White Glove Movers: Key Takeaways
- White glove movers provide special relocation care for your valuable items
- Key features of white glove moving include packing with special materials and custom crating, climate-controlled transportation, detailed furniture reassembly, and discreet service
- Working with white glove movers guarantees stress-free relocation, maximum protection from damage, and time saved
- To choose a luxury moving company in NYC, check their experience, verify reviews and recommendations, and confirm licensing, insurance, and COI coverage
The U.S. white glove services market is expected to grow to $20.25 billion by 2030. This huge number reflects increased investment in high-value goods that need special handling during a move.
But what do white glove movers do?
In this guide, we’ll break down:
- The essence of white glove moving
- Key features that set this service apart from standard movers
- Who typically uses white glove movers in NYC
- The benefits of choosing white glove movers for high-value relocations
- How to pick the right luxury moving company for your needs
Skip the stress of planning every detail. Let Imperial handle your white glove move
Understanding White Glove Moving
Imagine a service that packs, transports, and places valuable belongings without the need to lift a single item.
Precise, attentive, and completely hands-off, white glove moving is like a concierge at a five-star hotel who knows your needs and preferences up to the smallest detail and is there to meet them.
Key Features of White Glove Moving
White glove moving is for clients who expect more of everything, whether personalized service or confidence that each of their assets will be touched with care.
Packing & Protective Materials
Want to make sure your crystal chandeliers or custom cabinets arrive safely atyour new Manhattan apartment?
They will, with white glove movers who go beyond what standard movers do. They’ll pack your things using edge guards and padded corners, museum-quality wrapping, acid-free paper, climate-safe crates with humidity control with exact dimensions, and high-density foam, all to ensure that risks of damage are cut to zero.
Climate-Controlled Transport
Do you have wine or rare Flemish tapestry collections that need moving in NYC? If the answer is yes, a climate-controlled truck is a must.
With New York’s unpredictable humidity and heat waves, these vehicles will keep your precious possessions safe from temperature damage.
Furniture Disassembly & Reassembly
Although disassembling and reassembling furniture is a standard offering from many moving companies, white glove movers take it to a new level.
Instead of simply unscrewing bedframes or removing table legs to make items easier to carry, white glove movers treat furniture as a piece of art (which it can very well be).
Each component is labeled and paired with its match, very much like you would do with a puzzle. It’s then placed in tamper-proof bags while leather and high-gloss wood items are wrapped with scratch-proof materials.
Full Setup at Destination
Your move doesn’t end with the delivery of items at your residence or office. Movers place furniture precisely according to the floor plan, spread rugs, hang artwork and mirrors, reconnect electronics and lighting, and dispose of all packing materials. All you need to do is walk in!
Fine Art, Antiques & Piano Moving
Whether you’re a collector or designer, white glove movers will use specialized dollies and lifts to move the heaviest or most delicate items with ease.
Need to move a Steinway grand piano or an oil painting by Monet? VIP movers will:
- Handle them with gloves to prevent smudging or oil transfer.
- Use custom crates for maximum protection.
- Transport them in climate-controlled trucks so they arrive untouched by heat, humidity, or human error.
Discreet, Attentive Service
White glove movers bring professionalism and discretion to every step, coordinating directly with building managers, personal assistants, or estate staff to ensure a seamless experience.You’ll get:
- A dedicated coordinator who stays one step ahead, from your first call to the last box unpacked, providing real-time updates throughout the move
- The kind of service you’d expect from a high-end hotel
- Uniformed, background-checked movers
- Precise handling of sensitive items
Who Uses White Glove Moving Services in NYC?
Whether you’re an art collector in Tribeca or a CEO in Midtown, these services are ideal if you can’t afford mistakes and delays.
The typical clients include:
- High-net-worth individuals, who require secure, insured, and fast-tracked relocations
- Luxury real estate clients who’re moving from or into high-end properties
- Celebrities & VIPs, who prioritize privacy and a stress-free experience
- Businesses with sensitive equipment: think medical devices, servers, and custom hardware
- Art collectors & galleries, who rely on expert packing, temperature control, and installation support
- Busy professionals & executives with demanding schedules who don’t have time to manage the move themselves
- Companies relocating key staff or entire departments that want to move without disrupting business
Benefits of Hiring a White Glove Moving Company
NYC is the home of hundreds of moving companies. Maybe you’re thinking any of them will do for your NYC move.
But white glove moving comes with unmatched advantages. You’ll walk out of one home and into another. No boxes, no bubble wrap, no worries over NYC parking and street cleaning regulations.
Too busy with work or family? White glove movers will protect your luxury or sensitive assets, treating them all like they belong in a museum, while you focus on your next big contract or enjoy Paris with your loved ones.

White glove moving offers advantages that go far beyond standard relocation
How To Choose a Luxury Moving Company in NYC
You may find yourself listening to many companies claiming they are doing white glove moves. The reality might be quite different.
To vet a truly premium mover:
- Ask about experience with luxury moves: Do they handle art, antiques, or piano relocations? Can they provide temperature- and humidity-controlled transport? How do they ensure privacy? Do they have custom crates for oversized or irregular valuables?
- Check customer reviews and recommendations: Look for five-star Google or Yelp reviews that specifically mention VIP moving services. Or ask friends or your building management if they’ve worked with a trusted mover.
- Verify licensing & insurance: Verify that the company has full licensing by the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT, is fully insured, and can provide Certificates of Insurance (COI). This document is especially important for NYC luxury buildings because it confirms the company has coverage for high-value items like artwork or designer furniture.
Pro Tip: When searching on the internet, filter queries using terms like “white glove moving service near me” or “VIP moving services.”

Finding the right VIP mover is the key to a seamless experience
Why Choose Imperial Movers For a White Glove Move
Imperial Movers has been handling premium relocations since 2006, delivering a VIP-style experience, where every aspect of your move is managed with meticulous attention and care.
You’ll work with a dedicated personal project manager who oversees the entire relocation, coordinating directly with our crew and your building management.
They’ll also:
- Keep a close watch on your belongings, ensuring that fragile and high-value items are carefully packed and transported.
- Coordinate with Con Edison and your cable provider to ensure your utilities are connected the moment you arrive.
We’ll send you a handpicked moving team, where every mover is accustomed to handling fine art, antiques, and designer furnishings.
Once we deliver your items to the new building, our in-house carpenter will mount your TVs and we’ll clean your home to place furniture on spotless floors.
If your move runs long, we’ll arrange a comp lunch at one of our partner restaurants near your new home.
For long-distance relocations, we guarantee exclusivity: your belongings will not be combined with another client’s shipment.
With Imperial Movers’ VIP service, you’ll enjoy the highest level of professionalism.
Protect your fine art, antiques, and designer furniture. Call Imperial Movers
White Glove Movers: FAQs
What’s the difference between regular and white glove movers?
Going beyond basic transportation, white glove movers provide premium packing, item-specific care, and full unpacking/setup services.
Is white glove moving used only for luxury homes?
No. It’s a great option for anyone moving fragile or valuable items.
How much does white glove moving cost in NYC?
The cost will depend on what you’re moving and where. A simple art move may start around $1,500, while full-service penthouse moves go much higher.
How far in advance should I book white glove moving services?
Aim to book your crew two to four weeks ahead. It gives your movers time to coordinate access with your building, secure COI requests, and prep any special gear they may need.
Can I use white glove movers for business relocations?
Absolutely. Many luxury movers have experience with office setups, tech handling, and secure transport of proprietary equipment.
Your Steinway, Monet, or designer sofa deserves more. Trust Imperial with your move