Choosing a mover · Guide
Labor-Only vs. Full-Service: Which Is Right for You?
Both get you moved. The right choice comes down to your truck, your time, and your budget.
Labor-only moving
With labor-only, you provide the truck, trailer, or moving container — a rental truck, a PODS unit, a U-Pack trailer — and we provide the muscle and the method. Our crew loads, unloads, stacks the truck properly, and places everything where it goes.
It's a great fit when:
- You already have (or want to rent) your own truck or container.
- You're doing a partial move, a dorm or apartment, or just need heavy items handled.
- You want the lowest-cost professional option and don't mind arranging transport.
Labor-only is priced by crew size and hours, with a 2-hour minimum.
Full-service moving
With full-service, we bring everything — truck, equipment, blankets, and crew — and handle the move door to door. You point to where it goes; we do the rest, including optional packing, disassembly/reassembly, and storage coordination.
It's a great fit when:
- You want a true hands-off move with one team handling it all.
- You're moving a whole home or office and don't want to drive a truck.
- You value convenience and a single point of responsibility.
Full-service is priced at roughly double the labor-only hourly rate because it includes the truck and equipment.
Quick comparison
- You drive the truck? Labor-only: yes. Full-service: no, we do.
- Best for cost: Labor-only. Best for convenience: Full-service.
- Packing & disassembly: Add-ons available on both.
- Specialty items (piano, safe): handled on both with a specialty add-on.
Still not sure?
Here's the simple rule: if you're comfortable arranging a truck or container and want to save, choose labor-only. If you'd rather hand the whole thing off, choose full-service. And if you want the white-glove version — move, packing, and a move-out/move-in cleaning together — ask about our local All-In-One Bundle.
The fastest way to decide is to price both: our estimator shows your total live as you choose.
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