Best Grand Rapids to Detroit Movers

How Much Do Grand Rapids to Detroit Movers Cost?

Moving 158 miles from Grand Rapids, MI to Detroit, MI will typically cost between $2,000 and $4,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.

Pro tip for the cheapest long distance move

Find long distance movers in Detroit that already have a booked job heading from Detroit to Grand Rapids. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Detroit from Grand Rapids entirely empty. If you can find a Detroit moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Grand Rapids to Detroit moving option

Hire local Grand Rapids movers for the pickup location at an hourly rate. They can quickly load your moving container. When your container is dropped off at your new home, hire Detroit movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Grand Rapids to Detroit move together yourself with at least 3 different companies. Taking on this scheduling responsibility will save you a little money by moving with this strategy.

How we ranked the top Grand Rapids to Detroit movers

Why you should trust us

We take reviews seriously to protect people just like you! Our team has been crunching data on moving companies since 2010. Our math-based ranking system uses data, manual review, and statistical analysis to help you hire the best Grand Rapids, MI to Detroit, MI long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

Here's the methodology we used to come up with the best movers for the Grand Rapids to Detroit moving route:

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 114 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Grand Rapids and Detroit areas.

From these 114 companies, we analyzed a total of 16,971 reviews dating all the way back to September 2008.

We also reviewed a total of 1 state and federal moving licenses from these 114 companies and 519 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~16,000 reviews was scored according to our detailed 11-point rating criteria

Reviews are time-weighted so that more recent reviews carry more weight. This helps you understand how a mover is doing today... not 5 years ago. We have 4,620 Grand Rapids to Detroit moving company data points from the past 2 years that carry more weight.

Bayesian averages calculated to fairly account for the differences between companies that are newer(like H&H Moving Company) vs older more established companies (like General Movers).

Hire Trusted Movers

The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

Our 11-point rating criteria scores every Grand Rapids to Detroit moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.51/10 avg (Grand Rapids & Detroit combined) from 10,429 reviews

Punctuality

Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?

8.04/10 avg (Grand Rapids & Detroit combined) from 3,485 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.68/10 avg (Grand Rapids & Detroit combined) from 2,190 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.49/10 avg (Grand Rapids & Detroit combined) from 3,630 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.06/10 avg (Grand Rapids & Detroit combined) from 1,170 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.60/10 avg (Grand Rapids & Detroit combined) from 4,053 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

8.87/10 avg (Grand Rapids & Detroit combined) from 6,039 reviews

Will Hire Again

How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again.

8.21/10 avg (Grand Rapids & Detroit combined) from 10,543 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.32/10 avg (Grand Rapids & Detroit combined) from 6,203 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

3.76/10 avg (Grand Rapids & Detroit combined) from 996 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.07/10 avg (Grand Rapids & Detroit combined) from 4,543 reviews

From Grand Rapids to Detroit: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Eastown in Grand Rapids & Midtown in Detroit are both known for their vibrant arts district with cafes & boutiques
• Grand Rapids' Midtown neighborhood & Detroit's Midtown both share a cultural hub near the university with a hip scene
• If you're moving from Downtown, check out Downtown in the Detroit area for the central business district with nightlife & high-rises
• Do you enjoy Heritage Hill's vibrant atmosphere? You're sure to love Indian Village
• Move from Creston to West Village and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: a residential area with bungalows & a community vibe
• Alger Heights & Rosedale Park are both known for their quiet neighborhoods with historic homes & trees
• Grand Rapids' East Hills neighborhood & Detroit's Palmer Woods neighborhood both have large lots with early 20th-century mansions
• If you're moving from West Side, look into Corktown for the revitalized area with breweries & local eateries

Pros and Cons of Moving from Grand Rapids to Detroit

ConsGrand Rapids, MI

• Smaller job market
• Fewer cultural venues
• Lower population density
• Less diverse cuisine
• Less nightlife

ProsDetroit, MI

• Larger job market
• More cultural venues
• Higher population density
• More diverse cuisine
• More vibrant nightlife

---

Detroit, MI

• Noisier city life
• Higher cost of living
• Less intimate community
• Fewer green spaces
• Heavier traffic

Grand Rapids, MI

• Quieter city life
• Lower cost of living
• Smaller, close-knit community
• More green spaces
• Easier traffic

Pros of moving from Grand Rapids to Detroit

• Say goodbye to smaller job market and hello to larger job market
• Look forward to moving away from fewer cultural venues and moving to Detroit with more cultural venues
• Swap the lower population density of Grand Rapids for higher population density in Detroit
• Get ready for more diverse cuisine in Detroit

Cons of moving from Grand Rapids to Detroit

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from quieter city life in Grand Rapids to live with noisier city life in Detroit
• You'll lose out on the pro of lower cost of living and have to settle for the con of higher cost of living
• Time to bid farewell to smaller close-knit community and get used to less intimate community in Detroit
• Swap more green spaces for fewer green spaces

Grand Rapids vs. Detroit: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Grand Rapids to Detroit, you will be trading the iconic Beer Cheese Soup of Grand Rapids for the equally delicious Detroit-style Pizza of Detroit. And while the locals in Grand Rapids rave about their flavorful Pork Belly and sumptuous Tacos, Detroit residents know they have tasty Coney Dog and Gyro to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seitan Wings they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Impossible Burger of Detroit. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Grand Rapids eateries like Founders Brewing Co., San Chez Bistro, and The Old Goat. After the boxes are unpacked in Detroit, don't wait too long before making your way to Detroit's acclaimed eateries like Slows Bar BQ, Buddy's Pizza, and Lafayette Coney Island.

When comparing lifestyles, Detroit shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Grand Rapids. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Detroit compared to what you are used to in Grand Rapids. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Detroit.

Discover Detroit Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Detroit is an opportunity to try lots of new restaurants. Sure, you'll miss your old Grand Rapids favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Grove, Founders Brewing Co. and Butcher's Union in Grand Rapids, we're sure you'll love Selden Standard, Jolly Pumpkin and Grey Ghost in Detroit. See our Detroit restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Grand Rapids hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at San Chez Bistro, head to La Feria on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Grand Rapids and Detroit

• The Prairie and Craftsman architecture that Grand Rapids is known for will be replaced with the Art Deco and Bungalow architecture typical of Detroit.
• Compared to Grand Rapids's real estate listings that commonly reference nearby parks and local schools, Detroit real estate listings often highlight features like historic neighborhoods and accessibility to downtown.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Detroit is less walkable than Grand Rapids.
• You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Detroit is less bike-friendly than Grand Rapids.
• Detroit has more of an urban feel than Grand Rapids.
• Detroit housing costs are 74% less expensive than they are in Grand Rapids, with a median home price of $71,547 compared to Grand Rapids’s $276,947.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Detroit have increased by 60% compared to a 59% increase in Grand Rapids.
• Rent in Detroit is 21.42% more affordable than in Grand Rapids.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Detroit, MI

1. 1 Corktown: Walkable streets, dog-friendly patios, and easy access to Roosevelt Park and community dog runs make it great for daily walks and socializing.
2. 2 Midtown: A dense, walkable area with plenty of small greenspaces and quick access to the Dequindre Cut trail, plus many pet-friendly apartments and cafes.
3. 3 Downtown/Riverfront: Direct access to the Detroit RiverWalk and Milliken State Park, an urban dog area at Grand Circus Park, and numerous pet-welcoming buildings suit active pets and owners.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Grand Rapids and Detroit

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from Grand Rapids to Detroit. Detroit gets 16% more sunshine days than Grand Rapids.
• Detroit has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Grand Rapids.
• Say goodbye to the possible winter storms and tornadoes in Grand Rapids, but be on the lookout for potential winter storms and severe thunderstorms in Detroit.
• The average summer high temperature in Detroit is 1 degree warmer than in Grand Rapids.
• The average winter lows are 4 degrees warmer than they are in Grand Rapids.
• Your umbrella might be neglected in Detroit. Detroit receives 5 fewer inches of rain compared to Grand Rapids.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Grand Rapids and Detroit

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Detroit tend to earn about 39% less than those in Grand Rapids
• The COLI in Detroit is 10% higher than what you are used to living in Grand Rapids
• There is no change in state income tax between Grand Rapids and Detroit
• The affluence in Detroit is low compared to moderate in Grand Rapids
• The poverty level is high in Detroit compared to moderate in Grand Rapids
• In terms of homelessness, it is low in Grand Rapids and high in Detroit

Grand Rapids vs. Detroit Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Bummer! Looks like you might end up spending about 18% more time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Detroit compared to your Grand Rapids commute. That's 2080 minutes lost each year in a car.
• You can expect traffic in Detroit to be worse than it is in Grand Rapids.
• Public transit is more readily available in Detroit.