Movers in Maine charge about $95 to $140 per hour for a two-person crew on local jobs, and a two-bedroom interstate move from Maine is estimated at $2,700 to $6,300. Maine runs no separate household-goods licensing program, so only companies moving household goods across state lines appear in the federal FMCSA register. Peak demand runs May to September, when quotes sit at the top of those ranges. BestMovers.info compares 182 licensed carriers serving Maine, with pricing data as of May 2026.
Key facts
Local rate, two movers
$95 to $140 per hour
2-bedroom interstate
$2,700 to $6,300
Intrastate regulator
No state licensing program
Interstate licensing
FMCSA USDOT and MC authority
Peak season
May–September
Cities covered
0
Carriers compared
182
Pricing data as of
May 2026
Bottom line
Compare moving companies, Federal Records, and moving resources for Maine. BestMovers.info publishes no numeric score, star rating or ranked order.
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Updated August 2026 Reviewed by Amanda Brooks6 companies analyzed
What moving in Maine actually looks like
Demand in Maine concentrates in May–September, when the state's 1.4 million residents do most of their moving. Booking in November–March instead is the single cheapest change available, worth 15% to 25%.
Two crew members at standard rates run roughly $118/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 Maine settles around $4,500, though distance and packing services swing that meaningfully.
Local quirks worth pricing in: tight street access, frequent walk-ups, building COIs, and a September lease-turnover spike. None of these are dealbreakers, but they show up in the final bill if you don't ask about them upfront.
BestMovers.info has not yet confirmed, against a current government page, which Maine agency licenses movers operating inside the state, so this page does not name one. Any move that crosses the Maine state line is authorised federally, so ask for the USDOT number and check the carrier in FMCSA SAFER, and ask any local-only company in Maine for its business registration and proof of cargo insurance in writing.
Check whether the company quoting you is the company loading the truck; brokers subcontract, and the carrier's record is the one that matters.
Maine runs its heaviest volume May–September, and its metro areas feed most of that demand out of and around Augusta. Population sits near 1.4 million, which is what sets how deep the local crew pool actually is in November–March.
How we select movers for this state
The Maine shortlist is filtered before it is listed. A company is listed here when it is headquartered in Maine or its record shows coverage of the state, and when we can describe it from sourced fields: federal registration, operating authority, founding year, and service coverage. We publish no numeric score and rank nobody first.
Which company suits your move is a question of scope and date, not of a score: BestMovers.info publishes no numeric score, star rating or ranked order. The pricing model behind the estimates on this page is dated May 2026.
Pricing
Maine moving cost snapshot
Two movers, ground-floor access, standard packing. Peak season in Maine is May–September.
Home size
Local move
Interstate move
Studio
$285–$700
$1,485–$3,780
1 Bedroom
$380–$840
$2,025–$4,914
2 Bedroom
$570–$1,260
$2,700–$6,300
3 Bedroom
$760–$1,680
$3,915–$9,765
4 Bedroom
$1,045–$2,240
$5,265–$13,545
5+ Bedroom
$1,330–$2,800
$6,480–$17,010
How many licensed moving companies are registered in Maine?
The FMCSA motor carrier census lists 326 registrants carrying household goods whose physical address is in Maine, and 84 of those are classified by FMCSA as interstate operations. That figure counts companies whose federal registration lists a Maine address, which is not the same as the number of companies that will serve a move in Maine. An interstate move into or out of Maine can be performed by a carrier registered in any state.
IRS tax return data for filing years 2022 to 2023 records 17,017 returns moving out of Maine to another state, and 20,570 moving in, a net gain of 3,553 returns. A return approximates a household rather than a person. The same filings cover 25,765 individuals leaving and 32,155 arriving.
The states receiving the most Maine households were Massachusetts (2,229 returns), Florida (2,185 returns) and New Hampshire (1,972 returns).
Arrivals came mainly from Massachusetts (3,330 returns), New Hampshire (2,595 returns) and Florida (2,029 returns). These figures count all filers who changed address, not only those who hired a moving company.
BestMovers.info has not yet confirmed, against a current government page, which Maine agency licenses movers operating inside the state, so this page does not name one. Any move that crosses the Maine state line is authorised federally: the carrier must hold a USDOT number and interstate household goods operating authority, both checkable in FMCSA SAFER.
For a move that stays inside Maine, where no federal authority applies, ask the company in writing for its Mainebusiness registration, the name of any state authorisation it holds, and proof of cargo and liability insurance. Absence of a named regulator on this page means we have not verified one, not that Maine licenses nobody.
A move that leaves Maine is an interstate move and falls under federal authority, so the company needs active operating authority for household goods rather than only a Maine licence. A move that stays inside Maine is different: Maine agency pages were read in full and publish neither a mover-specific credential nor a rate rule, so there is no Maine licence named here to check. Check which kind of move you are booking before you compare quotes, because the two are verified in different places.
Distance — local moves under 50 miles are billed hourly; cross-state jobs are billed by weight + mileage.
Home size — going from a 1-bedroom to a 3-bedroom roughly doubles crew time and truck space.
Stairs and access — every flight above the first commonly adds $25–$100; long carries from truck to door add similarly.
Packing — full-pack service usually adds 30–45% to a base move; partial packing (kitchen + fragiles only) adds 10–20%.
Season — book a Saturday move in late June and expect to pay 20–30% more than the same job mid-week in February.
Specialty items — pianos, gun safes, large aquariums, and oversized art each carry their own line item.
Maine season — quotes inside May–September run at the top of the $95–$140 hourly band; November–March quotes sit near the bottom.
Fuel surcharge — interstate quotes float with diesel pricing, so a quote held for weeks may be re-priced.
Maine licensing — BestMovers.info has not yet confirmed which Maine agency oversees intrastate moves, so check FMCSA SAFER for the carrier's federal authority before you pay a deposit.
Full-service, labor-only, container, or rental truck
For a 1-bedroom apartment moving across town, a labor-only crew (you rent the truck, they load) is the cheapest option that still beats calling friends. In Maine metros that runs about $285 to $560 for two movers over three to four hours.
Once a household passes three bedrooms, full service is usually the cheaper mistake to avoid. Budget two to three times the labor-only figure; the premium buys equipment, insurance, and a crew that does this daily.
The container route splits the difference. Providers such as PODS, U-Pack, and 1-800-PACK-RAT drop a unit at the curb. You load on your schedule, the company drives. On a Maine interstate move the container route is usually cheaper than a full-service van line, because you are supplying the loading labor the carrier would otherwise charge for. Bestmovers.info holds no container rates, so price the provider quote for your own lane and dates. The catch is the delivery window, which is set by the provider rather than promised to you, and limited recourse for damage during loading, since you packed it.
Companies
Moving Companies Based in Maine
These companies have a verified headquarters or documented company location in Maine. Placement is based on documented location information, not a numeric ranking.
Earle W. Noyes & Sons files from Portland, Maine as a single federal registrant, with fourteen power units and seven drivers on the federal file and no parent, franchise network or sibling registration located in the records reviewed. The registrant's legal name and its longer trading name are recorded as the federal file carries them. The file shows a satisfactory safety rating dated 11 August 1983 following a compliance review of that era; that is a dated federal snapshot and is reported with its date rather than as an assessment of the company today. The company states first-party that it has been moving Maine households since 1923.
Why is this company shown here?
Earle W. Noyes & Sons is headquartered in Maine according to its published company location.
American Van Lines states first-party that it staffs moves with W2 employees rather than day labour. It requires a deposit to hold a move date, so ask what portion is refundable and by when before you pay it. We publish no BBB grade and hold no complaint dataset, so nothing here rates the company's service.
Why is this company shown here?
American Van Lines publishes broad nationwide moving service on its own site. It is shown separately from companies based in this area and its presence here is not evidence of a local office.
USDOT 614506Pompano Beach, FL2BR est. $2,900–$6,800
One of the oldest moving brands in the US, Bekins runs an agent-affiliate model similar to Allied, with interstate shipments booked under the Bekins registration and performed by affiliated agents.
Why is this company shown here?
Bekins Moving Solutions publishes broad nationwide moving service on its own site. It is shown separately from companies based in this area and its presence here is not evidence of a local office.
USDOT 2256609Indianapolis, IN2BR est. $3,000–$7,000
Budd Van Lines Inc is an independent nationwide carrier rather than an agent of a national van line, which is rare at this size: the federal census records 124 power units and 102 drivers filed from Somerset, New Jersey. Because the company holds its own active common and contract authority with household goods on the licensing record and no broker authority, the entity you contract with is the entity that hauls the shipment. The company's own history pages date the business to 1975.
Why is this company shown here?
Budd Van Lines publishes broad nationwide moving service on its own site. It is shown separately from companies based in this area and its presence here is not evidence of a local office.
Colonial Van Lines Inc files from 1441 SW 29th Avenue in Pompano Beach, Florida, active on the federal census with 25 power units, 25 drivers and an MCS-150 filed 21 March 2025. The licensing record carries motor carrier of household goods authority granted 31 March 2010 and motor carrier of property authority recorded as reinstated on 27 June 2025, both active at the time of reading; no broker authority is carried on this registration. The federal file records a Satisfactory safety rating dated 28 June 2021 alongside a compliance review dated 3 October 2012. A safety rating is a dated federal snapshot of the review that produced it, not a current assessment of the company. The company publishes this USDOT number and MC docket in its own website footer, which is how the registration and the brand were joined. Two further registrations filing from the same address, one under the identical legal name and one under a Texas corporate name, are disclosed separately as related registrations rather than merged into this record. The company states it was founded in 2003.
Why is this company shown here?
Colonial Van Lines publishes broad nationwide moving service on its own site. It is shown separately from companies based in this area and its presence here is not evidence of a local office.
USDOT 1434373Pompano Beach, FL2BR est. $2,200–$6,500
International Van Lines services overseas destinations in addition to US interstate work. What it is licensed to do federally is set out in the federal record on this page rather than described here.
Why is this company shown here?
International Van Lines publishes broad nationwide moving service on its own site. It is shown separately from companies based in this area and its presence here is not evidence of a local office.
USDOT 2293832Coral Springs, FL2BR est. $2,700–$6,400
A demand for cash deposit over $100 before move day. Reputable carriers bill on or after delivery.
A quote without a USDOT number on the paperwork. No USDOT means no FMCSA accountability if something goes wrong.
A "binding" estimate with no inventory list attached. Without inventory, the binding part is meaningless.
Refusal to do a video survey or in-home estimate for moves over 5,000 lb.
A blank Bill of Lading on move day. Sign nothing blank. Ever.
A name change in the last 12 months on the FMCSA record. It often signals a previous carrier under a complaint cloud.
An intrastate Maine mover claiming a federal licence for an in-state move. FMCSA authority covers interstate work only, and Maine issues no household-goods licence of its own.
An hourly quote far under $95 in Maine. Below-market rates on a local job usually reappear as stair, carry, or materials charges on the invoice.
An eight-week timeline that actually works in Maine
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. Maine 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.
Where in Maine you're moving matters
Maine pricing varies by metro. 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much do movers cost in Maine?
Local moves in Maine are estimated at $315–$2,480 depending on home size, while an interstate move out of Maine is estimated at $3,000–$7,000 for a two-bedroom household. Distance, packing services, and the time of year all shift those numbers.
When is the cheapest time to move in Maine?
October through April is generally the cheapest window in Maine — most movers cut rates 15–25% outside the May-to-September peak. Mid-month, mid-week pickups give the biggest discounts.
Are moving companies in Maine licensed and insured?
All interstate moving companies must register with the FMCSA and carry a USDOT number. Maine also requires intrastate movers to register with the state — verify any quote against the FMCSA SAFER tool before signing.
Should I tip movers in Maine?
Tipping is customary but not required. A typical tip in Maine is $20–$40 per mover for a half-day local job, or $50–$100 per mover for a full day or long-distance move.
How far in advance should I book a mover in Maine?
Book 4–6 weeks ahead for moves between May and September. For off-peak fall and winter moves in Maine, two weeks is usually enough notice.
What's the difference between binding and non-binding estimates?
A binding estimate locks in your price based on the inventory at the time of the survey — the mover can't charge more on move day for the same items. Non-binding estimates can change based on actual weight or volume. For ME interstate moves, request binding-not-to-exceed quotes whenever possible.
Who licenses movers in Maine
Maine does not run a separate household-goods licensing program. We have not yet confirmed a state licensing agency for intrastate movers here against a current government page, so this page does not name one. Interstate carriers are registered with the federal FMCSA and can be checked in SAFER.
How we evaluate moving companies: we verify federal registration and operating authority against FMCSA records, record carrier or broker classification, note state licensing where a state regulator publishes it, and state the limits of what we could source. No numeric score, star rating or ranked order is produced from those checks. Read full methodology
