Best Ottumwa Movers
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Updated Oct 16, 2025
Looking for reliable Ottumwa movers? See our top 9 recommended movers in Ottumwa, IA based on extensive analysis. We analyzed 9 moving companies in Ottumwa across 5,079 review data points and more than 20,000 movers nationwide using our 11-point rating system to help you determine which Ottumwa moving company to hire. See the top 9 Ottumwa movers, get data-based information on Ottumwa moving costs, the cheapest movers in Ottumwa, and our top recommendation for Long distance movers.
Key Takeaways:
- Smooth Moves Inc. is our overall top recommended moving company in Ottumwa
- The Approved Movers is the most affordable movers in Ottumwa
- Expect to spend somewhere between $318 and $1,015 on local Ottumwa moving services
- Our rankings and results are unbiased & backed by data… NOT paid promotions

Best Moving Companies in Ottumwa, IA
Rank | Company | Score | BBB Rating | Avg Move Duration | Action |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Smooth Moves Inc. | 9.24 | A | 4.25 hours | |
2 | The College Moving Crew | 9.19 | A+ | 2.75 hours | |
3 | Harvest Academy Movers | 9.18 | NR | 3 hours | |
4 | Iowa Moving 1 | 9.09 | A+ | 2 hours | |
5 | The Approved Movers | 8.73 | NR | 4 hours | |
6 | Two Men and a Truck | 8.63 | A+ | 4 hours | |
7 | All Mighty Movers | 8.05 | A+ | 2.75 hours | |
8 | Helping Hands Moving Services LLC | 7.22 | A+ | - | |
9 | Central Iowa Movers | - | N/A | - |
Our Top Recommendations
Smooth Moves Inc.
4137 120th St, Urbandale, IA, 50323
11-Point Rating

Best moving company overall in Ottumwa, IA. Smooth Moves Inc. takes the #1 spot for our overall ranking and is the top recommended movers in Ottumwa.
Smooth Moves Inc. is the number 1 ranked moving service in Ottumwa, IA with an overall score of 9.24 out of 10. Based on our extensive analysis, this is an Exceptional score and places it in the top 96.02% of all movers in Iowa and the top 95.15% of moving companies nationwide. They score better than 8 other Ottumwa moving companies and better than 172 movers in Iowa.
Our Research
11 Point Rating
Metric | Score Out of 10 | vs Nationwide Comparison between Smooth Moves Inc. & the average of all
moving companies nationwide | Positive Reviews The total number of reviews that rated the metric positively (a score of 7-10) | Negative Reviews The total number of reviews that rated the metric negatively (a score of 1-6) | Positive Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quality | 9.56 | ↑ 15.2% | 101 | 2 | 98.1% | |
Punctuality | 9.43 | ↑ 18.2% | 34 | 1 | 97.1% | |
Affordability | 9.12 | ↑ 20.5% | 27 | 0 | 100.0% | |
Communication | 9.15 | ↑ 23.2% | 21 | 1 | 95.5% | |
Stick to Prices | 9.26 | ↑ 55.4% | 14 | 0 | 100.0% | |
Speed | 9.66 | ↑ 14.5% | 55 | 1 | 98.2% | |
Friendliness | 9.74 | ↑ 11.6% | 57 | 0 | 100.0% | |
Will Hire Again | 9.51 | ↑ 18.2% | 89 | 2 | 97.8% | |
Professionalism | 9.52 | ↑ 16.5% | 58 | 1 | 98.3% | |
Conflict Handling | 7.29 | ↑ 79.3% | 3 | 0 | 100.0% | |
Precision & Care | 9.40 | ↑ 18.7% | 39 | 1 | 97.5% |
Recent Smooth Moves Inc. Reviews
Quality - 9.56/10
Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.
Overall Review Distribution
Punctuality - 9.43/10
Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?
Overall Review Distribution
Affordability - 9.12/10
How affordable was the moving service?
Overall Review Distribution
Communication - 9.15/10
Was the office staff quick to respond to questions prior to moving day? Did the moving crew notify you on the day of move regarding any changes to the original schedule? If there were any issues to resolve after moving day, was an office manager quick to respond and address problems encountered?
Overall Review Distribution
Stick to Prices - 9.26/10
Was a lowball quote provided to earn business only to see the final moving day price increase substantially?
Overall Review Distribution
Speed - 9.66/10
Did the movers seem to take their precious time in an attempt to increase the overall cost of the move? Remember, moving is HARD work and some breaks should be expected!
Overall Review Distribution
Friendliness - 9.74/10
Was the moving crew cordial and friendly to be around on moving day?
Overall Review Distribution
Will Hire Again - 9.51/10
How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again for their next move.
Overall Review Distribution
Professionalism - 9.52/10
Did the moving crew behave in a professional manner on moving day?
Overall Review Distribution
Conflict Handling - 7.29/10
Accidents can and will likely happen at some point on moving day. How a moving company responds to these accidents can say a lot about the company.
Overall Review Distribution
Precision & Care - 9.40/10
Were walls scratched? Did furniture get scuffed, broken, or lost?
Overall Review Distribution
Additional Details
Moving Services Offered by Smooth Moves Inc.
- Local Moving
- Residential Moving
- Commercial Moving
- Packing Services
Licenses
We do not currently have license data to display for Smooth Moves Inc.
Detailed Customer Insights
Based on our analysis of Smooth Moves Inc.'s customer reviews:
4.25 hrs
Local Move Duration
based on 4 reviews
The College Moving Crew
Ankeny, IA
11-Point Rating

Get the best bang for your buck hiring The College Moving Crew of Ankeny. They have the best affordability index score which measures both quality and affordability.
The College Moving Crew is the number 2 ranked moving service in Ottumwa, IA with an overall score of 9.19 out of 10. Based on our extensive analysis, this is an Exceptional score and places it in the top 94.89% of all movers in Iowa and the top 94.36% of moving companies nationwide. They score better than 7 other Ottumwa moving companies and better than 170 movers in Iowa.
Our Research
11 Point Rating
Metric | Score Out of 10 | vs Nationwide Comparison between The College Moving Crew & the average of all
moving companies nationwide | Positive Reviews The total number of reviews that rated the metric positively (a score of 7-10) | Negative Reviews The total number of reviews that rated the metric negatively (a score of 1-6) | Positive Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quality | 9.72 | ↑ 17.1% | 201 | 4 | 98.0% | |
Punctuality | 9.75 | ↑ 22.3% | 46 | 0 | 100.0% | |
Affordability | 9.51 | ↑ 25.6% | 25 | 0 | 100.0% | |
Communication | 9.55 | ↑ 28.6% | 55 | 1 | 98.2% | |
Stick to Prices | 7.74 | ↑ 29.9% | 5 | 1 | 83.3% | |
Speed | 9.63 | ↑ 14.1% | 79 | 3 | 96.3% | |
Friendliness | 9.83 | ↑ 12.6% | 133 | 1 | 99.3% | |
Will Hire Again | 9.68 | ↑ 20.4% | 192 | 4 | 98.0% | |
Professionalism | 9.66 | ↑ 18.2% | 121 | 3 | 97.6% | |
Conflict Handling | 6.63 | ↑ 63.1% | 6 | 3 | 66.7% | |
Precision & Care | 9.42 | ↑ 18.9% | 80 | 5 | 94.1% |
Recent The College Moving Crew Reviews
Quality - 9.72/10
Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Punctuality - 9.75/10
Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Affordability - 9.51/10
How affordable was the moving service?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Communication - 9.55/10
Was the office staff quick to respond to questions prior to moving day? Did the moving crew notify you on the day of move regarding any changes to the original schedule? If there were any issues to resolve after moving day, was an office manager quick to respond and address problems encountered?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Stick to Prices - 7.74/10
Was a lowball quote provided to earn business only to see the final moving day price increase substantially?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Speed - 9.63/10
Did the movers seem to take their precious time in an attempt to increase the overall cost of the move? Remember, moving is HARD work and some breaks should be expected!
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Friendliness - 9.83/10
Was the moving crew cordial and friendly to be around on moving day?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Will Hire Again - 9.68/10
How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again for their next move.
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Professionalism - 9.66/10
Did the moving crew behave in a professional manner on moving day?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Conflict Handling - 6.63/10
Accidents can and will likely happen at some point on moving day. How a moving company responds to these accidents can say a lot about the company.
Overall Review Distribution
Precision & Care - 9.42/10
Were walls scratched? Did furniture get scuffed, broken, or lost?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Additional Details
Moving Services Offered by The College Moving Crew
- Local Moving
- Pack & Move
- Labor Only
- Box Packing
- Load Only
- Unload Only
- In-Home Moving
- Moving Labor
- Movers & Truck
- Full-Service Storage
Licenses
State & federal license information
USDOT Interstate License
Status: Not Authorized for Interstate Moves (last checked 6/27/25)- USDOT: 3833578
- ENTITY TYPE: Carrier
4
Registered Trucks, Tractors, or Vans
10
Registered Drivers
1/08/25
Most Recent USDOT Update
20,000
Annual Interstate Miles (2024)
Detailed Customer Insights
Based on our analysis of The College Moving Crew's customer reviews:
2.75 hrs
Local Move Duration
based on 9 reviews
Harvest Academy Movers
8769 G24 Hwy, Indianola, IA, 50125
11-Point Rating

Best white glove moving service in Ottumwa. Harvest Academy Movers will treat your home and furniture with the utmost care and precision.
Harvest Academy Movers is the number 3 ranked moving service in Ottumwa, IA with an overall score of 9.18 out of 10. Based on our extensive analysis, this is an Exceptional score and places it in the top 94.32% of all movers in Iowa and the top 94.07% of moving companies nationwide. They score better than 6 other Ottumwa moving companies and better than 169 movers in Iowa.
Our Research
11 Point Rating
Metric | Score Out of 10 | vs Nationwide Comparison between Harvest Academy Movers & the average of all
moving companies nationwide | Positive Reviews The total number of reviews that rated the metric positively (a score of 7-10) | Negative Reviews The total number of reviews that rated the metric negatively (a score of 1-6) | Positive Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quality | 9.85 | ↑ 18.7% | 176 | 0 | 100.0% | |
Punctuality | 9.81 | ↑ 23.0% | 64 | 0 | 100.0% | |
Affordability | 9.24 | ↑ 22.0% | 23 | 1 | 95.8% | |
Communication | 9.75 | ↑ 31.3% | 54 | 0 | 100.0% | |
Stick to Prices | 7.21 | ↑ 21.0% | 4 | 1 | 80.0% | |
Speed | 9.85 | ↑ 16.7% | 92 | 1 | 98.9% | |
Friendliness | 9.89 | ↑ 13.4% | 117 | 0 | 100.0% | |
Will Hire Again | 9.82 | ↑ 22.2% | 173 | 1 | 99.4% | |
Professionalism | 9.88 | ↑ 21.0% | 129 | 0 | 100.0% | |
Conflict Handling | 5.81 | ↑ 42.9% | 1 | 0 | 100.0% | |
Precision & Care | 9.84 | ↑ 24.2% | 82 | 0 | 100.0% |
Recent Harvest Academy Movers Reviews
Quality - 9.85/10
Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Punctuality - 9.81/10
Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Affordability - 9.24/10
How affordable was the moving service?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Communication - 9.75/10
Was the office staff quick to respond to questions prior to moving day? Did the moving crew notify you on the day of move regarding any changes to the original schedule? If there were any issues to resolve after moving day, was an office manager quick to respond and address problems encountered?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Stick to Prices - 7.21/10
Was a lowball quote provided to earn business only to see the final moving day price increase substantially?
Overall Review Distribution
Speed - 9.85/10
Did the movers seem to take their precious time in an attempt to increase the overall cost of the move? Remember, moving is HARD work and some breaks should be expected!
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Friendliness - 9.89/10
Was the moving crew cordial and friendly to be around on moving day?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Will Hire Again - 9.82/10
How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again for their next move.
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Professionalism - 9.88/10
Did the moving crew behave in a professional manner on moving day?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Conflict Handling - 5.81/10
Accidents can and will likely happen at some point on moving day. How a moving company responds to these accidents can say a lot about the company.
Overall Review Distribution
Precision & Care - 9.84/10
Were walls scratched? Did furniture get scuffed, broken, or lost?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Additional Details
Moving Services Offered by Harvest Academy Movers
- Loading & Unloading
- Packing & Unpacking
- Local Commercial & Residential Moving
- Assembly & Disassembly
Licenses
State & federal license information
USDOT Interstate License
Status: Not Authorized for Interstate Moves (last checked 6/30/25)- USDOT: 3541981
- ENTITY TYPE: Carrier
3
Registered Trucks, Tractors, or Vans
12
Registered Drivers
1/18/24
Most Recent USDOT Update
50,000
Annual Interstate Miles (2023)
Detailed Customer Insights
Based on our analysis of Harvest Academy Movers's customer reviews:
3 hrs
Local Move Duration
based on 12 reviews
Iowa Moving 1
2958 99th St # 5, Urbandale, IA, 50322
11-Point Rating
The Approved Movers
3928 1st St, Des Moines, IA, 50301
11-Point Rating
Two Men and a Truck
2601 104th St Ste 400, Urbandale, IA, 50322
11-Point Rating
All Mighty Movers
Urbandale, IA, 50322
11-Point Rating
Helping Hands Moving Services LLC
347 Sierra Trce, Coralville, IA, 52241
11-Point Rating
Central Iowa Movers
Ottumwa, IA, 52501
How Much Do Movers Cost in Ottumwa, IA?
Movers in Ottumwa, IA cost on average $318 for a crew of 2 movers and a truck to move a 1 bedroom apartment up to an average of $1,911 for 4 movers and a truck to move a 4 bedroom house. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by type of move and home size.
Home Size | Crew Size | Labor Only | Movers & Truck | Full Service |
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | 2 | $80 | $199 | $358 |
1 Bedroom | 2 | $127 | $318 | $557 |
2 Bedrooms | 3 | $287 | $717 | $1,254 |
3 Bedrooms | 3 | $406 | $1,015 | $1,851 |
4 Bedrooms | 4 | $764 | $1,911 | $3,344 |
5+ Bedrooms | 4 | $955 | $2,389 | $4,140 |
*Please note: These Ottumwa moving prices are rough approximations based upon nationwide data as well as local Ottumwa and/or Iowa data. To determine the exact costs associated with your move, get a quote from a licensed Ottumwa mover.
How we ranked the top Ottumwa 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 movers in Ottumwa, IA.
Rating Methodology
Here's the methodology we used to come up with the best movers in Ottumwa:

Our original review-based ranking algorithm
We started with a total of 9 companies that offer moving services in the Ottumwa area.
From these 9 companies, we analyzed a total of 2,317 reviews dating all the way back to February 2009.
We also reviewed a total of 0 state and federal moving licenses from these 9 companies and 45 different 3rd party review and social profiles.
Each of the ~2,000 reviews was scored according to our detailed 11-point rating criteria
This gave us a total of 5,079 data points to compute individual company scores.
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 92 Ottumwa 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 The Approved Movers) vs older more established companies (like Two Men and a Truck).
The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown
Our 11-point rating criteria scores every Ottumwa moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.
Quality
Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.
Punctuality
Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?
Affordability
How affordable was the moving service?
Communication
Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.
Stick to Prices
Was the final price consistent with the original quote?
Speed
Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.
Friendliness
Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?
Will Hire Again
How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again.
Professionalism
Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?
Conflict Handling
How well the company responds to accidents and issues.
Precision & Care
Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?
Charts & Visualizations
With 5,079 data points across 9 moving companies and 2,317 reviews, we've got a lot of data to work with. Here are some of the charts and visualizations we've created to help you understand the moving industry in Ottumwa.
Comparing ratings, review history, and total data points
Bubble size represents the number of analyzed data points. Hover over bubbles for details.
Ranking history
How the currently ranked top 9 Ottumwa movers have performed over time
11-Point Rating Comparison
Detailed breakdown of Ottumwa moving company 11-point ratings
Iowa-wide 11-Point Percentile Comparison
See how the top movers in Ottumwa compare to all movers in Iowa
1![]() | Smooth Moves Inc. Exceptional9.24 | 84 | 82 | 81 | 84 | 97 | 83 | 85 | 87 | 84 | 92 | 82 |
2![]() | The College Moving Crew Exceptional9.19 | 95 | 97 | 94 | 95 | 71 | 80 | 93 | 94 | 91 | 88 | 84 |
3![]() | Harvest Academy Movers Exceptional9.18 | 99 | 99 | 85 | 99 | 63 | 97 | 97 | 99 | 99 | 75 | 100 |
4![]() | Iowa Moving 1 Exceptional9.09 | 76 | 73 | 67 | 90 | 87 | 92 | 81 | 78 | 80 | 89 | 77 |
5![]() | The Approved Movers Superb8.73 | 89 | 84 | 96 | 50 | -- | 90 | 76 | 72 | 87 | 47 | 71 |
6![]() | Two Men and a Truck Fabulous8.63 | 67 | 65 | 39 | 79 | 77 | 80 | 88 | 71 | 80 | 67 | 62 |
7![]() | All Mighty Movers Good8.05 | 60 | 62 | 67 | 45 | 26 | 65 | 67 | 53 | 54 | 48 | 71 |
8![]() | Helping Hands Moving Services LLC 7.22 | 36 | 18 | 21 | 48 | 35 | 13 | 38 | 39 | 51 | 40 | 37 |
Percentile Ranking
List of All Ottumwa Moving Companies Analyzed
See all of our Ottumwa moving company reviews
- Two Men and a Truck
- The Approved Movers
- Iowa Moving 1
- Smooth Moves Inc.
- Helping Hands Moving Services LLC
- The College Moving Crew
- All Mighty Movers
- Harvest Academy Movers
- Central Iowa Movers