Best Thunder Bay moving companies

Top 5 Best Thunder Bay Movers – Discover the Best Moving Companies in Thunder Bay for your condo, apartment or your home.

Few things in life are as stressful as moving – whether it is a residential home, an office, or a storage locker, packing everything you own in a logical, safe, and organized way is always difficult (and that’s if everything goes according to plan). A good moving company who offers a fair price, treats your belongings with care and respect and works efficiently is essential to your move being successful. But how do you find one? The internet contains a labyrinth of review sites all providing conflicting reports on the quality or lack of quality for the various Thunder Bay moving companies, making it exceedingly difficult to separate the good from the bad.

At MovingWaldo we want to help and guide people through this maze, which is why we collated information about the 5 highly recommended movers in Thunder Bay – presenting an easy comparison so you can score a touchdown in choosing a full stack company that offers all the rewards your need at a great price.

Planning a move without scary surprises goes beyond selecting the right movers. From today to moving day, be on top of your game by asking the right questions, validate key information and plan for the trivial things. Choose one of our curated moving companies today and download this step-by-step guide for everything else you need to know.

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MovingWaldo's List of The 5 Best Moving Companies that you can trust in Thunder Bay, ON

What is MovingWaldo?

MovingWaldo is a Free Moving Concierge Service. Since 2016, we help millions of people tackle moving tasks in minutes. We care to take the stress away from moving by offering free tools, tips and tricks and referral of service providers that you can trust. MovingWaldo is everything moving under the same roof!

 

How are Moving Companies selected?

Our network of movers you can trust is carefully built based on professionalism, years of experience, accreditation, awards and social proofs from customers. We care to help you through the maze of information the web provides about this unique industry. You can trust the movers listed here to guide you and your family safely into moving day!

 
 
 
 

Are you a good, trustworthy company?

T-Bay Movers

4.4/5
4.4 stars based on 36 reviews from around the web

96% customer referral rate

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About

Founded in 2004 from their sister company K&E Industrial Distributors, T-Bay Movers specialize in moving and packing services with a very dependable staff and a reliable team to carry out the transportation of your goods and items with relative ease and absolute care. They offer a very wide range of services from local to residential to commercial and more. They also provide top-notch storage services at their secure warehouse providing customers with peace of mind.
They are fully insured and offer a range of affordable pricing and have been delivering fast and efficient services for over 10 years. In addition, they also have a 96% customer referral rate.

Services / Products offered in Thunder Bay

• Packing Services
• Moving Services
• Residential
• Commercial
• Storage

Company rate

Available on demand

BBB Bureau Rating

B-

CAM Accredited

No

In Business Since

1996

Area Covered

Nipigon, Schreiber, Gillies, and Dorion

Pros

• Experienced movers and high-quality services
• Insured items
• Secure storage
• Effective customer service

Cons

• Late delivery at times

17 Windermere Ave N, Thunder Bay, ON.
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4.4/5
Facebook Logo Ratings
5/5

Armstrong Transportation Systems

4/5
4 stars based on 33 reviews from around the web

Specialized in office moves

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About

Armstrong the Mover also known as Armstrong Transportation Systems is based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Their extensive experience includes various types of moving services. These services include residential moving, office moving, sensitive electronics shipping, storage, long distance and international household moving.
The company has a strong background in the design and implementation of office and equipment moving strategies. They plan and execute your move through seamless organization and effective communication.
They have the expertise to approach the various services offered by utilizing a wide range of specialized equipment and warehousing facilities. They provide the highest level of quality service at a fair price.

Services / Products offered in Thunder Bay

• Office relocation
• Residential Moving
• Time sensitive shipping
• Local moving
• Long distance moving
• International moving
• Packing and crating

Company rate

Instant quotes available on the website
*During the high season, prices may vary.

BBB Bureau Rating

A+

CAM Accredited

No

In Business Since

1908

Area Covered

Nipigon, Schreiber, Kenora, Terrace Bay, Windsor

Pros

• Professional movers and efficient services
• Highly affordable prices
• Quick and efficient moving

Cons

• No long-term storage services
• Poor customer reviews

243 N. Cumberland Street Thunder Bay, ON P7A 4N4
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4/5

Smart Muscles

4.9/5
4.9 stars based on 59 reviews from around the web

Highly rated company

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About

For Smart Muscles, there was a need in the moving industry for more development, especially in terms of safety and effectiveness. From this belief, they put together a team to help Thunder Bay residents to access the best moving services. For Smart Muscles, the best moving services are based on quality, and they make sure to keep innovating to always provide the highest standard of quality to their client and exceed their expectations. On top of that, they pride themselves in offering the best rates. If you have a quote from another mover in Thunder Bay, they will not only match the price, but they’ll beat it by 5%.

Services / Products offered in Thunder Bay

• Relocation
• Internal moves
• Delivery helpers (working hand only)
• Drivers services
• Packing
• Junk removal
• Specialty moving
• Storage
• Cleaning

Company rate

Available on demand

BBB Bureau Rating

Not accredited

CAM Accredited

No

Area Covered

Thunder Bay area

Pros

• Excellent online reviews
• Moves larger and heavier items like pianos, hot tubs and safes.
• Moves anything from one piece of furniture to a 5-bed house.
• Recognized for their quality customer service.

Cons

• Don’t offer moving supplies

Why should you choose Smart Muscles?

MovingWaldo recommends Smart Muscles above all for their dedication to providing top-notch customer service. They have some of the best client reviews in the area and are committed to accommodating your needs. Whether you need to move a single item within the house or to another location or a large 5-bedroom house, they can assist you.

178 Kensington Dr, Thunder Bay, ON P7C 2A3
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4.9/5

Superiors Movers

4.6/5
4.6 stars based on 29 reviews from around the web

Offer senior relocation services

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About

Superior Movers offer residential and commercial moving with ease and speed. They can move anything from large furniture to valuables like television sets, glassware, wardrobe sets, beds, etc. Equipped with dollies and straps, superior movers ensure the smoothest of moving as each item is safely wrapped in protective material to avoid abrasions and breakages.
Their hospitality also extends to serve outside their designated areas, going the extra mile as to move items to the most remote locations. They are very accommodating and offer very transparent pricing without any form of hidden charges. They also are fully insured and licensed and are fully equipped with highly trained staff.

Services / Products offered in Thunder Bay

• Residential moving
• Commercial moving
• Long distance moving
• Packing services
• Wrapping and taping
• Senior Relocation Services
• Garbage Removal

Company rate

Available on demand

BBB Bureau Rating

A+

CAM Accredited

No

In Business Since

1998

Area Covered

Kenora, Dryden, Fort Francis, and Nipigon

Pros

• Top-notch customer’s service
• Storage and Insurance services
• Very punctual and professional

Cons

• Poor prolonged storage

232 McKellar St S, Thunder Bay, ON P7E 1H7, Canada
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4.6/5

AMJ Campbell

4.2/5
4.2 stars based on 121 reviews from around the web

Locally owned and operated moving company

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About

AMJ Campbell is a moving company locally owned but with national and international ties to AMJ and Atlas in Canada and the US. They are truly diverse in the services they provide and offer both residential and commercial moving services as well as industrial.
They are also very capable of handling office and Xerox photocopy machine moving. Their experience with industrial moving reflects in their careful handling of appliances. Home deliveries are equally a part of the incentives that they add to their services. Absolute protection is given to all your furniture with a total reassembly of any furniture they disassemble. Out of courtesy, they always call a day before your move to finalize every single detail.

Services / Products offered in Thunder Bay

• Residential, commercial and industrial mover
• Office installation
• Xerox photocopy machine installation
• Industrial appliance installation
• Home deliveries

Company rate

Available on demand

BBB Bureau Rating

A+

CAM Accredited

Yes

In Business Since

1934

Area Covered

Windsor, Guelph, Kenora, and Terrace Bay

Pros

• Decades of experience
• Professional and friendly workers
• Dependable customer services
• Smooth and easy moving

Cons

• Poor customer reviews

650 Harold Crescent Thunder Bay (Ontario) P7C 5H5
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4.2/5

Conclusion

There are many mover services in Thunder Bay, ON that can help you move into your new property. Any of these companies cover the most popular areas or anywhere in Ontario. To get the best price, our algorithm has established this listing of the best professional moving companies in Thunder Bay. Follow MovingWaldo top picks and get the best clients experience possible. If you do not find what you are looking for in this list, you should know that the city of Thunder Bay has other well-rated home moving companies to offer. For example, you could investigate movers like Cargo Cabbie or TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® who can also help you move your furniture or simply give you a hand with your piano down the stairs.

Additional notes

Prices, availability, ratings and reviews may all vary over time. MovingWaldo does its best to provide accurate data and information but cannot be held responsible for any information regarding the companies featured in this article.

What’s the BBB? BBB stands for Better Business Bureau and is a North American organisation whose mission is to help buyers and sellers trust each other. Its rating is based on the number of complaints that a company may receive and how the company handles these complaints. We try to always recommend companies that have A- or higher ratings. 

What’s CAM? CAM stands for Canadian Association of Movers. It’s Canada’s only trade association for movers whose goal is to help its members evolve in the industry, while setting a standard of ethics and practices for moving companies. While it is a great way to gain credibility, not all moving companies are part of CAM.

Frequently Asked Questions about Moving

In general, it is cheaper to move in the middle of the week, in the middle of the month, and during the winter.  

Moving prices change a lot throughout the year. Like Uber, the more demand there is, the higher the prices are. The general rules to get a discounted rate are:

  • It is usually cheaper to move during the week than during the weekend. For instance, some companies will have a different hourly rate on Wednesday than on Saturday. This is likely due to the fact that people avoid taking time off from work to move, hence, there is more demand on weekends.
  • Moving in the middle of the month is likely to be cheaper than moving on the last or first day of the month. This is due to the fact that most leases are renewed on the first day of the month, hence, there is more demand on this day.
  • Moving during the winter is usually cheaper. December, January or February are most likely less expensive months. April to September is often more expensive since it coincides with the end and the beginning of the school year.

Note: Are you moving in Quebec? The moving rates over the weekend of Canada Day can go as high as three times the normal rate. How’s that possible you say? Most of Quebec’s lease agreements end on July 1rst. Quebecers call it Moving Day

Usually, a moving company will provide 2 or 3 movers. The number will depend on the company politics as well as the size of the move.

For instance, if you are moving from a one or two-bedroom apartment without large appliances, two movers will likely do it. On the contrary, if you are moving a house, 3 movers will be a better option.

If the moving company charge by the hour, the total hourly rate will be higher if there are 3 movers. This said, your move could also take less time, and the movers are less likely to accidentally scratch some furniture out of tiredness.

For a same city move, the minimum will be 3 to 4 hours, but it is likely to be more than this. A two-bedroom apartment can take 4 to 6 hours, and a complete home could go up to 10 hours. Keep in mind that many things can influence the number of hours a move will take:

  • The number of movers, usually 2 or 3.
  • The number of boxes and furniture. Boxes are fast to move around, but appliances, sofas and specialty items can take a while. If a piece of furniture does not fit the stairs, for instance, you can count up to an hour to take it out through the balcony.
  • On what level is your home located? Moving from the tenth floor will take more time.
  • How long will it take for the movers to drive from their office, to your current home, then to your new home, and finally go back to the office? Most movers charge from door to door.

Try to evaluate how many trips will the movers need to load and unload everything, then estimate the time for each run. Finally, add the travel time and you should have a first approximation.

Moving services rate are usually around 60$ to 80$ per hour per man. For instance, at $60 per hour, a 6 hours – 2 men move would cost 720$. You would then need to add gas, insurance, and tip.

Here is some sample data. Please make sure to get a proper quote to budget your move, as every move is different!

  • Two-bedroom townhouse between $870 and $1,015
  • Two-bedroom apartment with an elevator between $870 and $1,160
  • Three-bedroom house around $1,600
  • Four-bedroom home around $2,300.

Read our full article on the cost of moving.

Selecting a mover is always a tricky thing to do. Since you do not move every year, you usually never had experience with the mover we end up selecting. There are rarely very poor decision, but here are a few things to consider that will help you make an appropriate choice:

  1. Make sure the moving company offers insurance for your belongings.

  2. Look for the BBB Rating. A BBB rating is a measure of customer satisfaction. The highest, the better. Note that not all companies use this rating.

  3. Look for the Canadian Association of Movers (CAM) accreditation. Again, not all companies participate, but it can be a good source of credibility.

  4. How long have they been in business? It is often a great thing when a company is in business for 50 years. We are not saying that young companies are not good, but harder to evaluate.

  5. Where are they located? The closest to you and your new home, the cheaper it will be.

  6. Do they hire full-time employees, or work with contractors? Full-time employees will often give you a guarantee that the reviews are relevant to the team.

  7. Look for reviews from friends and family or turn to online reviews. Take the time to read the reviews and understand it.

  8. Make sure you get multiple moving company quote!

First, let’s settle it. Yes, you should tip movers, especially if they did a great job and were respectful of you and your furniture. Moving is not an easy job!

  • For an average or small size move of 3 to 4 hours, a reasonable tip would be $25 per mover.
  • For a larger move, or if it is a very hot day for instance, do not hesitate to go up to $50 per mover.
  • In addition to tips, movers are likely to appreciate non-alcoholic beverages, such as water or Gatorade, or small snacks during the course of the move.
  • It is usually recommended to tip at the end when paying the final bill.
  • Final note: Reviews. The moving industry is not easy, and online reviews are very important for these companies and also for other families that will be seeking their services later on. Share your experience!

For more information, ready our full post here on how much to tip movers.

There are a number of things to consider before deciding to hire professional movers or moving by yourself, but the quick answer is: hiring movers is definitely a simpler choice, but will often be more expensive. Here are the things to consider:

  1. What are you moving? Do you only have a few boxes to move, or are you moving a full-size home with a piano and pool table? Try imagining yourself moving the largest piece of furniture, could you do it?
  2. To the first point, how is your physical health? Moving is hard on the body, and you surely do not want to break your back over the cost of moving. Hire movers if you think the effort could be too much.
  3. Are you on a tight schedule, are can you move furniture over a week or a month? The more time you have, the easier it is to do it yourself.
  4. Do you have specialty items, such as a pool table, a spa or a piano? These are expensive and need technical skills to be moved without properly. Make sure to get professional movers.

What are 5 tips for a perfect move in Thunder Bay?

  1. Plan your move. The more planning, the better.
  2. Take measurement at your current and new address. Make sure everything fits.
  3. Create a Google Drive with all reservations, quotes, lists, insurance, and documents related to your move.
  4. Label your boxes!
  5. Always double confirm every reservation.

Special Mentions

Moving is often synonymous of stress, long administrative tasks and a significant waste of time and money. MovingWaldo helps you solve all these problems in just a few clicks! After some shameless self-promotion, we invite you to discover our free moving tools available to all.

  • Update your address on all your accounts
  • Connect the Internet, TV and phone.
  • Secure home and auto insurance
  • Find resources, checklists and more.

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