3 Best Moving Companies | How We Chose | Best Overall | Best for Long-Distance Moves | Best for Range of Services | 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. |
You can choose from more than 189 moving companies in the Minneapolis area, so let us help you narrow your options. Our researchers found the best moving companies in Minneapolis based on specifics like cost, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
Read on to see our top three picks: Best overall, best for long-distance moves, and best for range of services.
| 🚚 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 Minneapolis (at a Glance)
| Company | What We Like | Avg. Customer Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Good Stuff Moving | Best Overall | 4.4 (904 reviews) |
| General Expert Moving Service | Best for Long-Distance Moves | 5.0 (131 reviews) |
| College Muscle Movers | Best for Range of Services | 4.1 (462 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 Minneapolis
1. Good Stuff Moving: Best Overall
Good Stuff Moving, a local family-owned moving company in the Twin Cities, is our top choice for moving in Minneapolis.
Good Stuff has more than 20 years of experience moving its customers and an extensive full-service offering. Out of more than 900 online reviews, it has an average rating of 4.3 stars out of 5. Previous clients praise Good Stuff for its affordable services and its professional, hard-working team.
Customers have also given Good Stuff Moving a number of negative company reviews, which include complaints about workers' slow speed (that can raise the hourly cost) and lost items.
Good Stuff primarily services the Twin Cities region, but also offers long-distance residential moving throughout Minnesota and across the U.S. It provides commercial moving, too, as well as packing and labor-only services.
We gave Good Stuff Moving a high reliability rating. It has almost two drivers per vehicle, meaning it should have enough workers to handle your move even if one worker can't make it to work.
|
⚡ 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. General Expert Moving Service: Best for Long-Distance Moves
We recommend General Expert Moving Service to those looking for professional long-distance movers in Minneapolis.
General Expert has a 5-star rating online. Previous clients rave about the company's professional work ethic, organized approach, and outstanding customer service satisfaction. While its ratings are unblemished, only 130 people have reviewed General Expert Moving Services online. That's not that many reviews for a company that’s been around for over 15 years. Many companies we review have more than 1,000 reviews.
You can use General Expert's local and long-distance moving services throughout the Twin Cities region. Besides its full-service residential moving, it also handles commercial moving, delivery, junk removals, packing and unpacking, as well as other labor-only services.
We gave General Expert Moving Service a very high reliability rating for having four drivers per vehicle it owns. This means it can handle most big jobs and won’t lack the workers to complete a move, even if several get sick at the same time.
3. College Muscle Movers: Best for Range of Services
We recommend College Muscle Movers in Minneapolis if you need a wide range of moving services.
College Muscle Movers rates highly online, with an average rating of 4.13 stars out of 5. Past clients praise its team for being courteous, communicative, and professional. College Muscle Movers also has a number of negative reviews focused on mishandling items and the complexity of its billing. The company has responded to most of these negative reviews.
The company's moving services are available throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul region. The company also offers long-distance moving to anywhere in the continental U.S. Additionally, you can contract for labor-only services, packing, storage, removals, repairs, and cleaning.
We gave College Muscle Movers a high reliability rating. It has almost two drivers for each vehicle it owns, meaning it will typically have enough workers to complete a job, even if someone calls in sick.
Next Steps: Compare Moving Companies in Minneapolis
How Much Do Movers Cost in Minneapolis?
Full-service moving in Minneapolis costs an average of $393 for a studio apartment and $2,034 for a 3-bedroom home. Moving a 5-bedroom home costs around $3,592. Long-distance and out-of-state moves are even more expensive.
Full-service moving rates vary widely depending on the specifics of your move, so reach out moving companies for quotes.
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 Minneapolis?
If you're moving locally within Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis,” 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
