Arizona is one of the nation’s fastest-growing states. In recent years, the Grand Canyon State has seen an influx of over 100,000 new residents—and it expects the trend to continue. The state’s popularity (especially in the Phoenix area) also leads to questions about the best Arizona movers. Our top overall pick is International Van Lines, a professional long-distance moving company. But there are other options worth considering depending on your budget and the size of your move. We’ll walk you through our top choices.
The best moving companies in Arizona
Best Movers in Arizona
International Van Lines—Best long-distance moving company
International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving company. It can move you anywhere in the country and is upfront about its prices (most moving companies aren’t). IVL also offers substantial discounts if you’re a senior or need to ship a car. Plus, the moving company provides 30 days of free storage to provide a buffer when moving into your new home. On the downside, it has below-average customer reviews and annoying website pop-up ads.
First National Van Lines—Best local moving company
First National Van Lines is our pick for the best local moving company. While most moving brokers focus on helping you move between states, FNVL’s expertise enables you to move within the same state. It has a network of movers in nearly all US cities and receives above-average customer reviews. First National Van Lines can also give you a quote virtually or in person and provides attractive storage options. For example, it offers all customers a free month of storage and a remote video stream of their storage space. On the downside, FNVL’s website isn’t always up-to-date.
PODS—Best moving container company
PODS is one of your best moving options. Think of the company’s containers as storage units that you can hang onto until you've set a date with a driver to pick up and hook onto the back of a specialized truck. A PODS truck drops off a moving container at your home. Once you load it, PODS picks the container up and transports it to your new home, where you unload it. The container company has top-notch customer reviews, excellent storage options, and nationwide availability. And despite confusing invoices, PODS has some of the lowest rates for moving containers in the United States. In some cases, it's even more convenient and cheaper than rental trucks.
Penske—Best moving truck company
Penske Truck Rental is our pick for the best moving truck company. Renting a truck is the cheapest way to move, and Penske brings a lot to the table. It offers local and long-distance moving services everywhere in the country (except Alaska), provides reliable reservations, and has moving discounts. In addition, Penske has the highest customer satisfaction rating of any rental truck company. So if you’re able to pack, load, and drive, there’s no better option than Penske Truck Rental.
HireAHelper—Best hourly moving labor company
HireAHelper is an excellent solution if you need help with only a few parts of the moving process. The company’s professional contractors can help you with everything from packing and loading to furniture assembly and junk removal. It’s also easy to find, with nearly 5,000 locations in all 50 states. Plus, HireAHelper movers get excellent customer reviews. Just be aware that you must hire your workers for at least two hours. It’s not cheap compared to other hourly moving labor companies, but customer reviews suggest the premium price is worth it.
Move.org's top pick
International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving service. It has a vast network of cross-country movers, provides one month of free storage, and offers military and senior discounts. Want to move with Move.org's #1 pick?
What type of moving company is right for you?
Professional movers load your stuff, ship it to your new home, and unload it all for you. It’s the easiest—but most expensive—option. Learn more.
You load up all your belongings, but the movers transport your container to your new home. It’s the middle road for effort and cost. Learn more.
Worried about costs? Rent a truck, load it yourself, drive it to your new home, and unload all your things. You do it all—and save a lot. Learn more.
What to know about moving in Arizona
Population
Arizona has a population of over seven million residents1 and is one of the 10 fastest-growing states in the country.2 Its population has grown more than 10% over the last decade, and government officials project additional increases. In particular, nearly 40,000 people moved to the Phoenix area from 2020 to 2021.3
More than half of the state’s population is between 18 and 65, while over one-fifth of its people are under 18. The state is split about 50/50 between men and women, and 85% of the population is either white or Latino (no other group comprises more than 5% of the total population).1 Approximately 15% of Arizona residents are foreign-born.
Check out our list of the best international moving companies. We help you pick the right professional movers to get you to your new home.
Employment
Arizona’s median household income is just over $60,000 per year.1 The state’s fastest-growing industries include education and health services, construction, financial activities, and professional and business services. Conversely, Arizona has lost jobs in the past decade related to mining, manufacturing, and hospitality industries.4 Its three largest employers are Kyocera Solar, PetSmart, and Banner Health.5
Cost of living
The cost of living in Arizona is more affordable than in most other states. It ranks 37th out of 50, meaning that only 12 states are cheaper to live in.6 Food costs in the state are rising,7 but the cost of living in Arizona is generally less than most other states.
Politics
Arizona was evenly divided along partisan lines for the last presidential election. Joe Biden held a slight advantage with 49.4% of the vote in the 2020 election, while Donald Trump received 49.1%. Mohave County was an outlier, with 75% of voters supporting Trump. Conversely, Santa Cruz County is Arizona’s most Democratic region, with nearly 70% of voters preferring Biden. The state has nine members in the House of Representatives based on census population data.8
You can save money by packing yourself instead of hiring packing services. We’ve put together a list of four packing strategies to make your move easier—and cheaper.
Best Arizona movers FAQ
Which is the best Arizona moving company for you?
The best moving company to move within Arizona is First National Van Lines. The broker specializes in connecting you with top-rated moving companies throughout the Copper State, including Phoenix movers.
Who are the best California-to-Arizona movers?
The best California-to-Arizona mover is International Van Lines. Its experienced movers offer competitive rates, piano moving, and all the moving day help you need.
What is the best part of Arizona to move to?
Phoenix may be the best part of Arizona to move to based on moving statistics. More people have moved to the Phoenix area over the last decade than any other Arizona city.
How can you find the best moving companies in Arizona?
You can find the best moving companies in Arizona by reading Move.org’s analysis of your options. In addition to statewide reports, we also break down the best movers in Phoenix, Tucson, and Scottsdale.
What are the best local moving companies in Phoenix?
Phoenix’s best local moving companies include Dose Moving and Storage, PODS, and Penske Truck Rental. Penske is our pick for the best low-budget movers, Dose offers the best moving services of any Phoenix moving company, and PODS specializes in hybrid moving containers.
JK Moving is an excellent up-and-coming moving service for a residential move. The company has excellent customer service and charges a deposit of only $250.
Methodology
We conducted intensive research to identify the best moving companies for long-distance moves and local moves, in addition to container moves, truck rentals, and hourly moving labor. During our searches, we:
- Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each moving company’s prices are trustworthy.
- Review accreditation. We check every company’s records in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to confirm companies are properly authorized to transport household goods.
- Go mystery shopping. We review every company’s website, pose as customers in calls to companies, and read customer reviews to analyze every company’s moving services, transit protection, and customer service. We also interview actual customers to learn how their moves went from start to finish.
- Perform site visits. We invite moving companies to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, to share data and expertise. We verify the information they provide by comparing it to data gathered through independent research and interviews with other movers.
- Set up regular reviews. We routinely repeat this process to update our recommendations to reflect current data and trends. We also revise each review annually and make updates throughout the year.
Recommended resources
People also asked . . .
Sources
- The United States Census Bureau, “QuickFacts: Arizona,” Accessed October 5, 2022.
- Arizona’s Economy, April 26, 2021, “Census 2020: Arizona Among Top-Growing States but Does Not Match Growth of Previous Decades,” Accessed October 5, 2022.
- City of Phoenix, February 14, 2022, “All Our New Neighbors; They’re Not Just from L.A.,” Accessed October 5, 2022.
- U.S. Department of Labor, “Arizona Economic Overview,” Accessed October 5, 2022.
- Zippia, June 7, 2021, “The 100 Largest Companies in Arizona for 2022,” Accessed October 5, 2022.
- Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, “Cost of Living Data Series,” Accessed October 5, 2022.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 13, 2022, “Consumer Price Index, Phoenix Area—August 2022,” Accessed October 5, 2022.
- Deloitte, “Data USA: Arizona,” Accessed October 10, 2022.