Louisiana has a population of just under 5 million—and more than 500,000 people used a Louisiana moving company last year. If you’re making a long-distance move, International Van Lines has the best moving services. However, we also found other top moving industry options for affordable movers, packing services, or moving containers. We’ll walk you through the options, whether you’re moving to New Orleans or Bossier City.
Are you moving to New Orleans?
We researched more than 20 Louisiana moving companies to find the best New Orleans movers.
Compare Louisiana moving companies
Moving company | Move type | Move.org rating | Cost | Learn more |
| Full-service (long distance) | 
| $$$$ | Get a Quote Get a Quote | |
| Full-service (local) | 
| $$$ | Get a Quote Get a Quote | |
| Moving container | 
| $$$ | Get a Quote Get a Quote | |
| East Coast moves | 
| $$$ | Get a Quote Get a Quote | |
| Hourly labor | 
| $$ | Get a Quote Get a Quote |
Best Movers in Louisiana
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.
Pros
Transparent pricing
Local and long-distance moving
15% car shipping discount
15% senior discount
30 days of free storage 
Cons
Below-average customer reviews
Annoying 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.
Pros
Services most U.S. cities
Excellent customer reviews
In-home and virtual quotes
30 days of free storage
Remote video storage Cons
Out-of-date website PODS—Best moving container company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.
Pros
Low prices
Multiple container sizes
Lots of storage options
Positive customer reviews
46-state availability Cons
Confusing prices Solomon & Sons Relocation—Best for East Coast moves
Bottom line: Solomon & Sons excels in moves along the East Coast but offers nationwide and international services. Their standout sales team ensures a superior quoting experience with guaranteed pricing, whether through detailed in-home estimates in South Florida or convenient video conferencing elsewhere. Offering services in five languages, they promise no hidden fees and transparent pricing. You can also get an instant online quote, which makes planning your move fast and easy.
Discover everything Solomon & Sons offers in our full review.
Pros
Guaranteed pricing
Instant online quotes
$100 discount for moving + car shipping Cons
Extra 15% deposit required outside of Florida 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.
Pros
Professional contractors
Packing and loading services
4,750+ locations
50-state availability
Positive customer reviews Cons
High prices
Two-hour minimum 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
They handle it all.
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.
Containers
You load, they ship.
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.
Moving truck rentals
You do all the work.
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 Louisiana
Population
Louisiana has a population of around 4.7 million and a negative annual growth rate of approximately 0.7%.1 The state has a median age of 37,2 and its largest ethnic groups are White, African American, and Latino. About 13% of Louisiana residents live in a different home than one year ago,1 and about 560,000 people moved last year. Interestingly, the vast majority of those moves were from one Louisiana city to another.3
Employment
The median household income in Louisiana is approximately $50,800, and just under 60% of the population participates in the labor force.1 The Pelican State added about 46,000 payroll jobs last year and saw the unemployment rate drop roughly 1.7%.4 Louisiana’s most popular occupations are construction, education, and restaurant services, while its highest-paying non-medical industries are trusts, metal ore mining, and oil extraction.2
Cost of living
Louisiana ranks as one of the more affordable states in the nation. For example, the average cost of Louisiana groceries, housing, utilities, and transportation ranks 18th out of 50—making it more affordable than most other states. Louisiana’s most expensive rates are for healthcare, while its lowest costs are for housing and utilities.5 Not surprisingly, homeownership rates are above the national average,2 with a median property value of $168,000.1
How much are Louisiana utilities?
The average resident pays about $400 monthly toward Louisiana utility bills. That includes costs like water, electricity, and broadband internet.
Politics
Louisiana leans red in its politics. Democrats claim a slight 2% advantage overall,6 but the state’s federal elections overwhelmingly favor the GOP. For example, Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election by nearly 20%, and seven of the state’s eight Congressional representatives are Republican. The areas with the highest concentration of Republicans are Cameron County, LaSalle County, and Grant County. At the same time, Louisiana’s bluest regions include Orleans County, St. John the Baptist County, and East Carroll County.2
Best Louisiana movers FAQ
Who are the best movers in New Orleans?
International Van Lines and Moving NOLA are the best movers in New Orleans. IVL is our pick for the best long-distance movers, while Moving NOLA has the highest-quality moving services if you’re moving within Louisiana.
What jobs are in high demand in Louisiana?
Jobs in construction and elementary and secondary education are in high demand in Louisiana. The state’s food services industry is also popular.2
Who is the best out-of-state moving company?
International Van Lines is the best out-of-state moving company. This moving service is our pick for the best long-distance mover because of its transparent pricing, steep discounts, and decades of experience.
What are the average moving costs within Louisiana?
The average moving costs within Louisiana depend on what moving service you choose. For example, the cheapest truck rental companies cost only hundreds of dollars, while a professional mover typically offers rates in the thousands.
Who are the best movers?
PODS and International Van Lines are the best movers. PODS is an excellent option if you need a local mover, while IVL has a reputation as a reliable moving company for long-distance relocations.
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
- United States Census Bureau. “Quick Facts: Louisiana,” Accessed October 15, 2022.
- Deloitte. “Data USA: Louisiana,” Accessed October 15, 2022.
- United States Census Bureau, December 15, 2020. “Census Bureau Releases 2020 CPS ASEC Geographic Mobility Data,” Accessed October 15, 2022.
- United States Congress Joint Economic Committee, September 16, 2022. “Louisiana Employment Report,” Accessed October 15, 2022.
- Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. “Cost of Living Data Series,” Accessed October 15, 2022.
- Pew Research Center. “Religious Landscape Study: Party Affiliation among Adults in Louisiana,” Accessed October 15, 2022.
