6 Best Interstate Moving Companies for Large Household Moves

Moving a large household across state lines can get complicated quickly. Beyond boxes and furniture, you may also be dealing with appliances, fragile items, vehicles, storage, and a much larger inventory to organize.

And interstate moves are fairly common. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2.1% of the U.S. population moved to a different state in 2024.

If a big interstate move is on your list, the company you choose can make a real difference. This guide breaks down six interstate moving companies to help you compare your options.

How We Chose These Companies

When comparing interstate moving companies, look beyond the initial quote. For a large home, the inventory process, packing options, storage availability, specialty-item handling, and the company that will physically transport your shipment can matter just as much as price.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recommends checking whether an interstate mover or broker is properly registered before booking. We also prioritized companies offering services that can reduce the coordination required for a full household move.

Company	Best for	Type	Useful services for large moves
Safe Ship Moving Services	Comparing carrier options	Moving broker	Carrier matching, coordination, packing and storage options
Allied Van Lines	Flexible full-service moves	Carrier/agent network	Packing, storage, loading, unloading
United Van Lines	Complex full-service moves	Carrier/agent network	Packing, specialty items, storage, vehicle shipping
North American Van Lines	Customizable moving plans	Motor carrier/agent network	Packing, storage, tracking, vehicle transport
American Van Lines	Direct-carrier service	Motor carrier	Packing, storage, antiques and piano moving
JK Moving Services	High-service household moves	Motor carrier	Packing, storage, specialty handling, move surveys

6 Best Interstate Moving Companies for Large Household Moves 

1. Safe Ship Moving Services, Best for Comparing Carrier Options

Safe Ship Moving Services can be useful when a large household move has several requirements, and you do not want to contact carriers one by one.

Safe Ship is an FMCSA-authorized household-goods broker. This means it arranges transportation with licensed motor carriers rather than transporting household goods itself.

For a large move, this model can help when carrier availability, pickup timing, packing, storage, or the route makes the move harder to coordinate. Safe Ship can match a move with carrier options based on factors such as inventory, origin and destination, timing, and required services.

Best for:

• Households that want help comparing carrier options
• Moves requiring packing, storage, or other added services
• Customers who prefer a central point of coordination

Before booking, confirm the name and USDOT number of the carrier assigned to your shipment.

2. Allied Van Lines, Best for Flexible Full-Service Moving

Allied Van Lines is suitable for households that want professional help with several stages of an interstate move.

Services can include packing, loading, interstate transportation, unloading, unpacking, and storage. This makes Allied worth considering for larger homes with substantial furniture and household inventory.

Allied works through a network of agents, so ask which agent will be responsible for your move and confirm the details before signing your agreement.

Best for:

• Full-service interstate moves
• Households requiring short- or long-term storage
• Customers who want professional packing and unpacking

3. United Van Lines, Best for Complex Full-Service Moves

United Van Lines is a practical option when the move involves more than basic loading and transportation.

Available services include full or partial packing, custom crating, storage, vehicle shipping, and handling for specialty items. Customers can also work with a move coordinator.

This range can be particularly useful if a large home includes artwork, antiques, oversized furniture, multiple vehicles, or belongings that must be stored before delivery.

Best for:

• Large homes with specialty items
• Moves combining household goods and vehicle transport
• Customers who want more move coordination

4. North American Van Lines, Best for Customizable Moving Plans

North American Van Lines provides long-distance moving through a nationwide network of agents. Services include packing, storage, shipment tracking, and vehicle transportation.

Customization is useful for a large household because you may not need professional packing for everything. For example, you could have movers pack fragile kitchenware, artwork, electronics, and large furniture while handling clothing and other simpler items yourself.

Best for:

• Households mixing professional packing with self-packing
• Moves requiring temporary storage
• Customers needing vehicle transportation

5. American Van Lines, Best for a Direct-Carrier Option

American Van Lines is a licensed interstate motor carrier serving the contiguous United States.

Its long-distance services include professional packing, storage, and specialty handling for items such as antiques and pianos. That can make it a useful option for larger households containing furniture, collections, or fragile items requiring more careful handling.

American Van Lines also offers binding estimates for qualifying moves. The accuracy of any estimate still depends on providing a complete inventory and identifying additional services before moving day.

Best for:

• Customers who prefer working directly with a carrier
• Homes with antiques, pianos, or specialty items
• Households requiring professional packing or storage

6. JK Moving Services, Best for High-Service Household Moves

JK Moving Services offers interstate moving with customizable packing, storage, home surveys, and services for specialty household items.

Before the move, customers can complete an in-home, video, or virtual survey. A detailed survey is particularly useful for a larger house because missing furniture, boxes, or specialty items from the inventory can affect both planning and pricing.

JK also offers storage and additional services such as auto transport, making it an option for moves with several moving parts.

Best for:

• Large or detailed household inventories
• Customers wanting professional packing
• Moves requiring storage or specialty handling

Use This 6-Point Check Before Booking a Large Move

A company can perform well for smaller moves but still not be the right fit for a full household. Before signing an agreement, check these six points:

1. Inventory: Has the company completed a detailed in-home or virtual inventory?
2. Estimate: Is the estimate in writing, and does it clearly state whether it is binding or non-binding?
3. Carrier: Do you know which company will physically transport your belongings?
4. Packing: Are fragile, oversized, and high-value items identified and priced correctly?
5. Storage: If your dates change, is storage available and are the charges explained?
6. Delivery: Do you understand the pickup and delivery windows?

If several of these questions remain unanswered, get more information before booking.

Which Interstate Moving Company Should You Choose?

For a large household move, choose based on the requirements of the job rather than the lowest initial quote.

Safe Ship Moving Services may suit customers who want a broker to help compare and coordinate carrier options. Allied, United, North American, American Van Lines, and JK Moving provide different combinations of packing, storage, specialty handling, and direct moving services.

Before deciding, create a complete inventory, compare written estimates based on the same services, and verify the mover or broker with FMCSA. This makes it easier to compare your options on equal terms and choose a provider that can handle the size and complexity of your move.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should I look for in an interstate moving company for a large household?

Look for proper FMCSA registration, detailed inventory surveys, packing options, storage, specialty-item handling, clear estimates, and reliable delivery coordination. Large moves benefit from companies that can manage multiple services without leaving important details unclear.

2. How far in advance should I book an interstate move?

For a large household move, booking at least four to eight weeks ahead is generally helpful. Consider booking earlier during busy moving periods, especially summer, when carrier availability and preferred moving dates can become limited.

3. Is it better to use a moving broker or a direct carrier?

It depends on your needs. A broker can help compare and coordinate available carriers, while a direct carrier performs the move itself. Whichever you choose, verify the company’s FMCSA registration and understand who will transport your belongings.

4. What can increase the cost of a large interstate move?

Costs can increase with shipment size, distance, packing services, storage, stairs, long carries, specialty items, and access restrictions. Providing a complete inventory before receiving an estimate helps reduce unexpected pricing changes.

5. How can I verify an interstate moving company before booking?

Check the company’s USDOT number and registration through FMCSA’s Protect Your Move resources. Confirm whether it operates as a mover or broker, review the written estimate carefully, and make sure you know which carrier will transport your shipment.