Best Moving Companies in Ohio
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Planning a move is never easy; it almost always comes with some headaches. Whether you’re moving to or from Ohio, we’ve compiled a list of the best moving companies in the state to help ease the process.
Our research team evaluated dozens of top moving companies and analyzed hundreds of customer reviews to create our list of the top Ohio movers. Read our guide to the best professional movers serving Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and cities and towns throughout the state of Ohio to find a company that suits your needs.
Ohio’s Top Moving Companies of 2024
Based on our research, we recommend the following professional movers for your upcoming relocation to or from Ohio:
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Side-By-Side Comparison: Best Movers in Ohio
See the table below to compare the best moving companies in Ohio.
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International Van Lines
Our Top PickService Model: Full service
Specialty Services: Yes
Get a Quick Quote: Visit International Van Lines’ site
What We Like
International Van Lines (IVL) is a great overall choice for full-service Ohio moves thanks to its comprehensive range of services and widespread availability. Founded in 2000, IVL has completed more than 500,000 moves over the last two decades, including local and long-distance moves in all 50 states.
As the company’s name suggests, IVL is also well-equipped to handle international relocations in more than 180 countries. It started out as an international logistics company and can therefore provide practical solutions to complicated relocations.
Cost
IVL provides free moving quotes on its website, but keep in mind that they are broad estimates only. We used IVL’s online calculator and received a price range of $6,000 to $8,700 to move a four-bedroom home from Columbus, Ohio, to Asheville, North Carolina, in mid-October.
You will need to call the company directly to get a more accurate ballpark estimate. Unlike many residential moving companies, IVL does not give binding estimates, which are locked-in rates that won’t change on moving day. However, the company’s website lists industry-standard associated charges, such as stair and elevator fees, to help customers plan for additional charges.
IVL requires a deposit of 25% of your total moving costs when you book your moving date. It accepts cash and credit card payments.
Sample Quote: $6,000 to $8,700 (4-bedroom move from Columbus, OH to Asheville, NC in mid-October)
Deposit: 25% of your total moving cost
Services offered by International Van Lines
Like most full-service companies, IVL offers loading and packing services. The company’s optional services include special handling of fine art, antiques, pianos, and other high-value items. If any of your art pieces or other items are oddly shaped, IVL can build custom crates to safely store them while en route to your new home.
In addition to basic free contents coverage, IVL offers a more comprehensive insurance plan to cover you if any of your household goods are damaged or lost in the move. While the free contents coverage is based on weight and reimburses you just 60 cents per pound, IVL’s optional all-risk insurance plan will pay you the full estimated value of your items.
Moving APT
Best for Coordinated MovesService Model: Full service
Specialty Services: Yes
Get a Quick Quote: Visit Moving APT’s site
What We Like
As a broker, Moving APT is unique compared to the rest of the providers in this review. While the other Ohio movers on our list provide moving services directly, Moving APT coordinates relocation services through third-party movers in its network. This makes Moving APT a great choice for anyone who doesn’t want to spend time researching multiple companies on their own.
After providing Moving APT with the specifics of your Ohio move, it will match you with a company that has the moving solutions you need. Moving APT will remain your primary point of contact throughout the moving process, however, and the company will regularly check in with your mover to ensure everything is going according to schedule.
Cost
It would cost between $8,655 and $12,505 to relocate the contents of a four-bedroom home from Asheville, North Carolina, to Columbus, Ohio, in early fall, according to Moving APT’s online quote tool. The company will give you a binding estimate once you contact them with the details of your move and complete a virtual walkthrough of your home.
You will need to pay a deposit to schedule your move through Moving APT. The exact amount of your deposit will depend on the distance, date, and size of your relocation. You can pay using cash, check, or credit card.
Sample Quote: $8,655 and $12,505 (4-bedroom move from Asheville, NC to Columbus, OH in early fall)
Deposit: Contact for deposit amount
Services offered by Moving APT
Providers in Moving APT’s network can provide full-service moves that include packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking. You can also choose additional services such as special handling of large or fragile items, including antiques and fitness equipment, and furniture assembly and disassembly. Moving APT movers can also disconnect your major appliances and reconnect them at your new home.
American Van Lines
Best for AntiquesService Model: Full service
Specialty Services: Yes
Get a Quick Quote: Visit American Van Lines’ site
What We Like
You may want to consider American Van Lines (AVL) if you own family heirlooms, artwork, or other fragile, high-value items. AVL provides ongoing training to its moving crews and certifies them to handle antiques and pianos. In fact, the company specifically designates crews to expertly pack and load those two types of items.
Cost
AVL does not have an online moving calculator, so you must call the company directly to discuss your relocation to or from Ohio. However, the company regularly lists moving costs to and from major cities on its website that may help you determine a rough estimate. The cost to move a four-bedroom house from Greenville, North Carolina, to Atlanta is approximately $6,240, for example. That move is roughly the distance from Asheville, North Carolina, to Columbus, Ohio.
After a virtual review of your home and its contents, AVL will give you a binding estimate. The company requires a 10% to 50% deposit when you schedule your moving date. It accepts credit cards, checks, and cash.
Services offered by American Van Lines
American Van Lines is a full-service local, long-distance, and international moving company that operates throughout the contiguous United States. In addition to packing services, the company has an à la carte menu of add-on options to help you create a customized moving package. Those options include short- and long-term storage services and car and boat shipping.
JK Moving Services
Best Mobile AppService Model: Full service
Specialty Services: Yes
What We Like
JK Moving stands out for its personalized moving services. JK Moving assigns every customer a personal moving coordinator to help manage the moving process from start to finish. This can help make your Ohio relocation a more stress-free experience.
Further, the company’s user-friendly mobile app is a great tool for quickly contacting the company, logging your moving inventory, and tracking your shipment while en route to your new home.
Cost
JK Moving only gives binding estimates after conducting a virtual home survey and review of your inventory. You cannot get an instant quote on the company’s website or over the phone.
A unique feature of JK Moving is its in-house financing option for moving costs. If you’d prefer to spread out the cost of your Ohio relocation over time, the company can provide loans with interest rates as low as 0% same-as-cash for qualifying customers.
The company charges a $250 up-front deposit and accepts checks, credit cards, and cash.
Services offered by JK Moving
JK Moving specializes in coordinating military and office moves but can handle long-distance residential moving requests nationwide. Local moves are limited to Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Optional services include vehicle shipping and custom-built crates for electronics and other large, fragile, or high-value items.
North American Van Lines
Best for High-End AppliancesService Model: Full-service
Specialty Services: Yes
Get a Quick Quote: Visit North American Van Lines’ site
What We Like
North American Van Lines (NAVL) is a great option for homeowners concerned most about moving their high-end appliances. NAVL trains moving crews to expertly disconnect nearly every model of washer, dryer, refrigerator, wine cooler, and other appliances. Crew members can also reconnect appliances at your new home, saving you from having to find a reliable electrician.
Cost
We used NAVL’s online moving calculator and received a quote of $9,200 to $10,300 to relocate a four-bedroom home from Columbus, Ohio, to Asheville, North Carolina, during the second week of October.
NAVL will give you a binding estimate following a virtual walkthrough of your home. You can book your move with NAVL without paying an up-front deposit, but payment will be due once your household items arrive at your new location. NAVL accepts cash, credit cards, and certified checks.
Sample Quote: $9,200 to $10,300 (4-bedroom home from Columbus, OH to Asheville, NC during the second week of October)
Deposit: Contact for deposit amount
Services offered by North American Van Lines
NAVL can accommodate full-service local, long-distance, cross-country, and international moving requests in all 50 states and more than 130 countries. In addition to expert appliance handling, the company offers add-on options such as fragile-only packing services, custom crating, storage, and vehicle shipping.
Allied Van Lines
Best Customer ExperienceService Model: Full service
Specialty Services: Yes
Get a Quick Quote: Visit Allied Van Lines’ site
What We Like
Allied Van Lines is a trusted name in the moving industry with more than 90 years of experience. Allied has kept pace with innovations and trends in both residential and commercial moving, offering helpful online tools and an easy-to-use mobile app.
The company aims to provide its customers with a worry-free moving experience. As part of this mission, Allied assigns a personal moving coordinator to each customer to help with the process.
The company also has its own line of mobile moving-and-storage containers that come with complementary loading and unloading assistance. Allied Express containers are a nice alternative if your Ohio moving needs are limited or if you need to put some of your items in storage as part of your relocation.
Cost
Allied Van Lines will not give instant moving estimates for four-bedroom homes. You will need to contact the company directly to discuss the details of your Ohio relocation and complete a virtual home survey. Following the survey and a review of your household items, Allied will give you a binding estimate.
No deposit is required to schedule a move with Allied Van Lines. Your full payment will be due at the time of shipment delivery. The company accepts credit cards, cash, and certified checks.
Services offered by Allied Van Lines
Allied Van Lines provides local, long-distance, and interstate moves in all 50 states and international moves in 130 countries. The company has a wide selection of add-on services to help you create a personalized moving package, including fragile-only packing and storage options. Allied can move designated items to storage at one of its climate-controlled facilities that are monitored 24/7 by security cameras.
1-800-PACK-RAT
Best for Self-Service MovesService Model: Self-service
Specialty Services: Yes
Get a Quick Quote: Visit 1-800-PACK-RAT’s site
What We Like
1-800-PACK-RAT is a convenient alternative to the traditional full-service approach to moving. This may be appealing if you plan to leave your furniture behind when you move, or if you just prefer to take a more DIY approach. 1-800-PACK-RAT’s storage options also make it a great fit if you want to temporarily stow some of your belongings during the moving process.
The company delivers steel moving-and-storage containers to your door for you to load at your convenience, then picks them up and transports them to your new home or a nearby storage facility. Containers come in three sizes (eight, 12, and 16 feet), and the company’s website has a tool to help you determine the size and number of containers you’ll need to complete your move.
Cost
According to 1-800-PACK-RAT’s online moving quote tool, it would cost approximately $2,030 to rent and move a 16-foot container from Columbus, Ohio, to Asheville, North Carolina. That estimate includes an outer security lock and a $10,000 contents coverage plan. For reference, a 16-foot container holds about two to three rooms’ worth of furniture, so to move a four-bedroom home would likely require at least two 16-foot containers.
1-800-PACK-RAT does not require a deposit to book your rental. Payments can be made online using a major credit card.
Services offered by 1-800-PACK-RAT
1-800-PACK-RAT offers self-service container rentals in 30 U.S. states and in Washington, D.C. The company does not provide services in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
1-800-PACK-RAT has several optional services to enhance your DIY moving experience. These include hourly moving and packing labor, vehicle shipping, and direct purchase of packing materials that includes expedited shipping.
Our Recommendation for Ohio Residents
You may want to consider a full-service company such as International Van Lines or JK Moving Services for the experience, variety of services, and widespread availability they offer. Both companies are well-equipped to handle your long-distance relocation. Keep in mind that if your Ohio move is local (fewer than 50 miles), JK Moving cannot accommodate your request.
We recommend Moving APT for homeowners who aren’t sure how to choose a moving company or who simply prefer that professionals handle the legwork. Since Moving APT is a broker, it can find the right match for your moving needs through its large network of independent professional movers.
For self-service moves, we recommend 1-800-PACK-RAT. The company makes DIY moves simple through its door-to-door storage container delivery. It’s also a great option if you plan to purchase new home furnishings and decor as part of your Ohio move or want to keep some items in storage temporarily.
We suggest requesting quotes from at least three moving companies to ensure you are working with the best moving company for your particular needs.
Ohio Moving Companies FAQ
What factors affect the cost of an Ohio move?
The factors that affect the cost of an Ohio move are primarily shipment size, moving distance, and relocation date. Any add-on services you select, such as vehicle shipping or custom crates for electronics, will increase the overall cost of your move.
How are moving companies regulated in Ohio?
The Public Utilities Commission, or PUCO, regulates moving companies in Ohio. The Ohio PUCO website provides information about consumer rights regarding moving. You can also file a complaint about a moving company using PUCO’s online form.
What are some things to consider when hiring an Ohio moving company?
Some things to consider when hiring an Ohio moving company are how long the company has been in business and its reputation in the industry. Reviewing customer feedback on sites like the Better Business Bureau can give you a sense of red flags to consider. Another important factor is whether the company offers one or more contents protection plans in the event that any of your items are broken or lost during the moving process.While this guide is intended to give you our recommendations for the top movers, you should carefully review each company’s services and policies before making a decision.
How We Chose the Top Moving Companies in Ohio
We researched and analyzed dozens of full- and self-service moving companies and formulated a moving review methodology based on a number of factors, including package options, pricing, and reputation. We also identified customer pain points based on customer-review analysis, proprietary consumer surveys, and interviews with former and current moving professionals.
Speaking directly to a representative at each company, we determined the number of package options available, the coverage provided, the types of moves available (long-distance, local, and international), and any extra perks offered, such as mobile apps, moving checklists, and 24/7 customer service.
We also gathered pricing data from each of the companies and determined whether they provide ballpark estimates or binding quotes. To determine reputation, we evaluated companies based on their rating with the Better Business Bureau as well as their overall score on Yelp.