3 Best Moving Companies | How We Chose | Best Overall | Best for Long-Distance Moves | Best for Trusted Reputation | Cost of Movers | Avoiding Scams
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Philadelphia has over 579 moving companies. Shopping for the right one is like a stroll through Reading Terminal Market on an empty stomach — all of your options look great at first.
But not all Philly moving companies are equally satisfying. Our team narrowed down the field to the 192 best moving services. We spent 100 hours researching and comparing the top options based on key criteria like cost, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
Read on to see our top picks: Best overall, best long-distance mover, and best reputation.
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3 Best Moving Companies in Philadelphia (at a Glance)
| Company | What We Like | Avg. Customer Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Old City Movers | Best Overall | 4.7 (598 reviews) |
| Suburban Solutions Moving and Transport | Best for Long-Distance Moves | 4.8 (442 reviews) |
| Broad Street Movers | Best for Trusted Reputation | 4.8 (553 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 Philadelphia
1. Old City Movers: Best Overall
We consider Old City Movers the best overall moving company in Philadelphia because of its wide array of services. It's well-regarded online, with reviews highlighting its exceptional team of professional movers and their quick and careful approach to every job. It has a few negative reviews about miscommunications and damage claims — but these are a few years old.
Old City Movers has been catering to the greater Philadelphia region since 2007 and offers local and long-distance moving, labor-only services, piano moving, and art moving. While its team can also offer hoisting services, this depends on the item.
We gave Old City Movers a high reliability rating for having at least three drivers per vehicle it owns. This means it can handle almost any job without a hitch — even if a worker is absent on the day of the move.
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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. Suburban Solutions Moving and Transport: Best for Long-Distance Moves
We recommend Suburban Solutions Moving and Transport for its flat-rate pricing for long-distance moves. In reviews, past customers commend its efficient and professional moving team for their careful approach and friendly demeanor. It has a couple of negative reviews complaining about its customer service and response time to queries.
Suburban Solutions Moving and Transport has several branches, with its Havertown, Pennsylvania, branch serving the greater Philadelphia area. It handles local and long-distance moving, as well as packing, removals, and even piano moving.
Because Suburban Solutions Moving and Transport has a three-to-one ratio of drivers to vehicles, it should be highly reliable. Employee absences won’t cause delays or affect the quality of its services.
3. Broad Street Movers : Best for Trusted Reputation
Broad Street Movers is one of our recommended Philadelphia movers because of its stellar reputation. Its company reviews are mostly positive and praise its excellent services, friendly team, and careful approach. There are a few negative comments about miscommunicated expectations. However, several of these were flagged as fraudulent.
Broad Street Movers has been providing its moving services to Philadelphia and the Mid-Atlantic region since 2008. It can handle full-service residential and commercial moves, long-distance moves, and labor-only jobs. It even offers express moving services for those moving to New York City and Washington, DC.
With two drivers per vehicle it owns, Broad Street Movers should be able to handle your move even in peak seasons. Broad Street Movers may also save you money on your move — it quoted us $1,916 for a 3-bedroom move, which is lower than the local average of $2,424.
Next Steps: Compare Moving Companies in Philadelphia
How Much Do Movers Cost in Philadelphia?
On average, hiring professional movers in Philadelphia will cost you $464 for a studio apartment and $2,424 for a 3-bedroom home. Even larger homes are more expensive — expect to pay up to $4,274 for a 5-bedroom home. Long-distance and interstate moves will cost even more.
Full-service moving rates can vary widely depending on the size of your home, the distance you're moving, and the level of service you want, so reach out to a moving company for an accurate quote.
⚠️ Watch out for parking tickets: The Philadelphia Parking Authority is so well-known for writing tickets that it once had its own TV show, "Parking Wars." Avoid tickets by purchasing a temporary parking permit for $15.
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 Philadelphia?
If you're moving locally within Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia,” 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
