5 Best Single Item Movers [2023 Review]

The Best Single Item Moving Companies

1. Best for Single Item Shipping: uShip
2. Best Moving Container Company: U-Pack
3. Most Convenient Service: PODS
4. Best Full-Service Mover: International Van Lines
5. Best Moving Add-Ons: American Van Lines

Quick Overview

Here, we’ve put together a comparison table of our top-five movers, along with their basic service model and average price points. These costs likely will not be reflective of your quoted figures. Moving and shipping a single piece of furniture is far more straightforward and cheaper than a full-service move, but should still be handled by professionals. Be sure to shop around and fully evaluate your options before booking.

1. uShip

uShip makes it easy to ship virtually anything you need both locally and long-distance. The company provides an user-friendly platform that allows you to post jobs for shippers to bid on. Once shippers bid on your project, you can select your preferred provider. Because shippers are often adding your item to trucks alongside other existing shipments, you can usually save big compared to working with a more traditional moving company.

uShip Services

Whether you need to ship a vehicle, piano furniture, appliance, heavy equipment, or even animals, uShip can help. They are one of the best single item movers available today.

It’s easy to get started with uShip:

1. Visit site: Start your shipment order here.
2. List your item(s): Provide info about your item, including what it is, its dimensions, where it’s going, and any photos you think will be helpful.
3. Compare options: Review estimates from shippers who have bid on your shipment, and check out their customer reviews.
4. Select provider: Choose your preferred provider and pay through uShip’s secure escrow system, which will only pay the carrier once your shipment has been successfully delivered.

With helpful cost guides, customer reviews for individual providers, and a secure payment system, uShip’s shipping marketplace makes to incredibly easy to move single items across the country.

uShip Cost

The price you will pay with uShip will vary by the item you are shipping, the distance you need to move it, and the carrier you decide to work with. Here are some sample costs to give you an idea:

The best way to find out what your shipment will cost with uShip is to simply request a free online quote.

uShip Service Area

Through its extensive partner network, uShip is available for both local and long-distance moves throughout the entire United States.

Why We Like uShip

uShip’s convenient online shipping marketplace is redefining the industry. No other provider on our list can match the range of items that are possible to ship with this company. And because individual carriers are competing to bid on your project, you will likely get a better rate than working with some of the other companies on our list as well. Ultimately, uShip provides one of the most convenient and affordable options to ship a single item—hands down.

2. U-Pack

While not specifically designed for moving single items, U-Pack’s secure moving containers can serve you well for this purpose. With their “pay for what you use” pricing structure, you only pay for the space in the container that you use. While you can rent a 27’ Trailer, their 8’ ReloCube container option is likely the best fit for your needs. This small container can fit up to one room’s worth of items and conveniently fits into a standard parking space. Plus, their numerous locations make them widely available to millions of potential customers across the US.

U-Pack Services

U-Pack provides long-distance moving services with two container options. Their 8’ ReloCubes can contain a studio apartment but work equally well for single items. For larger single items, a 27’ trailer is available. Here’s how it works:

• Drop off: U-Pack will drop off the container of your choice at your home.
• Load: You’ll have three days to load your item into the container. You can do it yourself or hire moving assistance as needed.
• Shipment: U-Pack will pick up your container and ship it to your new destination. You’ll have another three days to unload your item.
• Storage: If you need storage, you can store your item in a U-Pack container at one of their secure facilities. Keep in mind that you will not be able to access your item while in storage.

U-Pack Cost

U-Pack’s average long-distance moving costs typically range from $600 to $2,200. You can expect to pay less than that for most single-item moves. To get an accurate price for your move, you should contact them to request a free quote.

U-Pack’s Service Area

U-Pack has more than 240 locations allowing them to serve all 50 US states. They are only available, however, for long-distance moves of 150+ miles. They do not currently provide intrastate or local moving services.

Why We Like U-Pack

U-Pack’s pricing model is ideal for people who want to save money on their moves. This makes them a good choice for single-item moving and shipping. Clients will only ever pay for the space they use with U-Pack, which keeps costs low.

3. PODS

PODS is one of the most well-known moving container companies in the world. They provide both local and long-distance moving services throughout the US. Billing themselves as a “one size fits all” moving and storage solution, you can easily use their containers to move or store a single item. With container options ranging from 8’ to 16’, you should be able to move virtually any item you need safely.

PODS Services

Like U-Pack, PODS will deliver a container to your property, which you will be responsible for loading. Whether you need to ship just one thing or a full house, PODS can be an affordable solution:

• Container Sizes: PODS offers three container sizes, including an 8-foot, 12-foot, and 16-foot container. To ship just one item, the 8-foot container is likely your best bet.
• Storage: Unlike U-Pack, which requires you to store your items at a U-Pack facility, PODS allows you to store your items on your own property or at a PODS facility. Every rental comes with up to 30 days of storage.
• Labor: You can load your item(s) into the container yourself, work with one of PODS’ partner companies, or hire third-party assistance.

PODS Cost

PODS average local moving costs typically range from $200 to $600. Average long-distance moving costs with PODS typically range from $700 to $2,300. These are for full-home moves, however. You will likely pay less for a single-item move. To get an accurate price for your move, request a free online quote.

PODS Service Area

PODS serves most states throughout the US, offering both local and long-distance moving services as well as storage. They are not currently available in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, or Wyoming.

Why We Like PODS

PODS has a strong reputation in the moving industry, with options for both local and long-distance moving. The ability to store your container long-term on your own property is a major perk compared to U-Pack. Plus, with multiple container size options, you’re sure to find a moving solution for virtually any item.

4. International Van Lines

International Van Lines is one of the largest carriers and brokers in the business. With a reach extending across all 50 states and 180 other countries around the world, they have one of the largest moving networks in the business. They maintain an excellent customer service record, with more than 10,000 relocations completed per year.

IVL Services

As a moving carrier and broker, International Van Lines can provide a number of moving services, including:

• Local moving
• Long-distance moving
• International moving
• Dedicated small move packages
• Full-service packing
• Packing supplies
• Debris removal
• Storage
• Auto shipping

IVL Cost

International Van Lines has an average local move cost of $600 – $1,200 and an average long-distance cost of $1,900 – $4,900. Your total will almost definitely differ from these averages for a single-item move. To get a personalized estimate, you should contact IVL to request a free quote.

IVL Service Area

International is available across all 50 states, primarily as a broker. They also maintain operational ability in 180 other countries, making them ideal for most moving needs. The provide local, long-distance, and international moving services.

Why We Like International Van Lines

International Van Lines has one of the best reputations for customer service in the entire industry. Customer reviews reflect as much, highlighting communication and transparency through the entire moving process.

5. American Van Lines

American Van Lines is one of the best single item moving companies, operating as a direct carrier in all parts of the US. Along with a leading range of services, they have some of the most-experienced moving crews in the business. One great perk of working with AVL is that they never broker out moves. When you work with them, you will be working directly with AVL no matter where you are. This helps to ensure a consistent level of quality across all of their services.

AVL Services

As a moving carrier, American Van Lines can enhance your move with a full range of service options:

• Local and long-distance moving
• International moving
• Storage
• Packing
• Antique moving
• Piano moving
• Crating for artwork or fragile items
• Auto shipping
• And more

AVL Cost

With average local costs ranging from $500 – $1,000 and average long-distance costs falling between $2,300 – $5,300, American Van Lines prices are slightly higher than industry averages. That said, they exclusively charge flat rates for their moves, which minimizes surprises for clients. Your single-item move with this carrier will likely cost far less than these average prices, however. To find out exactly what your move will cost, request a free online quote.

AVL Service Area

American provides carrier services to all 48 contiguous states. They provide local, long-distance and international moving services.

Why We Like American Van Lines

American Van Lines offers flat rates, so you won’t be surprised by any hidden fees. Their highly trained and experienced moving crews mean you will always receive top-notch service at guaranteed rates. Transparency in the moving industry isn’t often the norm, but this mover manages to provide it.

Request a Quote

Before booking with any single item moving company, you should get quotes from all companies you’re considering for the job. Eight weeks ahead of your move date, you should begin researching moving companies and getting quotes. For full-service moves, a visual estimate of some kind is always recommended. For the smallest and simplest of moves, an over-the-phone quote may be sufficient. Either way, it is always better to get quotes from multiple companies so you can get the best rate for your needs:

What to Look for in a Single Item Moving Company

Before booking with any moving company, you should request proof of all required registrations and insurance policies. Any reputable mover will expect to be asked for this and will provide it. Here’s what you should look for:

• FMCSA Registration: All movers conducting business in multiple states fall under the jurisdiction of the FMCSA. They are also required to maintain active USDOT and MC numbers. Using these, you can research a given mover’s registration status and complaint history through this link.
• State-Level Registration: Most states will have their own independent requirements for local movers. To find out what the regulations for your state may be, you can begin your research here.
• Proper Insurance: Aside from cargo or vehicle policies, all movers must carry multiple forms of insurance to legally operate. These include workers’ compensation and released liability coverage. The federally required minimum liability coverage is $0.60 per pound, per item. This does not provide much protection. The best movers will offer coverage options beyond this minimum.
• Reviews: When shopping around in any service-oriented industry, customer reviews are an incredibly important resource to consult. Some reputable sources for this feedback include Google, Yelp, Social Media, and the BBB. If you have any friends or family, be sure to ask them for recommendations as well.

Our Rating Methodology

At Pro Mover Reviews, we are committed to providing our readers with comprehensive and unbiased information on each provider that we review. Our methodology is a step-by-step process that ensures we maintain your trust through transparency and data that is backed up through routine check-ins. Our staff has spent hundreds of hours reviewing dozens of local, long-distance, and international moving companies to bring you our recommendation for the best moving companies in the US. We then narrowed down our findings based on criteria that we find to be the most helpful for you to choose the best moving company for your needs.

Our Rating Categories:

• Company Transparency
• Pricing + Cost
• Services Offered
• Overall Reputation

While there are many sites out there that compare movers, we believe our rigorous standards give us more insights into company performance and better data to share with our community.  For each moving company we check for:

• Confirmed Licensing with the DOT
• Updated & Verified Business Registration
• Real & Recent Consumer Reviews
• Industry Ratings and BBB Complaints
• Accuracy of Online Quotes
• Services Provided & Total Service Area
• Pricing & Services vs. Competitors

From here we created a comprehensive, 100-point, rating scale based on the following factors:

• Moving services (25): Companies that offer more flexibility in their services are rated higher.
• Coverage of services (5): The more items a moving company can handle, the higher the score.
• Pricing (25): We compare this to the industry average when rating pricing.
• Trustworthiness (25): We comb through hundreds of reviews and check on BBB ratings to determine the trustworthiness of a company.
• State availability (5): Finding a moving company in your state can be a challenge depending on where you are located. The more states covered, the higher the score.
• Customer service (10): Is this moving company responsive? Do they respond quickly to issues that are brought to their attention? Are they helpful in answering questions? All of these factors are considered when rating customer service.
• Additional benefits (5): Moving companies can sometimes offer special promotions or deals when contracting them for a move. The companies with the most benefit scored higher.

Of the dozens of different moving companies that we’ve reviewed, we’ve broken down the best single item movers in your area. To keep our ratings and data current, we have a full-time researcher who collects (and regularly updates) more than 100 specific data points from each company to help us compare them on key factors such as coverage, cost, service, and dependability. This list is ever-changing, as companies will update policies and procedures, and we will change our information accordingly.