Moving in Dallas: A Guide to Moving in and out of the Big D

So you’ve decided to move to the beautiful, affordable city we call Dallas. Let us be the first to give you a Texas-sized “Welcome!” Or, maybe you’ve decided that it’s time to leave Dallas for greener pastures, in which case we say, “Happy Trails!”

Whether you’re moving into the perfect Dallas neighborhood or leaving the city for good, you’re going to need some help. That’s why you clicked on this article, so let’s cut to the chase. How can you make moving in Dallas as easy as possible? 

Before we compare Dallas moving companies, let’s get a few questions out of the way. 

Pre-move questions

Sorry to throw a pop quiz in here, but don’t worry, it’s an easy one. Answer these questions before you start looking for quotes from moving companies in Dallas. 

• How much stuff are you moving? 
• What’s your budget and timing?
• Do you want safe and secure storage? 
• Are you looking for contactless moving to reduce risks of COVID-19 spread?
• How much work are you willing and able to do yourself? Do you have friends or family who can help?
• What kind of clearance and parking room will there be at your move-in and move-out locations? 

Good work, A+! Now, let’s look at the options.

What are your Dallas moving options? 

Planning your move is kind of like getting directions on Google Maps. There are several options for getting to your destination, but some will take longer, some will require tolls, and others will just be a huge pain in the butt. You have to choose the option that works best for you. Here are your choices:

Dallas moving options: 

• Traditional full-service mover
• Moving container service
• Rental truck
• A combination of the above

To help with your decision, let’s go over the costs of each type of move, then we’ll talk about the benefits of each one. 

How much does a local move cost in Dallas?

If you’re just moving between two Dallas suburbs, then you can do it all for less than $1,000 (assuming you’re willing to load all those boxes yourself). If you’ll be relocating much farther than 50 miles, that’s typically considered a long-distance move, with costs varying widely based on how far you’re headed. Here’s a rough estimate based on moving a moderately furnished, 2- to 3-bedroom household with about 800 to 1,200 square feet. 

Local Dallas and long-distance moving costs*

Type of Move	Traditional Movers	PODS	Rental Truck
Local	$1,044-$2,321	$470-$680 (1-month storage included)	$63-$122 (plus fuel costs)
Long-Distance	$1,780-$8,400	$1,237-$2,999 (1-month storage included)	$1,200-$2,850 (plus fuel costs)

*Based on estimates from PODS and MoveBuddha, costs don’t include insurance or taxes. Prices will vary based on specific locations, dates, size of household to be moved, and available discounts. For a detailed quote, visit PODS or call at 877-350-7637 (long-distance quotes are available by phone only).

Moving from Dallas to another part of Texas? You can read more about the costs and logistics by jumping to these sections below.  -- Dallas to Houston -- Dallas to Austin

Now that you know roughly how much dough you’re going to have to blow on your move, let’s talk about the pros and cons of going with different kinds of Dallas moving companies. 

Using a traditional full-service Dallas mover

Sometimes you just can’t bring yourself to cook dinner, set the table, eat, and then clean the dishes afterwards. So you go to a restaurant instead, where you can just pay people to do all these things for you (besides the eating part!).

Full-service moving is kind of like going out to eat: you pay people to do all the hard work — loading, driving the big truck, and unloading. If you want extras, like help with packing and furniture assembly, you pay more, just like with appetizers and dessert. 

Of course, there’s a reason you don’t go out to eat every night. It’s expensive. A full-service move can cost as much as a used car (a nice used car). But if you decide it’s worth the price tag, make sure you hire a top moving pro. 

Here are a few tips for checking the quality of Dallas moving services: 

• Make sure the company has proper licensing and solid online reviews.
• Ask about the company’s scheduling and cancellation policies. Do they offer refunds? 
• Find out if there are any extra fees for stairs, extra-heavy items, or other factors.
• Figure out if there are any Dallas storage units available in case you need to store your stuff while you wait to close on your new house. 
• Ask if they use subcontracted labor. 

Pros and cons of full-service movers

Pros	Cons
No heavy lifting	Expensive
No driving a huge truck	Schedules can be rigid
Less hassle if you choose a good company	In-home estimates often required
Extra services available	Potential for extra fees

Using PODS moving containers

If you’re not ready to shell out thousands of dollars for your move and you’ve got a bit of DIY spirit, then you should probably opt for a self-move. One of the most common ways to move yourself is with a moving container company like PODS. 

PODS moving containers offer a cheap, versatile, and convenient way to schlepp your stuff from point A to point B, whether you’re moving to be close to family or relocating for a job. 

Here’s a basic rundown of how PODS Dallas services work:

• Your container is delivered to you. 
• You can take your time loading (you rent your container by the month).
• PODS picks it up and takes it to a secure storage center or your new place. 
• When you’re done unloading, PODS picks up your container.

Most Dallas homes offer ample parking, which should make container drop-off and loading a piece of cake. With PODS, it’s kind of like having an RV parked in your driveway, but the RV holds everything you own (and you can’t live inside of a PODS container). 

Pros and cons of moving and storage containers

Pros	Cons
Less expensive than full-service movers	Usually more expensive than rental trucks
No driving a huge truck	Parking space required
Option to hire hourly labor to help with loading and unloading	You take care of your own loading/ unloading or arrange for help
Flexibility to set your own pace
Built-in storage options

Using rental trucks

If you’re into cross-country road trips, lifting weights, and pinching pennies, then a rental truck might be perfect for your Dallas moving adventure. It’s probably the cheapest of the Dallas moving services, though the longer the distance, the smaller the savings compared to moving containers. 

Renting a truck is a pretty straightforward process, but it does have a lot of steps.

1. Figure out the truck size you need.
2. Choose a rental truck company.
3. Get a price estimate. 
4. Reserve your truck. 
5. Load your possessions.
6. Drive (hopefully you’ve got some good audiobooks!). 
7. Unload your possessions.
8. Repeat steps 5-7 for extra loads, if needed.
9. Fill up the gas tank.
10. Return rental truck and pay for any additional fees. 

Again, you’ll benefit from the abundance of parking spots and the wide roads in Dallas if you’re renting a truck. But if you’re moving to a dense urban city like Los Angeles, Washington, DC, or New York, then get ready for some white-knuckle driving and parking hassles. 

Pros and cons of rental trucks

Pros	Cons
Usually cheapest option for local moves	Subject to high late fees
Easy online pricing and reservations	Most stressful option
You set the schedule	Driving and parking a huge truck
Wide availability	No storage available

Hybrid Moves

Who says you need to choose just one company when you’re moving in Dallas? Because they’re wrong, my friend. You can do a hybrid move. 

Here are a few of our favorite hybrid move combinations:

• Use a moving container to declutter your home and send smaller items into storage, then hire full-service movers for the heavy stuff. 
• Hire labor to help pack and load your moving container. It’s basically like a full-service move at that point, but more flexible and often cheaper. 
• Load most of your big items into a moving container and then rent a small truck or moving van to grab any smaller, leftover items. 

Those are just some examples for hybrid moves, based on ideas from PODS customers, but you can get creative and think of your own. 

Typical Dallas moves

Dallas-Fort Worth has been one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country for years.¹ People are moving to Dallas from all over the country. Just check out this map from the U.S. Census Buerau.² 

All of those places in orange are areas where people are moving to Dallas in large numbers. 

Meanwhile, those blue areas are where people from Dallas are moving when they leave. You’ll notice that a lot of those areas are just nearby counties where the Dallas suburbs are growing. 

But some of the most popular destinations for those leaving Dallas are other Texas cities, like Dallas and Austin. So let’s walk through the details of these common relocations.

First up: Dallas to Houston...

Moving from Dallas to Houston

So you’re heading to the coast, from the Big D to the Big H, trading out the Cowboys for the Texans. What should you expect (besides a lot more rain)? 

First of all, you’re going to be moving to one of the most diverse and economically thriving cities in the country. Houston has the second most Fortune 500 company headquarters of any city in the country. So be prepared for some hustle and bustle. 

In terms of cost of living, Dallas and Houston are pretty similar. But average home prices actually trend cheaper in Houston.³ 

Houston is just about 3 ½ hours away from Dallas by car. So moving with a rental truck is definitely possible, but using PODS will save you the hassle of driving a big box truck for hours. There’s also the convenience of using a PODS storage center in Houston, Dallas, or both. And you can always go full-service if you’ve got the money to burn. 

Speaking of which, just how much does it cost to move from Dallas to Houston? Here’s a breakdown. 

Moving costs from Dallas to Houston*

Household Size	Full-Service Movers	PODS	Rental Truck
2-3 Bedroom (800-1,200 sf)	$2,000-$3,432	$1,129-$1,449 (1-month storage included)	$374-$505 (plus fuel costs)

*Based on estimates from PODS and MoveBuddha, costs don’t include insurance or taxes. Prices will vary based on specific locations, dates, size of household to be moved, and available discounts. For a detailed quote, call PODS at 877-350-7637.

Next Up: Dallas to Austin...

Moving from Dallas to Austin

Austin may be just a few hours south of Dallas, but it’s got a whole different flavor. Austin delivers great food, unparalleled live music (like South by Southwest), tons of outdoor activities, a lovably weird city culture, and even a new Tesla car factory.⁴

Moving from Dallas to Austin can also be a change when it comes to cost of living. The median income and average home values are significantly higher in the Texas capitol.⁵ But you can definitely save money on one thing: your move. 

By opting for a self-move with PODS or a rental truck, you can save hundreds or thousands of dollars. With PODS, you’ll also have the benefit of built-in storage in your driveway or at a PODS Austin storage center. Here’s a look of the cost breakdown of moving from Dallas to Austin. 

Moving costs from Dallas to Austin*

Household Size	Full-Service Movers	PODS	Rental Truck
2-3 Bedroom (800-1,200 sf)	$2,000-$3,432	$1,299-$1,649 (1-month storage included)	$374-$505 (plus fuel costs)

*Based on estimates from PODS and MoveBuddha, costs don’t include insurance or taxes. Prices will vary based on specific locations, dates, size of household to be moved, and available discounts. For a detailed quote, call PODS at 877-350-7637.

More tips for moving in Dallas 

Now that we’ve covered the basics of moving in Dallas, let’s go over a few other details you’ll want to think about as you plan your move. 

• Beware of the heat. Dallas’ heat is no joke. The city averages 18 days a year that are at least 100 degrees! I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be moving mattresses in 105-degree weather. And if you’re moving from Dallas to Houston or another southern city in the summer, you could be in for scorching heat on both ends. 
• Plan early. During peak season, Dallas moving and storage companies can get booked up really fast. Not sure about your dates? Some moving companies, like PODS, offer risk-free reservations, so you can reserve a date without paying upfront.
• Try out your route. If you’re renting a truck and moving a short distance, then you might want to test out the drive. Narrow streets, weird intersections, and heavy traffic can be a real pain in the rear if you’re driving a moving truck. It’s best to know what’s coming. 

And that’s it. Our time is up. Hopefully we’ve helped you figure out the logistics of moving in Dallas. Sorry we’re not sticking around to help you load up your boxes! 

Sources: 

1. U.S. News, “Dallas-Fort Worth Saw the Biggest Population Growth Among All U.S. Cities in 2018”
2. United States Census Bureau, “Census Flow Mapper” 
3. Best Places, “2020 Compare Cities Overview: Houston, TX vs Dallas, TX”
4. Axios, “Tesla announces new Austin factory after pulling in $104 million profit in Q2”
5. Best Places, “2020 Compare Cities Overview: Austin, TX vs Dallas, TX”

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Easton Smith works as a freelance writer and researcher, reviewing technology trends and the moving industry.