3 Best Moving Companies | How We Chose | Best Overall | Best for Trusted Reputation | Best for Range of Services | Cost of Movers | Avoiding Scams
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In Tucson, hiring a full-service mover costs an average of $1,558 for a 3-bedroom home. This may seem like a lot of money, but it's actually less expensive than the national average of $1,963. And many people find the cost to be worth it.
For a three-bedroom home, you'll need four movers working for about eight hours to pack everything, load it onto the truck, and unload it at your new home. They'll also unpack everything and assemble furniture. Count on paying about $50 per hour per mover, plus the cost of the truck, packing supplies, and a 10–20% tip for the movers when the work is complete.
We assessed 107 local moving companies in Tucson and ranked the top three so you know where to begin your search.
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3 Best Moving Companies in Tucson (at a Glance)
| Company | What We Like | Avg. Customer Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Moving Buddies | Best Overall | 4.7 (306 reviews) |
| AAA Soto's Moving & Storage | Best for Trusted Reputation | 4.9 (215 reviews) |
| Abba & Sons Moving | Best for Range of Services | 4.4 (227 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 Tucson
1. Moving Buddies: Best Overall
Moving Buddies won the top spot on our list of moving companies in Tucson, Arizona. It has affordable and reputable residential and commercial moving services. And it also offers packing, crating, and specialty-item moving.
Moving Buddies is both affordable and high quality. It gave us a quote of $1,215 to move a 3-bedroom home in Tucson. That's much cheaper than the local average of $1,558.
It has a high rating on third-party websites. Reviewers mentioned that the company handled specialty-item moving extremely well. Moving Buddies does get a handful of complaints about damages and pricing. But we didn't see anything concerning.
Moving Buddies has one driver per vehicle it owns, which could cause delays and scheduling issues.
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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. AAA Soto's Moving & Storage: Best for Trusted Reputation
AAA Soto’s Moving & Storage is a full-service local moving company in Tucson with a great reputation. It offers residential and commercial moves in Tucson and the surrounding areas. The company can also handle specialty items, like pianos and safes.
Reviewers rave about AAA Soto's transparent estimate and scheduling process. Many also mentioned that the moving team was exceptional and professional. The few complaints about AAA Soto's Moving & Storage aren't about moving and don't actually come from customers.
AAA Soto’s Moving & Storage has a large fleet, but there are fewer than two drivers per vehicle. This can cause potential delays to service if an employee can’t come into work at the last minute.
3. Abba & Sons Moving: Best for Range of Services
Tucson-based Abba & Sons Moving has a wide range of services. It provides full-service residential and commercial moving services throughout Southern Arizona. Abba offers both local and long-distance moves, as well as storage.
Abba & Sons gets above average ratings on third-party review sites. Customers seem to like the company's efficient and detailed moving process. A few reviews mentioned some damage, but that's pretty common for moving company reviews.
Abba & Sons Moving has one registered driver per vehicle. That's not necessarily bad, but it can lead to possible delays if a worker calls in sick.
Next Steps: Compare Moving Companies in Tucson
How Much Do Movers Cost in Tucson?
The average full-service move in Tucson is around $279 for a studio apartment and about $1,558 for a 3-bedroom home. Larger homes are even more expensive: expect to pay about $2,776 to move a 5-bedroom home. Moves to other cities and other states will be even more expensive.
Full-service moving rates depend on how much stuff you have, how far you're moving, how fast you need to move, and how much help you'll need. We recommend reaching out to a moving company for an accurate quote.
⚠️ Reserve a parking spot: If you need to unload your moving truck next to metered parking, you can reserve metered spots for $9 per meter, per day.
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 Tucson to AVOID
Make sure you always get a written estimate for your move before movers begin loading your truck. If your movers tell you that the move will be more expensive than the original quote, demand that a new contract be written up with details regarding the new quote.
All My Sons
More than a few customers have reported bad experiences with All My Sons moving in Tucson. One customer said he got a $7,000 quote before the move. Then the company demanded $13,000 before unloading his belongings at the new home. The customer had to call the local sheriff's department to convince the mover to return the belongings.
How Far in Advance Should I Reach Out to a Mover in Tucson?
If you're moving locally within Tucson, 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 Tucson,” 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
