3 Best Moving Companies | How We Chose | Best Overall | Best for Long Distance Moving | Best for Trusted Reputation | Cost of Movers | Avoiding Scams
| We strive to provide objective, independent advice and reviews. When you hire a moving service through a link on this page, we may earn a commission. |
If you're looking for a full-service mover in Jacksonville, you have a lot of options to choose from. There are over 38 movers rated 4 stars or above in the city.
Local full-service moving companies will pack up all of your belongings, load them onto the truck, and deliver them to your new residence, where they unpack everything. Some movers will even move you across town or across the country if you need to move long distance.
We reviewed 148 local moving companies in Jacksonville and ranked the top three so you know where to begin your search.
| 🚚 Ready to get moving? Compare top moving companies near you, get custom quotes, and see all available discounts. 100% free with no obligation. Get started now! |
3 Best Moving Companies in Jacksonville (at a Glance)
| Company | What We Like | Avg. Customer Rating |
|---|---|---|
| College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving - Jacksonville | Best Overall | 4.6 (1898 reviews) |
| Jaguar Moving | Best for Long Distance Moving | 4.5 (562 reviews) |
| Gate Parkway Movers | Best for Trusted Reputation | 4.9 (130 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 Jacksonville
1. College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving - Jacksonville: Best Overall
College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving is the best overall mover in Jacksonville because it has great reviews and offers a wide selection of moving services. In reviews, satisfied customers noted the company’s professionalism and great communication, while a few dissatisfied customers mentioned unexpected charges.
College Hunks offers standard services like local and long-distance moving, residential and commercial moves, and packing services, as well as more specialized services like donation pickups, light demolition, home staging, and junk removal.
Finally, College Hunks earned a medium reliability rating from us, as it employs two registered drivers for its two-vehicle fleet.
|
⚡ Quick Tip: We recommend getting custom quotes from independent moving brokers. These services are free to use with no obligation and make it easy to compare multiple options to find the best fit and value. Get instant quotes here. |
2. Jaguar Moving: Best for Long Distance Moving
Jaguar Moving is the go-to Jacksonville mover for out of state moves, as it serves the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Unless you’re moving to Alaska or Hawaii, Jaguar can take you there!
The company has great reviews, too, with satisfied customers noting its careful, courteous employees, and fast work. A few reviewers were also repeat customers, which is a great indicator of quality. The occasional negative reviews mentioned damage to items and lateness.
Jaguar Moving offers a modest selection of services, focused mainly on residential moving, both in-state and out-of-state.
Jaguar earned a high reliability rating from us, as the company employs two registered drivers for its single vehicle — which keeps open a lot of scheduling possibilities.
3. Gate Parkway Movers: Best for Trusted Reputation
Gate Parkway Movers boasts some of the best reviews of any Jacksonville moving company, averaging a stellar 4.85 out of 5 based on 130 reviews. In company reviews, satisfied customers repeatedly mentioned transparent pricing with no hidden fees and careful handling of valuable or unwieldy items. The very rare negative reviews mentioned poor communication.
Gate Parkway offers basic local residential moving services, along with occasional promotional discounts and free moving boxes. This company earned a high reliability rating from us since it employs two registered drivers for its single vehicle — a level of staffing that enables wide scheduling possibilities.
Customers on a budget should give Gate Parkway a long look, too. The company’s estimate of $1,000 for a three-bedroom move within Jacksonville is significantly less than the area average of $1,786.
Next Steps: Compare Moving Companies in Jacksonville
How Much Do Movers Cost in Jacksonville?
On average, full-service moving in Jacksonville costs $353 for a studio apartment and around $1,786 for a 3-bedroom home. Larger homes are even more expensive — a 5-bedroom home will set you back about $3,140. Interstate and other long-distance moves will have additional charges.
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.
Moving Companies in Jacksonville to AVOID
Be wary of movers that provide a low quote that seems too good to be true. Victims of a recent moving company scam fell for deceptively low quotes provided by Andrey Shuklin of Miami, who was later sentenced to 78 months in prison for his role in the extortion scheme.
Unified Van Lines
This company was one of several that Andrey Shulkin used to defraud clients. The company stole over $2.5 million from customers over a five-year period. Prosecutors said Shulkin and others falsely inflated the number of goods customers were shipping, then held their belongings hostage until the customers paid more.
How Far in Advance Should I Reach Out to a Mover in Jacksonville?
If you're moving locally within Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville,” 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
