3 Best Moving Companies | How We Chose | Best Overall | Best for Long Distance Moves | Best for Range of Services | Cost of Movers | Avoiding Scams
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In Richmond, hiring a full-service mover costs an average of $2,004 for a three-bedroom home. This is a little higher than the national average of $1,963, but many people are happy to pay for the convenience.
Moving from a three-bedroom home requires four movers working about eight hours. They'll pack your belongings, load them into the truck, and unpack them at your new home. Your total cost will include labor charges of about $50 per mover per hour, the cost of the truck, packing supplies, and a 10–20% tip.
We assessed 141 local moving companies in Richmond and found the top three options.
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3 Best Moving Companies in Richmond (at a Glance)
| Company | What We Like | Avg. Customer Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Mover Dudes | Best Overall | 4.7 (1287 reviews) |
| On The Fly Moving Guys | Best for Long Distance Moves | 4.8 (111 reviews) |
| WB Movers | Best for Range of Services | 4.3 (107 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 Richmond
1. Mover Dudes: Best Overall
Mover Dudes is our recommended moving service for residents in Richmond because of its 15 years of expertise and wide range of services. It has amassed a number of company reviews, with past customers praising the company’s excellent customer service ethic and efficient and personable moving team. However, it does have several negative reviews revolving around damaged goods and mismanaged claims.
Mover Dudes caters to local communities around RVA, Chesapeake, Roanoke, Norfolk, and the rest of southern Virginia and surrounding areas. It can handle full-service residential and commercial moving, both local and long-distance. Besides that, it also moves fragile and large items, like pool tables, hot tubs, and antiques.
While it does have a number of vehicles, we only gave it a medium reliability score for having just above one driver per vehicle — which can indicate possible scheduling issues if a worker calls in sick and can’t come to work.
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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. On The Fly Moving Guys: Best for Long Distance Moves
Those looking for expert long-distance moving services in Richmond should reach out to On The Fly Moving Guys, LLC. It's a family-owned local moving company offering full-service local and long-distance residential moving, as well as office and senior moving throughout the Richmond area. Besides that, it also offers labor-only services, packing services, and junk removals.
Its online ratings are high, with former clients commending its efficient and friendly team and excellent customer service. It has a few negative company reviews due to some miscommunications.
We only gave The Fly Moving Guys a medium for reliability rating, as it only has one driver for each vehicle it owns. This lack of drivers might contribute to scheduling issues or delays. However, if you decide to rent your own truck, you can get the company to drive it for you for no extra cost.
3. WB Movers: Best for Range of Services
WB Movers is a Virginia-based local moving company with a wide range of services. In reviews, past clients commend its team for being punctual and professional and providing quick and efficient service. It has a few negative reviews that mention the team mishandling some items and not managing their time properly.
Located in Waynesboro, WB Movers' services are available in surrounding areas — Richmond included. It offers full-service moving and removal, cleaning, and delivery services. You can also use its labor-only services like packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, and driving rental trucks. On top of that, it can handle delicate items like pianos, safes, and pool tables.
We gave the company a medium reliability rating for having only one driver per vehicle it owns. While not necessarily a problem, it can be a possible source of delays if an employee calls off work.
Next Steps: Compare Moving Companies in Richmond
How Much Do Movers Cost in Richmond?
On average, hiring a local full-service mover in Richmond costs $500 for a studio apartment and $2,004 for a 3-bedroom home. More square footage means more money — a 5-bedroom home will cost you $3,432. Interstate and long-distance moves will be even costlier.
Full-service moving rates can vary widely, 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 Richmond?
If you're moving locally within Richmond, 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 Richmond,” 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
