Apartment Movers in Boston, MA
Boston is an apartment city — more than 65% of residents rent, and most of those apartments come with narrow staircases, tight hallways, and zero parking. Boston Best Rate Movers has handled over 20,000 apartment moves across Greater Boston since 2002. From Allston walkups to Back Bay high-rises, our full-time crews know how to get your furniture out (and in) without damaging your walls, your floors, or your security deposit.
Why Choose Us?
Apartment Moving Specialists Who Know Boston Buildings
Apartment moves in Boston are not like apartment moves in other cities. From Brookline and Cambridge to Hyde Park and the Jamaica Plain area, we bring trusted service to every Greater Boston community. You're dealing with third-floor walkups where the staircase turns 90 degrees and nothing wider than 30 inches fits through. You're navigating buildings with no elevator, no loading dock, and street parking that requires a city permit 72 hours in advance. You're moving out of a place where the bedroom door is so small the mattress has to stand on its side.
Our crews handle this every single day. They know which Allston triple-deckers require window removals to get furniture in. They know which Back Bay buildings have freight elevators that need to be reserved a week ahead. They know that South Boston row houses have the tightest front doors in the city and that Beacon Hill walkups sometimes require a pulley system to hoist heavy items to upper floors.
Every apartment move includes floor protection (hardwood, tile, and carpet runners), doorframe padding, furniture wrapping with padded blankets, and a crew leader who coordinates the job from start to finish. We bring specialty equipment for tight spaces — narrow dollies, shoulder straps for stairs, and furniture sliders that protect floors while maneuvering heavy pieces through tight corners.
Get a Free Moving Quote in Under 2 Minutes
Tell us your move details. Our team will send a detailed estimate — no hidden fees, no obligations.
How an Apartment Move Works With Our Team
When you request a quote, we ask specific questions about your apartment: What floor are you on? Is there an elevator or stairs only? How wide are the doorways and hallways? What's the parking situation? These details determine the crew size, equipment needs, and realistic time estimate for your move.
Most studio and one-bedroom apartment moves need two movers and take 3-4 hours. Whether you're in Lexington, Lynnfield, or Malden, our Greater Boston coverage means we're always nearby. Two-bedroom apartments typically run 4-5 hours. Three-bedrooms or apartments with lots of heavy furniture may need three movers and 5-7 hours. We'll give you an honest estimate based on your specific situation — not a lowball number that doubles on moving day.
On move day, the crew arrives on time, protects your apartment's common areas (landlords and building managers notice when movers don't do this), wraps and pads every piece of furniture, and loads the truck using a system designed for efficiency: heavy items first, boxes by room, fragile items secured. At your new apartment, everything gets placed exactly where you want it. Beds are reassembled, and we do a final walkthrough before we leave.
Apartment Moving Rates in Boston
Apartment moving starts at $149 per hour for two movers and a truck. That rate includes all standard equipment — dollies, pads, blankets, straps, mattress covers, and furniture disassembly/reassembly. No stair fees, no long-carry charges, no fuel surcharges.
What will your apartment move cost? Here are typical ranges based on 24 years of Boston apartment moves:
Studio apartment: 2-3 hours with 2 movers ($298-$447). One-bedroom: 3-4 hours with 2 movers ($447-$596). Two-bedroom: 4-6 hours with 2-3 movers ($596-$894). Three-bedroom: 5-8 hours with 3 movers ($745-$1,192+).
These ranges assume standard access. If you're on the fifth floor of a walkup with no elevator, or if there's a 200-foot carry from your door to the truck, it may take longer. That's exactly why we ask detailed questions upfront. Check our complete rate breakdown for more details.
Why Boston Renters Choose Us for Apartment Moves
We protect your deposit. Our crews pad doorframes, lay floor runners, and wrap furniture before it moves an inch. Landlords in Boston charge hundreds for wall dings, scuffed hardwoods, and damaged banisters. We prevent that damage in the first place.
We handle walkups without extra charges. Most Boston movers charge $50-$75 per flight of stairs. We don't. Our $149/hr rate covers stairs, period. Whether you're on the first floor or the fifth, the rate is the same.
We know the September 1st drill. If you're moving on or around Boston's infamous turnover day, we've been doing it since 2002. We know the parking chaos, the double-booked elevators, and the streets lined with abandoned furniture. Book your September 1st move early — we fill up by June.
797+ five-star Google reviews. Most of those reviews are from apartment moves. Read them here.
Licensed and insured. MDPU #31391, USDOT #1718049. Full cargo insurance and workers' comp on every job. Your belongings and your apartment are protected.
Apartment Moving Tips for Boston Renters
Get your parking permit early. The City of Boston requires a moving truck permit for most neighborhoods. Apply at least 72 hours in advance at boston.gov. In Cambridge, Brookline, and Somerville, the process varies by city — call us and we'll walk you through it for your specific area.
Measure doorways and staircases before move day. If your couch is 36 inches wide and your staircase turn is 32 inches, we need to know that in advance so we can bring the right equipment (or plan an alternative route like window removal). This is the #1 cause of surprises on apartment moving day.
Photograph your apartment before and after. Document wall conditions, floor scratches, and any existing damage before move-in. This protects your security deposit and gives you proof if a landlord tries to charge for pre-existing issues.
Check your lease for move-in/move-out rules. Many Boston buildings require advance notice, elevator reservations, or restrict moves to certain hours. Don't find this out on moving day. Get your free apartment moving quote here.
Often paired with: residential moving, apartment packing, and small moves.
Box Bundles & Moving Supply Packages
For customers preparing for residential or commercial moves, we offer bundled box packages designed around common move sizes. These packages include combinations of small, medium, and large cartons along with protective materials to simplify preparation.
Bundled supply options help reduce guesswork and ensure you have adequate materials before moving day.
Buy What You Need – Return What You Don’t
We offer flexible purchasing options so customers can select the exact number of boxes and materials required. For qualifying orders within the Greater Boston area, unused boxes may be eligible for return according to current supply policies.
Please contact us for package details, availability, and delivery scheduling.
Moving Box Sizes & Recommendations
Choosing the correct box size helps prevent overloading and structural failure during transport. Smaller cartons are best suited for heavy items such as books and documents, while larger cartons are designed for lightweight bulk items like bedding and clothing.
Proper box selection improves stacking stability and reduces handling strain during loading.
Ideal for files and papers as well as other desk items. Professional Grade & Certified 32 ECT Qualities - 65 lbs. Maximum Gross Weight Capacity.
Ideal for packing many of your smaller heavy items such as books, CD's, collectibles, videos, canned goods, tools, small appliances, kitchen items and toiletries.
Ideal for packing most household items including books, kitchenware, clothes, linens, small appliances, toys and more.
Ideal for packing lightweight, bulky items such as lampshades, stereo speakers, electronic equipment, stuffed animals, clothing, comforters, pillows, bedding and towels.
Ideal for files and papers as well as other desk items. Professional Grade & Certified 32 ECT Qualities - 65 lbs. Maximum Gross Weight Capacity.
Ideal for large picture frames, paintings, mirrors. Typically, each heavy-duty frame box should handle two or three paintings, pictures or mirrors. Cover each corner with bubble wrap, secure the bubble with packing tape and place the item in a frame box. For extra security, fill the voids in the frame box with packing paper.
Ideal for hanging approximately 2 ft. of clothes. Our Wardrobe Box is constructed with Heavy Duty corrugated cardboard for added strength and stability with a convenient front access panel and integrated hand holes for increased ease of use.
Heavy Duty Packing Tape
Use to bind, bundle, and fasten various household items when moving or storing. Sticks to nothing but itself, with no adhesives or sticky residues, and no damage when removed.
Clean, white newsprint sheets are a fast and ideal solution to wrap and protect dishes, glasses and other breakable items.
Mattress bags provide protection from dust, dirt and stains for your mattresses and box springs. They are sealed on three sides and are vented to prevent "ballooning". They can also be used to protect large paintings and mirrors.
Designed to protect furniture during moving.
Packages
We can customize your order with additional items like Wardrobe Box, Mirror Box, and Mattress Cover etc.
You can place box delivery requests from your account page once your move is confirmed and scheduled.
Packing Tips
How to Choose the Right Moving Box Sizes
Selecting the proper box size is essential for safe transport and efficient loading. Using incorrect box sizes can lead to structural failure, overloading, or inefficient stacking inside the truck.
Small Boxes (1.5 cu. ft.) – Heavy Items
Small cartons are ideal for dense items such as books, documents, canned goods, and small tools. Limiting weight per carton improves safety during lifting and prevents box collapse.
Medium Boxes (3.0 cu. ft.) – General Household Items
Medium cartons are commonly used for kitchenware, décor, small appliances, and miscellaneous household goods. They provide balanced capacity without becoming too heavy.
Large Boxes (5–6 cu. ft.) – Lightweight Bulk Items
Large cartons are best suited for bedding, pillows, clothing, and other lightweight but bulky belongings. These cartons should not be overloaded with dense items.
