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Sean Donnelly is a writer for USA TODAY Homefront. His content draws on more than three years of experience in the moving industry. He started as a laborer and was quickly promoted to moving crew leader. Sean also served as a move coordinator, where he conducted in-home and virtual estimates for customers. During his time in the industry, Sean assisted more than 500 clients with their relocation needs. Thanks to his years of hand-on experience, he understands all aspects of moving — from proper preparation to the quote process to effective packing techniques. Sean studied English literature and creative writing at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and is still located in the greater Springfield area. When he isn’t writing, Sean is a cohead coach of the boxing team at his alma mater.
We recommend Allied Van Lines and JK Moving Services for long-distance and interstate Pennsylvania moves. Allied Van Lines’ 500-plus branches nationwide mean it’s available in most areas, and its carrier-only status ensures you always know who’s handling your move.
JK Moving is our next choice for Pennsylvania moves. Its mover training program enables its crews to offer quality service for packing, crating and antiques. It’s your best bet if you have more specialized moving needs.
If you’re moving locally, we recommend Gentle Giant Moving Company. It has 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews and services more than 15,000 relocations annually. Its presence on both coasts is another plus if you’re moving cross-country.
Whether you’re moving to Pennsylvania for the beautiful scenery in the Poconos, city life in Philly or the lower cost of living in one of its rural areas, booking the best moving company for your situation will lead to an easier transition to your new home. Each mover on our list scored highly on our rigorous grading scale for service offerings, coverage area, pricing practices and customer review scores.
We vetted the best moving companies in Pennsylvania. Each provider is licensed and has a lengthy track record for quality service.
Long-distance:
Local:
We recommend these moving companies for any moving need. Each rated well on our grading scale’s five customer service and seven pricing factors.
If you’re planning a long-distance move, the movers listed here offer the best available coverage and service options within Pennsylvania.
Allied Van Lines is a carrier with multiple locations in Pennsylvania and more than 500 offices spread throughout the United States. It provides local and long-distance moving options, with expedited small move options available via its Allied Express service plans. Such relocation packages offer apartment moving with valuation coverage and labor at one set price.
Service area: 50 states and 130 countries
Base services:
Add-on services:
Storage: Allied offers short- and long-term storage.
Quote type: This mover provides binding estimates for long-distance service.
Pricing: Long-distance rates are determined by move distance and shipping weight.
Sample cost: We called Allied for a thee-bedroom, 1,800-mile interstate moving quote. After about 15 minutes on the phone, we got a sample rate of $7,000 for a basic move. The addition of full-service packing would increase our estimated total to $10,000. Our representative noted that this is not a binding estimate, which would require us to go through in-person home walkthrough to receive.
Deposit: None
Payment methods: Allied accepts cash, checks, money orders and credit cards.
Aside from the released-value coverage offered with every move, you’ll be able to purchase additional valuation coverage in the form of Extra Care Protection (ECP). Under such protection plans, you’ll set a maximum amount of coverage for reimbursement in the event of loss or damage. You’ll then pay a percentage of this amount for the added coverage.
Allied features positive customer reviews at many of its individual locations. This includes a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews for its Allentown location. Positive reviews noted the professionalism of the moving crews. Some negative feedback complained about unresponsive customer service.
JK Moving Services is a carrier based in Virginia that services long-distance moves throughout the country. Since its founding in 1982, it has handled more than half a million individual moves for businesses and residential moving clients. Its service packages include packing, crating and vehicle shipping.
Service area: 50 states
Storage: JK offers modern warehouse facilities with video surveillance, motion sensors, fire suppression systems and options for climate control.
Quote type: This mover offers binding estimates for long-distance moves.
Pricing: Long-distance pricing is set by move distance and overall shipping weight.
Sample cost: We spoke with a JK Moving representative to get a sample rate for a three-bedroom, 1,800-mile move. After a 15-minute call, our company representative gave us a sample rate of $8,500 for basic service. Full-service packing would increase the cost to $11,000.
Deposit: $250
Payment methods: JK accepts cash, credit cards and checks.
This mover offers released-value protection for all moves. Aside from this, it offers valuation coverage. Under these plans, a sample $90,000 protection plan would have an added cost of $630. You’ll have to consult with your move coordinator during your quote if you want this type of protection.
JK Moving’s headquarters is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews with more than 1,000 reviews. Positive reviews cite the punctuality and efficiency of JK’s moving teams. Negative reviews mention furniture damage, but this is to be expected in moderation with any national moving company.
North American Van Lines (NAVL) is a carrier with more than 500 locations across the country. These offer local and long-distance service, including its multiple Pennsylvania branches. Its “bottom-line” and “not-to-exceed” pricing options help clients stay on budget, while qualified crews make for quality moves.
Storage: This mover offers short- and long-term storage options in most locations.
Quote type: NAVL offers binding estimates for long-distance moves.
Pricing: Long-distance rates are based on move distance and shipment weight.
Sample cost: We spoke with a NAVL representative to get a moving quote for a three-bedroom, 1,800-mile move. They stated that they were unable to give us a ballpark estimate at the time and offered to put us in contact with a local agent for an in-depth estimate.
Payment methods: NAVL accepts cash, certified checks and money orders.
This carrier offers released value protection for all moves. Aside from the 60 cents per pound per item in reimbursement offered by this basic coverage, it also has valuation coverage options at an added cost. You should ask your move coordinator about this if you have higher-value items.
Many of NAVL’s local agents and affiliated offices have positive customer reviews. This includes a Pottstown location with a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. Positive feedback consistently mentioned efficient moving crews that were punctual throughout all stages of the move.
Each of the following registered moving companies offers comprehensive local moving service options and features positive customer reviews. We selected moving companies that featured clear proof of local registration and responded quickly to quote requests, aside from demonstrating quality customer service.
Gentle Giant Moving Company handles long-distance and local moves within multiple states including Pennsylvania. It services more than 15,000 relocations each year. With locations on the East and West Coasts, this provider can service relocation needs to any location.
Service area: Gentle Giant services all of Pennsylvania.
Quote type: This mover offers ballpark quotes for local moves.
Pricing: Hourly rates are set by the number of movers and moving trucks assigned to your move.
Sample cost: We got a sample rate from Gentle Giant for a three-bedroom move within Philadelphia. This involved submitting a basic inventory list and contact information online which took less than 10 minutes. Three movers and a truck would cost $195 per hour, with an estimated total of 4.5 to 6 hours to complete the move. Materials such as tape and mattress bags would cost $130. Our flat travel fee and fuel surcharge totaled $245 for a grand total of up to $1,544.
Deposit: This mover requires a deposit, but it did not specify the amount in our quote. All deposits credit the final cost of the move.
Payment methods: Gentle Giant accepts all major credit cards, cash and checks.
Aside from the required released-value protection that comes with the cost of all moves, you can select full-value protection or actual cash value options. For these two coverage tiers, you’ll be able to select a maximum dollar amount of value for your shipment and will have to pay a percentage of this to get coverage.
Gentle Giant’s Philadelphia branch is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. Friendly moving crews and efficient moving processes are among the most common points of praise. Negatives include damage to furniture, but these were not typical moving experiences with this provider.
Diversity Moving Company is a Pittsburgh area mover that offers local and long-distance service. Though it is a recent entrant into the moving industry, it already features numerous positive reviews for moving crew quality.
Service area: This mover offers local and long-distance service to the entire state with a focus on the Pittsburgh area.
Quote type: This mover supplies ballpark quotes based on hourly rates for local moves.
Pricing: Hourly rates are set by the number of movers and trucks assigned to your move.
Sample cost: We emailed Diversity Moving for a ballpark quote on a three-bedroom move within Pittsburgh. They sent us a link to submit inventory details within an hour. They used this information to provide us with a $220 hourly rate for three movers and a truck. Our estimated total would be $839, with $220 added per hour for additional time on the job.
Deposit: This mover requires a deposit to book. Deposits are taken off of your final move total.
Payment methods: This mover only accepts credit or debit cards for payment.
Diversity Moving Company offers released-value protection with each move. Beyond this 60 cents per pound per item, it also offers full-value protection at an added cost. Diversity Moving will not move items of extraordinary value, such as jewelry, heirlooms or similar items due to its lack of insurance options for such items.
Diversity Moving Company is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. More than 100 positive reviews mention the quick quote process and speedy customer service response times as positives. Overall impressions of this provider’s moving crews are positive, including a recent Google review from Rona praising the movers’ communication with each other and the customer.
BMS Moving & Storage is a Bekins Van Lines agent with offices throughout the East and West Coast, including two locations in Pennsylvania. The Carlisle and Scranton offices each provide local and long-distance service within Pennsylvania and beyond for residential and commercial moves.
Service area: This mover services the entire state.
Quote type: This provider offers ballpark quotes for local moves.
Pricing: Hourly rates are set by the number of movers and moving trucks assigned to a given move.
Sample cost: We got a prompt response when we submitted a quote request form online. In a follow-up email, a representative informed us that we would have to book an in-person or video consultation to get a pricing estimate.
Deposit: No deposit requirement was mentioned in this mover’s correspondence with us or online.
Payment methods: This mover accepts all major credit cards.
BMS offers multiple tiers of coverage for goods while in transit. Aside from the minimum required released-value protection, you can select valuation coverage or full-value replacement coverage. These offer more reimbursement for loss or damage than the 60 cents per pound per item required by federal regulations.
BMS’ Scranton location is rated 4.4 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews with more than 100 individual customer reviews. Its Carlisle location is similarly regarded with a 4.8 out of 5 star rating on the same platform. Positive reviews include solid moving experiences for local, long-distance and international moves that mention efficient and careful moving crews.
When you go into any quote process, you’ll want to keep a few key factors in mind to properly evaluate any mover. Doing so will help ensure that you get quotes from movers that fit your needs and budgetary restrictions.
The first step to a successful move is determining the basic and additional services you need. To do this, conduct a full walk-through of your home and list all goods you plan to take with you and those you plan to discard. With this list, write down any services you may need from your movers. These can include the following:
Before you book, you should know your mover’s basic service model. Relocation companies operate as one of two types: carriers and brokers.
All movers have to adhere to specific rules and regulations. These requirements will vary depending on your move type.
Long-distance moving companies are federally regulated and must maintain active United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier numbers. Use these to look up a given mover’s registration status in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) database.
Local moving companies that operate within Pennsylvania must carry active state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) numbers. These must be displayed on all moving trucks, estimates and moving contracts that a given intrastate carrier provides.
Your move type impacts the pricing structure you receive during your quote with any given mover. Being aware of this will lead to more clarity when viewing written estimates.
Long-distance relocations are assigned more all-inclusive flat rates. These take overall move distance and total inventory weight into account. Additional services such as packing can also increase overall costs. Long-distance moving companies often provide binding estimates that don’t increase unless your inventory or service needs do.
Local moves are billed at hourly rates. These are set by the number of movers and moving trucks assigned to your move. Local movers will not provide binding estimates or flat fees for packing. Instead, your move cost is determined by how long your move takes.
Moving companies must provide a baseline level of moving insurance for reimbursement if items are lost or damaged during a move. This released-value protection offers 60 cents per pound per item. In addition, most movers offer additional coverage options. These are usually called full-value protection or valuation coverage. While they aren’t technically “insurance,” these policies offer increased reimbursement at an added cost.
Contacting qualified moving companies is a key initial step in any move. We recommend that you start any Pennsylvania moving process with quotes from Allied Van Lines and Gentle Giant Moving Company. Each offers comprehensive local and interstate coverage for moves and has locations in multiple states for smooth moves to most U.S. locations.
Our moving recommendations are all backed by our detailed rating methodology. To fairly assess both interstate and local movers, we have tailored two sets of review standards for long-distance and intrastate movers.
Both sets of review standards assess factors including reputation and customer satisfaction, availability and range, services offered, pricing and quote practices and customer service. We rate each moving company out of 100 possible points. We then divide the final score by 20 to obtain the 5-star rating we feature in our reviews.
Google Reviews information is accurate as of April 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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