3 Best Moving Companies | How We Chose | Best Overall | Best for Straightforward Pricing | Best for Moving on a Budget | Cost of Movers | Avoiding Scams
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Finding a Seattle mover that fits your needs is like trying to choose the best coffee shop in the city: nearly impossible. You have over 540 local moving companies to choose from.
Luckily, we've done the searching for you, narrowing the field down to the three best moving companies. Our team spent 100 hours researching and comparing the top options based on key elements such as price, reliability, and customer ratings.
Read on to see our top picks for moving companies in Seattle.
| 🚚 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 Seattle (at a Glance)
| Company | What We Like | Avg. Customer Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Eco Movers Moving | Best Overall | 4.8 (1561 reviews) |
| Adam's Moving & Delivery Service | Best for Straightforward Pricing | 4.7 (1628 reviews) |
| Kangaroo Movers | Best for Moving on a Budget | 4.8 (1271 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 Seattle
1. Eco Movers Moving: Best Overall
Eco Movers Moving is our top recommended mover in Seattle because of its wide range of services, above average online rating, and commitment to eco-friendly practices.
Eco Movers Moving works throughout the state of Washington. It offers local and long-distance moving, handling residential, commercial, and labor-only moves. It also provides packing services and warehouse storage solutions.
Company reviews for Eco Movers Moving are largely positive, with past clients commending its efficient and professional team, as well as for always completing the job quickly. Negative reviews mention subpar packing, damaged items, and pricing estimates that were far off from the final costs.
We gave the company a high reliability score for having two drivers per vehicle it owns. This means it can handle almost any job and keep set schedules even if an employee can’t make it 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. Adam's Moving & Delivery Service: Best for Straightforward Pricing
Adam’s Moving and Delivery Service is one of the best local moving companies in Seattle for its trusted reputation and straightforward and transparent rates. Past clients praised its team for being professional and personable, as well as for handling jobs efficiently and quickly. Many of the company's negative reviews appear to have been meant for a company with a similar name, while others mentioned damages incurred during moves.
Adam's Moving and Delivery Service has been serving the Seattle area for over 15 years. It provides full-service and labor-only residential moving services, as well as commercial moving and packing services. However, it doesn't provide long-distance moving.
Despite having a decent number of vehicles, we only gave Adam's a medium reliability score, as it only has one driver for each vehicle. You might run into scheduling issues and delays if a worker can’t come into work.
Adam's Moving and Delivery gave us an affordable quote of $2,280 to move a 3-bedroom home. This is lower than the city’s average of $2,582.
3. Kangaroo Movers: Best for Moving on a Budget
We highly recommend Kangaroo Movers for Seattle residents looking to move on a budget, as it provides clear rates and offers a variety of discounts. It's also rated highly online, with numerous positive company reviews centered around consistent clear communication, excellent services, and affordable pricing. There were some complaints from past clients centered around damages and add-on costs that came up on the day of the move.
Kangaroo Movers handles clients throughout Washington state. It provides full-service residential and commercial moving, as well as long-distance moving and packing services. For an added cost, it can also provide packing materials.
We gave Kangaroo Movers a medium reliability rating for only having one driver per vehicle. This may lead to scheduling conflicts and delays if an employee gets sick and takes an unexpected day off.
Kangaroo Movers has one of the most affordable rates — we were quoted $1,305 to move a 3-bedroom home, which is far lower than the city average of $2,582. On top of that, it provides a discount for veterans, single parents, and students.
Next Steps: Compare Moving Companies in Seattle
How Much Do Movers Cost in Seattle?
Hiring full-service movers in Seattle costs about $457 for a studio apartment and $2,582 for a 3-bedroom home. A 5-bedroom home costs about $4,596. Moving across the state or to another state entirely will be more expensive.
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 a spot for your truck: You can reserve a parking spot for two days with a $16 permit. Additional days are $8 each.
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 Seattle?
If you're moving locally within Seattle, 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 Seattle,” 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
