Cheapest ways to move out of state: 12 options to choose from
The cheapest way to move out of state is typically a rental truck, moving container, or freight trailer. Here’s how much each option typically costs:
- Rental truck: The rental cost is $700 to $200 for a long-distance move plus mileage, gas, and fees
- Moving container: An average of $5,000 for a cross-country move
- Freight trailer: On average, freight trailers cost $1,500 to $3,000 for a medium to long-distance move
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Long-distance moves — which are priced based on the size and distance of the move — are different from local moves, with pricing based on the number of movers and hours. Moving costs are higher than those for local moves and there’s a lot more that can go wrong during the process.
Here, you’ll find the cheapest way to move out of state, including rental trucks, containers, out-of-state moving companies, and other creative options. You’ll find quick tips, details on how each option works, and insider info on which options are best for different types of moves.
How much will your move cost?
There are a lot of variables that can affect moving costs. In general, the cheapest way to move out of state can range from $2,500 all the way up to $12,000 or more if you are using a full-service moving company. Our moving cost calculator will give you a pretty good idea of your moving costs if you enter your move dates, origin and destination cities, and the estimated size of your move.
The best option really depends on how far you’re moving and what you’re moving. Moving a three bedroom house — like Adam did with JK Moving — is going to cost more than moving a studio apartment.
Cheap Ways To Move Out of State: 12 Options To Choose From
A cross-country move or long-distance move is different than a local move. There’s a lot more that can go wrong when you move out of state, and moving costs tend to be significantly higher. Here, you’ll find the cheapest way to move out of state, including rental trucks, containers, hiring movers, and more creative options. You’ll find quick tips and details on how each option works, plus insider info on which options are best for different types of moves.
How to prepare for a cross-country move
1. Most popular DIY option: rent a moving truck
How it Works
Renting a moving truck to move out of state is pretty straightforward. You get the truck for a certain number of days and usually a mileage limit. You’ll be required to do all the driving and heavy lifting yourself unless you have money in your budget for hiring professional movers to assist with loading and unloading.
A rental truck is typically considered the default option to cut moving expenses. But when you factor in gas, hotels, meals, etc. there may be other professional moving companies that are comparable in cost.
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4.15 / 5
89% of users select this mover
A Few Tips
- Penske, Budget, and U-Haul all will price match against each other, so get quotes from all three, even if you prefer a particular provider.
- Make sure to account for fuel costs! Diesel trucks get better gas mileage.
- Always try and get the newest moving truck available, assuming it’s the right size.
- Call the day before to confirm your reservation. Have a backup option if they don’t have a rental truck for you on your moving day.
2. Rent a freight trailer: best for larger moves
How it Works
This is a “you load – they drive” option. Freight companies drop off a 28′ trailer at your house and you have up to 3 days to load. They then drive it to your destination and you have another three days to unload.
A Few Tips
- You pay by the foot of space you use in the trailer. You’ll get a quote based on the company’s estimate and the final price will be adjusted to reflect the actual space you used.
- Freight is especially good for moving from rural areas or moves where you need your items delivered quickly. They can be tricky in big cities where parking is limited — you’ll need about 40’ of space to park — and permits are required.
- Some companies will let you put a car in the trailer as well.
- Trailers have spring suspension so be sure to pack any fragile items carefully.
- Storage units are typically expensive and limited to a few months with freight companies.
3. Rent moving containers: best if you need storage
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How it Works
A self-service moving company will deliver an 8′ to 20′ storage container(s) to your new house. You can load it up at your leisure and then have it shipped or stored at a storage unit.
A Few Tips
- Great if you still need to get a place to live and need indefinite storage.
- PODS Moving & Storage started the craze in ’97, but today there are several other companies in the game.
- Prices can vary a lot between companies. It’s best to collect at least 3-4 quotes.
- The cheapest moving container rates for shipping long distances will usually come from professional moving companies with locations close to you on both ends of your move. If a company is close by locally but has yet to have a location nearby in the state you’re moving to, that will add a lot to your average cost.
Check out our list of the best moving container companies, many of which are also some of the cheapest moving containers, and use the moving cost calculator to check prices.
4. Hire a professional moving company: best for convenience
How it Works
Out-of-state moving companies are your best bet if you have the means and aren’t interested in doing a lot of the heavy lifting with your long-distance move. A long-distance moving company will handle all the loading, driving, and unloading. Full-service moving companies can even go as far as to pack your boxes for you, but most people do that themselves — like Priscilla did on her move from New York to Florida.
A Few Tips
Full-service movers make cross-country moves easy, but the hard part is finding a good company. The long-distance movers industry is fraught with shady moving companies and scammers.
Here are some simple red flags to watch out for:
- A simple Google search of the company name has few or no results.
- The moving company isn’t listed in directories or review sites (BBB, Yelp, etc.).
- A large deposit is required to make your reservation.
- They don’t have their MC or DOT number prominently on their paperwork.
- They will only give you licensing information.
- The company is not associated with professional moving organizations (ATA, IAM, state moving associations, Chamber of Commerce, etc.).
We made a list of the best interstate moving companies to make getting quotes from reputable companies easier.
5. Rent a cargo van: best for small DIY moves
How it Works
Cargo vans are the ideal option for those who want to cut moving expenses by making a DIY move out of state and don’t need the space of a moving truck. Getting through traffic and parking is significantly easier in a cargo van than in a moving truck. Being a smaller vehicle, you also get better gas mileage. On a long-distance move, this makes a difference.
A Few Tips
- Like with a moving truck, you will be charged by mileage and required to do all the lifting and loading yourself.
- To save money, you can just buy packing supplies, then get friends and family to help you pack and load. If you have a little room in your budget, you can also hire professional movers to help you pack things up.
- Before settling on a vehicle for your DIY move, determine your needed space. You want to take your load seriously and get the right type of vehicle.
6. Tow-behind trailer: best if you’re moving in your car
How it Works
If you’re already driving your car or pickup truck across the country and don’t have a ton of stuff, a tow-behind trailer is one of the cheapest options to move out of state. You can either rent or buy a tow-behind trailer to hitch behind your car or truck. This is an excellent option if your vehicle has the towing capacity.
A Few Tips
- Trailers can be dangerous. If you don’t have experience hitching and driving with a trailer, I wouldn’t learn on a 1500+ mile moving adventure. Trailers are responsible for a lot of accidents.
- Be sure to factor in the cost of packing supplies, including bubble wrap and packing tape.
- Learn trailer safety tips for driving with a trailer.
- Be sure to check your vehicle towing capacity and don’t exceed it.
- U-Haul is a great place to rent a tow-behind trailer.
- The ultimate frugal move – buy a tow-behind trailer on Craigslist and then sell it on the other end.
7. Use a marketplace like uShip: best for collaborative moves
How it Works
Use the power of the internet. Through well-known platforms such as Facebook and Craigslist, you can find people to help move some stuff for you at a fraction of the cost of professional movers. If you’re considering this option, there’s also a website called uShip that will provide you with more vetted options.
rating
3.9 / 5
89% of users select this mover
uShip is a marketplace platform specifically for moving. You can post anything you want to move, from a plant to your dog to a bulldozer.
A Few Tips
- Discern. Like with anything, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t risk your belongings with a sketchy offer.
- Look at the transporter’s profile for any previous reviews and red flags.
- Post your shipment on different platforms. Gather all the moving quotes and pick the best one.
8. Ship by LTL freight carrier: best for very small moves
How it Works
This is another “you load – they drive” option like a regular freight carrier. LTL means Less-Than-Truckload. That is what makes it different from the other freight option. This is a good option if you have flexibility regarding how long your move can take and have only a few things to move.
The way it works is: the freight company consolidates your move with other moves to fill up the truck. It takes longer than having your own trailer, but it is more affordable. Think of this as the UberPool option vs. UberX. It works the same way.
A Few Tips:
- Have help loading and unloading the moving truck. You don’t get an extended loading period with this option.
- Be aware of the risk of damage to your items. Different people loading and unloading the trailer increase the chances of damage to your items.
- You will need to palletize your items. Package them efficiently and well to avoid using extra pallets and avoid damage.
9. Use a train: best unorthodox option
How it Works
This is a fairly unorthodox option but one you may thank yourself for considering. Shipping your items by train can save you thousands of dollars! It’s the most fun option because taking the Amtrak train is a bucket list item for many people.
There is a flat rate for the first 100 pounds of $67. Every pound after that is $0.57.
The process is also quite simple. Drop off your boxes at the nearest station and pick them up at the destination. That’s it! Unfortunately, to pull this off, there are a few things you have to consider.
A Few Tips
- No oversized, heavy items or furniture.
- Amtrak doesn’t allow you to ship valuables, fragile items, or electronics.
- You must ship the items from large city to large city. Unfortunately, the Amtrak network is limited to the largest cities across the country.
- Pick up your items within 48 hours of arrival. After that, there’s a storage fee.
- Remember that this is not a door-to-door service. You must find a way to get your items to the station and from the arrival station.
- You can only ship up to 500 lbs per day. If you need to ship more, you’ll have to do it over several days.
10. Ship With a Parcel Carrier: Best for Small Moves
How it Works
You ship packages through the mail, why not ship a few moving boxes? The benefit of this method is that you already know the companies. USPS, UPS, DHL, and FedEx.
This is only an option for tiny or small moves since you can’t ship heavy items and don’t want to use this method to ship 30 boxes. It’s ideal for small studio moves where you’ve gotten rid of most of your things and plan on buying everything — aside from clothes and a few small goods — when you get to your new home.
A Few Tips
- Get quotes from at least two of the companies to get a good idea of what it’ll cost.
- Use this method for smaller packages, not for anything big like TVs or furniture.
- Look into USPS media mail. It’s a very affordable way to ship media items such as: books, DVDs, and music.
11. Move by car: best for DIY and tiny moves
How it Works
You know how this one works. Cram all your belongings into the car or pickup truck, fill up the tank, and get on your way. Of course, your move will need to be relatively small for this.
One of the main advantages of this type of move, besides saving a lot of money, is moving your car and items all at once. It’s also a real benefit that the liability is your own. There’s comfort in moving in a vehicle you’re already familiar with.
Remember, if you pick a different moving option, you may have to have your car shipped to your new state. Check out our list of the best car shipping companies and ask your movers if they offer car relocation services.
12. Moving labor services: best for hybrid moves
If you’re just interested in hiring movers, there’s an app for that.
HireAHelper is a marketplace where you can hire movers to help you on an hourly basis. This is an excellent option if you’re just looking for extra hands to load a rental truck or pack a moving container.
Tips on how to save money when moving
In addition to hiring the right moving services, there are a few other ways to stretch your moving budget during the moving process.
Here are a few tips to decrease moving costs:
- Declutter and sell things you don’t need at a garage sale. You’ll earn extra cash and won’t have to move something you don’t need. Professional movers will typically charge you based on how much stuff you have to load and unload.
- Get free boxes. Ask for extra boxes at grocery stores, liquor stores, or Craigslist. We also have a complete guide on how to find free moving boxes.
- Ask friends and family members to help with the packing and unpacking.
- Save money on packing materials and packing supplies using things you already have at home, like blankets, packing paper, bubble wrap, and plastic bags to protect your belongings.
- Check if your homeowner’s insurance policy includes moving insurance. This could save you thousands in moving costs if you end up in a pickle.
There isn’t one cheap way to move cross country. With all of these options, there are pros and cons with each. Combine the best aspects of a couple of options to get the best deals and create a hassle and stress-free move.
Now that you know the options for the cheapest ways to move out of state, you can craft a solid plan for your move. If you still have questions about interstate moves or long-distance moving companies, submit your move to us, and we’ll help you figure out the best options for your move.
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