How Much Does It Cost to Hire Movers for a 1-Bedroom Apartment? [2025 Data]
Moving a one-bedroom apartment costs between $400 and $3,000 or $1,850 on average, depending on whether it's a local or long-distance move.
Wondering how much movers cost for a one-bedroom apartment? The cost to move a one-bedroom apartment is $400 to $3,000 or $1,850 on average. Your overall moving cost depends on many factors, including apartment size, access, distance, and more. Our guide will show you how much movers will cost for a one-bedroom apartment.
Cost Breakdown of Movers for a 1-Bedroom Apartment
If you’re searching for how much movers cost, our guide breaks down the various pricing that will impact your final bill. These variables include type, access, labor, weight, prep, location, and season. Read on to find out how much you can expect to pay to move a one-bedroom apartment:
| Move Distance | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Local Move (under 100 miles) | $400–$1,600 |
| Long Distance (over 100 miles) | $700–$3,000 |
Types
The type of move you’re making—local or long-distance—significantly impacts your budget.
Local
Moving companies consider anything under 100 miles a local move, and you can expect to pay $400 to $1,600, on average, to move a one-bedroom apartment. However, your overall price depends on the accessibility of your apartment and whether you need professional packing. You can tack on an additional $200 to $400 for packing services.
Long Distance
On average, you can expect to pay $700 to $3,000 when moving a one-bedroom apartment long-distance. Your long-distance move price will also depend on the mileage traveled, insurance, and whether you need professional packing. You can add an additional $1,000 for carton packing for a long-distance move.
Distance
| Mileage | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 250 miles | $700–$2,500 |
| 500 miles | $1,000–$3,000 |
| 1,000 miles | $1,400–$3,500 |
| 2,000 miles | $2,000–$4,000 |
| 3,000 miles | $3,700–$4,200 |
You can expect to pay between $700 and $4,200 to move a one-bedroom apartment long distance. It goes without saying that the further away you move, the higher the cost.
Access
Depending on your apartment’s location, you may incur additional charges, such as a long hallway or stairs fee, if your building doesn’t have an elevator. Or you may have a high-rise elevator charge if you live in a tall building. Parking is another accessibility issue, especially for apartments in metropolitan cities. In some busy cities like New York, you may need to acquire a parking permit for your moving truck.
Labor
When hiring long-distance movers, you can expect to pay between $25 and $50 per mover per hour for labor, which covers one to two moving professionals. Moving a one-bedroom apartment takes three to five hours, so you can expect to spend a minimum of $200 to $400 on labor. Also, some moving companies have a three-hour, $300 minimum for two professional movers. Labor is typically charged for local moves, whereas movers calculate long-distance moves via mileage and weight.
Weight
You can expect to pay an average of $700 to $3,700, depending on the total weight of the moving truck. The average weight for a one-bedroom apartment runs between 1,800 and 3,500 pounds. So, the more belongings you have, the higher you can expect your total bill.
Prep
You can expect to pay between $600 and $1,600 for a one-bedroom move if you need the movers to pack your belongings in cartons. Or, you can expect to spend around $150 on cardboard boxes, tape, and packing paper if you purchase packing supplies yourself.
Season
Peak moving season is from April to September, with weekends having the highest demand. So, if you move during the summer rush, you’ll likely incur higher moving charges. Instead, try to plan your one-bedroom apartment move during the off-season or during the week.
Accessibility
Labor costs are higher for locations that are difficult to access. You can help your pros by removing potential obstacles and ensuring each box or item is readily accessible. Conduct some measurements ahead of time to ensure that your furniture can fit through the doorways. Otherwise, the movers may have to waste crucial time disassembling bed frames or tripping on area rugs.
Additional Costs to Consider
Insurance
You’ll want to consider getting moving insurance to protect your belongings. You can choose full-value protection, which costs 1% of the total estimated value of your belongings. Full value protection offers repair, replacement, or money to replace lost or damaged items.
You can also choose released value protection, which is cost-free and comes standard with many moving companies. Released value protection means the moving company is responsible for no more than $0.60 per pound per item for lost or damaged items. Lastly, you can purchase third-party insurance through your homeowners’ insurance or a private lender.
Tipping
Tipping is an excellent way to show your gratitude for a moving job well done. It’s not required, but if you want to know how much to tip movers, a good rule is to tip between $4 and $10 per hour. For long-distance moves, it’s customary to tip a flat rate or 10% to 20% of your total bill in gratuity.
| Average Move Cost | Example Tip | Final Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $1,850 | 10% | $2,035 |
| $1,850 | 15% | $2,128 |
| $1,850 | 20% | $2,220 |
Cost to Move a 1-Bedroom Apartment Yourself
If you move out of a one-bedroom apartment yourself, you’ll need to rent a moving truck. If you’re moving less than 50 miles, you can expect to pay around $130 to rent a moving van, plus the cost to refill the tank. However, if you’re moving long distance, you’ll pay between $1 and $2 per mile—and the costs can add up quickly. Moving a one-bedroom apartment yourself is a good idea for homeowners on tight budgets, especially if you can wrangle friends and family to help you load and unload your belongings.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
If you DIY moving a one-bedroom apartment yourself, you’ll have to take care of every detail, including packing supplies, which run $100 to $150, as well as moving equipment, gas, and tolls. You’ll also need to cover hotels and food for long-distance moves. If you hire a moving company near you, you’ll pay an average price of $1,850, but you’ll know that your belongings are in good hands by experienced movers with the proper equipment.
Cost of Common Add-Ons for Moving a 1-Bedroom Apartment
If you want to make your one-bedroom move as smooth as possible, it’s a good idea to purchase add-ons. These add-ons are time and stress savers, but they will also cost you extra:
Furniture assembly and disassembly: $90–$150 per piece
Piano moving cost: $260–$580
Artwork moving cost: $1,000
Hot tub moving cost: $200–$1,000
Grandfather clock moving cost: $400–$4,000
Car moving cost: $700–$1,200
Professional packing and unpacking: $1,000
Shipping container cost: $3,000
Portable storage container: $160–$240
Tips to Reduce Cost While Moving a 1-Bedroom Apartment
Although moving a one-bedroom apartment may seem daunting and cost-prohibitive, there are ways you can save money. Here are tips to reduce your cost before embarking on your one-bedroom move:
Declutter: The fewer things you have, the less time movers will take to load and unload. Start by donating, selling, or removing unwanted items.
Look for deals: Check local stores or online neighborhood markets for free cardboard boxes and packing supplies.
Pack early: Packing all your belongings in advance will save you $200 to $1,000 in packing fees from professional movers.
Solicit quotes: Get at least 3 quotes from local and long-distance moving companies to ensure you get the best deal for your needs.
Handle the furniture: Disassemble and reassemble your furniture yourself to save costs.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Professional movers take care of safely loading and unloading all of your belongings. They have the equipment and experience to ensure a smooth move. Many movers also offer specialty pricing for whole-house packing and transporting of fragile and antique items. Plus, you benefit from having a moving team take care of your move quickly and efficiently.
Professionals can typically move a one-bedroom apartment in three to six hours. It will take longer if the apartment is home to a lot of stuff or the destination site is far away. The time can also increase if the movers must handle large and cumbersome items, like full sets of dressers and antique wood furniture. DIY moves take significantly longer, typically lasting a full day or more.
