For most Florida households, Allied Van Lines is the strongest interstate pick, while Two Men and a Truck usually wins on local hourly jobs. Expect $95–$150/hr for two movers and a typical 2-bedroom interstate move from Florida in the $2,900–$6,800 range. Off-peak prices apply outside October–April.
Compare licensed Florida movers in one minute.
Get matched with up to 4 licensed movers in 60 seconds.
.
.
Free · No obligation · Licensed FMCSA-verified movers
Florida regulates intrastate household-goods movers through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) under Chapter 507, Florida Statutes. Every legitimate FL intrastate mover must carry an IM number issued by FDACS, display it on the estimate and contract, and post a surety bond. The FDACS public license search is free and is the first thing you should do before booking.
Florida's high-season is the inverse of most of the country. Snowbird inbound demand peaks October–April; summer is technically lower-demand but tropical-storm risk and the nationwide May–August surge keep prices firm. The combination means there's no truly cheap window — only "less expensive" ones (early September, late April).
Inbound migration is structural. Florida has been a top-three net inbound state in the IRS migration data for over 20 years, and inbound interstate lanes from the Northeast (NY, NJ, PA, MA) and Midwest (IL, OH, MI) are the most expensive in the country relative to mileage because of backhaul scarcity.
Top-tier van lines (Allied, Mayflower, North American, United) dominate the inbound long-distance market. Brokers are common in this lane and many are unreliable; if you book through a broker, confirm the actual carrier's FMCSA record before paying any deposit.
FDACS-licensed regional carriers with 5+ years of operating history and a clean complaint record consistently beat van-line pricing on local jobs. Verify the IM number, then check Florida's complaint database before shortlisting.
Florida has the deepest senior-relocation specialty market in the country. Look for movers with a published Senior Move Manager (NASMM) partnership, not just a "senior discount" — the operational difference is large.
High-rise condo buildings often require a 4-hour insured COI window — confirm the carrier can issue one within 48 hours.
Among the most price-competitive metros for local hourly because of a deep pool of mid-sized regional carriers.
Strong inbound corporate-relocation market; many movers have negotiated rates with major employers — ask if your company has an account.
Snowbird season inverts the demand calendar — peak local pricing is December–March, not summer.
Verify any Florida intrastate mover's IM number through the FDACS public license search. FDACS also runs an active complaint and enforcement database that's worth checking before you sign. For interstate moves, cross-check the carrier's USDOT and MC through FMCSA SAFER.
Florida has more registered intrastate movers than almost any other state, and unfortunately also more unlicensed operators per capita. The FDACS enforcement bulletin posts cease-and-desist orders nearly every month, and the most common pattern is identical to Texas: a too-good phone quote sourced from Craigslist or a Facebook ad, a small cash deposit, and then "discovered" extra weight at delivery used as leverage. The FDACS license search takes 30 seconds and prevents almost all of these scams — make it the first step, not the last.
Interstate inbound to Florida is structurally expensive, especially from the Northeast in October through April. If you're flexible on dates, a mid-week pickup in late April or early September will save you 12–18% on the line-haul charge versus the same lane in February. If you're not flexible, lock the binding estimate at least 5–6 weeks ahead and pay attention to the carrier's average pickup-window adherence — late pickups during snowbird season are common with brokered loads.
If you're a snowbird with a part-time Florida residence, multi-trip storage-in-transit (SIT) services from a single carrier are usually cheaper than two separate one-way moves with a self-storage unit in between. Most FL-based van line agents quote SIT at a daily rate that includes redelivery — get the redelivery cost in writing before signing, because that's where the asymmetry usually hides.
Hurricane season (June 1 to November 30) is real, not theoretical. Reputable Florida carriers will write named-storm cancellation, partial-transit handling, and origin-warehouse storage into the bill of lading on request. If a carrier won't or can't provide that language in writing, that's not a paperwork issue — it's a coverage gap, and you should keep shopping.
Florida sits in the South, with about 22.6 million residents and a peak moving window of October–April. If your timeline is flexible, May–September pricing typically lands 15–25% lower with much better crew availability.
Two crew members at standard rates run roughly $123/hr in most of the state, with downtown high-rise jobs and gated communities pulling toward the upper end. A typical 2-bedroom interstate move out of Florida settles around $4,850, though distance and packing services swing that meaningfully.
Local quirks worth pricing in: summer heat, hurricane-season reschedules along the coast, and a heavier flow of inbound retirees. None of these are dealbreakers, but they show up in the final bill if you don't ask about them upfront.
Every carrier on this page is filtered against the same checks before it ranks: an active USDOT number, a current FMCSA SAFER profile, a complaint ratio under the industry median, BBB accreditation status, and at least 24 months of trading history. Companies with open lawsuits or recent rate disputes get marked down even if their licensing is current.
Allied Van Lines ranks first for full-service interstate jobs out of Florida on this scoring; Two Men and a Truck edges ahead when the move is local, hourly, and under 5,000 lb. Prices and rankings are reviewed every six months — last refresh: May 2026.
Two movers, ground-floor access, standard packing. Peak season October–April adds 15–25%.
| Home size | Local move | Interstate move |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $285–$750 | $1,595–$4,080 |
| 1 Bedroom | $380–$900 | $2,175–$5,304 |
| 2 Bedroom | $570–$1,350 | $2,900–$6,800 |
| 3 Bedroom | $760–$1,800 | $4,205–$10,540 |
| 4+ Bedroom | $1,045–$2,400 | $5,655–$14,620 |
For a 1-bedroom apartment moving across town, a labor-only crew (you rent the truck, they load and drive) is usually the cheapest path that still beats begging friends. Expect $300–$700 for two movers and three to four hours of work in most Florida metros.
Full-service makes more sense for 3+ bedroom homes, anything with stairs at both ends, or interstate moves where you're not driving the truck yourself. Yes it costs more — usually 2–3x labor-only — but the price covers blankets, dollies, fuel, and the truck.
Portable containers (PODS, U-Pack, 1-800-PACK-RAT) sit in the middle. You load on your schedule, the company drives. For Florida interstate moves between 600 and 1,800 miles, container pricing often comes in 30–45% under a traditional van line. The catch is delivery windows of 3–10 business days and limited recourse for damage during loading (you packed it).
Allied operates one of the largest North American moving networks through agent-affiliates. The brand earns high marks for full-value protection and international relocations, less so for last-minute or budget-tier jobs.
Atlas runs a federated agent network with strong corporate relocation operations. Customer experience tracks closely to which local agent handles your shipment, which is worth checking before signing.
United is the largest brand under UniGroup and publishes the well-known annual National Movers Study. Claims handling and tracking tools rank above the industry median based on FMCSA data.
North American (part of SIRVA) leans toward complex and high-value relocations, with strong piano and antique handling. For a basic studio across town, a local independent will almost always undercut their price.
Mayflower is the second large UniGroup brand alongside United, with comparable pricing and similar full-service options. The 'Snapmoves' product is worth comparing for smaller interstate jobs.
IVL handles roughly 180 countries in addition to US interstate jobs. Their hybrid broker model can be useful for international shipments but introduces variability on the domestic side.
JK Moving runs its own crews and trucks (no agent network) and consistently lands at the top of customer satisfaction surveys. Worth the premium for complex DC-area moves; possibly overkill for a 1-bedroom across town.
American Van Lines uses W2 employees rather than day labor, which shows in handling quality. The required deposit policy is the main customer complaint pattern in BBB data.
One of the oldest moving brands in the US, Bekins runs an agent-affiliate model similar to Allied. Strong mid-tier choice when major UniGroup brands are booked solid.
Wheaton (part of the same parent as Bekins) tends to land in the middle on price among van-line brands. Reliable choice for standard interstate jobs in major metros.
Eight weeks out: get three written quotes. Two should be in-home or video surveys. One online quote is fine for comparison only — it will rarely be the binding number.
Six weeks out: book the carrier. Ask for binding-not-to-exceed pricing in writing. Confirm valuation coverage (released vs. full-value protection — there is a real difference if a TV gets dropped).
Four weeks out: order packing supplies if you're self-packing. Boxes go on sale at U-Haul and Home Depot in late winter and late summer.
Two weeks out: confirm parking, building COIs, and elevator reservations at both ends. Florida buildings vary wildly here — some need 72 hours notice, some 30 days.
One week out: pack a personal essentials box (medications, chargers, three days of clothes, toilet paper, coffee, scissors, the lease/closing folder) and keep it with you, not on the truck.
Move day: walk the truck before driver pulls away. Sign the Bill of Lading only after the inventory list matches. First week in the new place, file any damage claim within nine months — that's the federal interstate window.
Florida pricing varies city by city. Downtown cores with high-rise residential typically run 10–20% above the state median because of COI requirements, freight elevator wait time, and tighter parking. Suburban single-family moves usually land near the median. Rural pickups outside metro service areas often add a per-mile travel fee from the nearest depot.