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15 Best Moving Companies in San Jose of 2022

By Cassidy Horton MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE

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Moving to a new home or office can be exciting, but it can also be a lot of hard work. There are a lot of things to think about and organize – and that’s before the actual move itself. But we’re here to help. This guide will give you all the information you need to find and hire the best moving companies in San Jose. That way, you’re (almost) guaranteed to have a stress-free move.

Our top picks for best moving companies in San Jose

Best moving companies in San Jose reviews

We compared dozens of moving companies in San Jose to uncover the best ones across various categories – local moves, cross-country moves, international moves, and more. Based on our research, here are the 15 best San Jose moving companies:

USDOT number: 2547811

Basic services: Local, long distance, residential, and commercial moves

Specialty services: Junk removal, storage (warehouse and portable), packing services, supply store, furniture rearranging, piano moves, local pickup and delivery for large items, expedited delivery for long-distance moves.

Why we chose it: With over 350 locations worldwide, Two Men And a Truck is an obvious choice for best overall full-service moves. Not only are you likely to have a location near your end destination, but this full-service moving company can handle just about anything—local moves, junk removal, storage units, packing and unpacking, furniture rearranging, and more. It has more flexibility than other options on our list, which is why it’s not only our top pick in San Jose, but it’s also one of the best moving companies in San Francisco.

USDOT number: 614506

Basic services: Long distance, residential, and commercial moves

Specialty services: Military moving, packing and crating, antique and piano moving, storage

Why we chose it: Not only is American Van Lines one of the best moving companies period, but it’s also one of the best in San Jose too – specifically for relocation moves. While other moving companies on our list offer long-distance moving, American Van Lines takes it a step further by specializing in both military moves and corporate relocations. It also was ranked as one of America’s best customer service companies four years in a row.

That said, not every company is perfect. Although AVL’s website lists “local moving” as a service, we spoke with a customer service rep who confirmed that local moving isn’t offered in the San Jose area. So AVL is best for out-of-state relocations.

USDOT number: 2417086

Basic services: Local, long distance, cross-country, residential, and commercial moves

Specialty services: Labor-only, packing, warehouse storage, junk removal

Why we chose it: California is a big state. And if you’re looking to make a long-distance move from one end to the other (or anywhere in between), then look no further than All In Moving Systems. Even though it’s a local company, it has hundreds of trucks to help San Jose locals move long distances, including out of state.

According to its site, All In Moving Systems helps over 5,000 clients a year relocate from Santa Clara county to nearby cities and states. It has a 4.8 rating on Google and a 4.9 rating on Yelp based on over 560 combined reviews. Many customers mention having a great experience using All In Moving Systems for long-distance moves, which is ultimately what made it stand out from other local companies on our list.

USDOT number: 2762936

Basic services: Local, long distance, residential, and commercial moves

Specialty services: Logistics planning, senior moving, hauling and donations, full-service packing, furniture and electronic assembly, storage (warehouse or portable container)

Why we chose it: Whether you run a small business or a large corporation, Lunardi Moving has you covered. In fact, this family-owned business was named the Best Movers In San Jose three years in a row by Expertise.

Not only does it offer full-service packing and delivery, but it also performs logistics planning for commercial and industrial customers, as well as donation and hauling for office supplies you no longer need. These are just a few services other companies on our list don’t offer, which is why we named Lunardi Moving the best moving company in San Jose for commercial moves.

Why we chose it: Most companies on our list try to run the gamut by offering all types of services, but Trusted Movers focuses on doing one thing right – stress-free local moves. It knows that some local moves can be really simple, while others can be complex, so it offers everything from labor-only services (think loading and unloading) to full door-to-door packing and delivery.

It has a 5-star rating on both Google and Yelp. Although it’s only been in business a few years, locals seem to love them. Most reviews rave about how the crew is on-time, polite, and extremely efficient.

USDOT number: 488466

Basic services: Local, long distance, cross-country, international, residential, and commercial moves

Specialty services: Packing supplies, luxury moving for art, antiques, and pianos, full-service packing, TV and audio installation, storage, creation of a custom floor plan for furniture placement

Why we chose it: Flat Rate Moving took the crown as the best moving company for cross-country moves for several reasons. First, all of its moves are priced on a flat-rate basis (as the name implies), so you’re not charged extra if the job takes longer than expected. Secondly, it offers an “express service” for cross-country moves. According to its website, it can move your belongings from California to New York City in just 10 days. For comparison, companies like International Van Lines say that similar moves can take anywhere from 12 to 21 days. And let’s face it, when you’re moving cross-country, a quick move date makes all the difference.

USDOT number: 2293832

Basic services: Long distance, international, residential, and commercial moves

Specialty services: Packing services, loading, crating, auto transport services for cars, boats, motorcycles, and more

Why we chose it: As its name implies, International Van Lines specializes in international moves by land, air, and sea to over 150 countries. It’s also one of the only companies on our list that provides full-service international moving, making it an obvious top pick for this category.

According to its site, IVL is one of the 3% of moving companies that are licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to perform international moves. It has over 20 years of experience and has performed over two million moves since its inception. It’s also a certified “ProMover” by the American Moving & Storage Association.

USDOT number: 3053289

Basic services: Local, long distance, residential, and commercial moves

Specialty services: Packing services, furniture assembly

Why we chose it: Residential movers in San Jose will love A2B Movers because the company doesn’t charge extra fees for stairs, narrow hallways, long-distance walking, or any other pesky obstacles that pop up in apartment complexes or crowded neighborhoods. This is precisely why we named it the best moving company for residential moves; other businesses tack on fees for these extras.

Instead, A2B has clear pricing: $129 per hour plus $50 per hour for each additional mover or moving truck. While this per-hour pricing could come back to haunt you if a job takes longer than usual, it seems like the company has a high customer satisfaction rate so far. It boasts an excellent 4.9 rating on Google based on over 270 reviews.

USDOT number: 1922488

Basic services: Local, long distance, international, residential, and commercial moves

Specialty services: Labor only services, storage, facilitatation of car shipping and international relocations

Why we chose it: If you need to store some things during your move, look no further than Southwest Movers. While a few other companies on our list offer storage services (such as Two Men And A Truck and Trusted Movers), Southwest Movers is the only company to give long-distance customers 30 days of storage for free. The company also operates on a flat-rate pricing model, making it easier to estimate how much you’ll owe.

USDOT number: 3520861

Basic services: Local, long distance, residential, and commercial moves

Specialty services: Packing, piano and pool table moving, loading and unloading Pods, local pickup and delivery

Why we chose it: Arnoni Moving is a local moving company in San Jose that stands out for its special handling services. Not only will it help move pianos and pool tables, but it will also pick up large deliveries for you (for those times when you buy a new couch or have a really large Ikea order, for example). The company can also help load and unload Pods. And according to online customer reviews, Arnoni Moving is really good about accommodating last-minute requests – perfect for those times when you need a quick hand to move something special.

Other companies we considered

2 Movers

2 Movers’ pricing starts at $65 per hour for local moves and $999 for out-of-state moves. But its website forces you to request a quote before you can view services or anything else – which can be quite frustrating if you don’t want to hand over your phone number. Because of this, we cut it from our list of best moving companies in San Jose.

Pure Moving

Pure Moving handles residential, commercial, local, and long-distance moves in California. Its rates start out at $129 per hour for two movers, $179 per hour for three movers, and $229 per hour for four movers.

Joy Moving

Joy Moving specializes in local and long-distance moving. But we were hesitant to add it to our “best” list because it has less-than-stellar Google reviews compared to other moving companies. Several complaints mention damaged goods, movers showing up late, and being hassled for more money when the job is done.

All Stars Movers

All Stars Movers is a local moving company with three locations across California. It offers local, long-distance, and business moving.

United Van Lines

United Van Lines is one of the best interstate moving companies, but it doesn’t have a direct office in the San Jose area. Instead, it outsources to two of its partner carriers—both of which have few or no reviews.

Moving companies in San Jose guide

Moving is often considered to be one of the three most stressful events in a person’s life. But it may help de-stress you to know what to expect before your move begins. If you’re planning on moving in San Jose, there are a few things to know before you get started.

Main things to know before moving in San Jose

When you’re ready to start looking for professional movers in San Jose, it’s important to find a reputable and trustworthy company with lots of moving experience. Here are our top seven tips:

  1. Make sure the moving company is licensed and insured: This is the most important thing to look for when hiring a moving company. A good way to check this is by asking the company for their USDOT number. This is a number that is given by the US Department of Transportation to moving companies and it ensures that they are registered and have appropriate insurance.
  2. Get at least three estimates from different companies: Don’t go with the first provider you find. Get multiple estimates so that you can compare prices and services and find the right company for your moving needs.
  3. Be sure to read the fine print in the contract: Make sure you understand everything that is in the contract before you sign it. If there is something you don’t understand, ask the company to explain it to you.
  4. Ask about additional charges: Find out if there are any hidden fees that might apply, such as charges for stairs, long walkways, or gas.
  5. Know the difference between binding and non-binding estimates: If it’s binding, this means that the company cannot charge you more than the estimate, even if they end up having to do more work. If it’s non-binding, this means that the company can charge you more if they end up doing more work.
  6. Choose a company with good customer service: Choose a company that is responsive to your questions and concerns. A good company will take the time to answer your questions and address any concerns you have.
  7. Tip your moving company once you’re finished: While you’re calculating moving expenses, don’t forget to factor in a tip. The industry standard is 10% to 20% for local movers and 5% to 8% for long-distance movers.

What is the average cost of moving companies in San Jose?

Because the average cost of moving depends on the size of your home, where you’re moving to, and the complexity of the move, there is no “average cost” per se. The best way to get an approximate idea of how much you’ll pay is to request quotes from at least three companies.

That said, there are a few shorthand rules you can use to estimate the average cost of a move in San Jose. For instance, if you’re moving locally, you’ll most likely pay per hour for movers. So if a company like A2B Movers says it charges $129 per hour for two movers and a truck—and it takes three hours to move a one-bedroom apartment on average – that’s $387.

However, long-distance and out-of-state moves are a bit trickier to calculate because there are more factors to take into account. Luckily, some companies list estimates on their site. For example, according to American Van Lines, you can expect to pay this much for an out-of-state move from the San Francisco Bay area:

Chicago Denver Portland Washington, DC
One bedroom apartment $4,799 $3,850 $2,935 $5,591
Two bedroom apartment $6,576 $5,300 $3,910 $7,709
Three bedroom apartment $10,040 $7,600 $5,846 $11,834
Four bedroom apartment $13,360 $11,000 $7,661 $15,801

Source: American Van Lines

How to avoid moving scams in San Jose?

The best way to avoid moving scams in San Jose is to thoroughly vet the moving company you’re interested in before hiring them. This includes making sure they’re properly licensed and insured and reviewing any complaints filed against them with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can verify a company’s license on the California Public Utilities Commission website.

It’s okay if a company has a few complaints – nobody’s perfect – but you want to pay attention to how quickly the company resolves those complaints and how they respond to the negative feedback they receive.

Is there any special law for moving in San Jose?

Yes. All legitimate San Jose moving companies must have a Household Movers (HHM) permit that’s issued by the Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS). They’re also required to give you a written estimate or quote – but only after they’ve inspected your belongings.

How do I know if a moving company is legit in San Jose?

When researching San Jose moving companies, be sure to look for one that’s licensed and insured. You can also check online reviews to get an idea of what others have experienced with a particular company. If you’re still unsure, you can always ask the company for references.

How we found the best moving companies in San Jose

We used three primary criteria to curate our list of the best moving companies in San Jose:

  • Availability: We began our search by finding moving companies that serve residents in San Jose. If a company didn’t have a location in this region, we didn’t consider it for our list.
  • Licensing: We then dug into each company to verify which ones were licensed and insured with an active USDOT number.
  • Customer reviews and complaints: Once we had our list of licensed and bonded moving companies in San Jose, we began looking at customer reviews and complaints to pinpoint which ones were the best in San Jose. If two companies offer similar services, we let customer reviews guide which ones shined in a particular category—whether it’s local moves or cross-country moves.

The result? A list of the best moving companies in San Jose – thoroughly vetted and analyzed so you can quickly find the right one for your needs.

Summary of the best moving companies in San Jose of 2022

Even if you’re physically capable of a DIY move, hiring a professional moving company is worth it in almost any situation. Not only will it save you time and energy, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing your belongings are in good (read: professional) hands.

As always, research a company thoroughly before you hire them. Check reviews, get quotes from multiple companies, and make sure they’re licensed and insured. It’s the only way to ensure your moving day is a breeze.

If you’re not sure where to start, we recommend starting with:

Cassidy Horton

Cassidy Horton is a finance writer based in Seattle, Washington. With an MBA and a bachelor's in public relations, her work has been published over a thousand times by The Balance, Finder.com, Money Under 30, Clever Girl Finance, and many more. Cassidy is a self-confessed money nerd who’s passionate about helping people find financial freedom. Oh, and she really loves cats.