Moving services: what each one covers and what it costs
Ten in-depth guides to the service categories you'll see when you shop a move. 2026 pricing, what's included, what's not, and the questions that actually save money.
Researched and written by Ashley Davis · Reviewed by Emily Johnson · Last reviewed August 2026
Same-day, same-metro moves billed by the hour. The everyday workhorse service.
Multi-state and 75+ mile moves. Priced by weight and distance, not the hour.
Cross-state moves regulated by FMCSA. The same product as long-distance, with stricter consumer protections.
Full-service or partial packing by your moving crew. Materials, labor, and breakage liability bundled.
Storage-in-transit, short-term, and long-term storage with carrier liability bundled.
Pianos, gun safes, art, antiques, and oversize specialty items handled by specialist crews.
Cross-border moves with customs, ocean or air freight, and destination services.
Studio loads, dorm moves, and labor-only crews to load a rental truck or container.
Senior Move Manager (NASMM) services for downsizing, retirement community moves, and assisted-living transitions.
Packing, loading, transport, unloading, and unpacking: the white-glove option.
Employer-paid moves with policy management, expense reporting, and tax gross-up support.
Shipping a car alongside a move: who is allowed to carry it, and what federal rules do and do not cover.
Dorm and student-apartment moves, summer storage, and campus access rules that decide the schedule.
What is actually possible at short notice, what changes about the price, and what to verify when there is no time to.
Commercial relocations: different authority, building access rules, after-hours work, and why household figures do not apply.
Compare licensed movers for your specific service
Tell us once, get matched with FMCSA-licensed carriers offering exactly the service type you need.
No obligation. Your quote request may be shared with up to 4 moving companies that may serve your requested route.
Where are you moving?
Get matched with licensed movers based on your route and move details.
.
.
