How Much Do Movers Charge?
Calculate The Cost of Local & National Moving Companies
Find out how much a moving company will cost in your area. Use the form below to be contacted by up to 6 moving companies for quotes, or see the table below.
Calculate the Cost to Relocate With a Good Moving Company
An easy guide to finding the average prices for local and nationwide moving. Note: These are estimated costs and price will vary according to the distance of your move, the number of rooms in your home, and other factors such as transporting cars and boats will apply. For exact pricing we recommend you click the ‘compare quotes’ icon and get direct pricing from moving companies in your area.
How Much Do Moving Companies Cost?
There is a wide range of factors that can contribute to the overall cost of a move. There are also different categories of moves that may fall under different pricing structures, such as:
- Inter-city short-distance moves
- Long-distance moves
- Cross-country moves
- Office moves
- Industrial moves
Each of these has different factors that may affect their pricing, as well as different basic price ranges. This guide will help introduce you to some simple moving pricing guidelines, as well as some ways to predict whether your moving costs will go up or down based on the specifics of your particular move.
Local Moving Costs
Local moving is the most affordable moving service most people will ever need. Short distances mean that movers only need a single day in most cases to complete a move for their clients. When moving the contents of a small, one or two-bedroom apartment, a team of movers can often complete multiple moves in a single day, making it easy for them to charge very affordable rates.
Generally, a small local move for an apartment can cost between $600 and $1280. That number goes up easily to $2000 or more if moving all the contents of an entire house for a family. There are also a number of other factors that could cause the prices of a move to go up:
- Exceptionally heavy items cost more to move
- Items that require specialized handling or packaging cost more to move
- Extremely delicate or breakable items may cost more
- Very difficult locations to move into – such as apartment buildings with no elevators when the move is headed to the top floor, will take more hours, and therefore cost more.
Long Distance Moving Prices
When moving across the country instead of across the city, there are a few additional considerations that go into the move and its costs. Primarily, this is the distance and the other factors which crop up when moving long-distance such as toll roads, overnight accommodations for drivers, etc.
The cost of a long-distance move on average will land somewhere between $3700 and $8200 when moving around 1,200 miles. Again, the size of your home and the distance can cause this range to be adjusted up or down by a significant margin.
Commercial Moving Costs
Moving an office usually is much more complex than simply moving a small home. Industrial operations get much more complex again, especially when they involve large or heavy equipment.
These factors cause most office moves to cost more than what you have seen discussed in terms of home and residential moves. Assuming an office that occupies about 3,000 square feet, and which is being used to capacity, a move over a short distance will likely cost more than $2,000, and could easily cost as much as $13,000 depending on the particulars of the move.
Industrial Moving Rates
A true industrial move can cost many times more than the amount it costs to move a simple office. The difference here is that industrial moves involve the moving of extremely large and heavy industrial equipment, tools, or vehicles, while office moves typically consist of moving furniture and computer equipment.
When you start getting into the realm of moving industrial equipment, highly specialized vehicles and equipment are required in order to move the pieces. In the case of oversized equipment, you may actually need several vehicles, including a pilot crew, as well as transportation permits in order to move the equipment.
This all adds up to make industrial moving both more expensive than other types of moves, and more difficult to predict. Suffice it to say that anytime you require additional personnel, or additional equipment in order to complete a move, the cost is going to increase.
Costs for Packing Your Stuff
There are many additional services that movers can provide that go beyond simply carrying your goods out of your old house and into your new one. One of the most commonly utilized of these, and one of the best values for your dollar, is the packing services that are offered by many full-service movers.
There are two costs to keep in mind when considering hiring a mover to pack your goods. These are the materials and labor costs. Much like moving, you should expect to pay somewhere between $25 to $50 per hour for a mover to work on packing up your furniture. The costs for the materials could cost anywhere from $100 for a small, one-bedroom, to up to $500 or more for a multi-bedroom house.
Insuring Your Belongings With The Moving Company
You always want to make sure that your goods are covered when they are being handled and moved by a third party. Most reputable moving companies carry their own insurance and are able to offer their clients varying types of valuation coverage that will help pay for the replacement costs of goods if they end up damaged during the move.
The cost of insurance varies hugely, depending on the type of coverage you need, and of course on the value of your goods. Speaking to an insurance professional directly is the best way to understand how much insurance is going to cost if you need supplemental coverage to protect you during your move.
Keep in mind that if you’re moving very expensive high-end items, you may also want to have them appraised so that they can be accurately insured before transportation. There will also be additional costs associated with the appraisal process.
Other Moving Cost Considerations
As you can see, there are a lot of variables that go into the way that moves are quoted when you contact a moving company. That is what makes the actual quoting process so important. The best moving companies won’t even try to provide you with an accurate quote over the phone. They may provide basic information about their rates and the way they assess pricing, but to give an accurate quote, a representative should always visit your location and inspect it in person. This basic principle applies whether you are discussing residential, business, or industrial moves, and whether you’re moving across town or across the globe. Always start by getting quotes from a representative from a moving company when trying to plan how much a move is going to cost.
7 Ways to Reduce Moving Costs
Moving is expensive. It can be difficult to avoid the high costs associated with a move, but it is possible to reduce your moving costs in many ways. By following these ten tips, you will have more money available for the things that really matter after your move
1) Hire movers who pack up and load all of your belongings into their truck for you
2) Create an inventory list of items before they are packed so that everything gets properly labeled and tracked during the move
3) Use packing materials such as bubble wrap or air pillows rather than newspaper or towels when packing breakable items.
4) Keep a list of all the items you are packing and make sure they get labeled properly. It’s easy to forget things when you’re in the middle of an big move. Keeping track will help avoid any confusion or lost property after your move!
5) Keep in mind that there are steps you can take to minimize the size of your move. Downsizing, packing everything tightly, and consolidating items will reduce how much space you need during the move.
6) Another great way to lower move-in costs is to find a moving company that offers to put you in contact with local movers who can provide the transportation of your items for less.
7) You can save money on long-distance moving companies if you take the time to research prices and compare quotes. Also, be sure to:
– Hire movers who pack up and load all your belongings into their truck for you
– Create an inventory list before they are packed so everything gets properly labeled and tracked during the move
Keep a list of all the items you are packing and make sure they get labeled properly. It’s easy to forget things when you’re in the middle of an intense move
Remember that there are steps you can take to minimize your moving cost, such as downsizing, packing everything tightly, and consolidating items.
Estimated Moving Cost in Popular Cities:
| Location Moving From | Local Moving (Price Range) | Nationwide Moving (Price Range) Increases w/Distance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $84/Hour - $103/hour | $4,901 - $11,642 |  |
| Los Angeles, CA | $81/Hour - $94/hour | $4,806 - $11,502 | |
| Chicago, IL | $86/Hour - $95/hour | $4,852 - $11,006 | |
| Houston, TX | $74/Hour - $89/hour | $4,810 - $9,002 | |
| Phoenix, AZ | $79/Hour - $88/hour | $4,933 - $10,200 | |
| Philadelphia, PA | $81/Hour - $90/hour | $4,920 - $10,325 | |
| San Antonio, TX | $72/Hour - $90/hour | $3,920 - $9,400 | |
| San Diego, CA | $86/Hour - $95/hour | $4,900 - $10,325 | |
| Dallas, TX | $79/Hour - $88/hour | $4,300 - $9,400 | |
| San Jose, CA | $82/Hour - $96/hour | $4,875 - $10,600 | |
| Austin, TX | $71/Hour - $91/hour | $3,988 - $9,000 | |
| Jacksonville, FL | $69/Hour - $87/hour | $3,872 - $11,500 | |
| San Francisco, CA | $80/Hour - $99/hour | $4,601 - $11,700 | |
| Columbus, OH | $77/Hour - $96/hour | $4,899 - $10,701 | |
| Indianapolis, IN | $77/Hour - $89/hour | $4,502 - $10,821 | |
| Fort Worth, TX | $70/Hour - $88/hour | $3,998 - $8,889 | |
| Charlotte, NC | $71/Hour - $87/hour | $3,870 - $10,100 | |
| Seattle, WA | $82/Hour - $95/hour | $4,520 - $11,275 | |
| Denver, CO | $77/Hour - $96/hour | $4,637 - $9,100 | |
| El Paso, TX | $78/Hour - $95/hour | $4,803 - $9,275 | |
| Washington, DC | $88/Hour - $99/hour | $4,900 - $11,850 | |
| Boston, MA | $83/Hour - $98/hour | $4,882 - $9,995 | |
| Detroit, MI | $80/Hour - $94/hour | $4,220 - $9,444 | |
| Nashville, TN | $74/Hour - $88/hour | $3,850 - $9,775 | |
| Memphis, TN | $76/Hour - $93/hour | $3,999 - $9,778 | |
| Portland, OR | $76/Hour - $95/hour | $4,003 - $11,200 | |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $79/Hour - $92/hour | $4,111 - $10,000 | |
| Las Vegas, NV | $81/Hour - $90/hour | $4,710 - $11,500 | |
| Louisville, KY | $75/Hour - $89/hour | $3,800 - $9,825 | |
| Baltimore, MD | $80/Hour - $97/hour | $4,226 - $10,600 | |
| Milwaukee, WI | $63/Hour - $79hour | $3,051 - $7,199 | |
| Albuquerque, NM | $72/Hour - $86/hour | $3,777 - $9,732 | |
| Tucson, AZ | $73/Hour - $89/hour | $3,936 - $9,777 | |
| Fresno, CA | $82/Hour - $92/hour | $4,999 - $12,650 | |
| Sacramento, CA | $88/Hour - $96/hour | $4,999 - $12,001 | |
| Mesa, AZ | $79/Hour - $89/hour | $4,201 - $11,009 | |
| Kansas City, MO | $80/Hour - $93/hour | $4,000 - $10,885 | |
| Atlanta, GA | $75/Hour - $92/hour | $3,980 - $10,003 | |
| Long Beach, CA | $79/Hour - $96/hour | $4,420 - $11,000 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $72/Hour - $88/hour | $4,990 - $10,000 | |
| Raleigh, NC | $77/Hour - $89/hour | $4,881 - $9,021 | |