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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.
Hiring a qualified moving company will simplify your moving process and ensure your goods are properly handled. Here, we’ve listed the best moving companies for Massachusetts relocations, detailing their pricing practices, service offerings and general reputations.
Request a quote from A-Plus Moving & Storage for a local Massachusetts move. Its trained professional movers, decade-plus of industry experience and ample service options make it a top choice in the state.
We recommend getting a quote from United Van Lines for an interstate relocation from Massachusetts. Its Canton-based affiliate, Humboldt Storage & Moving, offers comprehensive service packages and receives primarily positive customer reviews.
Start your search for the best moving companies by calling for quotes.
We review moving companies based on pricing practices, service offerings, insurance options and industry reputation. We find that customer reviews are one of the most telling metrics when evaluating a moving company, so all of our provider reviews are backed by positive feedback from real clients.
The movers below have the required registrations and operating authority to provide long-distance and interstate service. We recommend these providers when planning an out-of-state move from Massachusetts.
United Van Lines is a carrier with decades of experience in the moving industry. It operates in 46 states and offers a full range of basic and specialty services. It offers catered add-on options for packing home offices and theaters, plus provides the full-value protection with each quote. These factors make it a favorite for clients with higher-value items. United’s affiliate, Humboldt Storage & Moving, services the greater Boston area and the rest of Massachusetts.
Service area: 46 states and 150 countries
Base services:
Add-on services:
Storage: United offers short- and long-term storage options with all moves at an additional cost.
Quote type: United provides binding estimates for all long-distance moves.
Pricing: United’s long-distance and interstate quotes are based on move distance and total shipping weight.
Sample cost: Humboldt Storage & Moving requires an in-home or video call estimate for sample pricing.
Deposit: No deposit required
Payment methods: Humboldt accepts credit cards, certified checks, cash and money orders for payment.
United Van Lines provides full-value protection with all moving packages. This coverage is automatically folded into all quotes, so you can reduce your initial quoted price by opting out of it. However, you’ll only receive the industry minimum released-liability protection of 60 cents per pound per item if you choose to waive this coverage.
Humboldt Storage & Moving currently has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. The 100-plus reviews for both interstate and local moves mention Humboldt’s professional moving crews, attentive customer service staff and communication at every stage of the process. A recent international moving review mentioned lost furniture.
Allied Van Lines is a nationwide moving carrier that has more than 500 locations throughout 50 states. This includes a couple of well-reviewed options in the Boston area. Among Allied’s service offerings is in-house vehicle shipping, which eliminates the need to ship your car through a third-party carrier.
Service area: 50 states and 130 countries
Storage: Allied offers short- and long-term storage at most locations.
Quote type: Allied provides binding rates after an in-home or video call survey of your goods.
Pricing: Long-distance quotes take move distance and total shipping weight into account.
Sample cost: We called Allied for a quote and spent around 10 minutes on the phone to get a ballpark estimate. A three-bedroom, 1,812-mile move with Allied will cost approximately $7,000. If you include full-service packing, you’ll pay around $10,000.
Deposit: Allied takes no deposit when you book.
Payment methods: Allied accepts cash, certified checks and money orders for payment.
Allied provides standard released-liability coverage with all moves at no added charge, but you can purchase coverage beyond this if you choose. Allied’s Extra Care Protection (ECP) plans cover the entire cost of any goods that are lost or damaged during a move. Your desired dollar amount of coverage will determine the added cost.
Allied operates two branches in the greater Boston area. Its Westborough location has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews, while its Canton location is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars. Positive reviews at both locations specifically mention attentive moving crews that streamlined their long-distance moves.
The following providers offer intrastate moves at hourly rates. Each is locally owned and has a similar service range to its interstate and national counterparts.
A-Plus Moving & Storage is a Boston mover with more than a decade of experience. It carries statewide and interstate licensing. Whether you’re moving within Boston or one of its surrounding suburbs, to another state in New England or across the country, this mover has qualified crews that can help.
Service area: A-Plus offers local service throughout Massachusetts and provides interstate moves in the lower 48 states.
Quote type: A-Plus offers ballpark quotes based on hourly rates.
Pricing: Local moving companies provide hourly rates, which depend on the season, time of week, number of movers used, and number of moving trucks assigned to the job.
Sample cost: We filled out a quote request form on A-Plus Moving & Storage’s site. The company got back to us a little more than 24 hours after our initial request with an hourly rate of $169 for three movers and one truck. A-Plus would not give an estimated total without a thorough inspection of our inventory; however, if the movers worked eight or nine hours to move our proposed three-bedroom home, it would bring the final quote to $1,352–$1,521.
Deposit: None mentioned
Payment methods: A-Plus Moving & Storage accepts cash, certified checks and credit cards.
Aside from released-liability coverage, A-Plus offers Select Items Depreciated Value coverage, which provides reimbursement for any item’s loss or damage at its present value. This policy excludes goods of extraordinary value.
A-Plus has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. Negative reviews are few and far between but cite property damage. Positive feedback includes praise from repeat clients mentioning efficiency and care at all stages of the move.
Born to Move is a Boston-area company based in Newton. This full-service mover provides local, longer in-state and full out-of-state service. Its rates are clearly displayed online, offering greater transparency to go along with its positive reviews.
Service area: Born to Move services all of Massachusetts and conducts interstate moves throughout the 48 states.
Quote type: Ballpark quotes based on hourly rates
Pricing: Born to Move’s hourly rates fluctuate based on how many movers and moving trucks are assigned to a particular job.
Sample cost: We got a sample rate from Born to Move for a three-bedroom move traveling from Revere to Peabody. Our rate of $190 per hour included three movers and a truck, with a total estimated move time of eight hours. This brought the final estimated price to $1,520.
Payment methods: Born to Move accepts cash and all debit and credit cards. Card payments incur a 3% processing fee.
Born to Move provides only basic released-liability coverage for moves of any length.
This moving company has 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. One recent negative review cited disapproval over this mover’s clearly stated three-hour minimum charge. While this could indicate poor communication, it does not reflect overall work quality. Positive reviews mention friendly movers who didn’t rush through their work or compromise quality for any reason.
Flash Moving Company recently entered the moving industry but has already accumulated numerous positive reviews. This full-service moving company lists transparent rates for its wide range of services, including white-glove and antique moving alongside basic assistance.
Service area: Flash Moving Company services all of Massachusetts and offers interstate service to 48 states.
Quote type: Flash Moving Company provides ballpark estimates based on hourly rates.
Pricing: Hourly rates cover the number of movers and moving trucks assigned to your move plus basic furniture protection.
Sample cost: We got a sample rate for a three-bedroom move between Revere and Peabody. Three movers and a truck cost $149 per hour, and the move had an estimated time of eight hours. This came to a total of $1,192 for basic service.
Deposit: This mover charges a nonrefundable deposit before moves are booked. This amount usually equals the cost of an hour of labor.
Payment methods: Flash accepts cash, Zelle, transfers, certified checks and all major cards. All card payments incur a 3% fee.
Flash Moving Company offers Actual Cash Value coverage beyond the required released-liability coverage. This coverage and its cost are based on the customer’s declared shipment value. Under this plan, the mover is responsible for repairing or replacing any damaged or lost items.
Flash Moving Company has two locations in Waltham and Newton, each with a rating of 5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. Customers cite speed, efficiency and adherence to quoted rates in positive reviews.
The best way to find the right mover for you is to evaluate several companies before requesting quotes. Don’t commit to a provider without obtaining a signed copy of your moving estimate with itemized fees. Review any mover you consider for the following:
Your moving service requirements will mainly depend on your inventory, the value of your belongings and the time frame you have to plan and execute your move. We recommend
conducting a full walk-through of your home before getting quotes. Write down comprehensive inventory lists that break down your home room by room, and note any add-on services you could need.
Most movers offer the following basic and additional services:
Be aware of a moving company’s service model when you book your move. Moving carriers are companies that directly handle all moving services they book. This is the type of company most moving clients think of when they consider booking professional movers.
Moving brokers, on the other hand, work as middlemen between clients and carriers. These providers contract services out to carriers and take a large upfront payment as a booking fee.Ask about any mover’s operational status when you book to ensure that you’re fully informed before your movers arrive on moving day.
Local and long-distance moving companies each have distinct registration requirements.
Long-distance moving companies must carry active United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) monitors and regulates all moving companies that offer interstate service and ensures that they carry these two registrations. The FMCSA also maintains a database where you can look up a moving company’s operating status.
All Massachusetts moving companies must be registered with the state Department of Public Utilities (DPU). This governing body maintains a list of registered moving companies. Scan the list to ensure the local moving company you’re vetting is registered.
All local movers in the state must also maintain tariffs with the same governing body. Tariffs state a company’s rates for basic services and can be found on the DPU’s website.
In short, your total moving cost will depend on how far your move takes you. Local and long-distance movers break these costs down differently, however.
Your long-distance moving costs will largely depend on your move distance and the total weight of your goods. Movers that specialize in long-distance relocations weigh their trucks before and after loading your household goods to determine your exact price. These companies charge more transparent, all-inclusive rates for service. Add-on services can substantially increase these rates.
We got quotes from several nationwide moving companies for three-bedroom, 1,800-mile moves. Our quoted price averaged $9,155, with packing services included. The same move would cost about $7,329 without packing.
Local movers charge hourly rates. When we requested quotes, we got hourly rates between $149 and $199 for three movers and a truck in the Boston area. These rates usually included all transportation and associated labor, along with basic furniture protection.
Local movers don’t charge a fixed cost for add-on services. Rather, adding services such as packing will increase the time your move takes, and since these movers charge by the hour, this added time will increase your overall cost.
All moving companies provide released liability insurance coverage, as required by federal regulations. This provides 60 cents of reimbursement per pound per item for any goods that are damaged or lost during your move. This coverage is free with any moving package.
Most movers offer valuation coverage at an added cost. This provides full-value reimbursement for all lost or damaged items. This will cost either a flat fee or a percentage of the total dollar amount of your coverage, depending on your mover.
We recommend starting your Massachusetts moving plan with a quote from United Van Lines’ local agent, Humboldt Storage & Moving, if you’re planning a long-distance move. United’s nationwide network can assist you whether you’re moving a state over or across the country.
We also like A-Plus Moving & Storage’s wide service profile, decade-plus of experience and access to quality local moving teams. If you’re moving locally in Massachusetts, we recommend starting with a quote from this provider.
Having pricing figures in hand at least a month ahead of any residential move will allow you the time to survey your options and make an informed choice. We recommend using the tips outlined here to get quotes from at least three of the moving companies we’ve reviewed.
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 are 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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