The best long distance movers in Tampa are direct carriers with an active USDOT and MC number, a binding written estimate, and their own crews loading your home. Expect roughly $1,900 for a studio to about $7,850 for a 5-bedroom cross-country move. The 10 companies below are compared on those checks, including Moving Hub, which publishes this guide.
Key takeaways
- Check any interstate mover’s USDOT and MC numbers on FMCSA before paying a deposit. Florida’s FDACS registration only covers moves within Florida.
- Ask for a binding estimate. Under federal rules, a mover can’t demand more than 110% of a non-binding estimate at delivery.
- Pickups from May through August usually cost more. October through March is cheaper if your dates are flexible.
- Downtown Tampa condos often need the service elevator booked 48 to 72 hours ahead.
Moving out of Tampa? Moving Hub is a licensed direct carrier (USDOT #3699092): the same crew loads, drives and unloads your home, on a binding flat-rate price. Get your free Tampa long distance moving quote →
Disclosure: Moving Hub is a licensed direct carrier and the publisher of this page. We’ve put ourselves on the list and applied the same checks to our own entry. Verify every company here, including us, using the steps below.
How to tell a direct carrier from a broker
A direct carrier owns the trucks and employs the crew that loads your home. A broker books your move and passes it to a carrier you may never have heard of. Both can be legal. The difference is who you’re dealing with on moving day and who answers when something goes wrong.
Brokers have to say they are brokers in their ads and paperwork. If a company can’t tell you whose truck and crew will show up, treat that as your answer. For a longer breakdown, see how to check a moving company’s USDOT number.
How much do long distance movers in Tampa cost?
A long-distance move out of Tampa usually costs about $1,900 for a studio and $7,850 or more for a 5-bedroom home going cross-country. The price depends mostly on how much you’re moving, the distance, and the date. These are Moving Hub’s typical prices on common moves. Every quote is built around your actual inventory.
| Move size | Crew and truck | Approx. distance | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio apartment | 2 movers, 1 truck | 500 to 1,150 miles | ~$1,900 |
| 2-bedroom, full furniture | 3 movers, 20-ft truck | ~490 miles | ~$2,450 |
| 3-bedroom, whole house | 4 movers, 26-ft truck | ~750 miles | ~$4,050 |
| 5-bedroom, high volume | 5 movers, large truck(s) | ~2,250 miles | ~$7,850 |
Prices and distances are approximate. Final pricing depends on inventory, access, packing and dates.
For reference, the 2-bedroom example (about 490 miles) is close to a Tampa to Atlanta move, and the 5-bedroom example is roughly Tampa to the West Coast.
Licensing: what a Tampa interstate mover must have
Any company moving household goods across state lines needs an active USDOT number and MC (operating authority) number from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Look both up on FMCSA before you sign, and check the complaint history, not just star ratings.
FDACS registration under Florida Statutes Chapter 507 covers moves that start and end inside Florida. It is not a license for moves to other states. If you’re moving within Florida, see our guide to [intrastate movers](INTERNAL LINK: intrastate movers article).
For moves between states, federal rules (49 CFR Part 375) protect you at delivery. With a binding estimate, you pay the agreed amount. With a non-binding estimate, the mover can collect no more than 110% of the estimate at delivery, and anything above that is billed later. Your mover must also give you FMCSA’s Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet.
Top 10 long distance moving companies in Tampa (2026)
Each entry lists what the company is and what to check. Look up every company’s USDOT and MC numbers on FMCSA yourself. Company details change, and a listing here isn’t a guarantee.
1. Moving Hub (publisher of this guide)
Florida-based direct carrier operating since 2015. USDOT #3699092, MC #1293570. Uses dedicated trucks: the crew that loads your home in Tampa drives it and unloads it at your new home, with no stops at depots along the way. Handles packing, storage, pianos, safes, antiques and other specialty items, and moves both out of and into Tampa. Does not handle international moves. See our long distance movers in Tampa page for routes, pricing and a free binding quote.
2. Colonial Van Lines
National interstate mover. Check: USDOT/MC, whether your move is handled by their own trucks, and estimate type.
3. American Van Lines
National interstate mover that offers specialty handling for items like antiques and pianos. Check: USDOT/MC, estimate type.
4. International Van Lines
Interstate and international mover with packing, storage and car shipping options. Check: USDOT/MC, and for overseas moves, their Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) license.
5. Safeway Moving
Long-distance moving company with bundled storage options. Check: whether it’s a carrier or a broker on FMCSA, and estimate type.
6. Mayzlin Relocation
Long-distance relocation company. Check: whether it’s a carrier or a broker, and whether your quote is binding.
7. Shawn and Shawn Moving Company
Tampa-based mover. Check: interstate authority on FMCSA for your specific route.
8. Good Greek Moving and Storage
Florida mover handling local and long-distance moves. Check: USDOT/MC and who operates the long-haul part of the move.
9. All About Moving Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay local and long-distance mover. Check: interstate authority and estimate type.
10. Two Men and a Truck (Tampa franchises)
Franchise network; each location is independently owned. Check: which franchise handles your move and that location’s own USDOT/MC.
Hiring a carrier vs renting a truck yourself
Renting a truck usually looks cheaper at first because the quote only covers the truck. Fuel, hotel nights, packing materials, time off work and any damage (which rental coverage often leaves out for your belongings) come on top. Compare a mover’s binding estimate against the DIY total, not against the truck rental alone.
Small long distance moves from Tampa
A studio or one-bedroom going 500 to 1,150 miles typically runs about $1,900 with a 2-person crew and one truck. Small moves are where brokers most often combine loads, which can stretch delivery windows. Ask whether your items will travel on a dedicated truck or a shared one, and get the delivery window in writing.
Pianos, safes, antiques and other high-value items
Tell your mover about specialty items before the quote, not on moving day. Pianos, gun safes, pool tables and antiques need extra crew, equipment and packing, and a quote that leaves them out will change. Also ask about full value protection instead of the default released-value coverage, which pays only a small amount per pound.
Moving Hub handles specialty and high-value items and full packing on long-distance moves.
Popular routes out of Tampa and transit times
- Tampa to Atlanta, GA: about 460 miles on I-75 N. Usually 1 to 2 days in transit.
- Tampa to Charlotte, NC: about 580 to 600 miles, usually via I-75/I-10 or I-4 to I-95, then I-26 and I-77. Usually 1 to 3 days. See moving from Florida to North Carolina.
- Tampa to Houston or Dallas, TX: about 1,000+ miles on I-10 W. Usually 3 to 5 days.
Moving to Tampa from another state
Moving Hub also moves families into Tampa, including cross-country moves from places like Los Angeles. Pricing depends on the move, so an inventory-based binding quote is the only reliable number. When you book, share your Tampa building’s elevator and parking rules early. They affect delivery-day timing as much as distance does.
International moves from Tampa
Moving Hub does not handle international moves. For overseas relocations, use a company licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission as an ocean transportation intermediary, and confirm who handles customs clearance at the destination.
Tampa-specific issues that change your moving day
Bridge timing. Rush-hour traffic on the Howard Frankland and Gandy bridges can turn a 30-minute drive into 90 minutes. On any hourly part of your move, that shows up on the bill. Loading before 7 AM or after 6:30 PM avoids it.
Elevator reservations. Most downtown Tampa high-rises need 48 to 72 hours’ notice for the service elevator. Confirm with your building before your mover sets the schedule.
Summer rain. Tampa averages about 46 inches of rain a year, with afternoon storms peaking June through September. Ask whether the crew uses waterproof covers on all furniture.
Best time to move out of Tampa
Peak season (May through August) is the most expensive time to move. School breaks and home sales leave fewer trucks available, and prices go up. October through March is cheaper, and a Tuesday to Thursday pickup in the off-season usually gets the best rate.
Quick checklist for vetting movers
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| License | Active USDOT and MC numbers on FMCSA |
| Estimate | Binding, in writing |
| Crew | Direct carrier employees, not unnamed subcontractors |
| Delivery | Guaranteed date or window in writing |
| Coverage | Full value protection option |
| Record | FMCSA complaints, BBB, Google reviews |
FAQ
Who are the top-rated movers for a long-distance move from Tampa to another state?
Look for direct carriers with active FMCSA authority and binding estimates. The 10 companies above are compared on those checks. Moving Hub (USDOT #3699092) is one of them and publishes this guide.
How much do long distance movers in Tampa cost?
Roughly $1,900 for a studio to about $7,850 for a 5-bedroom cross-country move, depending on volume, distance and dates.
How far ahead should I book?
Four to six weeks minimum, and eight weeks for May through August moves.
Can Tampa movers handle pianos and other high-value items?
Many can, but confirm it on the quote. Moving Hub handles specialty and high-value items on long-distance moves.
Do Tampa long distance movers handle international moves?
Some do. Moving Hub does not. For overseas moves, use an FMC-licensed international mover.
Stop Googling. You Found Your Mover.
You already know what to look for. Here is a company that actually checks every box.
Moving Hub is a licensed direct carrier based in Florida. We own our trucks. We hire our crew. When you get a quote from us, the number on that page is the number you pay at delivery. No broker layer. No weight adjustment surprises. No phone calls mid-transit asking for more money.
We have run hundreds of moves on the routes Tampa families actually use. If you are heading to Charlotte, across state lines, or anywhere in between, you get one crew, one contract, and one price that holds.
Get Your Free Binding Quote — Moving Hub Long Distance Movers Tampa FL
Need packing or storage included? We handle both. See our Long Distance Moving Services and Storage Services.
Author Bio
Brendan Thomas | Senior Moving Consultant, Moving Hub
Brendan Thomas has spent 10 years in the moving industry, working hands-on across local and long-distance relocations before joining the Moving Hub team. He has coordinated hundreds of residential and intrastate moves, dealt with the real problems that show up on moving day, and knows where costs can go wrong for families who book without the right information. Brendan writes from the floor up, not from a desk removed from the work. When he breaks down pricing, hidden fees, or the difference between a carrier and a broker, it comes from a decade of doing this job, not simply researching it.
Sources: Google Search Console, moving-hub.net queries, live page, All My Sons Tampa, Colonial Van Lines Tampa
