3 Best Moving Companies | How We Chose | Best Overall | Best for Trusted Reputation | Best for Moving on a Budget | Cost of Movers | Avoiding Scams
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There are 999 moving companies in the borough of Brooklyn, and finding the right one for you can be a bit of a challenge.
We narrowed the field down to the 333 best moving services, then our team spent over 100 hours researching and comparing the top options based on key criteria like price point, reliability, and customer experience.
We also considered the challenges you might face while moving in Brooklyn, like additional fees from your mover for elevator trips and every flight of stairs.
Read on to see our top picks for local, full-service moving companies in Brooklyn.
3 Best Moving Companies in Brooklyn (at a Glance)
Company | What We Like | Avg. Customer Rating |
---|---|---|
Man With A Van | Best Overall | 4.3 (1012 reviews) |
Dyno Moving | Best for Trusted Reputation | 4.9 (602 reviews) |
Rabbit Moving & Storage | Best for Moving on a Budget | 3.75 (1132 reviews) |
How We Chose the Companies on This List
Our team spent over 100 hours researching moving companies across the United States. We started with a list of more than 25,000 moving companies, then narrowed it down by eliminating companies that:
- Were not registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA)
- Had fewer than 10 customer reviews
- Didn’t have a website
- Had a relatively high number of safety and service violations according to the FMCSA
The remaining companies were ranked based on the following metrics:
- 5x: Average customer rating across all platforms (Yelp, Google, Angi, etc.)
- 4x: Total number of customer reviews (more reviews indicates a more reliable average rating)
- 3x: Total count of out-of-service violations (as indicated by the FMCSA)
- 2x: How many drivers a company has on staff per vehicles it has registered
- 1x: Whether a company is full-service or only offers labor services
Each metric was normalized and then graded on a 100-point scale. The combined weighted average of the scores determined the final ranking score.
We also mystery-shopped to gather quotes from more than 150 moving companies and surveyed our team members — who have moved more than 300 times collectively — on what was most important to them when choosing a moving company.
Who Should Use a Full-Service Mover?
We recommend full-service movers for people who can budget at least $300 for a one-bedroom apartment and at least $1,600 for a three-bedroom home.
Full-service is helpful if you have large, complicated things to move, can’t carry heavy stuff, or have a busy schedule (which may include closing on your new home). Likewise, if you don’t have friends and family available to help, hiring experts can make your move much quicker.
Full-service moving typically includes:
- Packing your items
- Disassembling furniture
- Loading the truck with your items
- Delivery to your new home
- Reassembling furniture
If you feel comfortable doing some of the heavy lifting and driving yourself, consider DIY moving or using labor-only movers who help you load your rented truck. DIY will certainly save you money (but maybe not your back).
3 Best Moving Companies in Brooklyn
1. Man With A Van: Best Overall
Man with a Van offers a broad spectrum of moving services, from basic residential and commercial moves to same-day moves, single-item moves, piano and fitness equipment moves, and furniture assembly and disassembly.
It also has solid company reviews, with an average rating of 4.28 out of 5 based on over a thousand ratings. Satisfied customers mentioned things like a smooth scheduling and payment system, along with great communication from the company. The occasional dissatisfied customer mentioned damage to items or lateness.
Man with a Van operates in the New York metro area, Greater Philadelphia area, and many New Jersey areas. We rated Man with a Van as a low-reliability mover since it has fewer than one qualified driver, on average, for each of its 18 vehicles, which could lead to scheduling difficulties at peak times.
This company does offer a fairly competitive price, though. Man with a Van quoted us $1,880 for a three-bedroom move within Brooklyn, which is less than the Brooklyn average of $2,051.
2. Dyno Moving: Best for Trusted Reputation
Dyno Moving has excellent ratings, averaging 4.85 out of 5 with over six hundred company reviews. Happy reviewers singled out Dyno’s clear communication, great value for the price, and attention to details, like whether or not the customer wanted to pay for extras like tolls. Many reviewers were repeat customers, which is a great sign.
Dyno Moving offers residential and commercial moving services, including packing and unpacking and loading and unloading. It also offers specialized services like piano moving. Dyno offers its services in the tri-state area of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. If you’re moving further out than that, you may need to look elsewhere.
We rated Dyno Moving as a medium-reliability mover since it maintains an average of one qualified driver for each of its seven vehicles. Customers on a budget should give Dyno a long look — it gave us an estimate of $1,400 for a three-bedroom move within Brooklyn, which is significantly less than the area average of $2,051.
3. Rabbit Moving & Storage: Best for Moving on a Budget
Rabbit Moving & Storage’s service is a steal for those looking to save on their move — the company quoted us $1,038 for a three-bedroom home — over $1,000 less than the Brooklyn average. Not to mention, Rabbit has more than one driver for its fleet of eight vehicles, so it can handle several moves at once, even in peak seasons.
Rabbit’s moving crews are made up of local artists (it even holds impromptu mobile art exhibitions in its moving trucks), so moving with this company is a unique way to support the art community. In addition to traditional full-service moving, the company offers storage, reusable moving bins to reduce waste, and high-end art handling.
That said, its customer reviews aren’t as compelling as the other companies on our list. On average, customers gave Rabbit Moving & Storage 3.75 stars in more than 1,000 reviews. Still, plenty of reviewers said its crews safely and efficiently moved their belongings from multi-story walk-ups, noting how professional they were. A few disgruntled Facebook reviewers mentioned missing items and broken furniture, though.
How Much Do Movers Cost in Brooklyn?
The average cost to use full-service movers in Brooklyn runs from $393 for a studio apartment to $2,051 for a 3-bedroom home. A 5-bedroom home will cost about $3,623. If you're moving out of Brooklyn to upstate or to another state entirely, count on paying even more.
Full-service moving rates can vary widely depending on the specifics of your move, so reach out to a moving company for an accurate quote.
Typical Cost Breakdown
The cost of your full-service move depends primarily on four key factors:
- Size of your home
- Number of movers and hours you’ll need them
- Driving distance from door to door
- Charge for use of truck (if not included in hourly rate)
At base, most companies charge an hourly rate per mover, then tack on additional fees for other factors.
Don’t forget to tip 💸It’s common courtesy to tip your movers 10–20% of the total cost. For a three-bedroom home, that could be upwards of $300. |
Other Things That Could Increase Your Cost
Circumstances and challenges specific to your move could cost you more money.
🕰️ Timing |
Companies often charge higher rates for weekends, holidays, and jobs that require movers to work overtime. |
🎹 Specialty items |
Moving pianos or other heavy and awkward pieces might require additional time and movers. |
🧳 Packing supplies |
Extra bubble wrap for fragile items, large wardrobe boxes for clothes, and other packing supplies can add up. Save by providing your own. |
📦 Unpacking service |
Some companies offer unpacking as part of full-service moving. You can save money by doing this yourself. |
🏢 Difficult circumstances |
Stairs, narrow hallways, elevators, and distant parking can incur additional time and fees. |
🗝️ Storage |
If your new home isn’t ready, you’ll need to store your items until you can move in. |
🛡️ Insurance |
If your renters or homeowners insurance policy doesn’t cover transport of your possessions, you can buy insurance from your moving company or a third party. |
How to Get a Quote
You can get a quote from most movers by calling or filling out an online form to provide details about your home.
For the most accurate estimate, ask the mover to stop by your home in person or virtually to take a look at your belongings. This will allow the mover to take note of more complicated items, such as antique furniture or extra heavy items.
Alternatively, a moving broker can do the work for you, providing a quote from a carrier in your area.
How to Avoid Moving Company Scams
Check your mover’s Federal registration. You can check the company’s registration, violations, and complaint history by searching on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website.
Look for complaints on the Better Business Bureau website. Searching the company’s BBB profile can give you an idea of what kinds of complaints have been filed against the company and how the business resolved them.
Understand your rights and responsibilities. By law, every interstate mover must provide documentation about your rights as a consumer and the mover’s responsibilities. Make sure you read it carefully!
Know about your insurance options. If you’re moving within the same state, your mover may offer you coverage, or you can purchase a moving insurance policy independently. According to Federal law, interstate movers must offer two different types of valuation coverage: full value protection and released value.
If you notice one or more of these red flags when researching a moving company, it's probably best to avoid it.
How Far in Advance Should I Reach Out to a Mover in Brooklyn?
If you're moving locally within Brooklyn, look for a moving company about one month before your move — or two months ahead of time if you plan to move during the peak season of May through August. For interstate moves, start looking two to three months out, depending on the season.Sources
We drew from the following sources to write this article:
- “What is the Cost to Move in New York City,” moveBuddha
- “Here’s How to Determine How Many Movers You Need for Your Next Move,” Angi
- “How Many Movers Do I Need?” moveBuddha
- “Liability and Protection,” Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- “Spot the Red Flags,” Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration