3 Best Moving Companies | How We Chose | Best Overall | Best for Range of Services | Best for Moving on a Budget | 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. |
With over 128 full-service movers operating in Pittsburgh, there are almost more moving companies to choose from than there are bridges in the city.
Whether you're moving to the South Side, the North Side, or the West End, we did the work of ranking moving companies for you. Our team spent over 100 hours researching and comparing the top options based on key criteria like cost, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
We also considered Pittsburgh-specific factors, such as added costs you may accrue as movers carry your furniture through Pittsburgh's narrower streets and hilly terrain.
Read on to see our top picks and find the right Pittsburgh mover for your needs.
| 🚚 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 Pittsburgh (at a Glance)
| Company | What We Like | Avg. Customer Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Make Moves | Best Overall | 4.7 (195 reviews) |
| Diversity Moving Company | Best for Range of Services | 4.8 (274 reviews) |
| Friendly Movers | Best for Moving on a Budget | 4.7 (184 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 Pittsburgh
1. Make Moves: Best Overall
Make Moves is our top recommended local moving company in Pittsburgh because of its good reputation and straightforward services.
Former clients gave Make Moves high ratings, with many commenting that it made their move seamless, provided them with a coordinated and efficient team, and provided excellent customer service. Most negative reviews are a few years old and revolve around process inefficiencies and damage claims.
The company provides labor-only, moving-only, and full-service local moving services in the Pittsburgh area's six counties. It can also offer specialty services depending on the request.
Make Moves earned a high reliability score for having two drivers per vehicle it owns. This lessens the chances of delays and conflicts even if an employee can’t make it to work on the day of the service.
|
⚡ 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. Diversity Moving Company: Best for Range of Services
Diversity Moving Company is one of the best professional movers in Pittsburgh because of its trusted reputation and wide range of services.
Previous customers gave it high ratings for its experienced moving team, praising its professionalism, friendliness, and efficiency. Its negative company reviews, however, are more from the customer service side, with some complaints about the owner rubbing clients the wrong way.
Its moving services are available throughout Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas. It can handle full-service residential and commercial moves, as well as long-distance, on-site, and same-day moves. It also provides packing, unpacking, delivery, removals, and storage solutions.
Diversity Moving Company only received a medium reliability rating because it only has one driver for each vehicle it owns. This can lead to potential delays, particularly when a worker is absent on the day of the scheduled move.
3. Friendly Movers: Best for Moving on a Budget
Friendly Movers is our recommended moving service for Pittsburgh residents looking to move on a budget. We were quoted $1,150 to move a 3-bedroom home. This is a few hundred dollars cheaper than the city average of $1,421.
Reviews from previous customers are positively gleaming, with multiple commendations for its accurate quotes, easy booking process, and excellent unloading and moving-in team. It received a few negative company reviews due to miscommunications with clients.
The company has been serving the greater Pittsburgh area since 2006. It handles full-service local and long-distance residential moves, as well as commercial moving services. It can also perform piano and antique moving.
Although Friendly Movers has a good number of vehicles, it only has a one-to-one ratio of drivers to vehicles. This can be the cause of potential delays if an employee can’t come into work — which is why we only gave it a medium reliability score.
Next Steps: Compare Moving Companies in Pittsburgh
How Much Do Movers Cost in Pittsburgh?
Hiring a full-service mover in Pittsburgh will cost you $290 for a studio apartment and $1,421 for a 3-bedroom home. A 5-bedroom home will cost about $2,489. If you're moving out-of-state or long-distance, you'll end up 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.
⚠️ Reserve your parking spot: Parking permits for moving trucks are $25 for two days. You should apply at least one week in advance. Apply online at OneStopPGH.
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 Pittsburgh?
If you're moving locally within Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh,” 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
