Moving guides for
your next chapter.
These moving guides turn a big move into clear next steps. Find a checklist, work out your costs and get ready for life in a new state.
13 practical guides · Free planning tools · State-by-state resources
Three decisions.
One clearer plan.
First, decide where you are going. Next, put numbers around the move. Then, prepare for the first weeks in your new home.
Choose your destination
Compare living costs and housing before you narrow your shortlist.
Explore all 50 states →Make the money plan
Account for the move itself, plus the bills that follow you there.
Plan your first-year budget →Get ready to arrive
Check the paperwork and agency rules for your destination state.
Find new-resident deadlines →Moving guides for every stage
Choose a topic or search for the task on your mind. Each guide includes a related tool or resource to help you put the advice to work.
Showing all 13 guides.
The complete moving checklist
A week-by-week plan with 56 tasks, from the first budget to the final box. Start here if you want one list to follow.
Read the guide →Pair it with a 12-month budget →How to move to another state
Work through the big decisions in order: choose a destination, price the move, book transport and plan your arrival.
Read the guide →Explore the planning tools →What does an out-of-state move cost?
Separate transport, deposits and travel from ongoing living costs. Build a budget around your own route and household.
Read the guide →Build your moving budget →How to hire interstate movers
Use four practical checks to compare companies and estimates before you commit to a moving service.
Read the guide →Compare DIY and movers →Move a pool table safely
Take the table apart in order and handle the slate as its own heavy, fragile load.
Read the guide →Hire interstate movers →Move a hot tub or jacuzzi
Drain, disconnect and lift a hot tub safely, or know when a specialist mover is worth it.
Read the guide →Hire interstate movers →Secure furniture in a moving truck
Load heavy pieces first, tie off each tier and fill gaps so nothing shifts on the road.
Read the guide →Use the moving checklist →Move a large mirror without breaking it
Protect the glass and corners, then load the mirror upright so it arrives in one piece.
Read the guide →Count your moving boxes →Move a college student across the country
Decide whether to drive, fly or ship, what to pack and which documents travel with the student.
Read the guide →Plan summer storage →Penske vs. U-Haul
See how one-way rates, mileage, truck sizes and add-on fees differ, then print a quote checklist.
Read the guide →Estimate cost by distance →Alternatives to U-Haul
Compare one-way trucks, portable containers and full-service movers before you book.
Read the guide →Compare truck vs. movers →How much do granny pods cost?
Compare kit, delivered and fully permitted granny pod costs for 2026.
Read the guide →Plan your first-year budget →
A smaller move needs a different plan
Compare small-load options, packing choices and delivery timing when you are moving a room or a few pieces.
Read the guide →Estimate your packing boxes →Your new-resident DMV checklist
Organize your license, vehicle paperwork and proof of address. Then check the official rules for your destination.
Read the guide →Find your state’s deadlines →
Legal tasks after an interstate move
Use a 90-day planning framework for address changes, records and residency questions. State deadlines may be earlier.
Read the guide →Open the tax-residency checklist →Moving to Texas: four starting steps
Get oriented before your Texas move, then use the detailed state guide and agency links to confirm your next steps.
Read the guide →Explore the Texas moving guide →
Priciest U.S. cities: plan beyond rent
Look at housing and other expenses together. Use the city guide to shape a budget for the neighborhood you are considering.
Read the guide →Compare salary purchasing power →
Dumpster rental: what affects the bill?
Understand size, weight limits and extra fees before a pre-move cleanout. Use the examples to prepare questions for local quotes.
Read the guide →Decide what is worth moving →
Storage unit costs: size, type and fees
Compare unit sizes, climate control and extra fees. Set a storage timeline and work out the full cost before you rent.
Read the guide →Estimate your total storage cost →
How much should you tip movers?
Tipping is optional. Use crew size, time worked and your own budget to plan an amount for a local or long-distance move.
Read the guide →Add tips to your moving budget →
Plan a long-distance move from American Fork
Compare moving options, check written estimates and prepare for Utah road conditions before your move from American Fork.
Read the guide →Build a distance-based estimate →No guides match that search. Try a shorter phrase or choose “All guides.”
Put your own numbers
into the plan.
A guide gives you a starting point. Our calculators help you compare choices using your estimates, quotes and priorities.
Planning estimates are not quotes or personalized tax advice. Check each tool’s assumptions before making a decision.
Explore all free tools →Example: planning a small move to Texas
Start with the small-move guide to choose a transport approach. Next, enter your quotes in the moving budget calculator. Then, use the Texas deadline page to organize your arrival paperwork. This is a planning sequence, not a cost estimate or a substitute for current agency instructions.
Questions before you get started
Which moving guide should I read first?
Start with the moving out of state checklist for the full sequence. If your move is already booked, use the arrival guides and state deadlines to focus on the next tasks.
How do I estimate my moving budget?
First, collect quotes for transport, supplies and any storage. Then, add travel, deposits and overlapping housing costs in the moving budget calculator. Use the 12-month budget to plan the ongoing expenses separately.
Are the tools and checklists free?
Yes. You can read the OSG moving guides and use the planning tools without paying. Open the linked tool to see its available print or download options.
Where do I check the rules for my new state?
Use the new-resident deadline directory for state-specific agency links. Because timing and eligibility can vary, confirm the instructions with the relevant agency before filing. The state guide directory also lists the detailed arrival guides currently available.