These Are the 5 Best Small Move Services for Interstate Relocations

A small interstate change sounds straightforward until you start getting quotes. You’re not relocating a whole house — maybe it’s a studio apartment, a few pieces of furniture or boxes going from New York to North Carolina or a partial transfer from California to Arizona. However, most traditional movers still price it like a full-scale job. That’s where the best small move services for interstate relocation come in.

These companies specialize in moving smaller loads across state lines without forcing you to meet high weight minimums or pay for truck space you don’t need. Whether you’re shipping a handful of design samples, clearing out a second home or coordinating a client shipment that doesn’t justify a full van, the right provider makes a big difference.

1. TSI Shipping

TSI bridges the gap when you’re moving a small load across state lines and do not want to pay full truck pricing. Instead of treating your shipment like a scaled-down household shipment, you work with a U.S.-based logistics specialist who helps map out the best option based on what you’re moving, where it’s going and how flexible your timeline is. This works well for real-world scenarios like sending furniture from New York to North Carolina, coordinating a partial delivery during a renovation or shipping select items from California to Arizona.

The brand focuses on long-distance loads and specialty shipments, offering fewer minimums and greater flexibility than traditional van lines. Options range from cost-effective consolidated shipping to faster expedited or dedicated transport when timing matters. If you are only sending boxes, its Box-and-Ship program keeps things simple. All these features highlight TSI as one of the best small move services.

Key Features

Designed specifically for long-distance small moves with reasonable weight minimums
Multiple moving and shipment options, including consolidated, expedited and dedicated transport
White-glove handling available for furniture, antiques and fragile items
Box-and-Ship program for box-only interstate transfers
Live U.S.-based logistics specialists with a high customer satisfaction rating

2. MiniMoves^®

MiniMoves^® focuses almost exclusively on small shipments. Whether you’re relocating the contents of a studio apartment or moving a few large pieces from one state to another, this entity is designed to handle loads under traditional truckload sizes.

It offers a traditional moving-company experience, including professional packing, loading and delivery, but without forcing you to meet large weight minimums. Pricing is typically based on inventory rather than pounds, which makes costs more predictable if you know exactly what you’re sending. This model works well for transports like a Chicago-to-Atlanta apartment relocation or shipping a few rooms’ worth of furniture across the Midwest.

Key Features

Qualify for a discount with the MicroMoves^™ service when sending fewer than five items
Inventory-based quotes rather than truckload minimums are the norm
Full packing and unpacking services are available
Storage options for short- or long-term needs
Experience in handling specialty items like artwork, antiques and pianos

3. U-Ship

uShip operates very differently from traditional movers. Instead of hiring a single business, you post your shipment details and let independent carriers bid on the job. This approach can work well if you’re sending a few items across state lines and are flexible on timing, such as moving a sofa from Texas to Colorado or sending furniture from Arizona to Washington.

Since uShip is a marketplace, the experience largely depends on the carrier you choose. Some are professional movers, while others are independent transporters with available truck space. You’ll need to review profiles, ratings and insurance details carefully, but the payoff can be lower pricing and access to carriers that are already traveling your route.

Key Features

Competitive bidding model that can reduce costs
Wide range of carrier types and equipment
Ability to ship single items or minor loads
Carrier reviews and performance history are available
Flexible pickup and delivery windows based on bids

4. PODS

PODS is best known for portable storage, but it is also a common solution for interstate relocations where flexibility matters more than speed. If you’re moving from Oregon to Nevada or between homes with uncertain dates, the container model gives you control over when you load and unload. The 8-foot option is ideal for apartment loads or to relocate students between campuses.

The company delivers a container to your location, lets you pack it at your own pace, and transports it to your destination or a storage facility. While this is not a white-glove service, it works well if you want a predictable process and are comfortable handling packing and loading yourself.

Key Features

Multiple container sizes to match different load sizes
Flexible scheduling for loading and unloading
Storage options at origin or destination
Nationwide service coverage
Transparent pricing structure compared to traditional movers

5. United Van Lines

United Van Lines is a long-established mover known for complete household relocations, but it also offers options that can work for “bigger” small transfers. If your shipment is closer to a partial household rather than just a few items, its container-based programs can bridge that gap.

Because the brand’s core business is larger loads, costs for micro shipments can still feel high. However, for moves that involve several rooms of furniture or require professional packing and handling, the scale and infrastructure can provide peace of mind, especially on longer routes such as East Coast to West Coast relocations.

Key Features

National network with extensive Interstate coverage
Full-service packing, loading and delivery available
Container-based option for small to medium loads
Dedicated coordinators and a user-friendly tracking app
Experience handling long-distance relocations coast to coast

At a Glance: Small Move Services for Interstate Relocations

Unpacking the best micro-load enterprises based on their pricing, tracking and specialty services gives the clearest picture of which provider suits your unique interstate relocation needs.

	Quote Process	Tracking and Updates	Small-Move-Specific Services	Fleet Model
TSI	Consultative quote created by a logistics specialist after reviewing shipment details and timing	Milestone-based updates managed by an assigned operations team rather than self-serve tracking	Box-and-Ship program, estate distribution to multiple destinations, coordinated specialty services	Partnered carrier network managed by in-house logistics and operations teams
MiniMoves	Inventory-driven quote based on item list and access details	Centralized coordination with status updates from local agents	Apartment-size interstate and partial household relocations	Mix of company-managed agents and contracted moving partners
uShip	User-posted shipment with carrier bids determining final price	Platform-based tracking varies by carrier and transport method	Open-market shipping for single items or mini loads	Fully third-party carriers with no owned fleet
PODS	Online quote based on container size, distance and storage needs	Account-based tracking tied to container location and delivery stages	Portable container transport rather than item-level moving	Company-owned containers with contracted transportation partners
United Van Lines	In-home or virtual survey followed by a formal estimate	Coordinator updates combined with shipment tracking tools	Containerized programs adapted from full-service loads	Primarily agent-operated fleet under a national network

Criteria for the Best Small Move Services

Not every mover handles below-scale interstate relocations well. This list focuses on companies that consistently work with partial loads and long-distance shipments. Each provider had to meet strict criteria based on the following:

Small-move specialization: Companies that regularly transport micro loads across state lines are preferred.
Service flexibility: Options range from box-only transport to white glove handling, providing handy solutions.
National coverage: The ability to transfer items between most U.S. states is important.
Reputation and support: Customer reviews, ratings and access to real support staff make the process much easier.
Fit for real-world scenarios: Boxing a condo clean-out, estate distribution or sending furniture between homes are clear examples of mini loads.

How to Choose the Right Service for Your Relocation

Before booking a service, ask yourself a few practical questions.

Question for Reflection	Why It Matters
How much are you moving?	A few boxes require a different solution than furniture and artwork.
How flexible is your timeline?	Consolidated shipping costs less but takes longer.
Do you need packing or crating?	Fragile items often justify white glove handling.
Is budgeting for convenience more important?	DIY options save money but require more work.
Are there multiple destinations?	Not all movers handle split shipments well.

Best Small Move Services for Interstate Relocations

Small interstate relocations sit in an awkward middle ground. They’re too big for parcel shipping and too “pint-sized” for traditional movers. The best small move services bridge that gap by offering flexibility without forcing you into unnecessary costs.

Whether you’re coordinating a load for yourself or managing logistics for a project, choosing the right provider saves time, money and frustration. Start with the size of your shipment, your timeline and how much support you want, then match those needs to the service that fits best.