Local moves require just as much planning and organization as a long-distance move

Compared to a long-distance relocation that takes you hundreds or even thousands of miles away, a local move is supposed to be simpler, faster, and far more affordable.

And it can be, but only as long as you make the right decisions.

One of the most important choices you’ll make?
Whether to hire local movers, and if so, which local moving company you can trust with your home and belongings.

Not just any movers, but licensed, insured, reputable, and reasonably priced experts who know how to handle short-distance moves efficiently.

This ultimate guide to hiring local movers walks you through everything you need to know, from how to find reliable moving companies near you to the average cost of a local move, plus eight must-know tips to help you avoid moving day stress, overspending, and moving scams.

Hiring Local Movers vs. Moving Yourself

Can you rely on friends actually turning up to help on moving day?

Hiring local movers can be one of the best decisions you make for a short-distance relocation. Professional movers:

  • Protect and handle heavy items like furniture and appliances
  • Load and unload safely
  • Work efficiently
  • Help prevent injuries and property damage

But before you book movers, consider whether a DIY move, or just hiring labor only, might be cheaper or more practical for your situation.

These questions should help you decide:

  • Do you have reliable friends or family who can help?
  • Do you have any experience moving without professionals?
  • Have you ever rented or driven a moving truck?
  • Are you physically able to lift and move heavy items all day?

If you answer NO to even one of the above, hiring a local mover is usually the smarter, safer, and less stressful choice.

And if you own specialty items like a piano, pool table, antiques, a safe, or delicate glass pieces, hiring professionals is the sensible choice to make.

Must-Know Moving Tip #1

Hire a local mover if you lack experienced help, moving knowledge, or the ability to drive a large moving truck.
For specialty items, always use trained professionals.

You may also like to read: Ways to Move Home. In this guide, we look at 7 different ways that you can relocate your things to your new home.

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How to Find Reliable Local Movers

Book your movers as early as you can. The best ones get booked up quickly

Finding trustworthy local movers is a lot easier if you start early and follow a proven process.

Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Ask for Recommendations

Friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors may have great firsthand experiences. Word-of-mouth recommendations can save time and help you avoid shady companies.

Step 2: Check Local Mover Reviews

Read verified reviews on:

  • Moveadvisor
  • Google
  • Yelp
  • BBB
  • Trustpilot
  • Local Facebook groups

Look for companies with consistent ratings, professional responses to complaints, and transparent business info.

Step 3: Request In-Home Estimates

This is critical.
Some movers may try to give you quotes over the phone. Don’t agree to remote quotes for a local move — they’re almost always inaccurate.

A reputable moving company will send a representative to your home to inspect items, assess access issues, and provide a written, detailed estimate.

Must-Know Moving Tip #2

Never accept moving estimates by phone or e-mail only. Always insist on an in-home inspection for an accurate quote and to avoid hidden fees.

You may also like to read: How to Pick a Good Moving Company. In this guide, we take you step by step through the process of choosing a good mover.

How to Find Cheap Local Movers

Cheap and good rarely go together. Look instead for value for money

Everyone wants an affordable move, but the goal is to find cheap AND trustworthy movers. Value for money is what you seek, not simply the lowest price.

Here’s how to compare rates properly:

Step 1: Use a moving cost estimator or compare local companies directly

Step 2: Get multiple in-home inspections

Step 3: Show movers everything you plan to relocate

Step 4: Ask about extra services and potential hidden charges

Step 5: Compare estimates side by side

Pay attention to:

  • Hourly rates
  • Number of movers
  • Estimated hours
  • Travel time fees
  • Packing service fees
  • Supplies and materials

Must-Know Moving Tip #3

Get at least 3–4 estimates and avoid low-ball pricing. If one quote is dramatically cheaper, it’s often a sign of fraud or poor service.

You may also like to read: Ways to Move Locally. In this guide, you will find the most cost-effective ways to move locally.

How Much Do Local Movers Cost?

Local movers charge by the hour, not by weight or distance.

The average cost is about $60 per mover per hour, depending on:

  • Your city or region
  • Time of year (summer is most expensive)
  • Crew size
  • Home size and accessibility

Typical Time Estimates

  • Studio apartment: 2 movers × 3 hours
  • 2-bedroom home: 3 movers × 5 hours
  • 3-bedroom home: 4 movers × 7 hours

Most companies also charge a one-hour travel fee.

Must-Know Moving Tip #4

Use average local moving prices only as a guideline. Request binding, written estimates to avoid surprises.

You may also like to read: What you Should Know About Moving Quotes. Not all quotes are equal. This guide explains all you need to know about the differences in binding and non-binding quotes.

How to Reduce Local Moving Costs

The more things you pack and mov, the more expensive your move will be

Even though local moves are cheaper, they can still add up. Fortunately, you have a lot of control over the final cost.

Cost-Saving Tips

1. Declutter Before Moving

Fewer items = fewer hours = less money.
Donate, sell, or discard anything you no longer need.

2. Pack Yourself

Packing is time-consuming, which means expensive.
Pack the easy things yourself, such as:

  • Clothing
  • Books
  • Linens
  • Toys
  • Non-breakables

Leave fragile, valuable, and specialty items to professionals if needed.

Must-Know Moving Tip #5

Decluttering is the guaranteed way to reduce your moving costs.

You may also like to read: How to Declutter for a Home Move. In this guide, we share tips to make decluttering your home easier.

Hiring Local Movers to Pack

Hiring professional packers is worth every cent

Sometimes DIY packing simply isn’t practical:

  • You’re short on time
  • You have many fragile or valuable items
  • You need professional-grade supplies

The average cost to hire packers is about $60 per packer per hour.

Professional packing may add to your bill, but it can save you hours of work and help protect delicate belongings.

Must-Know Moving Tip #6

If you pack things yourself, most insurance policies will not cover any damage or loss incurred. So whilst professional packers are an additional cost, a valuable item lost or damaged is covered by the movers’ insurance. Pack it yourself and it won’t be.

Must read: Moving Insurance. Being underinsured is the most common home-moving mistake. Ensure that you understand any insurance you are offered for your move. Reading this article could save you a lot of heartache and money.

How to Protect Yourself Against Bad Local Movers

Avoid paying movers in cash

Unfortunately, not all moving companies are honest. Avoid common moving scams by following these tips:

Warning Signs of Rogue Movers

  • Extremely low estimates
  • No physical address or licensing info
  • Requests for large deposits
  • Cash-only payments
  • Poor online presence or numerous complaints

How to Stay Safe

  • Check BBB profiles
  • Read customer reviews across multiple sites
  • Get written, binding estimates
  • Pay with a credit card
  • Never sign blank or incomplete paperwork

Must-Know Moving Tip #7

Avoid low-ball quotes, never prepay more than 10–15%, and always verify licensing and insurance.

You may also like to read: How to Avoid Moving Scams. In this guide, we show you the most common movers’ scams and how you can avoid being their next victim.

How Much to Tip Local Movers

The more complex your move, the more your crew may deserve a tip

Tipping isn’t mandatory, but it’s a common way to show appreciation for hard work.

So how much should you tip movers? Use this as a guide:

  • Poor job: No tip
  • Good job: $5 per mover per hour
  • Great job: $8 per mover per hour (especially in hot weather, difficult stairs, or long carry distances)

You can tip in cash, Venmo, CashApp, or whatever method your movers prefer.

Must-Know Moving Tip #8

Tip based on performance, not obligation. Movers appreciate it, but it’s ultimately your choice.

You may also like to read: How Much to Tip Movers? In this guide, we look into this subject in far more depth.

Should I Hire Local Movers?

For an easy and stress-free move, hire local movers

Hiring local movers can turn a stressful short-distance move into a stress-free and well-organized relocation, but only if you choose the right company.

Consider using labor-only services if you have access to a truck or if you are on a budget. They take all the backache and stress out of moving day, just leaving you to get the goods to your new home.

Finally, it is worth repeating, it is the most common home moving mistake and is no less important even if you are moving just a few blocks. Ensure that you are properly insured for your move, and if you are moving high-value items, hiring professional packers is worth every cent.

Good luck with your move, and be sure to visit our home moving blog for guides to make every aspect of your move easier, cheaper, and safer.

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44 Comments

  1. I love how you said to look up a moving service on the BBB, as it will help you see if they have any complaints. My friend will be moving for her last year of college, so these tips could really help her out. Thanks for all the great tips on how to choose a mover.

  2. I’m going to be moving next month. I think it would be really helpful to hire a moving company. It’s good to know that I’ll have to start searching for a company right now. I need to make sure they are available and that I can have them booked, like you said.

  3. Thank you for explaining that I can find a reputable local mover by asking friends, work associates, and relatives for recommendations. That would be a great starting point for my search. Since I need to move into my new place within 3 months, I should have enough time to find them and give them advanced notice of when I will need their services.

  4. I appreciate the national statistic you shared about paying workers an average of $60 per hour when packing up your things in preparation for a move. Working with a reputable moving service is a great method to alleviate yourself of some stress during a transitional phase of life. My family is moving this summer, so I’ll be sure to contact the best moving service in town when the time rolls around.

  5. I like that you pointed out that we should be choosing those who are associated with the AMSA and BBB to ensure that they are with a professional organization. I will follow your advice since the move is not home items. They are office items that require more care since the copiers and other files must not be damaged or missing. This will assure us that they are reputable.

  6. I like how you mention that one way to save time before moving out of a home is to pack as much of your items as possible so that when the professional movers come, all they would have to deal with would be the boxes that are stacked and sorted and labeled. Another thing to keep in mind is that you would have to downsize and leave certain things behind–not everything you own now would fit in the new home, so sacrifices have to be made when it comes to picking what to bring along! While I haven’t experienced moving in quite some time, I would have to agree that downsizing the number of items needed is a must since there is a limit as to how much one can bring along.

  7. Thanks for the tip to ask for estimates from a few of the top-rated local moving companies so you can make sure you can afford them. This is helpful since my husband and I bought a home so we can move out of our apartment and we have a lot of furniture in storage. We’ll have to ask for estimates and look at what services are offered along with the price to determine which company will be the most beneficial.

  8. My sister will be moving to a new apartment and she wants to move as quickly as possible. It was explained here that it will be best to find a local moving company and ask for a referral from friends. Moreover, it’s recommended to hire a professional apartment moving company for quality services.

  9. My parents are moving in about three months. I want to make sure that the moving process is easy for them. It is great to know that you can hire local movers to help them pack. That would be amazing because they have a lot of stuff that they need to pack up.

  10. Hiring local movers is a best option to move because they might assist you task with their knowledge and experience of work and with the help of crew members, you can get your entire task done easily and with no more time being consumed.

  11. I like the tip that you gave to choose a moving service that is referred to you by family and friends. My wife and I have been talking about finding a moving service to help us if we decide to move out of her parents’ home, and it would be important for us to know that we could find one who we could trust in. If we decide to find a moving service, I will be sure to look for referrals.

  12. My sister will be moving to another apartment that’s closer to her workplace. It was explained here that when looking for movers, she should get referrals from friends or family members. Moreover, it’s recommended to hire professionals for quality local moving services.

  13. I liked how you mentioned that to find a reputable company one should ask friends and family for recommendations because that way you can know how the service works and if the service is excellent. My brother is looking to change offices because he wants a closer office to home. I will help him look for a local moving company that offers the services he needs.

  14. It’s good to know that some moving companies will professionally pack some of your items for you if requested. My wife and I will be moving to a house that is closer to the office that I work at, but there are a few fragile items that we need help packing. It might be a good idea to hire some professional movers to ensure that our belongings are transported safely.

  15. I like how you pointed out that a studio apartment can be moved by 2 movers in 3 hours. My sister wants to move closer to my mom’s house and she lives in a small studio. I will tell her to read this article so she can find the most reliable moving company available.

  16. Thank you for stating that you should check to see whether the local moving companies you’re reviewing are members of the American Moving and Storage Association and the Better Business Bureau. My husband recently got a job promotion and we have to relocate across the country and have to move as soon as possible, so we’ve been considering hiring movers to help us. I will definitely keep your great tips and information in mind so I’m prepared if I do decide to hire movers.

  17. I appreciate the tip to pack most of the household items by yourself except the really difficult appliances. I will be moving into a new home next week and I have yet to hire movers. However, I will follow this tip and pack almost everything up before they get to my house.

  18. It was really helpful when you said that you can ask friends for recommendations. My husband and I are planning on moving soon. We’ll make sure to keep these tips in mind as we search for a moving company!

  19. It’s good to know a piano would be better off moved by a professional. Recently, I learned that I’m moving for work. I’ll have to look for local movers.

  20. I thought that it was helpful when you suggested to pack by yourself, and have movers take it. My wife and I want to save money when we move this fall. I will be sure to pack all of our stuff myself.

  21. I love that you said that you could find movers who you could trust by asking friends and relatives if they could recommend one to you. We might need to move to a bigger home once we get a dog, and it would be important for us to know that we could find the right service to help us move when the time would come. If we need to move, I will be sure to get recommendations to help us choose a mover.

  22. Joshua, it’s great that you mentioned that it would probably cost me around $40 per hour when hiring local movers to help me move. My boyfriend and I are moving from our shabby apartment to a townhouse we just leased. We’re planning to hire a moving service to help us since our friends would not be available to help us move on weekdays. I’ll share this information with my boyfriend later so we can set a budget before we start looking for moving services in the city. Thanks!

  23. Its interesting when you said that hiring packers by the hour costs roughly $60 per hour on average across the country. I want to move houses next month and I want to hire a moving service to help me move my items. Thanks for the guide to moving and I hope that I can find a good service for myself soon.

  24. Your advice to talk to friends and relatives to find local movers would be very helpful. Maybe it would help to visit the mover’s website as well. After getting several options, it would probably be best to call and interview them to find the best local movers in your area.

  25. I found it helpful when you suggested comparing the estimates of local moving companies in order to choose the best moving company that can meet your needs. Last Friday, my parents mentioned to me that they need to move back to their old family house to stop renting. Since they have a restricted budget to consider, I will ask them to consider your tips.

  26. I liked how you pointed out that hiring some local movers can help you to have a stress-free move. We’re moving in the next few months and have been thinking about hiring some movers. It seems like it could help us to have an easier time this go around.

  27. I like the advice you shared about asking friends when you are looking for a moving company. My wife and I need to move out of our house by the end of the month. Asking our friends will help us find a moving company that can help us get out of our home.

  28. I love how you showed what to expect when it comes to movers pricing. My friend is moving out into a new apartment and is thinking about hiring movers because he has a lot of big furniture. Knowing common movers prices will be a huge help in avoiding getting scammed or stolen from.

  29. It’s interesting that you mentioned that on average across the nation, employing packers by the hour costs about $60. Next month, I want to relocate, and I want to hire a moving company to help me move my belongings. I appreciate the relocation assistance, and I’m hoping to find a reliable service soon.

  30. My family and I are seeking for movers to help us transfer our belongings to our new home. However, we were unsure how to select an appropriate service provider. We came on this website while hunting for a solution. It’s excellent that you mentioned looking for a licensed firm with skilled employees to ensure that the moving procedure goes well, providing us great peace of mind. Excellent advice; we will certainly consider that when selecting movers. Thanks.

  31. Thank you for explaining that you should look for the best local moving company if you have specialized things you need to move like a piano. My sister has been wondering if she should hire someone to help with moving her piano to her new home. I’ll have to share this advice with her since it seems like it would be a good idea to hire someone for this.

  32. My grandparents are moving from Tacoma and have been looking for movers to help them. I came on this website while looking for ways to assist them. It’s fantastic that you suggested looking for a company with proper licensing and a track record of history, so we can be confident they have experience in the area and are trustworthy. Thank you for the tip; I’ll inform my grandparents.

  33. I like that you said that hiring movers can help the process be problem-free and stress-free. My husband and I want to move closer to the city this year so that our work commutes aren’t so long. Hiring movers seems like the best option for making everything less stressful and for making sure everything gets there in one piece, so we’ll have to look into it.

  34. My grandparents are moving from Florida and are seeking some support. I stumbled across your article while trying to find an answer. It’s fantastic that you mentioned conducting online research to discover suitable movers. Additionally, examine their online reviews to obtain a sense of their reputation level. This appears to be a useful advice, and I’ll inform my grandparents about it so that they can find suitable movers as soon as possible. Thanks.

  35. I’ve been looking for a moving company to assist me with my move out of Albuquerque, but I wasn’t sure what to do until I came across your site. It’s fantastic that you mentioned doing online research to learn about potential movers’ credentials and previous successful work experience in handling moving task efficiently. This is a fantastic advice, and I’ll keep it in mind when I look for a moving company. Thanks.

  36. Aw, I feel so sad right now because my neighbor is going to move to Louisiana this summer. Nevertheless, I’m sure she’d appreciate your suggestion that getting multiple quotations can help us pick the best moving company based on our personal budget. In the end, I hope she hires the right mover to help her with the relocation process.

  37. Thank you for explaining what you can expect to pay for a mover on average. I’ve been thinking about hiring movers for our next move in March. I’ll be sure to look over our budget to see if it is in the cards for us.

  38. I’m looking for movers to help my family and me relocate our possessions to our new house. We didn’t know how to choose a suitable service provider, though. We were looking for a solution when we found this website. It’s nice that you recommended looking for a licensed company with experienced staff to make sure the moving process goes smoothly; it gives us a lot of peace of mind. Great advice; we will take it into account when choosing movers. Thanks.

  39. It’s great that you mentioned that it is a good idea to compare estimates when you are trying to hire a moving company. If you are moving locally, you would probably have to take a lot of loads and waste a lot of gas if you are trying to do it by yourself. Hiring an affordable moving company seems like the most budget-friendly thing to do in this situation.

  40. Great article! Hiring local movers can be a daunting task, but your guide makes it so much easier. You’ve covered all the important aspects such as research, budgeting, and verifying credentials. I especially appreciated the tips on getting quotes and checking reviews. Thank you for sharing your expertise!

  41. A comprehensive guide to hiring local movers can be found in this blog post. It covers topics such as research, quotes, and contracts, and provides helpful tips for making an informed decision. The post is a useful resource for anyone planning to move and needs to hire professional movers.

  42. I’m glad you mentioned that hiring a moving company will be advantageous because skilled workers will undertake the laborious lifting and transporting of large home items. A professional moving company would be a huge help for my cousin when she moves into their newly constructed home, in my opinion. I’ll make sure to let her know about this and look for qualified professionals that can assist her.

  43. Thank you for explaining usually short-distance movers will charge by the hour and not a fixed rate. I’ve been wondering how much we can expect to pay for movers to help us next month. I’ll be sure to keep this in mind when going over some of our options.

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