For over 55 years, Houston families and businesses have trusted Johnnie T. Melia Moving & Storage to move what matters to them, from Heights bungalows and Galleria high-rises to offices along the Energy Corridor. We are a second-generation, family-owned company. Not a national franchise. Not day laborers. A trained, full-time team with full licensing, real accountability, and a track record you can read in our 249+ Google reviews.
Local moves. Long-distance moves. Offices, apartments, pianos, and safes. We handle it all, start to finish.
Get a free estimate or call (713) 683-8585. Moving inside the Loop or out to the suburbs? Every Houston neighborhood we serve is listed below.
Known for Experience, Care, and Reliability
A+ Rated & BBB Accredited
Accredited since our early years in business, with full accountability and transparency on every move.
Outstanding Google Reputation
A 4.8-star average from real homeowners and businesses we have moved.
Certified Professional Movers
The moving industry’s highest standard, held by fewer than 10% of U.S. moving companies. Awarded for licensing, insurance, and ethical practice
Recognized Among the Best
Named one of the Best Movers in Houston by Expertise.com for consistent results across decades of relocations.
Finding the right Houston mover takes more than a quick search. It takes knowing who is going to show up at your door, how they will handle your belongings, and whether they will still answer the phone if something goes wrong. JT Melia has been answering that call since Johnnie T. Melia founded the company in 1969, and the same family runs it today.
We are not a national franchise dispatching day laborers. Every crew member is a trained, full-time employee, and every move is backed by full Texas DMV licensing, cargo insurance, and an ATA ProMover certification held by fewer than 10 percent of moving companies in the country. Our reputation in Houston was built one move at a time, and we intend to keep it that way.
Why Families and Businesses Choose Johnnie T. Melia
People choose us for the same reasons they recommend us: experience, trained crews, and a process that removes the stress from moving day.
Over 55 Years of Experience
Founded in 1969 and still family-owned and operated today. Five decades of moves means there is very little our crews have not already seen and solved.
Licensed & Insured
TxDMV No. 0000005457. US DOT No. 436264. Agent for National Van Lines. Fully insured for cargo and liability on every move. If a mover cannot give you these numbers on the spot, walk away.
Trained, Full-Time Staff
No day labor. No strangers hired off a staffing app. Every crew member is a full-time, trained employee. You see the same professional faces from start to finish.
Timely & Transparent Service
We quote accurately and charge what we quote. No surprise fees on moving day, no bait-and-switch pricing, and clear communication before, during, and after every job. That is what 249+ five-star reviews look like.
Personalized Moving Plans
A high-rise studio is not the same job as a four-bedroom home. We plan each move specifically: access routes, elevator booking, crew size, truck size, and timing. Nothing is templated.
Clean, Well-Maintained Trucks & Equipment
Properly maintained trucks with furniture pads, shrink wrap, dollies, and tie-downs on every job. A scratched doorframe tells us a crew was not prepared. Ours always are.
ATA ProMover Certified — the moving industry’s highest standard
Agent for National Van Lines — fully licensed for interstate moves
TxDMV No. 0000005457 — fully compliant with Texas DMV requirements
Full-time, trained crews — no day labor, ever
249+ five-star Google reviews from real Houston customers
Houston Moving Services We Offer
Every move is different. A studio apartment in Midtown requires different logistics than a River Oaks estate. A medical office relocation in the Texas Medical Center has nothing in common with a retail store moving to Katy. We handle all of it with the same trained crew, the same equipment, and the same commitment to getting your belongings there safely.
Our local Houston movers handle residential and commercial relocations throughout the greater Houston metropolitan area. From inner loop neighborhoods like the Heights, Montrose, and Midtown to suburban communities like Bellaire, Friendswood, and Pearland we know this city’s traffic patterns, parking regulations, high-rise building requirements, and neighborhood quirks. Most local moves are completed in a single day with a crew of two to four movers and a fully equipped truck.
Moving out of Texas or across state lines? As an agent for National Van Lines, JT Melia provides fully coordinated long-distance and interstate moving services with door-to-door delivery. We manage the full scope — packing, loading, transportation, and delivery — so your move from Houston to Dallas, Denver, Atlanta, or anywhere in the country stays on schedule and within budget.
Business downtime costs money. Our commercial movers work around your schedule including evenings and weekends to move office furniture, workstations, equipment, and files with minimal disruption to your operations. We have relocated everything from single-suite offices to multi-floor corporate headquarters in Houston’s downtown and Galleria districts.
Houston’s apartment market moves fast, and so do we. Our apartment movers are experienced with the specific challenges of high-rise buildings: elevator reservations, loading dock windows, narrow hallways, and building management requirements. We coordinate with your building in advance so there are no surprises on moving day.
Let us handle the packing and you handle the rest. Our professional packing services use quality materials double-walled boxes, furniture blankets, shrink wrap, and custom crating for fragile or oversized items. Full-service packing, partial packing, or just packing supplies we offer all three.
Pianos require specialist equipment, trained technique, and serious liability coverage. Our piano moving crew handles upright pianos, baby grands, and concert grands throughout Houston, Katy, Pearland, and the surrounding area. We disassemble, pad, and transport your instrument safely and we are fully insured for piano damage.
Need storage between moves, during a renovation, or while your new home is being finished? Our secure, monitored storage facility in Houston accepts short-term and long-term storage. Your belongings stay in our climate-controlled warehouse not a public self-storage unit until you are ready for delivery.
Houston moving costs depend on four main factors: the size of your home, the number of movers required, how long the move takes, and any specialty services like packing, piano moving, or storage. Below are average ranges for local moves within the Houston area. These are estimates — your actual quote may be higher or lower depending on your specific situation.
Home size
Crew size
Est. hours
Avg local move cost
Studio / 1 Bedroom
2 movers
2–4 hours
$300 – $550
2 Bedroom
2–3 movers
4–6 hours
$550 – $950
3 Bedroom
3 movers
5–8 hours
$850 – $1,400
4 Bedroom
3–4 movers
7–10 hours
$1,200 – $2,000
5+ Bedroom / Estate
4+ movers
Full day+
Custom quote
What affects your price
Stairs and elevators, specialty items (pianos, safes, artwork), packing services, distance between locations, time of year (summer moves cost more), and whether you need storage.
What does not change
Our hourly rates, our crew quality, and our commitment to no hidden fees. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Long-distance moves are priced differently — based on weight, distance, and services selected — and require a binding or non-binding estimate. Contact us for a free in-home or video survey for any move over 50 miles.
How a JT Melia Houston Move Works
Get Your Free Quote
Call us, fill out our online form, or request a virtual video estimate. We will gather the details of your move home size, floor access, specialty items, target date, and provide an accurate estimate, not a lowball number designed to get you booked.
Confirm Your Move Date
Once you accept the quote, we confirm your moving date, assign your crew, and send you a confirmation with everything in writing. We recommend booking at least 2–3 weeks in advance for local moves and 4–6 weeks for long-distance moves. Summer bookings fill quickly, plan ahead.
Moving Day
Your crew arrives on time with a fully equipped truck, professional packing materials, furniture pads, dollies, and the equipment needed for your specific move. We do a walkthrough with you before we start, so nothing gets missed. Your crew works efficiently, and we respect that your time matters.
Houston Neighborhoods and Suburbs We Serve
We move customers throughout the greater Houston area every day. If you are in or around any of the following areas, we can have a crew at your door.
Perfect - Isaac and crew were awesome. Very courteous not just to me but to each other. Quite impressive. Obviously they have worked together a very long time. Experts! Highly recommend!
We had a great experience with Johnnie T. Melia Moving & Storage. The crew was right on time, fast, efficient, and very careful with our belongings and both homes. They were in good spirits the entire time, friendly and respectful, which actually helped reduce our own stress on moving day. Brandon was also very helpful and responsive throughout the process. Highly recommend! Whole crew is awesome and professional.
Highly recommend. The team did a great job moving all furniture and boxes. Very careful with all items. Very careful not to scuff or scratch walls and floors. Great price.
Local Houston moves typically range from $300 for a small apartment to $2,000+ for a large home, depending on crew size, hours, and services. See the pricing table above for detailed ranges by home size. We provide free, no-obligation estimates so you know the cost before you commit.
How far in advance should I book Houston movers?
For local Houston moves, we recommend booking 2–3 weeks in advance. During peak moving season (May through August) and around the end of the month when leases turn over, dates fill fast and book 4–6 weeks ahead if possible. For long-distance moves out of Houston, give us 4–6 weeks minimum.
What areas of Houston do you serve?
We serve the entire greater Houston metropolitan area, including all inner loop neighborhoods, Katy, Pearland, Friendswood, Bellaire, Spring Branch, The Woodlands, Atascocita, Jersey Village, Sugar Land, Stafford, and all surrounding suburbs. See the full list above or call us if you are not sure.
Are you licensed and insured in Texas?
Yes. We are licensed by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV No. 0000005457) and carry cargo and liability insurance on every move. We are also a licensed agent for National Van Lines for interstate relocations (US DOT No. 436264)
What makes JT Melia different from other movers?
Three things: we never use day labor, we have been family-owned and operated since 1969, and we are ATA ProMover certified, a designation held by fewer than 10% of U.S. moving companies. Every crew member is a trained, full-time employee.
How long has Johnnie T. Melia been in business?
Since 1969. We are a second-generation, family-owned moving company. Over more than 55 years, we have completed thousands of local and long-distance moves.
Do you charge extra for stairs or elevators?
Stairs and elevators affect how long a move takes, which can affect the final cost on hourly moves. We discuss access details during the quoting process so there are no surprises. For apartment buildings, we work with building management to coordinate elevator reservations in advance.
Do you offer same-day or next-day moves in Houston?
We accommodate last-minute moves when availability allows. Call us directly to check. Do not assume the website calendar is fully current. Urgent situations happen and we do our best to help.
Can you move from Houston to another state?
Yes. As an agent for National Van Lines, we are fully licensed and equipped for interstate and long-distance moves anywhere in the United States. We coordinate the full move from Houston pickup to final delivery at your new home.
Do you provide packing materials and packing services?
Both. We offer full-service packing where our crew packs your entire home, partial packing for specific rooms or fragile items, and packing supply delivery if you prefer to pack yourself. All packing uses professional-grade materials, not grocery store boxes.
Do you move pianos, safes, and specialty items?
Yes. We have specialist equipment and trained crews for pianos, gun and document safes, fine art, antiques, and oversized items. These require a separate quote, so call us to discuss the specifics.
Do you offer storage?
Yes. Our secure, monitored facility accepts short- and long-term storage for households and businesses. Your belongings stay in our climate-controlled warehouse, not a shared public unit, until you are ready for delivery.
What is a ProMover certification?
The ATA ProMover certification is the moving industry’s highest standard, administered by the American Trucking Associations. To earn it, a moving company must pass a thorough screening of licensing, insurance, complaint history, and ethical business practices. Less than 10% of moving companies in the U.S. hold this designation. JT Melia is ProMover certified.
How do I know my belongings are protected during the move?
Every item we move is handled by trained, full-time employees, not day laborers or temp workers. We use furniture pads, shrink wrap, dollies, and proper lifting technique on every job. Our trucks are maintained and equipped. And we carry cargo insurance that covers your belongings in transit. We will also walk through the home with you before and after the move.
Getting a quote takes about five minutes. Call us, fill out the form on our website, or request a free virtual video estimate we will respond the same business day. Our team is available Monday through Saturday, and we can often schedule an in-home estimate within 48 hours.
Johnnie T. Melia Moving & Storage has been Houston's trusted moving company since 1969. We are not going anywhere and neither are your belongings, until you are ready.
