Moving is often a stressful experience, but if you’re looking for movers in Michigan, we recommend hiring American Van Lines or Allied Van Lines to help with the heavy lifting. While American Van Lines offers transparent pricing if you’re moving states, Allied Van Lines handles both local and long-distance moves in Michigan.
We also researched how to reserve parking for a moving truck in cities like Detroit and requirements for getting a Michigan driver’s license and transporting pets to help you plan for your moving day. Read on for more details about our picks for the best moving companies in Michigan.
Key Takeaways
- Our pick for the best moving company in Michigan is American Van Lines, a good pick for movers on a budget for its flat-rate pricing and price-match guarantee.
- The average cost of moving in Michigan is $2,791, based on real moving quotes we received for local and long-distance moves in the state.
- Our 2025 survey of 1,000 recent moving customers showed that 29% of Michigan respondents purchased packing services for their move, making it the most popular add-on choice in the state.
Top Moving Companies in Michigan
Hiring professional movers can help make your move easier, whether traveling from Ann Arbor to Oakland County or from Grand Rapids to San Francisco. To help you plan your move, here’s our list of top-rated Michigan moving companies:
- American Van Lines: Best for Transparent Pricing
- Allied Van Lines: Best for Industry Experience
- International Van Lines: Best for International Moves
- JK Moving Services: Best Comprehensive Moving Services
- North American Van Lines: Best for Large Moves
Compare the Top Moving Companies in Michigan
Picking the right company for your move is one of the most important parts of the moving process. To get started on your search, use the table below for an overview of what each of our top providers has to offer.
| Provider | Star Ratings | BBB Rating | Average Price | Deposit Required | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A- | $3,218 | 10%–50% | |||
A+ | $3,520 | None | |||
A+ | $3,112 | Up to 25% | |||
A+ | $2,273 | $250 | |||
A+ | $3,601 | None |
Our Top Picks For Moving Companies in Michigan
American Van Lines
American Van Lines is one of our top moving companies in Michigan because of its simple, flat-rate billing and price-matching policy. American Van Lines is one of the only companies we’ve reviewed that offers price matching, making it a good choice for budget-conscious buyers. Even though its average rates aren’t as low as some competitors, American Van Lines will match prices from other moving companies as long as the provider is a legitimate, licensed household goods carrier.
The biggest downside with American Van Lines is that the company doesn’t offer local moving services in Michigan. It also doesn’t offer any storage solutions in Michigan, which is a potential dealbreaker for customers with a few months between their move-out and move-in dates. Still, American Van Lines’ flat-rate prices simplify the billing process and include piano moving, antique services, furniture assembly and disassembly, and fine art moving with its standard loading and unloading services, offering a good value for Michigan customers.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offers flat-rate pricing that includes multiple moving services
- Is one of the only national movers on our list that offers a price-matching policy
- Handles military moves, a unique feature
Cons
- Doesn’t offer local moving services in Michigan
- Only offers storage solutions in Florida, Texas, and North Carolina
Cost and Services
American Van Lines costs $3,218 on average, based on moving quotes we received for local and long-distance moves nationwide. The company offers the following services for Michigan customers:
- Fragile-only packing
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Loading and unloading
- Office moves
- Packing and unpacking
- Piano moving
Michigan has 11 active military bases, and if you’re moving to any of them, American Van Lines advertises specific services for military moves. American Van Lines is a Personally Procured Move (PPM) carrier, which means it can assist active military members in handling their own moves instead of working directly with the government. Company reps can also help customers with military paperwork and with submitting a list of goods for the Defense Personal Property System (DPS).
Allied Van Lines
Allied Van Lines is our number one pick for Michigan residents because it handles local and long-distance moves in the state, a rare feat for a national moving company. Allied Van Lines is one of the largest and most reputable companies in the industry with 97 years of experience. Plus, it has more than 3,500 vehicles and over 4,200 drivers in its fleet, giving it more availability to book more moves throughout Michigan and the country.
Our main complaint about Allied Van Lines is that it doesn’t have 24-hour customer service Although Allied Van Lines advertises 24/7 customer support on its homepage, the company’s contact page lists its customer service hours as Monday through Friday during business hours. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, many of Allied’s competitors offer weekend customer service hours. However, we think the company’s deposit-free booking, 24/7 online shipment tracking, and long list of moving services make up for these shortcomings.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Handles local and long-distance moves in Michigan
- Is one of the oldest and largest moving companies in the country
- Offers GPS shipment tracking with every move
Cons
- May include a “bulky article charge” for oversized items and added labor
- Doesn’t offer 24/7 customer service hours
Cost and Services
Allied Van Lines costs $3,520 on average nationwide, which we determined by requesting quotes for local and long-distance moves. The company offers the following services for Michigan moves:
- Appliance and electronics disconnection
- Fragile-only packing
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Junk removal
- Loading and unloading
- Office moves
- Packing and unpacking
- Piano moving
- Vehicle shipping
Allied Van Lines is also one of the few full-service moving companies we’ve seen that provides portable storage container services along with a full moving crew. Unlike moving container companies like PODS or U-Haul, Allied sends a moving team of 2–4 workers to help you load your portable moving container. While this service isn’t suitable for large moves, it can offer a more practical solution for smaller jobs in Michigan that can’t fully fill a moving truck.
International Van Lines
International Van Lines (IVL) is one of our top Michigan movers because of its wide range of services, customer-friendly perks, and global reach. IVL handles long-distance moves in all 50 U.S. states and more than 140 countries, giving it the most extensive worldwide network out of any mover on this list. IVL also features convenient perks, like a free month of storage with every move, online discount codes, and an online payment portal.
Like many long-distance moving companies, IVL doesn’t offer local moving services in Michigan. However, IVL is a good choice for out-of-state moves, whether you’re going to the neighboring states of Indiana or Ohio or across the coast. Plus, no other provider on our list moves to so many countries nationwide, making IVL worth considering for Michigan residents looking to relocate internationally. The company also charges a 25% deposit, which is higher than most competitors we’ve reviewed, but its overall pricing runs on the lower side compared to our other top picks.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Includes 30 days of storage for free with every move
- Provides international moving services to over 140 countries
- Has a helpful online chat feature on its website
Cons
- Doesn’t offer local moving services in Michigan
- Charges a fee of $75 for external stairs and elevators
Cost and Services
International Van Lines costs $3,112 on average for domestic local and long-distance moves nationwide . We didn’t receive any international moving quotes, but you can expect overseas relocations to cost more than domestic moves. IVL offers the following services for Michigan customers:
- Fragile-only packing
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Junk removal
- Loading and unloading
- Packing and unpacking
- Piano moving
- Office moves
- Vehicle shipping
IVL is one of the few moving companies on our list that offers debris or junk removal services, which can help if you’re moving in a hurry. These services only apply to moving supplies inside the house, not yard debris or basement junk. For example, if you purchase debris removal, your IVL moving crew will take all the boxes, packing tape, and other unwanted supplies with them when they leave. This can clear up a lot of space in your home, especially if you have a large move with hundreds of boxes. If you don’t want to dispose of all the cardboard yourself, debris removal is a practical add-on purchase.
JK Moving Services
JK Moving Services has made a name for itself as one of the best movers for white glove jobs for moving items like paintings, sculptures, antiques, and other valuables. The fact that JK Moving has moved multiple presidents in and out of the White House only adds to its track record. Plus, JK Moving trains its employees in-house using a model home at its headquarters, providing in-depth experience before any mover steps foot into your house.
The company also provides financing options through its partner, Enhancify, to lower upfront moving costs and offer a more affordable option for Michigan residents. However, JK Moving doesn’t handle local moves outside of the Washington D.C. area, meaning it can only accept long-distance moves to or from Michigan. Still, if you want luxury moving services, we recommend JK Moving as the best option.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Is one of the only moving companies in the industry with financing options
- Uses artificial intelligence (AI)-powered surveys to offer estimates in as little as 15 minutes
- Specializes in moving valuable objects like paintings, sculptures, and antiques
Cons
- Doesn’t offer local moving services in Michigan
- Some negative customer review mention long wait times for shipments
Cost and Services
Based on the moving quotes we received, JK Moving Services costs $2,273 on average for local and long-distance moves nationwide. This makes it the cheapest moving company on our list, though some customers report paying high prices in online reviews. JK Moving offers the following residential moving services for Michigan movers:
- Fragile-only packing
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Loading and unloading
- Office moves
- Packing and unpacking
- Piano moving
- Vehicle shipping
JK Moving is also on our list of the best office moving companies, offering much more than the standard loading and unloading services for commercial moving. If you plan on moving your Michigan business, you can choose from the following commercial services:
- Archive services
- Concierge services
- Furniture, fixtures, and equipment services
- Laboratories and medical services
- Technology services
- Warehousing and storage services
North American Van Lines
North American Van Lines (NAVL) has been in business since 1933, giving it more than 90 years of experience and making it one of the oldest companies on our list. However, the company functions differently than the other movers on our list because it’s both a carrier and a broker. While carriers use their own trucks and employees to handle your move directly, brokers facilitate moves through third-party contractors. This gives companies more availability to book moves but less accountability when it comes to claims, communication, and quality of service.
We normally don’t recommend brokers, but because NAVL is also a carrier and has some of the most practical features for customers, we ranked it as one of the best movers in Michigan. The company has 24/7 customer service, deposit-free booking, nationwide storage facilities, and free online estimates through its long-distance moving cost calculator. These features can help make your move less stressful and feel more convenient
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Can provide climate-controlled storage options throughout the whole country
- Has a free moving cost calculator for online estimates
- Offers multiple pricing options
Cons
- Acts as a carrier and a broker
- Is more expensive than most competitors we reviewed
Cost and Services
Based on the moving quotes we received, North American Van Lines costs $3,600.51 on average, making it the most expensive option in our review. Still, NAVL is tied with Allied Van Lines for offering the most moving services on our list, including the following:
- Appliance and electronics disconnection
- Fragile-only packing
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Junk removal
- Loading and unloading
- Office moves
- Packing and unpacking
- Piano moving
- Vehicle shipping
While not necessarily a moving service, NAVL offers several helpful resources on its website, including a long-distance moving cost calculator. Not many moving companies offer online quotes, and while rates aren’t always as accurate as in-person estimates, it’s still convenient to have the option when comparing different Michigan moving companies.
How Much Does a Michigan Move Cost?
The average cost of moving in Michigan is $2,791, which we determined by requesting quotes for local and long-distance moves for different home sizes nationwide. However, your individual rate will vary depending on your home size and belongings and the distance to your new home. Most moving companies base their pricing on these two factors, although local movers typically charge by the hour rather than by shipment weight.
House size doesn’t necessarily determine the amount of items you have, but it can help you estimate moving costs. The bigger your home, the more items you likely have, which increases costs. Use the chart below to get a ballpark idea of how much your move may cost based on the size of your home.
| House Size | Average Cost in Michigan |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $2,514 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,422 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,394 |
How We Collected Moving Cost Data
To give readers like you the most accurate cost data, we went straight to the source and requested roughly 4,000 moving quotes from 15 different companies, including 74 quotes in Michigan. These quotes came from sample moves in for homes in Detroit, Plymouth, Lansing, and Traverse City. We then averaged prices by provider, home size, distance, and location to see how each factor affected moving costs in the state and nationwide.
Additional Factors Affecting Move Costs
Home size and distance may make up the two biggest factors that affect the cost of your move, but other factors contribute, too. Here are a few things to keep an eye on while you’re booking your move:
- Time of year: In Michigan and across the entire country, summer is the busiest season for moving companies. Spring is also a popular time to move. This high demand creates higher prices, so get a better rate, try booking in the fall or winter.
- Services: Most moving companies charge extra for services like packing, unpacking, and custom crating. If you want to save money, try doing as much of the packing and unpacking as you can yourself.
- Home layout: Some moving companies charge extra fees for any external stairs or elevators the crew will have to navigate. If you live in a large apartment building in Detroit, for example, you may owe an additional fee for any elevators or flights of stairs leading up to your door.
- Tipping: If it’s your first time hiring professional movers, you may not know you’re supposed to tip them—or how much. We recommend tipping your moving crew $5–$10 per mover per hour for a job well done.
Moving Factors To Consider in Michigan
Moving isn’t as simple as just putting all your items in a truck and hoping for the best. Changing addresses is complicated, and it’s important to plan ahead. Here’s a list of a few things to keep in mind when planning your Michigan moving checklist:
- Winter weather: Michigan can have extremely harsh winters, which can disrupt your moving plans. Driving a moving truck in deep snow is dangerous, especially if you’re moving in the state’s Upper Peninsula. The Keweenaw Peninsula gets lake-effect snow all winter long and can receive more than 250 inches of snow per year. If you live in a snow-prone area, try booking your move in the spring, summer, fall when there’s better weather.
- Moving truck parking: If you’re moving in a busy city like Detroit, you may need to reserve parking for your moving truck. To do this, contact the Detroit Municipal Parking Department by phone at 313-221-2500 or use the Park Detroit app to reserve parking digitally.
- Update your driving documents: To get a Michigan state driver’s license, schedule a visit at a Secretary of State office and bring the required documents. You can also schedule an appointment to register your vehicle, but will need a Michigan license to do so.
- Out-of-state moves: According to the United Van Lines 2024 National Movers Study, Michigan has had more outbound moves than inbound moves. If you’re looking to leave the state, you must hire interstate movers, not local movers. Interstate movers have a United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) number and can legally cross state lines with your belongings.
- Moving with pets: If you plan on moving your pets across state lines, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requires dogs and cats to have an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection. Dogs and cats aged 12 weeks or older need a current rabies vaccination, too.
How Does Michigan Regulate Moving Companies?
The federal government regulates interstate moving companies through the USDOT and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), but individual states regulate local movers differently. In the state of Michigan, the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) of the Michigan State Police is in charge of authorizing and regulating household goods movers.
Here are a few more facts to know about moving regulations in Michigan:
- If you experience an issue with local Michigan movers, you can file a complaint with the CVED. You can do this over the phone by calling the office at 517-284-3250.
- The CVED doesn’t list any procedures for customers with lost or damaged items, so the first thing you should do is reach out to your movers directly to resolve the dispute. If you can’t reach an agreement with your moving company, you can file a complaint with the CVED using the steps above. If that doesn’t lead to a resolution, you can settle your case in small claims court.
- If you hire interstate movers and run into any issues, you can file a complaint with the FMCSA or call the office at 888-368-7238.
Insights from Movers in Michigan
In 2025, we surveyed 1,000 moving customers across the country to learn more about their moving experiences. We learned that Allied Van Lines is the most popular individual provider in Michigan, with American Van Lines and North American Van Lines close behind. We also found that 79% of all Michigan respondents moved locally, either in the same state or within a single day of moving.
Most Michigan customers reported total moving costs of $750–4,000, but some went as high as $15,000. Only 38% of Michigan residents purchased full-value protection insurance, but those that did reported spending between $50 and $1,200 to protect their items.
Half of all Michigan movers declined to purchase any add-on services, but for the ones who did, packing was the most popular choice (29%) and packing supplies was a close second (25%). Customers reported paying between $50 and $1,500 for packing services. Additionally 88% of Michigan respondents said their final bill aligned with their quoted rate, very close to the national average of 89%. The Michigan residents who owed more reported paying up to $1,500 above their initial quote.
Roughly 83% of Michigan respondents said they would hire professional movers again, and of those who wouldn’t, poor communication and overcharging were the two main reasons why. Still, 83% of customers in the state said they were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their move.
FAQs About Moving Companies in Michigan
How much do movers cost in Michigan?
The average cost of moving in Michigan is $2,791, which is based on local and long-distance moves for various home sizes. Your individual rates may vary depending on what city or town you live in, the company you hire, your moving date, and how far you’re traveling to your new home.
Is it cheaper to hire movers or do it yourself?
It’s almost always cheaper to do it yourself (DIY) when it comes to moving, but it’s also much more work. DIY rental companies like U-Haul and PODS offer cost-effective options, but you have to do all the heavy lifting without professional help. Although professional movers cost more, hiring a crew can help make your move stress-free.
What should I look for when choosing a moving company in Michigan?
We recommend looking for companies with proper licensing with the USDOT or Michigan Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) and generally positive customer reviews, especially in your area. Also, look for companies that offer the specific services you need for your move, like packing, unpacking, or vehicle shipping services, within your budget.
What are the best moving companies in Michigan for long-distance moves?
All of the companies on our list handle long-distance moves in Michigan, but American Van Lines and Allied Van Lines are two of the best options in the state. These companies offer a long list of services, useful perks for customers, and general overall value.
How We Ranked the Best Moving Companies in Michigan
When ranking the best moving companies in Michigan, we focused on long-distance moving companies that handle moves throughout the entire country, not just in Michigan. We also prioritized full-service movers over rental companies like U-Haul and PODS. We excluded any companies not registered with the USDOT and the FMCSA. From there, we prioritized companies with a wide range of service options, helpful customer service features, and competitive pricing.
To fairly and thoroughly evaluate moving companies, we developed a 100-point rating system grounded in real customer feedback, regulatory data, and hands-on testing. We gathered quotes, verified licensing and safety records, analyzed thousands of customer reviews, and even conducted secret shopping to get a full picture of the customer experience. Each company was scored across six essential categories and then given a final rating out of 5 stars.
Here’s how we broke down our review:
- Customer service (18%): We looked at reviews on the BBB and Trustpilot, surveyed 1,000 recent customers, and tested each company’s website and support team ourselves. Companies earned higher marks for having clear communication, responsiveness, and a helpful, user-friendly online experience.
- Reputation (14%): We verified that each mover has proper licensing through the USDOT and checked FMCSA safety records, specifically truck maintenance data. We also gave extra credit to companies that publicly commit to background-checking their crews, showing they prioritize customer safety.
- Value (18%): Using real quotes for 3-bedroom moves ranging from 500–800 miles, we compared average prices across providers. We also considered whether companies offer flat-rate or binding estimates and if they have a clear and simple billing process.
- Service offerings (19%): We evaluated the range of services available, from packing and unpacking to piano moving and junk removal. Movers that offer more options, including DIY solutions like portable storage, scored higher for flexibility and convenience.
- Item protection (20%): We reviewed each company’s insurance offerings and how well they prevent damage during the move. Higher scores went to movers that offer full-value protection and use best practices like shrink wrap, padding, and floor guards.
- Scheduling (11%): We assessed how easy it is to request a quote, speak to a representative, and manage a move from start to finish. Companies with multiple contact options, digital tools like apps or customer portals, and streamlined booking processes stood out from the rest.
