New York is one of the most expensive states to live in, so it’s not surprising that more people are leaving the Empire State than almost anywhere else in the country. International Van Lines is the best company to help you move away from New York. But, of course, there are some other interstate options—plus a few moving services that can help you with a local move. We’ll show you our top choices, whether you’re in the heart of New York City or the outskirts of Palmyra.
Compare New York 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 New York
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Out-of-date website PODS—Best moving container company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 New York
Population
New York has a population of approximately 19.8 million people.1 While that’s enough to make New York the fourth most populous city in the United States, it’s getting smaller every day. Our proprietary analysis of Google moving trends shows that more people are moving out of New York than any other state except California. Notably, most (soon-to-be former) New Yorkers are looking for the Florida movers and New Jersey moving companies.3
What about Texas?
Most people moving out of New York are headed to Florida or New Jersey. But outside New York, folks often look for the best Texas moving companies.
Employment
The median income in New York is approximately $71,120. It takes the average New Yorker about 35 minutes to get to work,1 and roughly 61% of the population participates in the labor force.4 The Empire State’s largest industries are elementary and secondary education, food services, and general medical services. The state’s wealthiest counties are Nassau County, Putnam County, and Suffolk County, and the most lucrative non-medical jobs are in finance and internet publishing.5
Cost of living
It costs more to live in New York than in almost any other state. Its average cost of living ranks higher than every other state except California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.6 New York utility costs average about $390 monthly, with about $110 going toward phones, $60 for broadband internet, and $50 for streaming services. You can also expect to pay around $110 for electricity and $60 for natural gas.
Find internet prices for your new home
Bottom line: it’s not cheap to be a New Yorker, whether you live in Manhattan or Rochester.
Politics
New York is a heavily-Democratic state. Roughly 60% of the population voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election (compared to 38% for Donald Trump). Plus, both of the state’s U.S. Senators belong to the Democratic Party and all but 8 of the state’s 27 members of the House of Representatives. The most left-leaning counties are New York County, Bronx County, and Kings County, while the areas with the most GOP representation include Wyoming County, Lewis County, and Orleans County. 5
Best New York movers FAQ
What are the best New York City movers?
It depends if you’re moving from within New York City. First National Van Lines and Roadway Moving tops our list of the best local New York City movers, while International Van Lines is our pick for interstate moves.
How much are storage services?
The average cost to rent a storage unit is approximately $180 monthly. However, you may be able to trim costs or increase quality by choosing one of Move.org’s Best Storage Services.
Which long-distance moving company has the best customer service?
JK Moving has some of the nation’s best customer service, according to our mathematical analysis of more than 11,000 moving reviews. The moving service is known for its low $250 deposit and climate-controlled storage services.
What NYC mover has the best packing services?
Roadway Moving and HireAHelper have some of the best packing services in New York City. Both companies provide moving materials—or you can follow our moving tips to find free packing supplies.
Where can I find cheap movers in New York?
The most affordable way to move to New York is to pick one of the cheapest moving truck companies. Our top pick is Penske Truck Rental. It costs an average of $1,140 to move (not including discounts).
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 . . .
Best moving companies by city in New York
Best moving companies by state
Sources
- United States Census Bureau, “Quick Facts: New York,” Accessed October 11, 2022.
- United States Census Bureau, October 11, 2022, “U.S. and World Population Clock,” Accessed October 11, 2022.
- Google, 2021, “Moving Season Is On: 2021,” Accessed October 11, 2022.
- United States Congress Joint Economic Committee, September 16, 2022. “New York Employment Report,” Accessed October 11, 2022.
- Deloitte, “Data USA: New York,” Accessed October 11, 2022.
- Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, “Cost of Living Data Series,” Accessed October 11, 2022.
