The BEST Long-Distance Movers in Lakeland, FL
Quick answer: After comparing prices, services, quality ratings, and customer satisfaction, we recommend Safeway Moving as the top long-distance moving company in Lakeland, FL. Safeway Moving provides the best overall value, thanks to its balance of stellar service and reasonable rates.
- Best overall value: Safeway Moving
- Best Lakeland-based company: Flex Moving & Storage
- Best for small moves: MiniMoves
- Best moving container: PODS
- Best labor-only company: HireAHelper
- Best rental truck: U-Haul Truck Rental
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Our track record
Each year, 400,000+ people trust our moving recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:
- Founded in 2015
- 2,500+ moving companies analyzed
- $50,000 in moving & auto transport grants delivered
- Up-to-date pricing info & industry data
- Fact-checked for accuracy
Best long-distance movers in Lakeland for those moving out of state
If you’re moving out of Florida, here are our top picks for best interstate moving companies in Lakeland:
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- BLVD Moving: 4.25 out of 5 stars
- PODS: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Family owned & operated
- Affordable pricing
- Binding estimates
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
Best long-distance movers in Lakeland for those staying in state
Even if you’re just relocating from Lakeland to another Florida city, your move could still be a couple hundred miles or more. In that case, you’ll want to hire one of the top long-distance movers.
Here are the best long-distance moving companies that are located within Lakeland:
- Flex Moving & Storage: 3.86 out of 5 stars
- First Class Moving Systems, Inc.: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Two Men and a Truck: 4.66 out of 5 stars
- Browning Moving & Storage: 4.62 out of 5 stars
- Professional and polite staff (26%)
- Efficient service (25%)
- Careful handling (24%)
- Damage to items (30%)
- Poor communication (25%)
- Unexpected charges (22%)
Company Info
State license #: 651
Years in Business: 22
DOT #: 944759
First Class Moving Systems, Inc., serving Tampa, FL since 2002, specializes in local residential moves and stands out with a strong reputation in the area. While their Yelp reviews average 2.1 from 30 reviews, their Google My Business profile presents a more favorable 3.9 rating from 135 reviews, and they maintain an impressive A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. This company offers a broad array of services including packing, unpacking, and crating, and can handle the relocation of delicate items like pianos and antiques. Unlike many competitors, First Class Moving Systems accepts credit cards and requires no deposit, making them a convenient choice for local moves.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
- DOD certified
- Professional and polite staff (30%)
- Efficient service (28%)
- Careful handling (25%)
- Damage to items (20%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (18%)
- Lack of communication (15%)
Company Info
State license #: IM1517
Years in Business: 17
DOT #: 2527384
Alternate Names: J & J Family Moving & Storage, LLC
Two Men and a Truck is a reputable local moving company serving Lakeland, FL, and its surrounding areas since 2008. Specializing in local residential moves, they offer comprehensive services including packing, unpacking, and even moving large items like pianos and safes. Their customer feedback is largely positive, boasting an impressive 4.8 average rating from 576 Google reviews and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, though Yelp reviews are more mixed. Unlike some nearby competitors, they accept credit cards and require no deposit, making them a convenient and trustworthy choice for your next local move.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Pianos
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
- Efficient service (34%)
- Professional and polite staff (29%)
- Careful handling (25%)
- Damage to items (22%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (18%)
- Lack of communication (15%)
Company Info
State license #: 77949
Years in Business: 35
DOT #: 077949
Alternate Names: Fister Moving & Storage, Inc.
Browning Moving & Storage offers dependable local residential moving services in and around Lakeland, FL. Established in 1989, they have built a solid reputation, reflected by their Better Business Bureau rating of A+. Customers appreciate their comprehensive services, including packing, unpacking, and fragile-only packing options, which set them apart from some nearby competitors. Consumer reviews on Yelp give them an average rating of 3.8, indicating generally positive experiences. With over three decades of experience, Browning Moving & Storage stands as a reputable choice for local moves in the Lakeland area.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Crating
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by credit card
Best long-distance movers in Lakeland for small moves
Many full-service moving companies have a 3,000-pound minimum requirement and may not be able to help you if you are moving a college dorm or studio apartment — or have decided to just take a few items with you.
In that case, you might be better off going with a long-distance company in Lakeland that specializes in small moves.
Here are our top suggestions:
- No minimum size
- Top-quality materials
- Full-service packing
- Specializes in small moves
- Guaranteed delivery date
- Online chatbot and resources for a seamless move
- Car shipping services
- Gives back with charitable donations
Moving containers for long-distance moves in Lakeland
A moving container can be a great solution if you want to save a little money on your move from Lakeland to another Florida city or out of state. While you will have to handle the heavy lifting, you can load and unload containers at your preferred pace over several days or more. And the container company will still handle the driving for you.
Container costs vary depending on the distance of your move and the size and number of your containers, so it’s good to get multiple moving quotes to compare pricing for your specific relocation.
You can start with these two companies:
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Long distance moves only
- Only pay for the space you use
- No deposit or initial fees
- Fast delivery time frames
Labor-only moving companies in Lakeland
If you don’t mind driving from Lakeland but want some helping hands in terms of loading and unloading, look into labor-only moving companies.
Here’s who we suggest:
- First call quoting, get a quote in just a couple of minutes
- Rates are typically 20-40% lower than the industry averages
- $1,000 money-back service guarantee
- Fast and accurate delivery times
- Free damage coverage with additional coverage options
- Quick and easy booking process
- National 4.75/5 star rating (these guys are good at what they do)
- Dedicated move concierge specialist
- Pay as you go service. 2-hour minimum and then prorated down to the minute
- The time clock starts when the movers arrive and ends when you tell them
Rental trucks in Lakeland for a total DIY long-distance move
While you’ll save some money with the two alternatives above, the cheapest way to move out of state is by handling all aspects — the heavy lifting and the driving — yourself. On average, a full DIY move from Lakeland costs $19–$39 a day for a truck rental, plus a per-mile fee of $0.69–$0.99.
Using moving rental trucks definitely requires the most work, but if budget is your biggest concern, check out these options:
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
- Limits environmental impact as part of the EPA's SmartWay Program
- Non-slip flooring makes loading and unloading easier
- Easily choose truck size with their Truck Wizard Tool
How we chose the best long-distance movers in Lakeland, FL
Over the past 10 years, we’ve developed a rigorous review process to identify the absolute best moving companies.
We look at:
- Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.
- Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry. We look for companies that own their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.
- Industry reputation (15%): The company is well regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.
- Online reputation (15%): The company maintains a professional website with accurate information. The company promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.
- Service options (10%): We look for companies with a deep breadth of services including full packing, storage, specialty item handling, expedited delivery, and more.
Read more about our moving company rating methodology.
Average cost of long-distance movers in Lakeland
The average cost for professional movers in Lakeland is $95 per hour, but even the best interstate moving companies need more information about the distance and size of your move to give you a moving quote.
Factors that affect the cost of moving from Lakeland
- How far you’re moving: Distance is the most impactful cost factor. Naturally, the farther you are moving, the more it will cost. Relocating a couple hundred miles from Lakeland to another Florida city will not be as expensive as a cross-country move.
- The moving option you choose: Your costs will vary significantly depending on whether you choose a full-service mover, a moving container, or a rental truck. Every move is different, so balance your needs and your budget when deciding on the best relocation method.
- The amount of belongings you have: Movers determine cost by the total estimated weight of your household items and furnishings, so be sure to itemize your belongings to get the most accurate quote. You may also want to consider downsizing before moving out of Lakeland to reduce your moving expenses.
- Any add-on services you choose: Additional services like third-party labor assistance or packing and unpacking help are convenient, but they will also contribute to your total moving costs.
- When you move: The time of the year, month, and even week can all affect what you pay. Summer moves are typically more expensive because they are the busiest season for movers. Moving between October and April can be more cost-effective. Mid-month and mid-week moves are also cheaper, since most people tend to move on the weekends around the start or end of the month.
To give you an accurate estimate, we’ve created a moving cost calculator to help you get a good idea of your long-distance move cost. Plus, we’ve put together a detailed post all about moving costs in Lakeland.
FAQs
What else should I know about moving out of Florida?
A moving company helping you move out of Florida must be properly licensed and have a U.S. Department of Transportation number. Of course, all of the Lakeland movers we’ve included on this list have everything in order but you can check for yourself on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database.
If you’re moving from one state to another, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move document from the FMCSA.
Should I use a local company or a national company when moving out of Lakeland?
If you’re moving across town, a local moving company in Lakeland is going to be the most cost-effective approach. If you’re moving out of Florida, using a national moving company comes with more experience, which may cost a bit more.
When is the cheapest time of year to move away from Lakeland?
Moving companies in Lakeland are usually slower in November and December due to the average winter low of °F, the holidays and kids being in school, so you can negotiate with a mover more during those months and save some money.
What are the cheapest ways to move out of Lakeland?
DIY moving will always be cheaper, especially when moving within 50 miles of Lakeland. The cheapest options for moving out of the Swan City are usually renting a moving truck like U-Haul or a moving container like PODS. We’ve also got a helpful guide if you’re looking for the cheapest ways to move out of state.
Long-distance movers in nearby cities
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