Known for its Great Lakes coastline, craft breweries and snowy winters, Wisconsin has much to offer new residents. Whether you’re moving to or from Wisconsin, a top-notch moving company can help you execute a hassle-free move.
We at the Home Media reviews team have researched and compared the best moving companies in the country based on services, cost, availability, brand reputation and more. We narrowed our list down to the best Wisconsin moving companies, emphasizing key features such as trained moving staff, insurance plans, scheduling flexibility and payment options.
Wisconsin’s 7 Best Moving Companies
Based on our research, here are the top seven moving companies in Wisconsin:
International Van Lines
- Award: Our pick for insurance plans
- Service model: Full service
- Founded: 2000
International Van Lines (IVL) formed in 2000 as an international moving and logistics company but began offering local and interstate moving services in 2004. Today, International Van Lines has more than 20 years of experience and is one of the most trusted names in the moving industry.
IVL offers some of the most comprehensive contents protection plans in the industry. You have the option to protect your expensive belongings with total-loss or all-risk insurance. Total-loss insurance will reimburse you for the full value of your items if your entire moving shipment is lost or damaged, while all-risk covers individual items.
Services
International Van Lines offers full- and partial-service local, long-distance and international moves in all 50 states and 180 countries, plus government and military moves. For long-distance moves, IVL provides auto transport and air and ocean freight.
Here are the services that International Van Lines offers to families and businesses:
- Air freight
- Auto transport
- Boxes and moving supplies
- Corporate relocation
- Employee relocation
- Government and military moving
- International moving
- Local moving
- Long-distance moving
- Ocean freight
- Office moves
- Special handling of large and fragile items
Cost
International Van Lines will provide a free quote on its website, which is a rough estimate of what you’ll pay. You can contact IVL and share the details of your move with a customer service representative for a more accurate estimate. The company does not provide binding estimates.
To calculate your moving quote, IVL will consider your move’s date, distance and size. Note that opting for one of IVL’s insurance packages will increase your total cost.
If you’re an active or retired military member, International Van Lines will subtract 10%–15% off your moving quote. All customers must pay a 25% deposit up-front. You can pay with cash and credit card.
Get your quote: Visit International Van Lines website or call 888-375-6309 to get started with a moving quote.
To learn more: International Van Lines review
American Van Lines
- Award: Our pick for long-distance moves
- Service model: Full service
- Founded: 1995
American Van Lines (AVL) is a full-service moving company that operates throughout the 48 contiguous U.S. states. AVL outsources local moving services to third parties in Wisconsin.
Although American Van Lines offers a variety of moving services for families and businesses, it’s our pick for the best long-distance mover. It employs full-time, trained crew members who provide quality packing services and swift deliveries. If you have expensive belongings, such as fine art and pianos, you can use AVL’s specialty item protection services. AVL also owns its fleet of moving trucks.
Services
American Van Lines offers local, long-distance and international moving services in every U.S. state except Hawaii and Alaska. Whether you’re moving your Wisconsin home or business, AVL can provide full- and partial-packing services, plus a menu of add-on options such as car shipping, storage and special item handling.
Here are the moving services that American Van Lines offers:
- Antique moving
- Commercial moving
- Corporate relocation
- Local moving
- Long-distance moving
- Military moving
- Storage
Cost
American Van Lines can give you a binding estimate after conducting a virtual or in-person walk-through of your home. AVL will create your quote based on how many belongings you have and the layout of your home, plus when and where you’re moving.
American Van Lines requires a 10%–50% up-front deposit. You can pay with cash or credit card.
Get your quote: Fill out American Van Lines’ online form or call 888-759-6000 to get your moving quote.
To learn more: American Van Lines review
JK Moving
- Award: Our pick for financing
- Service model: Full service
- Founded: 1982
JK Moving offers long-distance moving services throughout the nation, including to and from Wisconsin. It only provides local moving services in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. This means that JK Moving is a good option if you’re making a long-distance move to or from Wisconsin, but not if you’re moving within the state.
JK Moving is our pick for the best financing options. The company partners with Enhancify to connect customers to various lenders, with qualifying customers receiving interest rates as low as 0%. This is a good option if you don’t have the total funds available for your move or wish to spread the cost out over time.
Services
As a Wisconsin resident, you can use JK Moving’s long-distance and international moving services. The company has a fleet of GPS-enabled trucks and trained crews that can help you pack, load and offload your items. JK Moving also has storage facilities with 24/7 video surveillance.
Here are the different ways that JK Moving can service your move:
- Commercial moving
- Employee relocation
- Government moves
- International moving
- Loading/offloading
- Local moving (certain locations)
- Long-distance moving
- Office moves
- Packing
- Residential moving
- Storage
- Truck and ship transportation
Cost
You can fill out JK Moving’s free quote form online or call the company to get started. To get your quote, you’ll need to speak to a customer service representative who will help you create a personalized moving package based on your budget and moving needs. From there, JK Moving will provide a binding estimate and assign you a moving coordinator who will be your point of contact throughout the process.
To book your move with JK Moving, you will need to pay an up-front deposit of at least $250. JK Moving accepts checks, cash and credit cards and offers financing options to qualifying customers.
Get your quote: Fill out JK Moving’s free quote form online or call 571-487-8929 to get a quote.
To learn more: JK Moving review
Moving APT
- Award: Most flexible payment options
- Service model: Full service
- Founded: 1999
Moving APT isn’t a moving company. Rather, Moving APT is a broker that partners with more than 2,500 movers around the country to deliver affordable quotes to families and businesses.
We like Moving APT’s flexible payment options. In addition to accepting cash, credit cards and personal checks, Moving APT also offers financing options to qualifying customers.
Services
Moving APT offers services for all types of relocations, from local to interstate moves. After filling out the form on Moving APT’s website, the company will connect you to multiple moving providers in the area that offer your requested services. You can also apply different filters and compare businesses.
Here are the different ways that Moving APT can assist your Wisconsin move:
- Car shipping
- Corporate relocation
- Cross-country moving
- Free moving quotes
- Furniture moving
- Interstate moving
- Local moving
- Long-distance moves
- Out-of-state moves
- Packing
- Residential moves
Cost
Moving APT will provide a free ballpark moving quote online, but to get a more accurate quote, you will need to call a customer service representative and provide your moving details. Moving APT will give you a binding estimate after reviewing your moving inventory and conducting a virtual home walk-through.
Moving APT has several discounts available. In addition to offering lower costs to those who book in advance, Moving APT provides discounts for military members (both active and retired), senior citizens and differently-abled individuals. Moving APT requires an up-front deposit, though the amount varies between moving companies.
Get your quote: Visit Moving APT’s website to start planning your move.
Allied Van Lines
- Award: Editors’ choice
- Service model: Full service
- Founded: 1928
One of the oldest moving companies in the country, Allied Van Lines offers stress-free solutions for both residential and commercial moves. Allied can accommodate local, long-distance and international moves of all sizes.
The Illinois-based company is our editors’ choice because of the range of services and variety of resources it offers. In all 50 U.S. states and abroad, you can personalize your moving package to suit your budget and needs. Your move will go smoothly thanks to checklists, guides, tips, supplies and more.
Services
Allied Van Lines offers extensive services for both local and long-distance moves. As a full-service mover, Allied Van Lines can assist with packing your household items, shipping and offloading. You can pick and choose the services you need to create your package, resulting in fewer moving costs. Allied also offers a range of guides to better assist you before and during your move.
Here are the services that Allied Van Lines offers to families and businesses:
- Corporate relocation
- Cross-country moving
- Full-service moving
- Household moving
- International moving
- Interstate moving
- Loading/offloading
- Local moving
- Long-distance moving
- Moving resources
- Packing
- Shipping
- Storage
Cost
Allied Van Lines will provide a binding estimate when you fill out its form online and complete a virtual home assessment. Allied will create your quote based on the weight of your belongings and the distance of your move, plus any hard-to-access areas in your home.
Allied accepts credit cards, cash and certified checks. Allied Van Lines doesn’t require an up-front deposit. Although Allied does offer discounts, such as senior citizen discounts, the amounts vary.
Get your quote: Fill out Allied Van Lines form to get your moving quote.
To learn more: Allied Van Lines review
North American Van Lines
- Award: Our pick for easy claims process
- Service model: Full service
- Founded: 1933
Families and businesses have been trusting North American Van Lines with their moving needs for almost 90 years. NAVL can accommodate local and long-distance moves in all 50 states plus international relocations.
When you make a big move, filing claims for lost or damaged items can be a hassle. North American Van Lines is a great option if you want to ensure the claims process is quick and painless. NAVL provides easy-to-access domestic and international claims forms on its website along with resources to guide you. It also has a dedicated customer support line if you need assistance.
Services
No matter where you’re moving, you can use North American Van Lines’ comprehensive range of services. These include loading and unloading, packing and unpacking, boxes and moving supplies, storage options, furniture and appliance installation and assembly, and online moving resources.
North American Van Lines can improve your moving experience with these services:
- Boxes/moving supplies
- Corporate relocation
- Household moving
- Installation/assembly
- International moving
- Loading/unloading
- Local moving
- Long-distance moving
- Moving resources
- Packing
- Storage
Cost
North American Van Lines will create a binding estimate based on the distance of your move, shipment weight, services used and contents protection plans purchased. NAVL requires a virtual survey before providing a quote.
North American Van Lines accepts payments via cash, certified checks and credit cards. NAVL doesn’t require an up-front deposit. American Legion members can receive $100,000 of full replacement coverage protection with a $0 deductible.
Get your quote: Fill out NAVL’s online form to see if it’s a match for your move.
To learn more: North American Van Lines review
PODS
- Award: Our pick for self-service mover
- Service model: Self-service
- Founded: 1998
If you’re set on a DIY move, PODS offers a solution that most moving companies don’t. Ever since 1998, PODS has been delivering storage containers to homeowners and businesses. After renting a PODS container, you have 30 days to pack and store your items before PODS delivers your container to your new home or office where you can unload your belongings.
PODS is our pick for a self-service move because it offers several container sizes, lets customers move on their own schedule and can accommodate both local and long-distance moves. If you want full-service perks along with a PODS moving container, the company can connect you with third-party professional packing, loading and unloading services.
Services
PODS offers a variety of solutions to the DIY moving process. You can use the PODS container to transport your items to your new residence or office. If you need additional storage, PODS will let you rent out its containers on a monthly basis, which is a more affordable alternative to a storage facility.
Here’s what PODS offers to help take the stress out of a self-service move:
- Boxes/moving supplies
- Car shipping
- Loading/unloading (via third party)
- Local moving
- Long-distance moving
- Packing (via third party)
- Storage
- Transportation
Cost
The cost of your PODS services depends on the size and number of containers you need, the length of your rental and the optional services you purchase. If you’re moving locally, you can expect to pay between $349 and $549. If you’re undergoing a long-distance move, you may pay anywhere from $999 to $2,999. If you need to keep your container for storage purposes, PODS will bill you on a monthly basis.
Every PODS location accepts credit cards, but some may also accept checks and cash. PODS doesn’t require an up-front deposit. This company offers a 10% military discount as well as other promotions.
Get a quote: Fill out PODS’ easy online form to get started with your DIY move.
To learn more: PODS review
The Bottom Line: Which Is the Best Moving Company in Wisconsin?
While we recommend any of the providers on this list, our top picks for Wisconsin moves are International Van Lines, American Van Lines and JK Moving. IVL is a great choice for moving expensive items with its comprehensive insurance coverage. AVL employs top-notch moving crews for long-distance moves, so you can ensure your belongings are in good hands. If you’d like to spread out your moving costs over time, JK Moving offers flexible financing options.
If you prefer a self-service move, we recommend PODS for its convenient moving and storage options. Your moving needs are unique, so we recommend getting quotes from at least three moving companies before making a decision.
Compare the Best Moving Companies in Wisconsin
See how the best moving companies compare on key metrics.
*Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings are accurate as of August 2022.
Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Moving Companies
We collected data on dozens of moving companies, both full service and self-service, and created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings, grade each company and provide objective findings to our readers. The end result of weighing a wide range of factors is a cumulative score for each provider.
We called each moving company directly, spoke with representatives to get an in-depth understanding of their offerings and simulated the quote and scheduling process. We also reviewed each company’s contents protection (insurance) plan information in detail, and we closely examined more than 100 customer reviews to understand the customer service experience with each provider.
All company data is monitored on an ongoing basis to keep rankings and information up to date.
Once we gathered all relevant data, we used the following scoring system to grade each moving company on a 100-point scale:
- Moving Services (20 points): Does the company provide services for local moves, interstate moves and/or international moves? The more options available, the higher the score. Points were deducted for any local moving restrictions, such as a minimum mileage requirement or limited availability.
- Mover Type (3 points): Is the provider a moving broker or a carrier? Given that carriers often offer a more seamless customer communication experience, more points were awarded to companies that act as carriers instead of or in addition to acting as moving brokers.
- Additional Services (20 points): Services we factored in include packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, vehicle relocation, fragile pack or specialty services and storage service. The more services a moving company offers, the higher the score it received.
- Insurance Coverage (10 points): If a company offers only the minimum requirement of 60 cents and a full-valuation coverage option, it received a lower score. If the company offers multiple moving insurance options, such as customizable full-value coverage, it received a higher score.
- Payment Process (20 points): For each payment option the company provides, it received more points. Options include binding estimates or fixed rates, discounts or price-matching policies, credit card payments, cash or check payments and/or financing options. Points were deducted if a company requires a deposit.
- Availability (5 points): Companies were awarded points based on state availability.
- Scheduling (6 points): The more scheduling options a company offers, such as online scheduling, over the phone or both, the more points it received.
- Trailers/Containers (6 points): Companies received higher scores for having a range of trailer or container sizes.
- Additional Benefits (5 points): What additional benefits do customers receive from the company? Does the customer have access to a moving calculator, GPS or online tracking options, a moving checklist, packing and moving materials and/or a moving inventory app? The more of these options a company provides, the more points it received.
- Reputation (5 points): We factored in the company’s score on the Business Better Bureau (BBB) and deducted points for any alerts or pending lawsuits.
