Moving Companies in Waco: How to Hire Movers for Your Baylor Apartment
Moving in August in Waco is a sport. Every Baylor student is doing it at the same time, every local mover is fully booked on peak weekends, and every U-Haul within 30 miles gets reserved by mid-July. If you're planning a move into a Waco apartment near Baylor, the decisions you make right now — whether to hire movers or DIY, which company to call, and when to book — will determine whether move-in day is a smooth two hours or a sweaty eight-hour disaster.
This guide covers moving companies in Waco TX, what they charge for student-scale moves, when the DIY alternative actually makes more sense, and how to navigate the August rush.
The Waco Moving Calendar You Need to Know
Before you call anyone, understand the timing. Baylor's Move2BU weekend in 2026 falls on August 19–20, and the surrounding two-week window is when every student, every parent, and every moving truck in Waco is in motion simultaneously.
- Book professional movers 2–4 weeks in advance for any August move. Calling in the week before guarantees either no availability or a price premium.
- Local movers typically fill up entirely for the last two weekends of August by early August.
- If your lease starts on August 1, you have more flexibility — this is the sweet spot for pricing and availability.
- Avoid moving truck rentals on Move2BU weekend. Campus access roads are congested with the university's volunteer system, and loading/unloading a truck near Baylor's core takes twice as long.
Top Moving Companies in Waco TX
Little Guys Movers
2225 Washington Ave, Waco TX 76701 | (817) 896-7681
Little Guys is the most-trusted local option for Baylor-area moves. They're a college town specialist with a 4.9-star rating across 170+ reviews — the Waco branch owner is a Baylor fan and local, which matters when movers know the neighborhood streets. Services include local moves, long-distance, packing assistance, and storage connections.
Pricing: hourly labor rates for two movers plus truck run approximately $100–$200/hr depending on timing. A one-bedroom apartment move within Waco averages $300–$500 total; a studio or small two-bedroom move runs $200–$350.
Book via littleguys.com or call directly. Get a quote at least 2–3 weeks ahead for August.
College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving
120 SW Loop 340, Waco TX | (254) 233-9967
College HUNKS is a national franchise with strong Waco local operations. Good for smaller loads — they're particularly efficient at hourly jobs where you need two people for a few hours of truck loading or apartment transfer. Useful when you're not moving a full household but need muscle and a truck.
Pricing is hourly, which makes them cost-effective for short, efficient moves. Get an estimate via their website or the phone line above.
Guerra Brothers Moving Service
A locally-owned Waco operator with strong Yelp reviews and competitive pricing. Guerra Brothers tends to offer lower hourly rates than the larger chains for local jobs. Best for straightforward apartment-to-apartment moves without packing or special handling needs. Check current availability and pricing via their local listings.
Waco Moving Company (wacomoving.com)
A full-service Waco-based operation handling both local and long-distance moves. Worth calling for a quote alongside Little Guys — comparing two estimates before committing takes 15 minutes and can save $150–$300 on a 1BR move.
The Honest Case for DIY: U-Haul + Two Friends
Professional movers are the right call for a 2BR or 3BR apartment with furniture, appliances, or anything fragile. But for a studio or a one-bedroom — especially if you're moving from a dorm where your possessions fit in a couple of SUVs — the math often favors renting a van.
U-Haul Waco: 2821 Franklin Ave, Waco TX 76710
A cargo van rents from approximately $30/day plus mileage. A 10-foot truck (enough for a one-bedroom) runs about $40–$50/day. Add fuel and mileage for a local move and the total cost for a same-day Waco move sits around $60–$100 — compared to $300–$500 for professional movers.
The trade-off: you're providing the labor. Two friends plus a cargo van handles a studio or lightly furnished one-bedroom in 2–3 hours. A fully furnished 2BR is where professional movers start to earn their fee, because doing it yourself typically takes 5–8 hours and someone always ends up carrying a mattress down stairs alone.
When DIY beats hiring movers:
- You're moving under 5 miles with a small load
- You have two people who can help for at least 3 hours
- You're moving furniture-free or light (dorm-style move)
- Your move date has flexibility and you're not competing with August peak
When to hire professionals:
- Moving a full 2BR or 3BR apartment
- You have furniture that needs padding and careful handling
- You're on a deadline (moving during business hours with no flexibility)
- You're moving from out of state and everything arrives by truck
Centre Apartments: What to Know on Move-In Day
If you're moving into a Centre Apartments unit at 1901 S 11th Street, a few things to coordinate ahead of time.
Parking logistics matter. Call the leasing office before your move-in date to reserve loading access near your unit. S 11th Street has limited street parking and showing up with a moving truck without a reserved spot creates a bottleneck.
No elevator. Centre is a two-story complex without an elevator, which means second-floor moves involve stair carries for everything. Account for this in your mover quote — some companies add time for multi-story carries. If you're renting a ground-floor unit, this is a non-issue.
Don't schedule move-in on Move2BU weekend (Aug 19–20, 2026). Even though Centre is off-campus, the entire South Waco street grid slows down when 1,000+ students and their families descend simultaneously. A Friday August 15 or Sunday August 17 move gives you breathing room without traffic conflicts.
Walking distance works in your favor. Centre's location near Baylor means you don't need storage for the academic year — everything you need is with you, and a short walk gets you to class. See our moving to Waco relocation guide for a full checklist of what to set up before you arrive.
Packing Smart Before Movers Arrive
Whether you hire professionals or go DIY, packing is where time gets lost. A few things that save you money and frustration:
- Label boxes on the side, not the top. When boxes stack, you read the side — not the top. Simple and often ignored.
- Disassemble bed frames before movers arrive. Most professional crews will do this, but it adds billable time. If you can do it yourself the night before, you save 20–40 minutes.
- Wrap electronics in original packaging or with moving blankets. TV screens and monitors are the most common casualty of budget moves without proper wrapping.
- Share a unit with a roommate if you're using self-storage during summer. A 5×10 storage unit ($65–$90/mo) split two ways handles most of what two students need to store between semesters.
For a full pre-move checklist, see Your First Apartment Checklist: Everything You Need Before Move-In Day.
What to Budget for a Waco Apartment Move
| Move type | Professional movers | DIY (U-Haul + self) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / dorm-size | $200–$350 | $60–$100 |
| 1BR apartment | $300–$500 | $80–$130 |
| 2BR apartment | $500–$900 | $120–$200 |
| 3BR apartment | $700–$1,200+ | Not recommended |
These ranges assume a same-day local move within Waco. Long-distance (Dallas, Houston, Austin) or multi-day moves add significantly to professional mover costs. Ask for a written quote that specifies the hourly rate, minimum hours, and any travel/fuel surcharges before confirming.
If budget is the central constraint, see our Baylor Student Budget Guide for a full breakdown of monthly costs in Waco — housing, utilities, groceries, and how to make a student income stretch.
The Bottom Line on Moving Companies in Waco TX
The moving companies in Waco TX worth calling are Little Guys Movers (strongest reputation for Baylor-area apartment moves), College HUNKS (good for smaller loads), and Guerra Brothers (best local rate for straightforward jobs). For small moves, U-Haul on Franklin Ave is a legitimate alternative that saves $200–$400.
The non-negotiable: book early if you're moving in August. Availability disappears in the first two weeks of the month, prices rise, and the weekend before Baylor classes start is when everything goes wrong. Call or go online in mid-July for the best combination of availability and pricing.
Ready to get into a unit before move-in chaos hits? View our floor plans or schedule a tour to see Centre's 2BR, 2BR Townhouse, and 3BR apartments — all with in-unit washer/dryer, included parking, and high-speed internet already built in.
