Is a Small Move Right for You? 6 Signs You Don’t Need a Full-Service Move

Going through a move, regardless of the distance, is an intensive process. In many cases, it requires the help of multiple people, but knowing when you don’t need certain groups is important for saving money. Considering small moves have weight loads of 150-2,000 lbs., it’s entirely possible that you may not need full-service movers for your job. Learn the six common signs that these professionals aren’t required for your move so that you can save both time and money.

You’re Moving Less Than a Room’s Worth of Items

First and foremost, full-service movers are professionals designed to assist with moving an entire household. If you have just a few things that need to get moved from a single room, whether you’re a college student, someone who’s already completed most of a move, or for some other reason, you probably don’t need full-service movers. Examples of small items include a bed, a desk, a couple of boxes, or even a studio apartment. In these situations, hiring small movers can be more cost-effective and less complicated to coordinate.

You Don’t Want to Drive a Rental Truck

The second reason you might not need full-service movers is if you don’t want to drive a rental truck. Driving a moving truck can be extremely stressful, especially when driving across long distances or in busy cities you are unfamiliar with. College students, elderly movers, or those going through a solo move may all find themselves running into this issue. The advantage of small moving services is that you gain access to professional transport while also not needing to unload, load, or drive a vehicle yourself. 

You’re Sending Items to Someone Else

In some cases, you may not even be moving, but rather just sending furniture boxes to a friend, family member, or random buyer. Gifting furniture to a child in another state, sending belongings to a college student, or general remote estate distribution cases are common examples of this. By partnering with small move providers instead of full-service shippers, you can gain access to shipping services that specialize in handling one-way and low-volume deliveries, thus reducing many hassles.

You’re Working with a Tight Budget

It’s no secret that full-service movers can be expensive, especially for smaller loads that don’t fill a truck, as they may still charge the full amount. Those relocating on a budget, such as due to starting a new job, being post-divorce, or another issue, may find affording full-service movers challenging. With small moving services, though, pricing is based on volume in many cases as opposed to a flat fee. This means that small shipments often come with a more affordable price tag, making it an excellent option for those on a tight budget. 

You Need Flexibility or Special Handling

Small move services also offer more personalized options like white glove service or climate-controlled shipping; these are luxuries full full-service movers do not provide. Situations where this may be helpful include shipping antiques, artwork, electronics, extremely fragile items, and more. This is even more prominent when the majority of the items being shipped fall into the above categories. Tailored services that full-service movers either won’t offer or will upcharge for often come standard with small move services, which helps you budget for your move better as well.

Your Move is Local

Whether you’re moving across the country or moving across the street, it’s possible you may be moving an entire space. However, most people moving locally have fewer shipping needs as the move can be handled in small segments, rather than as one big event. This means that a couple of sessions with a small moving company could complete your move for a lower cost than a full moving service. Considering that half of all moves in recent years were within the same county, this reason may actually be the most commonly experienced. 

Successfully ship your furniture today

Not every move needs to be a full-scale operation with thousands of moving pieces involved. If any of the above situations sound like they may apply to you, then a small moving service is likely the better choice for your needs. This can save you money while making the overall moving process smoother as well. Small move providers will often provide you with personalized quotes too that show how much you can save as compared to standard movers, thus demonstrating how your move can be simplified.

Written by Billy Guteng. April 17, 2025

Billy is a content writer for Kukun. He was born in France, and has lived in multiple cities around the world ever since. He loves art, design and architecture as well as construction and real estate.