3 Best Moving Companies | How We Chose | Best Overall | Best for Long Distance Moving | Best for Trusted Reputation | Cost of Movers | Avoiding Scams
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In Sarasota, hiring a mover costs an average of $1,640 for a three-bedroom home. This may seem like a lot of money, but it's actually cheaper than the national average of $1,963. Many people find the cost well worth it.
For a three-bedroom home, you'll need four movers working for about eight hours to pack your belongings, load the truck, then deliver everything and unpack at your new home. You'll end up paying about $50 per mover per hour, plus the cost of the truck, packing supplies, and a 10–20% tip.
We assessed 227 local moving companies in Sarasota and ranked the top three so you know where to begin your search.
3 Best Moving Companies in Sarasota (at a Glance)
Company | What We Like | Avg. Customer Rating |
---|---|---|
Bull Moving | Best Overall | 4.6 (1127 reviews) |
Eagle Moving | Best for Long Distance Moving | 4.5 (1012 reviews) |
Master Movers | Best for Trusted Reputation | 4.9 (542 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 Sarasota
1. Bull Moving: Best Overall
Bull Moving earned the title of best overall mover in Sarasota with a combination of very reasonable pricing, good reviews, and a solid menu of services.
Bull holds a 4.55 out of 5 average rating based on over 1,100 company reviews. Satisfied customers mentioned Bull’s careful handling and fast, efficient work. The occasional negative review mentioned damage to items and hidden extra fees.
Bull Moving offers local residential and commercial moves, as well as packing and loading services and junk removal. It also offers out-of-state moves, so if you’re heading across the country, Bull Moving deserves a look.
We gave Bull Moving a medium reliability rating since it employs a single registered driver for its company moving vehicle.
We should also note that Bull Moving provided us with an estimate of $1,425 for a three-bedroom move within Sarasota, which is lower than the area average of $1,640.
2. Eagle Moving: Best for Long Distance Moving
Eagle Moving offers comprehensive long-distance interstate moving services to all 50 states, including packing and unpacking and loading and unloading. It’ll also supply all the packing supplies you need.
Eagle Moving has good company reviews, averaging 4.5 out of 5, based on over a thousand ratings. Satisfied reviewers mentioned expert, careful handling and professional movers. The relatively rare negative reviews usually talked about damaged items.
In addition to interstate moving, Eagle offers local moves throughout Florida. We gave the company a medium reliability rating since it employs one registered driver to operate its company vehicle.
3. Master Movers: Best for Trusted Reputation
Master Movers averages 4.93 out of 5 based on over 540 reviews. Satisfied customers mentioned thorough attention to detail and professional movers, while the very rare negative review mentioned high fees.
Master Movers offers standard services like local residential and commercial moves, as well as services like senior moves, packing and unpacking, custom crates, and specialized moves of items like safes, pianos, and fitness equipment. It also offers long-distance cross-country moves.
We gave Master Movers a medium reliability rating because it employs one registered driver for each of its two company vehicles.
How Much Do Movers Cost in Sarasota?
If you're hiring a full-service professional mover in Sarasota, expect to pay $383 for a studio apartment and $1,640 for a 3-bedroom home. A 5-bedroom home will cost about $2,834 to move. Out-of-state and long-distance moves will add even more to the final cost.
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.
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.
Moving Companies in Sarasota to AVOID
Be wary of movers that provide a low quote that seems too good to be true. Victims of a recent moving company scam fell for deceptively low quotes provided by Andrey Shuklin of Miami, who was later sentenced to 78 months in prison for his role in the extortion scheme.
Unified Van Lines
This company was one of several that Andrey Shulkin used to defraud clients. The company stole over $2.5 million from customers over a five-year period. Prosecutors said Shulkin and others falsely inflated the number of goods customers were shipping, then held their belongings hostage until the customers paid more.
How Far in Advance Should I Reach Out to a Mover in Sarasota?
If you're moving locally within Sarasota, 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:
- “The 5 Most Affordable Sarasota Movers Near You,” Hire A Helper
- “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