The Best Coast to Coast Movers of 2023

Moving coast to coast can be overwhelming and downright scary! Packing up your entire life and moving to a totally different part of the country is full of unknowns, but the moving process itself doesn’t have to be.

MovingFeedback.com was founded specifically to make it easier to find a reliable mover. Throughout our years of experience, we’ve worked with and screened thousands of moving companies to bring you this list of the best coast to coast movers.

Our process includes eliminating any company with fewer than 100 customer reviews or an average rating of 4 or lower.

Then, we compare features like prices, services offered, customization, and customer satisfaction to come up with our favorite coast to coast moving companies.

The average cost of a coast to coast move is between $6,300 and $9,200. A number of factors go into determining the final cost, and the table below will help you start to plan your budget:

Delivery Time When Moving from Coast to Coast

Moving cross country can take some time, and depending on the actual distance needed to travel, as well as some other factors, it can take anywhere from 7-21 days, on average.

In addition to distance, the size of your shipment, time of year and type of service you sign up for will all impact how long it takes to get your shipment:

• A bigger shipment that fills up an entire truck on its own is likely to arrive faster than if you have a smaller shipment that may share a truck with other customers’ belongings.
• During peak moving seasons, such as during the summer months, it may take longer for your shipment to arrive.
• Some coast-to-coast moving companies will offer a guaranteed delivery date for an extra fee. If you take the less-expensive option, you may be given a delivery window and may need to wait slightly longer.

1. Moving APT
2. Native Van Lines
3. Adams Van Lines
4. Pricing Van Lines
5. iMoving

Here’s our list of the top coast-to-coast moving companies that we are sure will provide you with a smooth relocation experience.

We recommend getting quotes from more than one moving company so that you can compare and contrast and understand what you’re getting for your money. Each company has its own pricing policy, but all take into account the following factors:

• Distance – Coast to coast moves are long, there’s no getting around that! A 3,000 mile move is going to be costly, but the exact mileage will help determine the price.
• Weight – Your total belongings will be weighed in order to determine the final price. If you can get rid of some things you don’t want or need anymore, you can bring down the cost a bit.
• Additional services – Most moving companies offer a range of additional optional services like packing and storage. If you need any of these add-ons, they come with a fee that you should make sure you ask about when getting a quote. The same applies for large pieces of furniture or things like pianos that might need extra wrapping or packaging.
• Extra fees – There may also be additional fees if the movers have to carry your belongings a long distance from the truck to the front door or if there are elevators or multiple flights of stairs involved.

The cheapest way to move from coast to coast is probably to opt for a moving container. While hiring full-service movers is pretty cost-effective for a short-distance or local move, the further the distance the more the costs increase.

Remember, when you move from coast to coast, you are paying for the time it takes to drive, possibly for lodging for the driver and moving team, as well as the time it takes to load and unload.

If you choose to use a moving container, the container is delivered to your old home and you pack and load it yourself – already significant savings. Then it is picked up and transported cross-country where it is delivered to your new home.

The container is probably transported on a large truck with other shipments, so you are not paying the full cost on your own. At the other end, again you are responsible for the unloading, which leads to more cost savings.

While it’s certainly cheaper to use a moving container than to hire a coast to coast moving company, keep in mind that part of what you are paying for with a full service mover is the convenience. So you need to do the calculations and determine whether or not the trade-off is worth it. If you can afford a full service mover, it may be worth the time-savings.

How much does it cost to move from the East Coast to the West Coast?

A coast to coast move is likely to cost an average of $6,300 to $9,200 depending on the exact mileage and size of your shipment.

How much to tip coast to coast movers?

Because a coast to coast move can be spread out over a number of days, it’s better to tip a flat amount rather than calculate a tip on a per-hour basis.

It’s generally accepted to tip about 15-20% of the total cost of the move, and then split that amount among the whole team. Keep in mind with some long distance moves, there will be one team that helps load up the truck at the original location and a different team that unloads at your new home – make sure you tip both teams!

How long does it take to move coast to coast?

Moving coast-to-coast can take anywhere from 5-21 days, depending on a number of factors including how large your shipment is (a bigger shipment is actually likely to arrive faster as it can fill up a whole truck and doesn’t rely on waiting for additional shipments) and the availability of the shipping company’s drivers.

What is the difference between a binding and non-binding estimate?

A binding estimate means that the price given to you before the move is the price that you will pay, regardless of any unforeseen costs that may crop up. If the move ends up taking longer than they thought, for example, that does not come at a cost to you.

If, however, you add a significant amount of additional boxes to move and that’s why it takes longer, that is not considered part of the binding estimate and would likely have to pay extra.

A non-binding estimate is the moving company’s best guess as to how much the move will cost based on seeing how much stuff you have and knowing the distance to travel.

The exact price will only be given to you at the end of the move and can vary significantly from the estimate.

Do I really need moving insurance?

It’s up to you, but if you do not insure your belongings during the move then you may have no recourse if something gets damaged. It’s generally fairly inexpensive to get basic coverage that will protect you in case anything needs to be repaired or replaced.

What is considered a long distance move?

Different moving companies might have their own definitions, but it’s probably safe to assume that any move over 100 miles is considered long distance and the price will increase accordingly as the number of miles increases. Moves that are less than 100 miles are considered local and will cost less.

We research and analyze huge amounts of data so that you can make the most educated and informed decision when it comes to choosing your local or long-distance movers.

We dig through customer reviews to get the real scoop on the 6 P’s: 

• Pricing – fair and transparent pricing policies with binding estimates and no hidden fees.
• Professionalism – fast responses and knowledgeable staff and a willingness to be flexible and solve problems.
• Provision of Services – the ability to deliver a wide range of services successfully, including packing, furniture assembly, storage, and more.
• Protection – insurance coverage and quick resolution of any damage claims.
• Personalization – customized moving packages depending on need.
• Perks – GPS tracking, free storage, discounts, and promotions.

Moving cross country can be scary and overwhelming, but with the help of a reputable and experienced coast to coast moving company, you can have a smooth and stress-free move. The companies we highlight in this article have a proven track record of excellent customer service and you can’t go wrong in selecting any one of them for your move. We do, of course, suggest getting more than one quote before making your final decision to ensure that you get the best deal.

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