The BEST Moving Companies in Boston, MA
Quick answer: Our top pick for local moves in Boston, MA, is AOA Moving Services, LLC, thanks to their reputation for quality customer service and specialized handling of pianos and antiques. If you’re moving out of Massachusetts to another state, we recommend Safeway Moving in terms of overall value.
- Best Boston-based mover: AOA Moving Services, LLC
- Best interstate mover: Safeway Moving
- Best moving container: PODS
- Best labor-only mover: 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 movers for those moving locally in Boston, MA
- AOA Moving Services, LLC: 4.66 out of 5 stars
- Boston Best Rate Movers: 5 out of 5 stars
- Michael's Moving & Storage: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- Poseidon Moving: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- Flash Moving: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- Friendly Staff
- Efficient Service
- Professional Approach
- Poor Communication
- Unexpected Charges
- Management Issues
Company Info
State license #: 3843854
Years in Business: 4
DOT #: 3843854
AOA Moving Services, LLC, a prominent local mover in and around Boston, MA, has been in business since 2021, offering reliable residential moving services. Their exceptional reputation is supported by outstanding consumer reviews, boasting an average rating of 4.3 on Yelp and an impressive 5.0 on Google, coupled with an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau. Unlike some nearby competitors, AOA Moving Services also offers packing and unpacking services, piano and antique moving, and accepts credit cards for convenience, although a deposit is required. Their commitment to customer satisfaction and comprehensive service range makes them a top choice for local moves.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- Professional & Friendly Staff
- Efficient & Time-Saving Service
- Careful Handling of Belongings
- Lost Items During Moves
- Unpredicted Charges
- Limited Responsiveness for Claim Issues
Company Info
State license #: 31391
Years in Business: 19
DOT #: 1718049
Alternate Names: Flat Rate Moving & Storage, Inc.
Boston Best Rate Movers has been a trusted name for local residential moves in and around Waltham, MA since 2006. Unlike many nearby moving companies, they offer a comprehensive range of services including packing, unpacking, and handling fragile items, making them an excellent choice for meticulous movers. Clients consistently praise their reliability, as evidenced by their 4.7 average rating across 32 Yelp reviews and 530 Google reviews, as well as an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Additionally, their no-deposit policy and acceptance of credit cards add to their customer-friendly approach.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
- DOD certified
- Efficient Service
- Professional Staff
- Competitive Pricing
- Additional Charges
- Delivery Delays
- Inconsistent Communication
Company Info
State license #: 30293
Pricing: $199/hr
Years in Business: 30
DOT #: 782104
Alternate Names: Michael's Moving & Storage, Inc
Michael's Moving & Storage, a trusted name in the Boston, MA area since 1996, specializes in local residential moving services with a reputation that surpasses many nearby competitors. Boasting an impressive array of consumer reviews—an average rating of 4.3 on Yelp from 133 reviews and a glowing 4.8 on Google from 565 reviews—the company also holds an A rating with the Better Business Bureau, reflecting their commitment to customer satisfaction. In addition to local moves, Michael's offers comprehensive packing, unpacking, and fragile-only packing services, ensuring safe transport of pianos, art, and antiques. While their rate is $199 per hour for local moves and a deposit is required, the convenience of accepting both cash and credit cards makes transactions smooth for clients.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
Best movers for those moving out of Massachusetts
As you may guess, interstate — or out-of-state — moves are those that cross state lines. Movers must meet certain federal licensing requirements and standards to handle interstate moves. Consider one of these highly rated, fully licensed interstate moving companies if you’re leaving Massachusetts for a new state:
- 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 moving containers in Boston, MA
Moving containers offer a hybrid DIY solution that falls somewhere between a full-service moving company and a rental truck. With moving containers, you won’t have the help of a moving crew (you’ll have to do the loading and unloading) but you will get the benefit of a professional driver — a perk that doesn’t come with renting a truck.
Container costs in Boston vary depending on how many containers you need and how far you’re moving. Be sure to get moving quotes from multiple companies so you can best compare prices and services.
We recommend starting with these two top-tier moving container 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
Best rental trucks for your Boston, MA move
If you’re looking for the cheapest way to move out of state or locally in Boston, a moving truck rental is your best option. On average, a truck rental in Massachusetts costs a base rate of $19–$39 a day and a fee of $0.89–$1.09 per mile.
While you’ll certainly save money by renting a truck rather than hiring full-service movers or using a moving container, you will ultimately be responsible for every aspect of your move — including the driving.
We recommend these top truck rental companies for a full DIY move:
- 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
Labor-only movers in Boston, MA
Labor-only companies can be helpful if you are using a moving container or rental truck but still want some assistance with the heavy lifting. A labor-only mover will provide you with a moving crew to load and unload your items, and you can also pay for additional packing support, as well as disassembly and reassembly of furniture, fitness equipment, and electronics.
Check out our picks for labor-only companies in Boston:
- 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
Top-rated movers in nearby cities
How we chose the best movers in Boston
moveBuddha’s expert team analyzed moving rates from 83 Massachusetts movers and listed the top five best movers based on customer satisfaction, reviews, and cost.
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, and expedited delivery.
Here is our full moving company rating methodology.
How do I find a reputable Boston mover?
If you’re looking for the best movers in Boston, here’s what you should look for:
- A good reputation: Whether they’re a new family-owned business in Boston or a large van lines company with years of experience operating all over Massachusetts, a good reputation is absolutely essential. Watch out for red flags and common moving scams.
- Look into dispute resolution: All businesses may have some hiccups, but it's how they handle these incidents that shows the company’s true colors. If a mover in Boston has a history of unresolved customer complaints, it might be best to look elsewhere.
- Ensure experience aligns with your move: A mover with excellent reviews for local moves in Boston may not be the best interstate moving company. Verify that the company has adequate experience with the type of move you're planning.
- Get multiple estimates: Reputable Boston movers should provide a free estimate for your move. Getting moving quotes from multiple companies will give you a good idea of a fair price for the services you need.
Fortunately, the Boston movers on this list all pass this checklist with flying colors and have been hand selected by our experts at moveBuddha.
If you want to broaden your search to the whole state, check out the best moving companies in Massachusetts.
Average cost of movers in Boston, Massachusetts
The pricing table below shows ballpark costs for local moves within the Boston area and its surrounding suburbs. Or check out our post on the cost to move in Massachusetts for more pricing info.
Keep in mind the price ranges listed are only averages. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the specific requirements of your move.
You can also check out our moving cost calculator for more accurate moving cost estimate.
Local moving costs in Boston
If you’re moving within 50 miles of Boston, it’s considered a local move. The cost of a rental truck combines a base fee and the mileage fees. In Boston, the base fee ranges from $19 to $39 while the mileage ranges from $0.89 per mile to $1.09 per mile.
And if you’re looking for some labor help, the average cost for movers in Boston is $100 per hour.
| Home Size | Avg. Total Cost | Cost/hour | # of Movers | # Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $470 | $140 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
| 1 Bedroom | $610 | $140 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
| 2 Bedroom | $918 | $196 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,974 | $274 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,248 | $274 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
| 5+ Bedroom | $3,402 | $384 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
Interstate moving costs out of Boston
The cost to move from Boston to a different state is determined by how much you’re moving and how far away the new state is from Massachusetts. Here are a few examples:
- Boston to California Movers: $1,744 to $9,110
- Boston to New York Movers: $267 to $4,075
- Boston to Illinois Movers: $749 to $5,975
- Boston to New York Movers: $267 to $4,075
Don’t see your new home state? Check out these popular moving routes.
Factors that affect the cost of your move
- Distance: Your moving costs in Boston will be determined in large part by where you are relocating. A local move within 50 miles of Boston will be less expensive than moving 450 miles across Massachusetts state lines.
- Move size: The more stuff you have, the more your move will cost, since moving companies determine price based on how large your truck and moving truck need to be. For long-distance and interstate relocations out of Boston, a moving company will base your price on the total estimated weight and volume of your belongings. Decluttering and downsizing to reduce those total measurements can help you keep costs down.
- Moving method: A full-service mover will likely be the most expensive option, and renting a truck will save you the most money. Just make sure you are factoring in services with pricing, so you don’t end up skimping on the help you need for your specific move just to cut costs.
- Additional services: No matter what kind of move you opt for, extra options like packing, labor, and comprehensive insurance will all come with added fees.
- The time of the year: Relocating during peak moving season (May–September) will cost you more because demand is higher and availability is lower. If possible, plan your move between October and April for a lower rate.
FAQs
Do I need to get a parking permit for local movers in Boston?
A permit for your moving truck is not required by the City of Boston, but it guarantees you a parking spot to avoid parking tickets. A one-day permit for a moving truck that needs two metered spaces would be about $110.
For more info on parking permits in Boston, visit the local DOT website.
How can I save money when hiring a Boston moving company?
You can save money when hiring a Boston mover by planning your moving date outside of peak season, which runs from May through September. Moving during the week and between October and April allows for the greatest savings.
There are other ways to negotiate your moving costs, including asking a company about any moving discounts or deals that may apply to you.
Do Boston movers offer storage?
Yes, many Boston movers offer short- and long-term storage options. Many moving companies operate their own storage facilities, but some may partner with a third-party warehouse. It's always worth asking about a mover’s storage options and getting estimates for the added cost.
If your Boston mover doesn’t offer storage — or you need services beyond what they can provide — reach out to at least three of the best self-storage companies to get an idea of the price of self-storage before choosing one.
How can I see all moving companies in Massachusetts?
You can see all moving companies in Massachusetts by taking a look at our full list of Massachusetts movers.
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