You have several great options when you’re choosing a moving company in the Ocean State, but our top pick is International Van Lines. If you want more options, there are several other full-service, moving container, and truck rental companies to choose from. Whether you’re headed to Providence, Warwick, Cranston, or anywhere in between, we’ll help find the right company to get you there.
Compare Rhode Island 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 |
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Out-of-date website PODS—Best moving container company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 living in Rhode Island
Population
Despite being the smallest state by size, Rhode Island is home to about 1.093 million people.1 Most foreign-born people in the Ocean State come from the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Portugal.2 Demographically, Rhode Islanders are primarily White (83%), Hipsanic (17%), and African-American (9%).1
There are about 2.5 people per household in Rhode Island, with the median age being about 40 years old.1 About 22.5% of Rhode Islanders report speaking a language other than English in the home. Most (89%) Rhode Islanders have a high school diploma, and 35% hold at least a bachelor’s degree.1
Employment
Rhode Island has a workforce of about 445,846 people, with leisure and hospitality being the top employment industry.2 The median household income in the Ocean State is around $74,489, though the cost of living is higher than the national average.1
The poverty rate in Rhode Island is about 11.5% of the population, with the largest concentrations of poverty in West Warwick, Providence, Narragansett, and Woonsocket.3 Aside form leisure and hospitality, other top industries across the state include finance and insurance, public administration, information technology, and education.2
Cost of living
In terms of cost of living, Rhode Island is more expensive than the national average by about 15%.4 Specifically, utilities (25% more than national average) and housing (21% more than national average) drive the cost of living up in Rhode Island.4 The median home cost in Little Rhody (the unofficial state nickname) is about $436,222.5
Politics
Rhode Island has been a blue state for almost the past 30 years, with Ronald Reagan being the last Republican to win the state’s four electoral votes. The state is represented in the US Senate by Democrats Dominick Ruggerio and K. Joseph Shekarchi.7
The state’s legislative body is completely controlled by Democrats, along with Democratic Governor Daniel McKee.7 Rhode Islanders have several political concerns, with reproductive rights, healthcare, and environmental issues reported as the most relevant.6
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 Rhode Island movers FAQ
Moving costs will depend on several factors, but luckily, distance won’t be a big part of the equation. Moving in a 1,200 square-mile state has its perks. On average, local moves using a full-service moving company cost about $7,600. That average may seem steep, but it’s likely that you can find a lower price by asking for quotes from local movers.
SafeWise reports that the safest cities in Rhode Island include Bristol, South Kingstown, and Cumberland. Statewide, Rhode Island’s violent crime rate (2.3 incidents per 1,000 people) and property crime rate (12.5 incidents per 1,000 people) are both still lower than the national average for violent crime (4.0) and property crime (19.6).8
Our pick for the best moving company is International Van Lines. Their positive customer reviews and strong communication help create an easy moving day. There are other top moving companies that can get you there if you want more options—it’s best to get as many quotes as possible, anyway.
The average cost for a storage unit is about $180 per month. There are several top self-storage companies that will likely be able to help you store your belongings, but no matter who you choose, ask about climate-controlled storage. You’ll want to protect your stuff from the salty air in the Ocean State.
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
- US Census Bureau, “QuickFacts: Rhode Island,” Published July 2022. Accessed January 24, 2023.
- Data USA, “Rhode Island,” Published November 2020. Accessed January 24, 2023.
- Brown University, “A Map of Poverty Rate in RI Cities and Towns,” Published July 2022. Accessed January 24, 2023.
- PayScale, “Cost of Living in Rhode Island,” Published January 2023. Accessed January 24, 2023.
- Zillow, “Rhode Island Home Values,” Published December 2022. Accessed January 24, 2023.
- 270ToWin, “Rhode Island,” Published January 2023. Accessed January 24, 2023.
- Ballotpedia, “Party Control of Rhode Island State Government,” Published January 2023. Accessed January 24, 2023.
- SafeWise, “Rhode Island’s 10 Safest Cities of 2022,” Published March 2022. Accessed January 24, 2023.
