Movers in South Dakota charge about $85 to $130 per hour for a two-person crew on local jobs, and a two-bedroom interstate move from South Dakota is estimated at $2,600 to $6,100. South Dakota 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 August, when quotes sit at the top of those ranges. BestMovers.info compares 182 licensed carriers serving South Dakota, with pricing data as of May 2026.
Key facts
Local rate, two movers
$85 to $130 per hour
2-bedroom interstate
$2,600 to $6,100
Intrastate regulator
No state licensing program
Interstate licensing
FMCSA USDOT and MC authority
Peak season
May–August
Cities covered
0
Carriers compared
182
Pricing data as of
May 2026
Bottom line
Compare moving companies, Federal Records, and moving resources for South Dakota. BestMovers.info publishes no numeric score, star rating or ranked order.
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Updated August 2026 Reviewed by Amanda Brooks5 companies analyzed
What moving in South Dakota actually looks like
South Dakota, capital Pierre, prices moves off a May–August peak. Households that can move in November–March pay 15% to 25% less and get first pick of experienced crews.
Two crew members at standard rates run roughly $108/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 South Dakota settles around $4,350, though distance and packing services swing that meaningfully.
Local quirks worth pricing in: winter pickups that can slip a day after snowstorms, and a strong August student-move surge. 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 South Dakota agency licenses movers operating inside the state, so this page does not name one. Any move that crosses the South Dakota 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 South Dakota for its business registration and proof of cargo insurance in writing.
Pay by card, never cash, so a disputed charge has a route back through the issuer.
South Dakota runs its heaviest volume May–August, and its metro areas feed most of that demand out of and around Pierre. Population sits near 0.9 million, which is what sets how deep the local crew pool actually is in November–March.
How we select movers for this state
Nothing appears on this South Dakota page without a public record behind it. A company is listed here when it is headquartered in South Dakota 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
South Dakota moving cost snapshot
Two movers, ground-floor access, standard packing. Peak season in South Dakota is May–August.
Home size
Local move
Interstate move
Studio
$255–$650
$1,430–$3,660
1 Bedroom
$340–$780
$1,950–$4,758
2 Bedroom
$510–$1,170
$2,600–$6,100
3 Bedroom
$680–$1,560
$3,770–$9,455
4 Bedroom
$935–$2,080
$5,070–$13,115
5+ Bedroom
$1,190–$2,600
$6,240–$16,470
How many licensed moving companies are registered in South Dakota?
The FMCSA motor carrier census lists 103 registrants carrying household goods whose physical address is in South Dakota, and 65 of those are classified by FMCSA as interstate operations. That figure counts companies whose federal registration lists a South Dakota address, which is not the same as the number of companies that will serve a move in South Dakota. An interstate move into or out of South Dakota can be performed by a carrier registered in any state.
How many households move out of South Dakota each year?
IRS tax return data for filing years 2022 to 2023 records 14,674 returns moving out of South Dakota to another state, and 16,187 moving in, a net gain of 1,513 returns. A return approximates a household rather than a person. The same filings cover 24,854 individuals leaving and 27,271 arriving.
The states receiving the most South Dakota households were Minnesota (1,855 returns), Iowa (977 returns) and Texas (926 returns).
Arrivals came mainly from Minnesota (2,243 returns), Iowa (1,280 returns) and California (1,243 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 South Dakota agency licenses movers operating inside the state, so this page does not name one. Any move that crosses the South Dakota 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 South Dakota, where no federal authority applies, ask the company in writing for its South Dakotabusiness 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 South Dakota licenses nobody.
What should you check before moving out of South Dakota?
A move that leaves South Dakota is an interstate move and falls under federal authority, so the company needs active operating authority for household goods rather than only a South Dakota licence. A move that stays inside South Dakota is different: South Dakota agency pages were read in full and publish neither a mover-specific credential nor a rate rule, so there is no South Dakota 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.
South Dakota season — quotes inside May–August run at the top of the $85–$130 hourly band; November–March quotes sit near the bottom.
Truck access — if the truck cannot park within 75 feet of the door, expect a long-carry or shuttle charge.
South Dakota licensing — BestMovers.info has not yet confirmed which South Dakota 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 South Dakota metros that runs about $255 to $520 for two movers over 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.
Portable containers sit between the two on price. 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota
These companies have a verified headquarters or documented company location in South Dakota. Placement is based on documented location information, not a numeric ranking.
We currently do not have a company profile headquartered in South Dakota that meets our documentation requirements.
Companies
Featured Nationwide Movers
These companies publish broad nationwide moving service and are shown separately from companies based in South Dakota.
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 South Dakota mover claiming a federal licence for an in-state move. FMCSA authority covers interstate work only, and South Dakota issues no household-goods licence of its own.
An hourly quote far under $85 in South Dakota. 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 South Dakota
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. South Dakota 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 South Dakota you're moving matters
South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
Local moves in South Dakota are estimated at $315–$2,480 depending on home size, while an interstate move out of South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
October through April is generally the cheapest window in South Dakota — 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 South Dakota licensed and insured?
All interstate moving companies must register with the FMCSA and carry a USDOT number. South Dakota also requires intrastate movers to register with the state — verify any quote against the FMCSA SAFER tool before signing.
Should I tip movers in South Dakota?
Tipping is customary but not required. A typical tip in South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
Book 4–6 weeks ahead for moves between May and September. For off-peak fall and winter moves in South Dakota, 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 SD interstate moves, request binding-not-to-exceed quotes whenever possible.
Who licenses movers in South Dakota
South Dakota 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
