The BEST Moving Companies in Charleston, WV
Quick answer: Our top pick for local moves in Charleston, WV, is Central Van & Storage, Inc., thanks to their reputation for quality customer service and specialized handling of pianos and antiques. If you’re moving out of West Virginia to another state, we recommend Safeway Moving in terms of overall value.
- Best Charleston-based mover: Central Van & Storage, Inc.
- 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 Charleston, WV
- Central Van & Storage, Inc.: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- Watts Brothers Moving and Storage Systems: 4.24 out of 5 stars
- Dunbar Transfer: 3.86 out of 5 stars
- Positive Moves: 3.66 out of 5 stars
- Evans Van & Storage: 3.62 out of 5 stars
- Professional and polite staff (42%)
- Efficient service (33%)
- Careful handling (25%)
- Damage to items (25%)
- Lack of communication (17%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (17%)
Company Info
Years in Business: 28
DOT #: 076235
Central Van & Storage, Inc., serving Charleston, WV, has been a trusted name in local residential moving since 1998. Known for their comprehensive services, they stand out by offering specialized moving for items like pianos, hot tubs, and antiques, along with office moving services. Despite mixed online reviews—ranging from a low average on Yelp to a high 4.6 rating on Google—they maintain a Better Business Bureau rating of A+, indicating strong reliability and customer service. Unlike many competitors, they provide full valuation insurance coverage and do not require a deposit, making them a strong contender for anyone needing dependable, flexible moving services in the Charleston area.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Professional and polite staff (36%)
- Careful handling (30%)
- Good communication (24%)
- Damage to items (42%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (30%)
- Lack of communication (27%)
Company Info
Years in Business: 35
DOT #: 587135
Alternate Names: Future Enterprises Corporation
Watts Brothers Moving and Storage Systems has been a reliable choice for local residential moves in Huntington, WV since 1990. Unlike some nearby competitors, they offer comprehensive packing and unpacking services, accept credit cards, and require no deposit. While consumer reviews are mixed, with a 3.9 average rating on Google and an A+ BBB rating, they remain a trusted name in the community. Their long-standing presence and extensive service offerings make them a solid option for local moves.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
- Professional and polite staff (36%)
- Efficient service (30%)
- Good communication (25%)
- Damage to items (16%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (14%)
- Lack of communication (10%)
Company Info
Positive Moves is a highly reputable local moving company serving Charleston, WV and its surrounding areas. Known for their meticulous care in handling fragile items, art, and antiques, they stand out from other nearby movers by offering specialized services such as piano moving and fragile-only packing. Unlike competitors, Positive Moves requires no deposit, making the booking process seamless and stress-free. Consumer reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with a strong 4.7 average rating on Google indicating high satisfaction, despite a more mixed reception on Yelp. Choose Positive Moves for a reliable and detailed-oriented local moving experience.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Fragile-only packing
- Professional and polite staff (34%)
- Efficient service (31%)
- Careful handling (27%)
- Damage to items (22%)
- Lack of communication (20%)
- Unexpected charges (17%)
Company Info
DOT #: 070851
Evans Van & Storage is a reputable local moving company based in Poca, WV, specializing in residential moves within the surrounding area. Unlike some nearby movers, they offer both packing and unpacking services, catering to those needing additional assistance. They stand out for not requiring a deposit and accepting both cash and credit cards, which makes the booking process more flexible. With consistently positive consumer reviews highlighting their reliability and attention to detail, Evans Van & Storage is a top choice for anyone looking to move locally without the hassle.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Crating
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
Best movers for those moving out of West Virginia
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 West Virginia 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 Charleston, WV
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 Charleston 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 Charleston, WV move
If you’re looking for the cheapest way to move out of state or locally in Charleston, a moving truck rental is your best option. On average, a truck rental in West Virginia costs a base rate of $19–$39 a day and a fee of $0.69–$0.69 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 Charleston, WV
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 Charleston:
- 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
- South Charleston movers
- St. Albans movers
- Teays Valley movers
- Huntington movers
- Beckley movers
- Parkersburg movers
- Vienna movers
- Clarksburg movers
- Fairmont movers
- Morgantown movers
- Wheeling movers
- Cheat Lake movers
- Weirton movers
- Martinsburg movers
How we chose the best movers in Charleston
moveBuddha’s expert team analyzed moving rates from 8 West Virginia 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 Charleston mover?
If you’re looking for the best movers in Charleston, here’s what you should look for:
- A good reputation: Whether they’re a new family-owned business in Charleston or a large van lines company with years of experience operating all over West Virginia, 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 Charleston 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 Charleston 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 Charleston 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 Charleston 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 West Virginia.
Average cost of movers in Charleston, West Virginia
The pricing table below shows ballpark costs for local moves within the Charleston area and its surrounding suburbs. Or check out our post on the cost to move in West Virginia 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 Charleston
If you’re moving within 50 miles of Charleston, it’s considered a local move. The cost of a rental truck combines a base fee and the mileage fees. In Charleston, the base fee ranges from $19 to $39 while the mileage ranges from $0.69 per mile to $0.69 per mile.
And if you’re looking for some labor help, the average cost for movers in Charleston is $141 per hour.
| Home Size | Avg. Total Cost | Cost/hour | # of Movers | # Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $921 | $197 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,118 | $197 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,552 | $276 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
| 3 Bedroom | $3,046 | $387 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
| 4 Bedroom | $3,433 | $387 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
| 5+ Bedroom | $5,060 | $542 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
Interstate moving costs out of Charleston
The cost to move from Charleston to a different state is determined by how much you’re moving and how far away the new state is from West Virginia. Here are a few examples:
- Charleston to California Movers: $1,521 to $7,542
- Charleston to New York Movers: $441 to $5,304
- Charleston to Illinois Movers: $450 to $5,265
- Charleston to New York Movers: $441 to $5,304
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 Charleston will be determined in large part by where you are relocating. A local move within 50 miles of Charleston will be less expensive than moving 450 miles across West Virginia 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 Charleston, 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 Charleston?
For more info on parking permits in Charleston, visit the local DOT website.
How can I save money when hiring a Charleston moving company?
You can save money when hiring a Charleston 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 Charleston movers offer storage?
Yes, many Charleston 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 Charleston 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 West Virginia?
You can see all moving companies in West Virginia by taking a look at our full list of West Virginia movers.
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