Movers in Rhode Island charge about $105 to $160 per hour for a two-person crew on local jobs, and a two-bedroom interstate move from Rhode Island is estimated at $2,900 to $6,700. Intrastate movers in Rhode Island are licensed by the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, while any company moving household goods across state lines must hold FMCSA operating authority. Peak demand runs May to September, when quotes sit at the top of those ranges. BestMovers.info compares 182 licensed carriers serving Rhode Island, with pricing data as of May 2026.
Compare moving companies, Federal Records, and moving resources for Rhode Island. BestMovers.info publishes no numeric score, star rating or ranked order.
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Demand in Rhode Island concentrates in May–September, when the state's 1.1 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 $133/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 Rhode Island settles around $4,800, 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.
Verification in Rhode Island runs through the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. A company moving household goods between two points in Rhode Island must hold authority from the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, and the Division issues it an MC number that must appear in the company's advertising and on its truck door panels. The authorisation is a Rhode Island MC number issued by the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. Interstate carriers additionally need active FMCSA authority, which you can check on SAFER by USDOT number.
Get every quote in writing with an inventory attached, and compare at least three before paying a deposit.
Rhode Island runs its heaviest volume May–September, and its 1 covered metros feed most of that demand out of and around Providence. Population sits near 1.1 million, which is what sets how deep the local crew pool actually is in November–March.
Nothing appears on this Rhode Island page without a public record behind it. A company is listed here when it is headquartered in Rhode Island 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.
Two movers, ground-floor access, standard packing. Peak season in Rhode Island is May–September.
| Home size | Local move | Interstate move |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $315–$800 | $1,595–$4,020 |
| 1 Bedroom | $420–$960 | $2,175–$5,226 |
| 2 Bedroom | $630–$1,440 | $2,900–$6,700 |
| 3 Bedroom | $840–$1,920 | $4,205–$10,385 |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,155–$2,560 | $5,655–$14,405 |
| 5+ Bedroom | $1,470–$3,200 | $6,960–$18,090 |
The FMCSA motor carrier census lists 146 registrants carrying household goods whose physical address is in Rhode Island, and 95 of those are classified by FMCSA as interstate operations. That figure counts companies whose federal registration lists a Rhode Island address, which is not the same as the number of companies that will serve a move in Rhode Island. An interstate move into or out of Rhode Island can be performed by a carrier registered in any state.
FMCSA motor carrier census, Company Census FileData as of 2026-08-10
IRS tax return data for filing years 2022 to 2023 records 18,472 returns moving out of Rhode Island to another state, and 18,229 moving in, a net loss of 243 returns. A return approximates a household rather than a person. The same filings cover 28,686 individuals leaving and 27,510 arriving.
The states receiving the most Rhode Island households were Massachusetts (5,218 returns), Florida (2,235 returns) and Connecticut (1,769 returns).
Arrivals came mainly from Massachusetts (6,510 returns), New York (1,588 returns) and Connecticut (1,494 returns). These figures count all filers who changed address, not only those who hired a moving company.
IRS SOI state-to-state outflow fileIRS SOI state-to-state inflow fileData as of tax filing years 2022 to 2023
Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers regulates household goods movers operating inside Rhode Island, and sits within the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. Movers are licensed under R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 39-12. The operating rules sit in 815-RICR-50-05-1, Transportation Provided by Motor Carriers of Property. Moves crossing the Rhode Island state line fall under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration instead, a separate authorisation with separate requirements.
Source: Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers
A mover doing work inside Rhode Island must hold the Rhode Island MC number issued by the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, issued by Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. It exists specifically for household goods movers, whatever its title. The requirement sits in R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 39-12. An interstate carrier holding only a federal USDOT number is not authorised for Rhode Island intrastate work by that number alone.
Source: Agency licensing page
Search the company by name or licence number in the Division list of licensed moving companies, and confirm the record shows an active status. For a move leaving Rhode Island, check the company's USDOT record in FMCSA SAFER as well. Holding one authorisation does not imply the other.
Rhode Island licence lookupRhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers: 89 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick RI 02888Verify by phone: 401-780-2158FMCSA SAFER
Rhode Island requires each mover to file its own rates rather than setting a ceiling. The mechanism is tariffs printed, filed with the administrator and kept open for public inspection under R.I. Gen. Laws 39-12-11, so the rates are public and enforceable against the mover that filed them, but Rhode Island does not cap them. Rates on a move that leaves Rhode Island are not set by the state.
Source: Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers
Complaints about a move inside Rhode Island go to Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers through the Division's online complaint form, 401-780-2150. A complaint about a move that crossed the Rhode Island state line goes to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration through the National Consumer Complaint Database instead.
Rhode Island complaint channelFMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database
Rhode Island gives you two checks that need no phone call. A licensed Rhode Island moving company must show the MC number the Division issued it in every advertisement, including internet listings, and its trucks must carry the company name, address, telephone number and that MC number on the door panels. An advert with no MC number and an unmarked truck are the two red flags the Division names first in its own in-state moving leaflet.
Source: Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, in-state moving leaflet
Yes, and the Division tells consumers to expect it. Its in-state moving leaflet states that licensed carriers bill from the time they leave their shop until the time they return, so travel time to your address and back to the depot appears on the final bill. That is not an overcharge in Rhode Island; it is how the filed rate is applied, which is why two Rhode Island quotes are only comparable if both state where the clock starts.
Source: Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, in-state moving leaflet
Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers publishes what applies to a company moving household goods in Rhode Island. Each of the following comes from the agency's own pages:
Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers moving companies pageRhode Island consumer information for movers
Moves crossing a state line are authorised by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under a USDOT number and interstate household goods operating authority. A Rhode Island state licence does not cover that work, and the federal record is the one to check: confirm the USDOT number is active and authorised for household goods before paying a deposit.
Last verified against agency pages: 2026-08-12
A move that leaves Rhode Island is an interstate move and falls under federal authority, so the company needs active operating authority for household goods rather than only a Rhode Island licence. A move that stays inside Rhode Island is different: it is regulated by Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, and the company needs Rhode Island MC number issued by the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. Check which kind of move you are booking before you compare quotes, because the two are verified in different places.
Rhode Island publishes a lookup, so you can confirm a licence yourself before you book. Division list of licensed moving companies
The out of state checklist sets out what changes when the move crosses a line, and the moving checklist sets out the weeks before it.
A studio or 1-bedroom in Rhode Island rarely justifies full service. Book labor-only at $105 to $160 per hour, rent the truck yourself, and expect the loading to take three to four hours.
Full service earns its price on 3+ bedroom homes, stairs at both ends, or any interstate job you are not driving yourself. It runs roughly two to three times labor-only, and that covers blankets, dollies, fuel, and the truck.
Containers are the middle option for Rhode Island households. 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 Rhode Island 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.
These companies have a verified headquarters or documented company location in Rhode Island. Placement is based on documented location information, not a numeric ranking.
Long-established Rhode Island van line with stronger Northeast and Atlantic-corridor operations. International coverage extends to 150+ countries.
Arpin Van Lines is headquartered in Rhode Island according to its published company location.
These companies publish broad nationwide moving service and are shown separately from companies based in Rhode Island.
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.
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.
Mayflower Transit is the second large UniGroup brand alongside United Van Lines and runs full-service interstate moves through an agent network under its own federal registration.
Mayflower Transit 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.
North American Van Lines is part of SIRVA and moves interstate household goods through an agent-affiliate network. The federal registration shown here belongs to the van line, not to the local agent that loads the truck.
North 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.
United Van Lines is the largest brand under UniGroup and publishes the annual National Movers Study. It offers shipment tracking and a published claims process; we hold no dataset that compares its claims outcomes with other carriers.
United 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.
Wheaton World Wide Moving shares a parent company with Bekins and moves interstate household goods through an agent network under its own federal registration.
Wheaton World Wide Moving 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.
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. Rhode Island 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.
Rhode Island 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.
Intrastate household-goods movers in Rhode Island are licensed by the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. A company moving household goods between two points in Rhode Island must hold authority from the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, and the Division issues it an MC number that must appear in the company's advertising and on its truck door panels. The authorisation is a Rhode Island MC number issued by the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers.
Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and CarriersResearched and written by Grant Holloway · Reviewed by Amanda Brooks · Last reviewed August 2026
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