Average moving costs
The average cost for a local move is $80 to $100 per hour for a team of two movers. For a long-distance move, it costs around $5,000 on average. For local moves, you’ll be charged a “cost per mover,” and for long-distance moves, you’ll be charged on a “cost per mile” basis.
Since they charge hourly, the total cost you’ll pay for a local move depends mostly on how long it takes the moving crew to load and unload the truck — meaning the more items you have, the more you’ll pay to move them.
Long-distance moves, or moves that cross state lines and span more than 1,000 miles, tend to be significantly more expensive. Long-distance moving costs can range from a few thousand dollars to closer to $10,000, depending on the distance you’re traveling and the size of the load you’re moving.
| Move type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Local move | $80 to $100 per hour for a team of two movers |
| Long-distance move | Around $5,000 on average |
| Full-service move | Additional $350 to $600 for packing and unpacking services, plus moving costs |
| DIY move | $100 to several thousand dollars, depending on truck rental, distance and supplies |
How to calculate moving costs
To calculate your potential moving costs, you’ll need to factor in the weight of your belongings, the distance of the move and labor costs. For a local move, you’ll likely be charged for labor by the hour, so the biggest factor will be how much stuff you have and how long it takes the movers to load and unload your boxes.
To calculate local move costs (by hour):
$40 per hour x 2 movers = $80 per hour x 8 hours = $640
Long-distance moves aren’t as easy to estimate with a simple formula, though you can expect to pay more the farther you travel. Your best bet is to get a quote from a few different companies during the planning phase of your move.
Common additional moving charges
When you're calculating the cost of your move, keep in mind that there are a few things that may incur an additional fee.
Some of these additional costs include:
Expect to be charged hourly for a local move and a flat fee for a long-distance move.
- Packing materials such as boxes and bubble wrap
- Packing and unpacking fees
- Stair fees
- Fees for specialty items, like a piano or fragile artwork
- Fuel surcharge (to cover fluctuating fuel prices)
While these charges may vary by moving company and the distance of your move, it's a good idea to include them when you plan your budget to get your total estimated moving costs.
How much does a local move cost?
For local moves (within 50 miles), you can expect to pay movers by the hour. If you have two people handling the move, your moving costs may add up to between $80 and $100 per hour. You can expect to pay more per hour for a larger crew — but they’ll likely finish faster in this case, so costs tend to even out.
Local move estimates based on home size
| Property size | Average weight | Number of hours | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-bedroom home | 3,500 pounds | 3 to 5 hours | $240 to $500 |
| Two-bedroom home | 5,000 pounds | 5 to 7 hours | $400 to $700 |
| Three-bedroom home | 10,000 pounds | 7 to 10 hours | $560 to $1,000 |
| Four-bedroom home | 12,000+ pounds | Over 10 hours | $800 to $2,000 |
How much does a long-distance move cost?
When you’re budgeting for a long-distance move, you shouldn’t plan to pay by the hour with most moving companies. Instead, you’ll pay a flat fee based on your starting point, your ending point and the total weight or volume of furniture and other goods you’re moving.
Depending on the size of your load, you can expect to pay between $2,000 and $8,000 for professional movers to take you more than 100 miles from your current home.
Long-distance moving quotes for a three-bedroom home
| From | To | Miles | Average cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Phoenix | 365 | $3,753 |
| Springfield, IL | Denver | 811 | $4,760 |
| Trenton, NJ | Houston | 1,367 | $5,930 |
| Sacramento, CA | Raleigh, NC | 2,343 | $7,713 |
Factors that affect your total moving cost
A few key factors determine your total moving costs:
The size of your home
As you might expect, moving a four-bedroom house typically costs more than moving a studio apartment. When movers give you a quote, they’ll ask how many bedrooms you’re moving and the square footage of your home so they can give you a close estimate, but they may need to complete a walk-through of your home in order to get you the most accurate quote.
Location
If you live in an apartment building with a lot of stairs or faraway parking, you may be charged an extra fee. Even living above ground level (upstairs) can add to your cost. Your neighborhood can also affect your price — not all city streets are wide enough for parking a moving truck. Some movers include a fee if they have to walk more than 75 feet from your home to the truck.
Distance and travel fees
Extra stops
Specialty items
Time of week and year
The best time to relocate is between October and April because May through September is the peak moving season. ”
How much do moving services cost?
There are extra charges for both local and long-distance moves if you opt for additional moving services such as packing, unpacking, storage or insurance.
- Packing services: If you want your movers to pack and unpack your home for you, plan on spending an additional $350 to $600. You’ll pay for labor by the hour, and there may be additional costs to cover supplies. The added cost could be worth it for the amount of time and stress you can save by not having to pack up your house yourself.
- Storage units: If you need to store your items in a portable storage container or a storage unit, don’t forget to factor that cost into your total moving budget. Storage services can be a handy solution when needed, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $90 to a few hundred dollars each month your belongings are in storage, depending on the size of the unit or container you need.
- Moving insurance: Moving insurance protects you financially if your items are lost or damaged during a move. The average cost for full-value protection moving insurance is between 1% and 5% of the value of the insured goods, so if you want to insure $10,000 worth of items, you can expect to pay between $100 and $500 for moving insurance.
Should you pay for a full-service mover?
So you’ve decided to dish out the dough for a professional mover — but how much help do you want to pay for?
If you have the money and could use the help, hiring someone to disassemble, pack, load, transport, unload, unpack and reassemble your things can be a huge help, especially for international moves.
One of our reviewers from Australia said about their experience with a full-service mover: "Yes, they are expensive. But it was worth it. They packed our dishes, the important sentimental breakables, our valuable framed pictures and all those things we couldn't replace, as if they were packing the crown jewels. … Almost every single decorative thing I cared about arrived in perfect condition.”
They did continue, however, with a mild warning: “I will say, in the interest of full disclosure, that the furniture wasn't so lucky. There were some scrapes and dents in wood furniture, and the legs of the outdoor table and a chair were broken, as well as the support of a china cabinet.” Still, they were happy with their experience and found the higher price worth it.
Ultimately, this decision depends on whether you can afford the extra help and how much you think it will simplify your move — and save you from stress.
Full-service vs. DIY move
If you’re still on the fence about hiring full-service movers versus taking the DIY route, here’s a comparison of the two.
| Cost | Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service move | Higher overall cost, often several thousand dollars, depending on distance and services |
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| DIY move | Lower upfront cost, but expenses still include truck rental, fuel, supplies and possible lodging |
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How much should you tip movers?
Tips are often a forgotten budget line item when it comes to moving costs. We recommend tipping movers between $20 to $50 per worker per day, but you aren’t required to tip your movers, especially if you’re dissatisfied with the service.
Tip $20 to $30 per crew member for local moves and $50 per crew member for cross-country moves.
To get a better idea of how Americans feel about tipping movers, we surveyed 1,000 people who’ve hired movers in the past three years. Here are some key findings:
- 61% of respondents said they felt pressure to tip moving staff even if they were less than happy with the service.
- One-third of respondents said they felt "a little" pressure to tip even if they received poor-quality service.
- 28% said they felt "a lot" of pressure to tip even with poor service.
- 46% think movers should always get a tip — but also that it should be based on the quality of the work.
Use that to help you feel more confident in the tips you decide to leave for your movers. If it’s not in your budget to leave a large tip, providing your moving crew with drinks and snacks is always appreciated.
Tips for saving money when moving
There are several ways to reduce your moving costs, such as purging unnecessary items beforehand and scheduling your move during an offseason like winter. Planning ahead is key to saving money.
If you’re still processing the sticker shock of hiring movers, here are a few ways to cut down on overall costs:
- Declutter and donate things you no longer want or need.
- Rent a moving truck for a DIY move.
- Rent a moving container.
- Move in the off-season (and during the week).
- Ask about moving discounts.
- Get spare boxes from local businesses.
- Ship your belongings if you just need to move a couple of boxes.
- Ask family and friends for help.
Hiring a moving company vs. DIY moving
Hiring a moving company and handling your move yourself both have their pros and cons. The best option for you really depends on your budget, moving timeline and how much physical work you’re willing or able to do.
Renting a moving truck and packing, loading and unloading all of your items yourself can potentially save you a good amount of money. However, you also need to factor in the cost of moving supplies and gas, as well as the time commitment.
When deciding between hiring movers and doing it yourself, consider the scope of your move, your budget and how much help you have. Hiring movers offers convenience, speed and professional handling but comes with a higher price tag. On the other hand, a DIY move provides more control and cost savings, though at the expense of more physical work and potential stress.
FAQ
How much does a moving truck cost to rent?
Renting a moving truck for a do-it-yourself move can cost anywhere from $100 to several thousand dollars, depending on the specifics of your move. The truck size, the time it takes you to move, the distance you need to drive and gasoline prices all play a factor in the cost of a moving truck rental. A local move is likely to be pretty affordable and cost just a few hundred dollars, while a cross-country trek will be significantly more expensive.
» MORE: How to pack a moving truck
How much do moving supplies cost?
Moving supplies include items such as bubble cushioning material, packing tape, packing paper and stretch wrap to protect furniture from damage. For a three-bedroom home, you can plan to add another $80 or so to your budget for these items.
Some cost-saving measures include using old newspapers, tissue paper and magazines in place of packing paper or cushioning material, but you don’t want to skimp on protecting valuable items. It can be much cheaper to invest in bubble cushioning material than to replace an item if it breaks during a move.
How much do moving boxes cost?
The cost of moving boxes depends on factors like size and style. For the average three-bedroom home, we estimate brand-new boxes will cost around $450. This includes a mix of small, medium and large boxes, plus wardrobe boxes and picture boxes.
You can save a significant amount of money by reusing old boxes and collecting boxes from friends, family or local stores willing to give you any they are planning to recycle. Specialty boxes aren’t necessary, so things like wardrobe boxes are optional, depending on your budget and your preferences. While these boxes make it easier to store and transport your clothing, you can also fold and store clothing items in regular boxes or even large trash bags — especially for local moves.
» LEARN: Where to find moving boxes
How much does it cost to move a car?
You can expect to pay between $500 to $1,500 to ship a car long-distance. Transporting a vehicle is a specialty service, so you’ll want to look for a company that specializes in auto transport.
How much does it cost to move specialty items (piano, grandfather clock, artwork, etc.)?
The cost to move specialty items like pianos, grandfather clocks, delicate antiques or large artwork typically depends on the size, weight and complexity of moving them. Movers generally charge extra for handling these items, and the costs can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the item and distance of the move. Specialty item insurance is often recommended to cover potential damages during transport, which is an additional cost to consider.
How much does it cost to move a three-bedroom house?
Moving a three-bedroom house is likely to cost you between $600 and $1,000 if you’re making a local move. This average is based on a moving weight of 10,000 pounds and doesn’t include extra services, like packing and unpacking.
How much do movers cost per hour?
Most local movers charge between $80 and $100 per hour for a team of two movers. The total hourly rate may increase if you need a larger crew, specialty services or help with packing and unpacking.
How much should I budget for moving expenses?
Your moving budget depends on the size and distance of your move. For a local move, plan to budget a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars. Long-distance moves can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000 or more. It’s smart to budget extra for packing supplies, moving insurance, storage and tips for movers.
Bottom line: Are movers worth it?
Whether or not movers are worth it depends on your budget, the size of your move and the distance you’re moving. A professional mover can cost you a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the specifics of your move, like the number of hours you have to pay in labor and the size of your home.
While the price of hiring professionals for a long-distance move may give you sticker shock, it’s important to consider how much that service may save you in time and stress.
