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7 Best Moving Companies in St. Petersburg in 2023
By Susan Doktor MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
- Connects customers with nearby Moving experts
- BBB accredited with a rating of A+
- Customers have access to listed contractors using their zip codes.
- Contractors have profiles that feature Thumbtack ratings, certifications, customer reviews, and more
- Directly contact the contractor of your choice or schedule a service call through Thumbtack.
Long-Distance and International Moving
- FREE Moving quotes
- Personal Account Manager
- Featured in USA Today
- Top rated across the web
*Does NOT Provide Local Moving Services
*Does NOT Provide Auto Transport Services
Newsweek 2019 winner of America’s Best Customer Service
- Certified Promover by American Moving & Storage Association
- Direct Supplier of the US Military / Warehouses are Military Approved
- Competitive state-to-state prices /Guaranteed Pricing
- Weekly shuttles to all major cities
- All moving trucks are air ride for safe transportation of furniture
- Fine art, antique, and piano moving specialists
- Professional packing and crating services
If you live in the St. Petersburg, Florida area, even a quick online search confirms a bounty of choice when it comes to professional movers. The options include national names in moving that have a local presence and some St.Pete-specific movers. The best company for you will depend on where and what you are moving, the range of services you require, and (of course) the likely costs you’re quoted for the move.
We surveyed about a dozen different professional movers to come up with our top seven picks. We review those in detail below, as well as sharing some notable runners up that supply you with even more options. You can reach any of these companies by clicking the Get Started link above our review, and then clicking on the link on the right-hand side of the page that appears.
Our Top Picks for the Best Moving Companies in St. Petersburg
- Best Overall: Flatrate Moving
- Best for In-home Service: College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving
- Best for Support from Start to Finish: St. Pete Moving and Storage
- Best National Franchise: Two Men And a Truck
- Best for Selling Unwanted Belongings: Short Moves, Inc.
- Best for Precise Billing: Swift Moves LLC
- Best for DIYers: U-Haul
Reviews of the Best Moving Companies in St. Petersburg
Best Overall: Flatrate Moving
Why we chose it: With most moving companies, charges are largely based on the amount of time it takes to complete your move. That means that unexpected complications — like a traffic jam between your pick-up and delivery points — can result in unpleasant surprises when you receive your final invoice. Flatrate Moving, as its name suggests, solves that problem by guaranteeing a single flat rate when you sign your moving contract. It also boasts a fine reputation for service through various review platforms.
- Offers single flat rate pricing
- Provides residential and commercial moving services
- Local, long-distance and international moves
- GSA-approved for military relocation services
- Comprehensive packing and unpacking services
- Offers climate-controlled storage
- Experienced in piano moving
- Provides a mobile app to help you manage your move
- Doesn't offer auto relocation
Flatrate Moving has been in business for 30-plus years and operates nationwide. Its nearest location to St. Petersburg is in Orlando, but the company says it serves all of Florida with local, intrastate, long-distance and international moving.
The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and earns an A+ rating from the organization. Moreover, customers who review the company on the BBB site award it an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars. In an industry that garners more than its share of complaints, that’s a noteworthy achievement. The company also earns 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Reviewers praise FlatRate’s ability to handle challenging moves — like into or out of a 5-story walk-up apartment. A surprising number of reviewers were satisfied repeat customers.
In addition to claiming 99% accuracy in its quotes, FlatRate offers two storage options. You can rent a self-storage unit or choose full-service, monitored warehouse storage. Customized wooden crates are available for antiques, artwork, and unusually-shaped large items.
Best for In-Home Service: College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving
Why we chose it: Sometimes you need not only a truck and some burly movers. You also require help in decluttering your house or in moving heavy items around within it. College Hunks offers moving and more.
Your kid heads off to college and you want to transform their room into a home office. You need to haul your pool and patio furniture from overhead storage racks in your garage in spring. Or you’re preparing to move and want to rid your home of junk before you start packing. These situations where a service like College Hunks can be useful — and the company has a strong record for pleasing service.
- Offer residential and commercial local and long-distance moving
- Provides junk removal and cleaning services
- Same-day service is available for some moves
- Other services include piano moving, furniture rearranging and house staging
- Provides on-site moving estimates
- Doesn't offer storage or international moving services
- Can't dispose of automobiles
College Hunks has a very good online reputation. The company is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, has a customer rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google and a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on Angie’s List. Coupled with its spotless record with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the company is well-worth considering for distance moving, in-house chores and junk disposal Not only can College Hunks help rid you of unwanted stuff, but it claims to do so in an environmentally friendly way, saying that it recycles 70% of what it hauls away.
Best for Support From Start to Finish: St. Pete Moving and Storage
Why we chose it: St. Pete Moving and Storage emphasizes personal service. As a client, the company says, you’ll be paired with a trained relocation services coordinator who can help you create a moving plan that meets your budget and schedule and will provide start-to-finish assistance during your move. And the company is an agent for Mayflower Transit, a well-regarded national name in moving founded in 1927.
- Offers residential, commercial and military moving services
- Handles local, intrastate, interstate, and international moves
- Offers packing and storage services
- Provides personalized moving support from pick-up to delivery
- High-value commercial equipment moving
- May be more expensive than smaller companies
As a member of the Mayflower family, St. Pete Moving and Storage has access to modern moving equipment and logistics systems. The company says it can handle moves of any size and cover any distance.
You can request a free quote from St. Pete Moving and Storage online by answering a few simple questions. The quote is not provided immediately, however — you must wait for a representative from the company to get in touch with you. That’s not a bad thing. For the most accurate quote, it’s best to have a lengthy conversation with your mover. Mayflower also gives customers the opportunity to have a virtual assessment performed.
Best National Franchise: Two Men and a Truck
Why we chose it: Two Men And a Truck is a well-regarded national name in moving with a strong presence in the Sunshine State. The company boasts 15 locations in Florida, including one on Ulmerton Rd. in St. Petersburg and one on University Parkway in Sarasota County. From pick-up to delivery, Two Men And a Truck claims, you can expect a consistent quality of service from every moving truck bearing the logo, since each location is held to the same franchise standards.
- Serves residential and commercial customers
- Offers local, intrastate and in-home moving services
- Accommodates multi-stop moves
- Hauls away junk and provides storage unit rental
- No international moving services
- No auto relocation
- Doesn't offer secure warehouse storage
Two Men And a Truck is a full-service mover that offers local, intrastate and long-distance moving services. The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has an A+ rating on the platform. Customer reviews on Google are overwhelmingly positive, with the Sarasota location earning 4.9 out of 5 stars.
Two Men And a Truck says it can accommodate customers with complex moving needs. It can pick up belongings from two locations — your home and a storage unit — for example. And if you need to store some of your belongings, Two Men And a Truck can help with that too.
Best for Selling Unwanted Belongings: Short Moves, Inc.
Why we chose it: Short Moves, Inc. offers a unique feature that can be a boon to people with lots of excess stuff on their hands. On the day of your move — which must be a local one, as the company’s name reflects — you can ask Short Moves to take unwanted items to its 14,000-square-foot warehouse to be sold on a consignment basis. That’s a lot easier than managing your own yard sale and, since your items remain on sale for more than a few days, they are more likely to be purchased.
- Unique consignment shop services for your unwanted items
- Offers local and intra-state moving for residential and commercial customers
- Provides packing/unpacking and loading/unloading services
- Has an online moving estimator
- Includes free moving boxes
- Doesn't offer interstate, long-distance or international moving
- Doesn't offer auto relocation services
- No short- or long-term storage available
If you’re only relocating a short distance away, and want your move to be completed in a single day, Short Moves could be a great choice for you. It’s a family-owned business that has been serving Florida residents for three decades.
Short Moves has an excellent reputation online. It earns 4.5 stars on Google and is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau. Zero customer complaints have been filed against the company through that organization, which is unusual in the moving industry. Angie’s List also gives the company a 5-star rating.
Consumers should know that, because it only handles local moves, Short Moves is not registered with the Department of Transportation. The DOT only publishes safety records for full-service moving companies that perform interstate moves, so it’s difficult to assess the company on the basis of its moving safety reputation.
Best for Precise Billing: Swift Moves LLC
Why we chose it: If you’re really watching your pennies, you’ll appreciate the fact that Swift Moves, Inc. takes a precise approach to billing: it charges customers in quarter-hour increments. If you live in a large home and need a gaggle of movers to work on your job, that’s a saving that can make a noticeable difference in your overall moving budget.
- Handles local, intrastate and long-distance moves for individuals and companies
- Charges by the quarter-hour
- Offers packing and junk removal services
- Employs rained full-time employees, not day laborers
- No online quote estimator
Founded in 2016, Swift Moves LLC is a full-service moving company that can move you anywhere in the lower 48 states. The company can handle moves of any size, down to a studio apartment. You can also hire the company if you’re not moving anywhere but just want to clear your home of clutter. Whatever you need to have hauled away, Swift Moves can handle it.
Swift Moves earns high ratings from consumer review sites. The company is accredited with the Better Business Bureau and holds an A+ rating with that organization. It earns 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google.
Best for DIYers: U-Haul
Why we chose it: People who don’t mind some heavy lifting can manage their moves themselves by using U-Haul’s vehicle rental and storage services. We chose the company for DIY moves in part because of its strong presence in the St. Petersburg area, where it has about 20 locations. You needn’t drop off your rental at the same location as you pick it up.
Customers can rent a variety of vehicles to suit their moving needs, including trucks up to 26 feet in length, cargo and enclosed trailers, utility trailers, car trailers, and motorcycle trailers.
- Most economical choice for do-it-yourselfers
- Wide variety of trucks and trailers available
- Return your vehicle to any U-Haul location
- One month of free storage with any one-way reservation
- Moving boxes and packing supplies available for purchase on-site
- No packing services
- You do all the heavy lifting
If you need to pick up your truck on one day and deliver your belongings sometime in the future, know that every one-way reservation comes with one month of free storage in a U-Haul storage unit. That offer could save you money when you have to leave your current home before you can move into your new one.
U-Haul has been in business since 1945 and operates out of thousands of offices. We checked out the company’s various locations in the St. Petersburg, Pinellas, Largo and Sarasota areas and found that each has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Other Companies We Considered
In addition to the top six companies we’ve recommended, we considered others –some of which may merit your attention. Following is a list of companies you may want to consider, even though they didn’t make our cut:
Let’s Get Moving
Let’s Get Moving offers residential and commercial moving services and services. However, the company only serves the Eastern seaboard for long-distance moves. The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and earns an A rating from the organization. The company stands out for averaging only 2 to 4 days for a long-distance move and the same workers who load your truck will unload it at your final destination.
Starving Artist Movers
We love the premise of Starving Artist Movers. The company is owned, operated and staffed by working local artists and musicians. So if you’d like a simple way to support the arts community in St. Petersburg, it’s a feel-good choice. Starving Artist Movers has a mixed reputation online, however. The company is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has a C+ rating on the platform. On the other hand, it earns 4.7 stars on Google.
America’s Most Reliable Movers
America’s Most Reliable Movers has been in business for 15 years. It’s A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau, with 5-star customer reviews. Angie’s List also awards the company a very respectable 4.6 stars. The company serves both residential and commercial customers and offers packing and unpacking services, as well as furniture disassembly, assembly and moving. The company, however, is licensed only in the state of Florida and can’t help you with interstate moves.
Bellhop Moving
Bellhop Moving is a large national moving company with locations in about 30 states. The company offers local, intrastate and cross-country moving services to residential and commercial customers. Bellhop didn’t make our cut for two reasons. The first is its slim record of customer reviews on consumer protection organization platforms. The second is that the company doesn’t offer two common services that many consumers need: packing and unpacking services and climate-controlled storage in secured, monitored warehouses.
Guide to Moving Companies in St. Petersburg
Main things to know before moving to St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is a vibrant city that offers a lower cost of living than some other ocean communities in Florida. It’s very accessible, since it’s served by two major interstate highways: I-75 and I-275. As a new resident, it shouldn’t take you long to find your way around town, since it’s intelligently laid out in an easily navigated grid pattern. If you love beach life, St. Petersburg boasts 35 miles of beaches. And of course, if you’re fond of warm weather, it’s a tough location to beat.
What is the average cost of moving companies in St. Petersburg?
It’s challenging to tell you with confidence what you can expect your move will cost you. Every move is different, and the cost of yours will depend on many variables, including the distance you are moving, the weight and volume of your belongings, the services you require and your moving date. You’re best served by scheduling a thorough in-home assessment of your household goods and providing accurate information about your new home.
How do you avoid moving scams in St. Petersburg?
The best way to avoid falling prey to a moving scam is to do your research. The Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, Google and Angie’s List are all excellent resources for reading customer comments and ratings about the moving experience a company provides. Look for patterns in the comments and not just the overall rating. That way, you’ll glean why a company attracted praise or criticism, in the nuances of how past customers describe the professionalism and effort of their staff. Were belongings handled with care? Did they keep their word on pricing? These and more can spell the difference between a poor and excellent moving experience.
Most disputes with moving companies arise when it comes time to pay the final invoice. That’s why you should ask for a written and binding estimate from the moving companies you’re considering. Ideally, your quote will be based on an in-home assessment. Be cautious of companies that only offer you an online quote. Convenient as they may be, online quotes can give moving companies too much wiggle room to pad bills.
How do I know if a moving company is legit in St. Petersburg?
Any mover licensed to perform interstate moves will be registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation. Intrastate and local movers must be licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). You should ask any moving company you’re considering to provide its DOT or FDACS number. Ideally, license numbers are published on movers’ websites.
We recommend you check the moving company’s reputation through a range of consumer protection and review sites, including the Better Business Bureau, Google and Trustpilot. And most importantly, get a written estimate of your moving costs that is based on an actual in-home assessment.
Moving Companies in St. Petersburg FAQ
Do you need moving insurance in St. Petersburg?
You need, want and should get moving insurance from any legitimate moving company. By law, interstate moving companies must offer two types of moving insurance to their clients. The first is standard valuation, also called released value protection. The good news is that it's free. The bad news is that it doesn't offer much protection. Released value protection will only reimburse you 60 cents per pound of your lost or damaged property. Your prized baseball card collection doesn't weigh much, but it might cost thousands of dollars to replace. That's why we recommend you pay for full replacement value coverage. It costs extra, but offers much more realistic reimbursement when your belongings come to a bad ending during your move.
When is the best and worst time to move to St. Petersburg?
Nationally speaking, summer is the busiest time of the year to move. You may have difficulty finding a moving company that can accommodate your preferred move date. You should also be aware that movers in St. Petersburg are especially busy at the beginning and end of college semesters, due to the many universities in the area.
How do you file a moving claim in St. Petersburg?
Each moving company has its own claims process. You should inquire how a company handles claims before you sign any contract. Some companies permit you to file a claim online. You'll make the claims process easier on yourself if you create a detailed inventory of your belongings before you move. For best results, take photos of your most valuable possessions as you pack them. Without a record of your move, moving companies can plausibly deny your claim. Never pack expensive jewelry or cash when you move. Carry such items yourself to be safe.
How we found the best St. Petersburg Moving Companies
We surveyed more than a dozen St. Petersburg movers to come up with our list of best movers in the region. Although hundreds of moving companies serve the St. Petersburg area, we stuck to moving companies with one or more offices in and around St. Petersburg, or that specifically indicated that they serve the St. Pete area. We reviewed each company’s website to see whether it provided adequate information to help customers make a decision. We also checked various customer review site ratings and safety records with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Summary of the Best Moving Companies in St. Petersburg in 2023
As a major urban center, with many thriving smaller communities surrounding it, St. Petersburg offers consumers many viable moving options. Local or international moves, apartment-sized to estate-sized moves, companies that specialize in moving members of the military or helping seniors with annual chores — St. Petersburg has them all. To summarize the findings of our research, here are our top picks:
- Best Overall: Flatrate Moving
- Best for In-home Service: College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving
- Best for Support from Start to Finish: St. Pete Moving and Storage
- Best National Franchise: Two Men And a Truck
- Best for Selling Unwanted Belongings: Short Moves, Inc.
- Best for Precise Billing: Swift Moves LLC
- Best for DIYers: U-Haul
