When most people think of hiring professional moving services, they think of long-distance moving companies that can take them all the way across the country. But moving companies can also be a big help when doing a local or short-distance move.

After all, carefully packing everything, loading it onto a truck, and driving it to your new home can be time-consuming and stressful. You don’t want to drop a box and break something or hurt yourself while trying to lift heavy furniture.

Whether you need to move out of a large home or a one-bedroom apartment, working with the one of the best moving companies can make moving day go much more smoothly.

With that in mind, here’s a closer look at some of your best options for short-distance moves.

Best short-distance moving companies

Here are our picks for the best moving companies for local moving services:

• Best customer service: International Van Lines
• Best for last-minute moves: American Van Lines
• Best for speciality items: North American Van Lines
• Best for customization: Allied Van Lines
• Best for DIY moves: Budget Truck Rental

Best customer service: International Van Lines

Despite its name, International Van Lines does help with short-distance moves, as well. The company has a wide coverage area, enabling it to offer moving services in all 50 states. International Van Lines is consistently praised for high-quality customer service, with a quick quote process and strong communication throughout the moving process.

International Van Lines offers a variety of available moving services to help make your move easier, including packing, custom crating for fragile items, vehicle shipping, debris removal, and storage.

Pros/Cons

Read our full International Van Lines review.

Best for last-minute moves: American Van Lines

While it’s best to schedule your moving date well in advance, this isn’t always an option. When you need to book a short-distance move at the last-minute, American Van Lines is well worth considering because they don’t charge extra fees for last-minute moves.

American Van Lines operates exclusively as a carrier, meaning all of its movers are in-house. This makes it easier for American Van Lines to schedule moves for any day of the week, even at the last minute.

American Van Lines further simplifies last-minute moves with flat-rate pricing and no hidden fees, allowing you to quickly make a decision based on their quote. They offer some of the best pricing we’ve seen among full-service movers, and with background-checked employees, you can have confidence that your stuff will be treated with care.

Pros/Cons

Read our full American Van Lines review.

Best for specialty items: North American Van Lines