moves, from interstate to overseas.
Service area: 50 states and 130 other countries
Storage: IVL offers 30 days of free storage with each move, plus short- and long-term storage options beyond this time frame.
Quote type: IVL offers binding estimates for all long-distance moves.
Pricing: Long-distance rates are based on your move distance and the total shipping weight of your household goods.
Sample cost: We called IVL for a sample rate for a three-bedroom 1,812-mile move. We could only get a ballpark rate for service since we couldn’t schedule an in-home estimate. The total quoted rate without packing was $6,276. With packing, we would pay $7,158.
Deposit: 20%–25%
Payment methods: IVL accepts cash, money orders, cashier’s checks, business checks and credit cards.
IVL offers additional valuation coverage options for customers who need more than the 60 cents per pound per item provided with each move. You’ll have to fill out an inventory form after your free quote to list all covered items and their declared value. Your added cost will be 3% or 4% of your total dollar amount of coverage.
IVL currently has a rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Negative reviews cite disappointment over insurance coverage and claims for damaged and lost items. Positive reviews mention timely deliveries for longer interstate moves. Punctuality and communication are both indicated strong points for this mover.
The following moving companies are based in Maryland and can offer stress-free moving processes both in and out of the state.
Treasure Moving Company is a Rockland-based local mover with decades of experience in the industry. It provides personalized care for both local and interstate moves. Its service range is limited to the East Coast, but it has high ratings from clients in the range of its office.
Service area: Treasure Moving services the entire state of Maryland and most of the East Coast.
Quote type: This mover provides ballpark estimates based on hourly rates.
Pricing: Treasure Moving Company’s hourly rates fluctuate based on the number of movers and moving trucks used for a job, plus the season and demand.
Sample cost: We got a ballpark estimate from Treasure for a three-bedroom move within Glen Burnie. They guaranteed an arrival time between 9 and 10 a.m. and gave us an hourly rate of $209 for four movers and a truck. This option comes with a one-time charge of $209. If we opted for three movers, this would mean a $169 rate with a one-time charge of $199.
Deposit: None mentioned
Payment methods: This mover accepts cash (5% discount) and credit and debit cards (5% processing fee).
Treasure Moving Company only provides the industry minimum released-value coverage for its moves.
This mover currently has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews and more than 100 reviews. Many of its recent reviews say the company is quick, organized and reasonably priced.
495 Movers Inc. is a Maryland moving company based in Rockville. It has grown from being a one-truck operation to having more than 20 trucks and drivers and handling a range of moving services for local and long-distance clients.
Service area: 495 Movers services the entire state of Maryland. It also has interstate operating authority.
Quote type: This mover offers ballpark estimates for local moves.
Pricing: All local moves are priced at hourly rates that fluctuate depending on the number of movers and trucks used.
Sample cost: Our quoted cost for a three-bedroom move within Glen Burnie was $1,000. This was based on an hourly rate of $250 for three movers and a truck, with all travel and labor estimated at four hours.
Payment methods: 495 Movers accepts cash, checks, money orders and major credit cards (5% service fee for card payments).
This mover provides the industry-minimum released-liability coverage for all moves. It also offers full-value protection at a low rate of $5 per $1,000 of your declared shipment value. All policies are valid for claims within the first 90 days after your moving date. This does not cover particle board and plastic furniture items.
This mover has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google reviews with more than 500 individual testimonials. A recent review of a move between Washington, D.C., and New York mentioned that the move coordinator worked with the clients to create a customized moving plan that worked with their schedule. Other reviews from repeat clients cite similarly stress-free moving experiences.
All My Sons Moving & Storage is a nationwide moving company with a well-reviewed location in Linthicum Heights. This mover provides local and long-distance service to all points in the United States. Its experienced moving crews can offer packing and storage services for basic and fragile items.
Service area: This mover services Maryland and the lower 48 states.
Quote type: This mover provides ballpark rates for local moves and binding estimates for long-distance moves.
Pricing: Local pricing and hourly rates are based on the number of movers and trucks assigned to your move.
Sample cost: We contacted All My Sons Moving & Storage for a cost estimate for a three-bedroom local move. A company representative reached out to tell us that we would have to book an in-person or video call consultation for in-depth pricing.
Payment methods: All My Sons accepts cash, cashier’s checks, money orders, certified checks and all major credit cards.
All My Sons offers released-value coverage for all moves. It also provides full replacement value insurance options, which cover all goods except those of extraordinary value (more than $100 per pound, such as a diamond ring). You’ll have to fill out a separate inventory form for high-value goods.
All My Sons’ Linthicum Heights location has a star rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Google reviews. This branch has more than 1,000 individual reviews, many of which mention speedy relocations by attentive moving crews. Negative experiences include late pickup or damaged items, which are typical for even the best moving companies.
Keep the following factors in mind when evaluating options for your upcoming move. Service profile, pricing practices, and proper licensing and insurance are all musts when choosing a professional moving company.
Before you get quotes from moving companies, make a comprehensive list of the add-on services you may need. Go through your home and compile an inventory list of the goods you plan to take with you to get a sense of your service requirements. Common add-ons that moving companies provide include the following:
Be aware of a moving company’s service model before you get a quote. Moving companies fall into two categories: brokers and carriers. People typically think of carriers when they want to book moving services. Such companies directly book and provide all services that clients request.
Moving brokers, on the other hand, work as middlemen between carriers and moving clients. These providers partner with carriers to book moving services and often take a large deposit upfront as a booking fee.
While many brokers still offer quality service and partner with good movers, this indirect service model can lead to difficulties when trying to communicate with your movers. Despite being your point of contact during a move, moving brokers do not handle damage claims for broken or damaged furniture, which could be a deterrent for some clients.
Before booking a mover to reach your new home, ensure that your movers are fully registered. This will help you avoid fly-by-night or uninsured moving companies, as state and federal regulations maintain safety standards for all movers.
All long-distance and interstate moving companies are federally regulated. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) ensures that all movers have active United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers. Use these to look up a mover’s registration on the FMCSA website.
Maryland moving companies are not specifically regulated by the state. Instead, all intrastate moving companies should carry a regular business license and an active USDOT number.
Always get multiple quotes and compare them before hiring a mover. Local and long-distance moves are billed differently — be aware of these basic pricing practices before you start your search for a mover.
Long-distance moves are priced at more transparent rates than local moves. Usually, long-distance moving companies bill flat rates based on total move distance and shipping weight. Movers weigh their moving trucks before and after loading to get an accurate weight.
We gathered quotes from several interstate moving companies for three-bedroom, 1,812-mile moves. Without packing, we got an average cost of $7,329. With packing, our average cost was $9,155.
Local moves are typically billed at hourly rates based on the number of movers assigned to your relocation and the number of trucks required. The local Maryland moving companies we called quoted us hourly rates for three movers and a truck, which ranged from $169 to $250.
Many local movers have minimum charges that amount to two or three hours of labor at your quoted hourly rate. Be aware of such policies if you’re booking a particularly short move or a labor-only request.
All moving companies offer released-value coverage, which provides 60 cents per pound per item in reimbursement for lost or damaged items. Beyond this, many movers provide full-value protection or valuation coverage for the full value of any items affected by mover negligence. This coverage usually costs up to 6% of the total dollar amount of the declared value of your shipment.
JK Moving Services is your best choice for long-distance moving from Maryland due to its headquarters location in nearby Sterling, Virginia, and trained moving crews that practice in an on-site facility. This, along with the more than half a million total moves handled, gives it the necessary experience to assist with any move.
Treasure Moving Company’s solid customer reviews and wide availability in Maryland make it our top choice for an intrastate or in-town move. This, plus its same-day response to our pricing inquiry, makes it our top choice for a local move in Maryland.
Begin your research process at least eight weeks before your scheduled move date so that you have time to get at least three quotes and properly evaluate your options.
Our moving recommendations are all backed by our detailed rating methodology. To fairly assess both interstate and local movers, we have tailored two sets of review standards for long-distance and intrastate movers.
Both sets of review standards assess factors including reputation and customer satisfaction, availability and range, services offered, pricing and quote practices and customer service. We rate each moving company out of 100 possible points. We then divide the final score by 20 to obtain the 5-star rating we feature in our reviews.
BBB and Google Review ratings accurate as of April 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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