Can You Hire Movers to Move One Item?

A professional mover can load and unload in a pinch

Father and daughter playing the piano.
Photo: Westend61 / Getty Images
Father and daughter playing the piano.
Photo: Westend61 / Getty Images
Melissa Graham
Written by Melissa Graham
Contributing Writer
Updated April 2, 2024
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Moving one item to a different room in your home may seem easy, but when it comes to big appliances or pieces of furniture, it’s not so simple. If you’re wondering whether you can hire movers to move one item, the answer is yes.

Hiring a professional mover near you is your best bet for this task. They not only have the experience and skillset to know how to move particular items, but they also often have specialized equipment to help the loading and unloading go as smoothly as possible. They’re trained not only to lift and move things with correct form, but also how to do so in a way that protects your item from damage. 

Benefits of Hiring Movers to Move One Item

The pros of hiring a professional moving company to move one item far outweigh the cons, which can include everything from risking your personal safety and potentially damaging the item. Other benefits include: 

  • Affordable cost: It’s more cost-effective, since you’ll likely only pay an hourly rate. The cost to hire movers is $25 to $50 per hour per mover

  • Covered by insurance: Professional movers typically include their own insurance clauses in their services, so you’ll be covered for any damage or issues with your item.

  • Saves time: It’s less time consuming. Movers will meet you at your home, load your item, then unload it at your destination. 

  • No materials necessary: Movers supply their own equipment, so you don’t have to worry about providing a dolly or moving straps

Can I DIY Moving One Item?

In most cases, you won’t be able to move one large or heavy item by yourself, unless you have an extra set or two of hands to assist you. Large pieces such as refrigerators, couches, washing machines, dishwashers, and hutches are hard to maneuver solo without risking injury or damage to the item. 

In this specific scenario, it’s best to contact your local moving company to see if they offer an hourly service for your single item to be moved from one place to another. Or seek out moving companies that specialize in moving your specific item, such as a piano-moving company.

Can I Hire a Handyperson to Move One Item?

Family sitting in living room with piano
Photo: Cavan Images / Getty Images

If hiring a professional is out of your moving budget, you can try contacting a handyperson to help with moving your item. These pros likely have similar equipment or can tell you what kind of equipment to rent to help with the move. However, a handyperson probably won’t have the same training or experience as a professional mover, and they may not be able to provide insurance to cover damage or injuries incurred. Plus, a handyperson’s hourly rate may be higher than that of a mover at $40 to $140 per hour. On the flip side, if the item is on the smaller side and you’re able to help with loading and unloading, a handyperson may work as a back-up option. 

How Do Movers Move One Item? 

Single-item movers typically work for a larger moving company and receive payment on an hourly basis instead of for the entire project. If you need to move your couch or other large item, search for single-item movers near you and provide them with the following information: 

  • What item needs to be moved 

  • Size and weight of the item 

  • Pickup and dropoff locations 

  • Whether the item will be loaded into your personal vehicle or a rented truck or trailer 

  • How long you expect the move to take

  • Any obstacles in the moving path 

Once your mover has the necessary information, they can determine how much it costs to hire movers and other details, such as travel arrangements and equipment needs. Some national moving companies even offer their own marketplace where you can search for an extra set of hands if you’re willing to help with the heavy lifting. 

Once you’ve selected a mover, they will meet you at the loading location, move the item out of your home and into a vehicle or trailer, then meet you at the next destination to unload your item. 

Frequently Asked Questions

There are several options for moving a piece of furniture long distance. A popular method is packing it into a moving truck and driving it to your destination, especially if you are transporting several heavy, large items. You can also ship furniture pieces from one location to another, but this option is more expensive, depending on the item’s weight and distance traveled.

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Learn more about our contributor
Melissa Graham
Written by Melissa Graham
Contributing Writer
Melissa has spent over ten years writing about home design, style, and DIYs for regional and national publications.
Melissa has spent over ten years writing about home design, style, and DIYs for regional and national publications.
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