Full-Service Movers vs. Moving Containers vs. Truck Rental: What Is the Best Way to Move Out of Colorado?

If you are planning to move out of Colorado, one of the first decisions is how to handle the move: hire full-service movers, use a moving container, or rent a truck and do it yourself.

The best way to move out of Colorado depends on your budget, household size, route, schedule, storage needs, property access, and how much of the work you are willing to handle yourself.

Colorado moves may also involve mountain roads, winter weather, steep driveways, limited parking, and difficult truck access. These conditions can make one option more practical than another.

This guide compares the three most common ways to move from Colorado to another state.

Quick Comparison: Three Ways to Move Out of Colorado

Moving Option	Best For	Main Tradeoff
Full-Service Movers	Larger homes, long routes, deadlines, and less physical work	Usually higher upfront cost
Moving Containers	Flexible timelines, temporary storage, and self-loading	You handle loading and unloading
Truck Rental	Smaller moves, tighter budgets, and experienced DIY movers	You drive and manage the labor

The key is to compare the total cost, responsibility, access requirements, and time involved—not just the starting price.

Option 1: Full-Service Movers

Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading. Depending on your quote, they may also provide packing, furniture protection, storage, and specialty-item handling.

This option usually costs more than a container or rental truck, but it removes much of the physical and logistical work.

Full-service movers may be a good fit for a full household, a long route, a firm deadline, or a move involving fragile, heavy, or specialty items. They may also be easier when the pickup location has a steep driveway, narrow road, limited parking, or another access issue.

Full-Service Movers May Be Best If:

• You are moving a 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, or larger home

• You want help with loading and unloading

• You need full or partial packing

• You are moving on a deadline

• You have fragile, heavy, or specialty items

• You do not want to drive a moving truck

• Your route may involve mountain or winter driving

• You want a written quote based on your actual move details

What to Consider

Before booking, confirm what the estimate includes. Ask about packing, storage, stairs, elevators, long carries, difficult truck access, shuttle service, specialty items, and the expected delivery window.

Also confirm whether you are hiring the company that will handle the move or a broker that may transfer it to another carrier.

A useful long-distance moving quote should reflect your inventory, route, requested services, and access conditions—not just the mileage between addresses.

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Tell us about your inventory, route, access conditions, and moving needs. EZ MoveIt will prepare a binding estimate for your long-distance move from Colorado.

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Option 2: Moving Containers

With a moving container, the container is delivered to your home, you load it, and the company transports it to your destination or a storage location. You then unload it yourself or hire separate labor.

This option may work well when your dates are flexible, your new home is not ready, or you want more time to load and unload.

Moving Containers May Be Best If:

• You want a flexible loading schedule

• You need temporary storage

• You do not want to drive a rental truck

• You have help loading and unloading

• Your property has space for container placement

• Your HOA, apartment, or property manager allows containers

What to Consider

You are usually responsible for packing, loading, securing your belongings, and unloading.

You also need to confirm that the container can be delivered and removed at both addresses. Apartments, condos, gated communities, and downtown properties may have parking or placement restrictions.

Access can also be a problem at mountain and foothill properties. Narrow roads, sharp turns, steep driveways, snow, and limited turnaround space may prevent a container from being placed near the home.

Check access and property rules before booking.

Option 3: Truck Rental

Truck rental is the most hands-on option. You rent the truck, load it, drive to the destination, unload, and return it according to the rental terms.

It can be a budget-friendly choice for a smaller move if you have help and are comfortable driving a large vehicle.

However, the total cost can include much more than the advertised rental rate. Fuel, lodging, tolls, moving equipment, coverage options, labor, and additional rental days can add up quickly.

Truck Rental May Be Best If:

• You are moving a small apartment or limited number of belongings

• You have help loading and unloading

• You are comfortable driving a loaded truck

• You have a flexible schedule

• Your route is relatively straightforward

• You want to reduce upfront costs

What to Consider

With a rental truck, you are responsible for loading, driving, route planning, fuel stops, timing, unloading, and protecting your belongings.

A smaller move from Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, or another Front Range community may be manageable along a relatively direct route.

More planning is needed if the trip begins in a mountain town, includes steep grades, or takes place during winter. Road conditions can change quickly, and a loaded moving truck handles differently from a passenger vehicle.

Truck rental may be less practical if you are moving a large household, towing a vehicle, traveling with children or pets, or have never driven a box truck over a long distance.

Access Can Change the Best Option

Before choosing a moving method, consider the conditions at both addresses:

• Can a large truck reach the property?

• Is there enough space to turn around?

• Is the driveway steep or narrow?

• Is street parking available?

• Does the building limit loading hours?

• Can a container remain on the property?

• How far must items be carried to the truck?

A suburban home with a wide driveway may work for all three options. A downtown apartment, mountain home, or property on a narrow road may require a different plan.

Full-service movers may be able to handle difficult access with additional labor, a longer carry, or a smaller shuttle vehicle. Any added services should be discussed before the move and included in the estimate when applicable.

Cost Is More Than the Starting Price

The least expensive advertised option is not always the least expensive move.

A truck rental may also require:

• Fuel

• Hotels

• Tolls

• Moving equipment

• Coverage options

• Loading and unloading help

• Extra rental days

• A trailer for your vehicle

• Time away from work

A moving container price may include delivery, transportation, storage, pickup, permits, and separate loading or unloading labor.

Full-service movers may cost more upfront, but the estimate may already include labor, transportation, furniture protection, and basic moving equipment.

Compare what is included, what must be arranged separately, and how much work and responsibility you will handle yourself.

For a closer look at moving expenses, read: [How Much Does It Cost to Move Out of Colorado?]

Best Option by Situation

Your Situation	Option That May Fit Best
Small move with a flexible schedule	Truck rental or moving container
Larger household move	Full-service movers
Need storage between homes	Moving container or movers with storage
Do not want to drive a truck	Full-service movers or moving container
Tight moving timeline	Full-service movers
Comfortable with DIY labor	Truck rental or moving container
Fragile, heavy, or specialty items	Full-service movers
Apartment with limited parking	Full-service movers may be easier
Mountain home or difficult driveway	Depends on confirmed access
Moving during winter	Full-service movers may reduce driving responsibility

These are not strict rules. The best option depends on your route, inventory, schedule, access conditions, storage needs, and comfort level.

How to Choose the Best Way to Move Out of Colorado

Before choosing how to move out of Colorado, consider five questions:

1. How much are you moving?

2. How much physical work can you handle?

3. Do you need temporary storage?

4. How flexible are your dates?

5. Are there access limitations at either address?

You should also decide whether you are comfortable driving a loaded truck over the full route, especially during winter or through mountain areas.

A truck rental or container may work well for a smaller, flexible move with available help. Full-service movers may be a better fit for a larger, time-sensitive, or more complicated relocation.

Planning a Long-Distance Move from Colorado?

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