More people moved away from Michigan than to Michigan in 2022. Overall, the Mitten State was one of the top states people moved away from, with family proximity being a top reason people moved. While outbound migration is higher in Michigan, there are still plenty of people moving to and within Michigan for its low cost of living, strong economy, and expansive outdoor scenery. If you’re looking for well-established Michigan movers, we recommend any of the movers on this page, but our top moving choice is International Van Lines.
Compare Michigan moving companies
Moving company | Move type | Move.org rating | Cost | Learn more |
| Full-service (long distance) | 
| $$$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Full-service (local) | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Moving container | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Truck rental | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Hourly labor | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices |
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Out-of-date website PODS—Best moving container company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 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.
Pros
Lowest moving prices
Local and long-distance rentals
Excellent customer reviews
Moving discounts
Reliable reservations Cons
No service in Alaska 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 living in Michigan
Population
A little over 10.12 million people are living in Michigan. Ethnic diversity in Michigan is average compared to other states in the US.1 While the majority of the population is White (79%), Michigan has one of the largest populations of Black residents (14%) in the Midwest. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.6%, while those of Asian descent make up 3.4%. Almost 7% of the population was born in another country, and close to 10% of households speak another language aside from English, the most common being Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese.2
Other noteworthy demographics:
- Michigan is home to a large number of veterans, roughly 516,924.
- 10% of residents under 65 live with a disability.
- 91% of the population has a high school diploma or higher.
Employment
There are 4.45 million people employed in Michigan,3 with an unemployment rate of 4.3%.4 The most common jobs are truck drivers, sales workers, managers, and registered nurses. Additionally, the most common employment sectors are vehicle manufacturing, restaurants and food services, and general medical and surgical hospitals. The average salary in Michigan is $50,894 annually or $24 per hour.5
How do I ship my motorcycle?
The best motorcycle shipping companies can transport your car from California cities like North Hollywood or Beverly Hills to anywhere in the country.
Cost of living
The cost of living is 10% lower in Michigan than the national average, but this varies by city. For example, Detroit is 3% higher than the national average, while Kalamazoo is 24% below.6 Utility bills in Michigan are some of the most affordable in the US, averaging roughly $376.11 a month when combining the average household’s expenses for natural gas, electricity, streaming services, phone, water, and internet.7
Politics
Michigan voted Democrat in the most recent presidential election. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters are the two senators representing Michigan, and Gretchen Whitmer is the governor. While the state is well-known as a swing state, Democrats were encouraged by historic wins in the recent 2022 primary. During this election, abortion became a protected right in the state constitution. Many attribute redistricting reform as the key to Democratic overtake. Currently, decision makers seek to address the aging and neglected infrastructure, high prescription drug costs and health care costs, and the need for more affordable housing.8
Which long-distance movers have the best quality?
American Van Lines is our pick for the highest-quality interstate moving company. It’s expensive, but the company has decades of experience moving high-value items like pianos and artwork.
Best Michigan movers FAQ
Michigan is known for its wide plethora of outdoor activities (hello, Upper Peninsula), access to all the Great Lakes, vibrant arts and culture, steady economic growth, and top universities. You should also be aware that the winters in Michigan are long, snow-filled, and cold, and the state has some of the highest car insurance rates in the country.9
The top reasons Michiganders moved out of Michigan in 2022 included a desire to be closer to family, job opportunities, and retirement. The largest percentage of people leaving (57%) were 55 years old or older. On the other hand, Michigan’s inbound migration (40%) was greater than outbound migration (23%) for movers 35 to 54 years old.10 This state offers high economic growth opportunities and an affordable cost of living in many parts across the state.
If you are looking to make a move to or from Michigan, we recommend moving with International Van Lines, our top-rated mover. You can expect transparent pricing, high customer satisfaction, optional packing services, and senior discounts.
Your liveable wage in Michigan depends on your living situation and household size. For example, a single adult would need to make roughly $16.36 per hour ($34,028 annually before taxes) to meet basic living needs, and two working adults with two children would each need to make $26.43 per hour ($74,757 annually) to manage their household’s living needs.11
A storage unit in Michigan costs an average of $120 per month for a non-climate-controlled option, but this will vary depending on availability, location, unit size, and the self-storage company.12
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.
Sources
- Adam McCann, WalletHub, “Most & Least Diverse States in America,” Published Sept 14, 2022. Accessed January 3, 2023.
- The United States Census Bureau, “QuickFacts: Michigan,” Accessed January 3, 2023.
- Deloitte, “Data USA: Michigan,” Accessed December 22, 2022.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Michigan Economy at a Glance,” Published December 29, 2022. Accessed January 3, 2023.
- ZipRecruiter, “Average Salary in Michigan,” Published December 2022. Accessed January 3, 2023.
- RentCafe, “Cost of Living in Michigan,” Accessed December 22, 2022.
- Sarah Cimarusti, Move.org, “Utility Bills 101: Utilities Tips, Average Costs, Fees, and More,” Published November 29, 2022. Accessed January 3, 2023.
- Bridge Michigan, “Michigan Issues 2022,” Published June 23, 2023. Accessed January 3, 2023.
- Chris Horymski, “The 10 Most Expensive States for Car Insurance,” Published February 9, 2022. Accessed January 3, 2023.
- United Van Lines, “Annual 2022 United Van Lines National Movers Study,” Accessed January 3, 2023.
- Living Wage, “Living Wage Calculation for Michigan,” Accessed January 3, 2023.
- RentCafe, “Storage Units in Michigan,” Accessed January 3, 2023.
