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
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There are over 273 movers in Portland, Oregon. Picking the right company is like deciding which bridge to cross over the Willamette on your commute — too many options to choose from.
Fortunately, we did the research for you and found the three best moving services in Portland. Our team spent 100 hours researching and comparing the best companies. We selected the best based on criteria like cost, reliability, and customer experience.
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3 Best Moving Companies in Portland (at a Glance)
| Company | What We Like | Avg. Customer Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Moving Services | Best Overall | 4.9 (622 reviews) |
| All Service Moving | Best for Range of Services | 4.7 (3359 reviews) |
| Willamette Valley Moving | Best for Moving on a Budget | 4.9 (1018 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 Portland
1. Priority Moving Services: Best Overall
Priority Moving Services is one of the best professional movers for Portland residents. According to reviews, it has a stellar reputation, excellent services, and affordable rates. Customers also said that its experienced and well-trained moving team made the moving process seamless. Priority had a few negative company reviews. These mentioned miscommunications, slow moves, and damage.
Priority is based in Hillsboro and caters to the Portland metro area. It offers residential, commercial, and coastal moving, as well as packing and storage. It doesn’t move specialty items, like hot tubs, pool tables, volatile chemicals, artwork, or guns.
Priority Moving Services only has two drivers per vehicle, which could lead to delays or scheduling issues. But it also has one of the most affordable rates. The quote it gave us was only $1,800 for a three-bedroom move, which is much cheaper than the city average of $2,420.
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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. All Service Moving: Best for Range of Services
All Service Moving is a West Coast moving company with a wide range of moving services in Portland. The company specializes in residential, commercial, and long-distance moving. Its other services include packing and unpacking, storage, shipping, warehousing, and moving consultations.
It has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from third-party review sites. Many of these reviews mentioned well-coordinated moving teams and consistent, excellent services. Its negative reviews were primarily about damage claims.
All Service has a lot of vehicles, which means it's probably pretty easy to book. But it only has two drivers on its roster per vehicle, which could cause delays or scheduling issues.
We did find something a little unusual when we looked into service violations. All Service Moving has had 13 out-of-service violations in the past two years. Most companies have three or fewer. These violations occur when there's a disruption of service, like car trouble or an unfit driver. You might want to look more into this issue before you schedule your move.
3. Willamette Valley Moving: Best for Moving on a Budget
Willamette Valley Moving offers local and long-distance residential and commercial moving services in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. It has upfront pricing, affordable service, and a good reputation.
Willamette Valley's reviews are mostly positive. Many reviewers said that the moving team was efficient and experienced. There were a few negative reviews that mentioned miscommunication and poor customer service, but they were from a few years ago.
The company's rates are also very affordable. Willamette Valley Moving quoted us $1,824 to move a three-bedroom home. That's much cheaper than the city’s average of $2,420.
Willamette does only have fewer than two drivers per vehicle. That's not a direct problem, but it could cause scheduling delays.
Next Steps: Compare Moving Companies in Portland
How Much Do Movers Cost in Portland?
Full-service moving in Portland costs around $460 for a studio apartment. A 3-bedroom home will cost around $2,420, and a 5-bedroom is around $4,270. Long-distance moves will cost even more.
Full-service moving rates depend on how much stuff you have, your timeline, how far you're going, and how much help you need. Reach out to one of these top moving companies for an accurate quote for your situation.
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 Portland?
If you're moving locally within Portland, 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 Portland,” 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
