How to Compare Moving Quotes: What to Look for When Choosing a Moving Company
- Kumars Toosi
- Aug 17
- 7 min read
Getting three moving quotes is one of the smartest things you can do before hiring a moving company. But once you have those three estimates sitting in front of you, how do you actually decide which one offers the best value?
Many people look at the hourly rate, compare the three numbers, and choose the company with the lowest price.
That can be a mistake.
When comparing moving companies, you need to look at the hourly rate, the estimated time, the number of movers, what's included in the estimate, and the company's reputation. A moving company with a slightly higher hourly rate may actually cost less if it has the right crew size and can complete your move more efficiently. This is especially important when comparing local movers in the Twin Cities.
Start With Three Moving Quotes
Getting three estimates is a good starting point because it gives you a way to identify what is normal for your particular move. When you request quotes from moving companies in areas such as Eagan, Burnsville, Lakeville, Apple Valley, Rosemount, Farmington, Minneapolis, or the surrounding Twin Cities, make sure you are giving each company the same basic information.
Tell each mover:
Your pickup and delivery locations
The size of your home
The amount of furniture and boxes you have
Whether there are stairs
Whether there are long walks or difficult access
Whether you need furniture disassembled and reassembled
Whether you need packing services
Whether there are heavy or specialty items
Whether there are additional stops
The more consistent the information is between companies, the more useful your three quotes will be. But don't stop at the final estimated price.
1. Compare the Hourly Rate
For an hourly moving company, the hourly rate is obviously important.
However, it should only be the first number you compare.
For example:
Company A: $180 per hour, Company B: $210 per hour, Company C: $225 per hour. At first glance, Company A appears to be the obvious choice.
But what if the companies estimate:
Company A: 8 hours Company B: 6 hours Company C: 5.5 hours
The picture changes considerably. The company with the highest hourly rate may actually have the lowest estimated labor cost because it plans to use a crew that can complete the move faster. That's why you should never evaluate an hourly moving company based solely on its hourly rate.
2. Compare the Estimated Number of Hours
This is one of the most important parts of comparing moving estimates.
Ask each company:
"How many hours do you expect this move to take?"
Then compare the answers. If three experienced moving companies look at essentially the same job and estimate that it will take approximately 5–6 hours, but another company says it will take only 3 hours, you should ask questions.
Why is their estimate so much lower?
Are they sending more movers?
Are they assuming everything will already be packed?
Are they not including certain services?
Are they simply being optimistic to make their quote look attractive?
A realistic estimate should generally be in the same ballpark as other reputable moving companies that have properly evaluated the job.
A company that gives you an unrealistically low estimate may not actually be giving you a lower-cost move.
3. Compare the Number of Movers
This is another area consumers sometimes overlook.
Don't just ask: "What is your hourly rate?"
Ask: "How many movers will you send?"
A two-person crew and a three-person crew should not be compared solely by their hourly rates.
For example:
Company A | Company B | |
Movers | 2 | 3 |
Hourly rate | $180 | $225 |
Estimated time | 8 hours | 5.5 hours |
Estimated labor | $1,440 | $1,237.50 |
In this example, the company with the higher hourly rate could actually have the lower estimated labor cost. That's because moving is physical labor. There is a point where adding another experienced mover can make the job significantly more efficient. This is why crew size and estimated time need to be evaluated together with the hourly rate.
4. Find Out What Is Included
Two companies can give you similar-looking estimates while providing very different services. Ask each moving company what is included in the quote.
For example:
Travel or trip charges
Does the company charge separately for travel time, mileage, or a trip fee?
Furniture protection
Will the movers provide moving blankets and protect your furniture during the move?
Shrink wrap
Is wrapping included, or is it an additional charge?
Furniture disassembly and reassembly
Will the movers take apart beds, tables, or other furniture and put them back together?
Packing services
If you need help packing, find out whether packing labor and materials are included.
Heavy or specialty items
Do you have a piano, gun safe, large appliance, oversized furniture, or another difficult item? Make sure the company knows about it and that you understand how it will affect the estimate.
Additional stops
If you need to stop at a storage unit, another residence, or another location, make sure that is included in the estimate. A good moving company should be willing to explain these things before you book.
5. Look at the Company's Recent Reviews
Price matters, but your belongings matter more. Before choosing a moving company, look at its recent Google reviews. Don't just look at the overall star rating. Read the actual reviews.
Look for repeated comments about:
Showing up on time
Communication
Efficiency
Care with furniture and belongings
Professionalism
Friendly movers
Accurate estimates
Completing the job as promised
Handling unexpected situations
Recent reviews are particularly useful because they give you a better idea of how the company is performing today. A company with hundreds of old reviews but very few recent reviews deserves a closer look. Likewise, if customers consistently mention the same positive qualities over and over, that can tell you a lot about the company's actual service.
6. Pay Attention to How the Company Communicates Before You Hire Them
Your experience with a moving company starts before moving day. Pay attention to how they handle your questions.
Do they explain the estimate?
Do they ask questions about your home and belongings?
Do they explain how many movers they recommend and why?
Do they tell you what could cause the final price to change?
Do they answer your calls and emails?
Or do they simply give you a number and ask you to book?
A moving company that takes the time to understand your move is generally giving you more useful information than one that simply gives you the lowest possible price.
7. Be Careful With an Estimate That Seems Too Good to Be True
Everyone wants to save money on their move. But an unusually low quote should make you ask more questions—not immediately reach for your credit card.
If one company is dramatically cheaper than the other two, ask:
"Can you explain why your estimate is significantly lower?"
There may be a perfectly good reason. Maybe they have a more efficient crew.
Maybe their pricing structure is different. Maybe certain charges are included in their hourly rate. But you want to understand the difference before making your decision. The goal isn't to find the cheapest moving company. The goal is to find the best value for the money you are spending.
8. Compare the Estimated Total Cost
Once you have all three quotes, create a simple comparison.
For example:
Company A | Company B | Company C | |
Hourly rate | $180 | $210 | $225 |
Movers | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Estimated hours | 8 | 6 | 5.5 |
Estimated labor | $1,440 | $1,260 | $1,237.50 |
Travel/fees | $150 | $100 | $125 |
Estimated total | $1,590 | $1,360 | $1,362.50 |
Suddenly, the $225-per-hour company doesn't look nearly as expensive as it did when you were only comparing hourly rates. This is why we recommend looking at the entire estimate rather than one number.
9. Don't Forget About the Final Bill
An estimate is still an estimate. For hourly moving services, the final cost can change if the move takes longer or shorter than anticipated, if additional services are requested, or if conditions are different from what was originally described.
Before booking, ask:
"What could cause my final price to be different from this estimate?"
A reputable moving company should be able to give you a straightforward answer. You should never be afraid to ask questions about money before your moving day.
What Makes a Good Moving Quote?
A good moving estimate isn't necessarily the lowest one.
A good estimate should be:
Realistic — The estimated hours make sense for the size and complexity of the move.
Transparent — You understand the hourly rate, crew size, travel charges, materials, and additional services.
Detailed — The mover has actually taken the time to understand your move.
Comparable — You can compare it fairly with the other estimates you've received.
Supported by reputation — The company has recent, credible reviews from customers.
Communicated clearly — You know what to expect before moving day.
How Pleasant Moving Company Approaches Your Move
At Pleasant Moving Company, we believe getting a moving quote should be about more than giving someone a number. We take the time to understand the move, determine the appropriate crew size, and estimate how long the job should reasonably take. Our goal isn't to give you an artificially low number just to win the job. We want you to understand why we recommend a particular number of movers, how long we expect the move to take, and what you can expect on moving day. That personalized approach is one of the things that sets Pleasant Moving Company apart from many other moving companies serving the Twin Cities and South Metro. Whether you're planning a residential move in Eagan, Burnsville, Lakeville, Apple Valley, Rosemount, Farmington, Savage, Shakopee, Minneapolis, or a surrounding community, we encourage you to get multiple estimates and compare them carefully. We would rather have you choose Pleasant Moving Company because you understand the value we're providing—not simply because we gave you the lowest number.
The Bottom Line: Compare Value, Not Just Price
When you receive three moving quotes, don't immediately circle the lowest hourly rate.
Instead, compare:
Hourly rate
Number of movers
Estimated hours
Estimated total labor cost
Travel and additional charges
What services and materials are included
Recent customer reviews
The company's communication and professionalism
If all three quotes are reasonably close, you can then use reputation, experience, communication, and the overall value of the service to make your decision.
The best moving company isn't necessarily the one with the lowest price.
It's the company that gives you a realistic estimate, communicates clearly, treats your belongings with care, and delivers the level of service you expect for the price you pay. That's the kind of moving experience Pleasant Moving Company strives to provide on every move.
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