3 Best Moving Companies | How We Chose | Best Overall | Best for Long Distance Moving | Best for Trusted Reputation | Cost of Movers | Avoiding Scams
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Hiring a full-service local mover in Kansas City will cost about $2,111 for a three-bedroom home. This may seem like a lot, but many people find the convenience of professional movers to be worth it.
For a three-bedroom home, you'll need four movers working for about eight hours. The movers pack all of your belongings, load them onto the truck, and deliver them to your new home, where they unpack everything. Your total bill will include labor costs of about $50 per mover per hour, plus the cost of the truck, packing supplies, and a 10–20% tip.
We assessed 144 local moving companies in Kansas City and ranked the top three so you know where to begin your search.
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3 Best Moving Companies in Kansas City (at a Glance)
| Company | What We Like | Avg. Customer Rating |
|---|---|---|
| College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving - Kansas City | Best Overall | 4.6 (1416 reviews) |
| A Friend With A Truck Movers | Best for Long Distance Moving | 4.6 (738 reviews) |
| Mike Hammer Moving | Best for Trusted Reputation | 4.5 (473 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 Kansas City
1. College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving - Kansas City: Best Overall
College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving is our top-recommended local moving company in Kansas City because of its excellent services and 15 years of experience. In reviews, clients praise how punctual, professional, and efficient its team is. Meanwhile, negative company reviews complained about misquoted services and accidental breakages — though most of these are old and may have been meant for different companies.
College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving offers moving services throughout the majority of Kansas City. Besides short- and long-distance moving, the company provides junk removal, donation pick-up, and various acts of labor, from staging to light demolition.
We gave the company a high-reliability score, as it has more than two drivers per vehicle. This means it has the workforce to handle big jobs and won’t cancel on you if one of its workers gets sick or is out.
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⚡ 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. A Friend With A Truck Movers: Best for Long Distance Moving
We recommend A Friend With A Truck Movers for its high online ratings, comprehensive local coverage, and expert solutions. Previous clients praise its punctuality, professionalism, expertise, and friendliness.
There are a few negative company reviews (most of which are from more than two years ago). The most recent complaints cited that the truck provided was too small. The owner has been proactive, replying to most and attempting to rectify the situation.
A Friend With A Truck Movers offers services throughout Kansas City’s metro and surrounding areas. Aside from residential and long-distance moving, it provides commercial moving and packing and shipping services. Its team can even handle fragile and oversized items.
On top of that, the company has a high-reliability rating — meaning it has more than enough extra hands to ensure your move happens without a hitch.
3. Mike Hammer Moving: Best for Trusted Reputation
Mike Hammer Moving is one of our recommended picks because of its stellar ratings and full-service coverage throughout Kansas City. Reviewers praised its efficient and careful moving services, saying they recommend it to anyone needing professional movers. While it does have a few negative reviews, mostly from several years back, the recent ones are unverified and target more personal biases.
Mike Hammer Moving services the entire Kansas City metro area and surrounding cities, with local offices in Leawood, Lenexa, Olathe, Overland, and Shawnee. It handles local and long-distance moving, including residential, commercial, office, furniture, and senior moving services.
Besides a wide service area and all-encompassing service, it has a medium-reliability rating, as it has at least one driver for each van it owns.
Next Steps: Compare Moving Companies in Kansas City
How Much Do Movers Cost in Kansas City?
The average cost of full-service movers in Kansas City runs from $409 for a studio apartment to about $2,111 for a 3-bedroom home. Expect to pay around $3,715 for a 5-bedroom home. Moving long distance or out of state will cost 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 Kansas City?
If you're moving locally within Kansas City, 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 Kansas 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
