Hiring movers usually costs anywhere between $883 and $2,569 or more. The national average is $1,713.
Getting ready for an exciting life change? If so, you’ve probably found yourself asking, “How much do movers cost?” Distance will have a major impact on moving prices, with local moves costing between $883 and $2,569. Cross-country moves can cost anywhere from $2,700 to $10,000 or more to account for the additional distance. Let’s review how to find the best deals, when to DIY move, and the many other factors to consider.
| Type of Move | Low Cost | High Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Short-distance | $920 | $2,530 |
| Long-distance | $2,700 | $10,000 |
A local move within a 100-mile radius typically costs $1,720 on average, or between $920 and $2,530. In most cases, you’ll be staying within state lines and driving for two hours or less. Moving from Chicago to Detroit, for example, is around 285 miles and roughly five hours of driving, so this wouldn’t be considered a local move.
Consider the cost per hour to hire professional movers.
| Movers | Cost per Hour |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | $25–$50 |
| 3 | $75–$150 |
| 4+ | $100–$200 |
The size of your home is a good base for determining your local moving cost. Below are some costs based on home size and include two to three movers:
| Home Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $400 |
| 2 bedroom | $900 |
| 3 bedroom | $1,400 |
| 4 bedroom | $1,800 |
| 5 bedroom | $3,000 |
Packing services cost around $1,000 on average, but can cost less for smaller residences with minimal belongings. Professional movers will typically come up with a custom quote based on the total square footage and the number of rooms. Keep in mind that packing and unpacking services aren’t automatically included in local moves, so be sure to specify this add-on when making your reservation.
Moves spanning over 100 miles, aka long-distance moving, cost anywhere from $2,700 to $10,000 overall. Final costs depend on the size of the load and the distance traveled, plus any moving add-ons you choose.
One primary cost factor in long-distance moves is the mileage traveled.
| Mileage | 1–2 Bedrooms | 3–5 Bedrooms |
|---|---|---|
| 250 | $700–$2,500 | $2,000–$6,000 |
| 500 | $1,000–$3,000 | $3,500–$7,500 |
| 1,000 | $1,400–$3,500 | $4,000–$8,000 |
| 2,000+ | $2,000–$4,000 | $6,500–$9,000+ |
The size of your home (by number of bedrooms) plays a major part in the cost to hire movers for a long-distance move.
| Number of Bedrooms | Pounds | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,800 | $700–$3,000 |
| 2 | 5,000 | $1,000–$7,000 |
| 3 | 9,000 | $1,400–$8,000 |
| 4 | 12,000 | $1,800–$10,000 |
| 5 | 15,000 | $3,000–$12,000 |
| 6 | 18,000 | $4,000–$15,000 |
Most moving companies will base the cost of your move or shipment on the weight of your household goods, and, no surprise, the heavier the load, the more you can expect to pay. Professional movers charge between $0.50 to $0.80 per pound.
Origin weighing: Movers weigh the moving vehicle before and after loading your items to determine the net weight.
Destination weighing: Movers weigh the moving vehicle upon arrival, unload your items, and then weigh the empty truck.
Many factors impact the cost of moving, and some may even make your move cost more or less than expected.
Ease of access: Anything obstructions in your home that causes inconveniences to the movers, slows down the process, or requires more hands will increase the overall price.
Moving date: Moving during peak season, June to September, will cost more due to the extra demand. Moving during the winter, known as the off-season, is a less expensive time to move.
Tipping movers: Tipping your movers at least 10% and up to 20% of your final bill is strongly encouraged, particularly if you’re working with local movers.
Extra stops: Additional stops will add extra fees for mileage and service.
Permits and fees: You may need to purchase a moving permit to temporarily park your moving vehicle, costing $10 to $80, depending on the area.
If you need extra moving services, prepare to pay an additional cost. Check out the prices of some common moving add-ons.
| Moving Add-On | Cost |
|---|---|
| Cleaning Services | $30–$50 per hour |
| Storage | $240 per month |
| Packing Supplies | $2–$20 each |
| Moving Truck Rentals | $30–$3,500 |
| Loading and Unloading Services | $45–$80 per hour |
| Packing and Unpacking Services | $1,000 |
| Insurance | $0.60 per pound |
Professional cleaning service: $30–$50 per hour or $200–$500 for move-out cleaning
Renting a storage unit: $240 per month
Packing supplies: $2–$20 each
Renting a moving truck: $30–$3,500
Loading and unloading service: $45–$80 per hour
Packing and unpacking service: $1,000
Moving insurance: $0.60 per pound
Certain items will cost extra on top of your base moving cost. Below are the costs for common specialty items.
| Items | Cost |
|---|---|
| Piano | $260–$580 |
| Pool table | $50–$4,000 |
| Hot tub | $200–$1,000 |
| Small boat | $2.50 per mile |
| Car | $700–$1,200 |
| Motorcycle | $200–$2,000 |
| Cat or small dog | $300 via plane |
| Other pet relocation | $1,000* |
| Aquarium (small) | $50–$100 |
| Aquarium (large) | $300+ |
| Gun safe | $200–$500 |
| Standard safe | $175–$500 |
| Wine collection | $10 per case |
*For the first pet; if you have more than one pet, you’ll pay $200 to $300 per additional pet.
Renting a truck or van costs anywhere from $20 to $100 per day, depending on the size of the vehicle. Many local moving companies include a standard van as part of the package, with larger vehicles costing extra.
| House Size | Truck Size | Cost per Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | 10–12 feet | $20–$30 |
| 2-3 bedrooms | 14–20 feet | $40–$80 |
| 4+ bedrooms | 22–26 feet | $60–$100 |
Some moving services will charge separately for fuel costs. Per-mile pricing fluctuates based on fuel prices in your area and the moving company’s policies. For example, U-Haul charges a local move price of $0.99 per mile.
If your movers encounter any road tolls or parking fees, they’ll add these costs to your bill. Consider alternate routes beforehand to avoid these additional costs.
The cost of moving yourself depends on the distance and load size. DIY local moves cost between $150 and $250, covering the cost of renting a moving truck and purchasing packing supplies. DIY long-distance moves can cost $1,550 to $2,350 or more, which accounts for packing supplies, truck rental, fuel, and mileage costs from the rental company.
Beyond financial considerations, a DIY move requires considerable physical effort and time, including packing, heavy lifting, and driving a large vehicle over long distances. Full-service movers provide non-monetary benefits, including time savings and injury prevention. Determine whether the reduced cost of a DIY move is worth the effort or if you’ll be better off hiring local movers. Hiring professional movers is often the best route for long-distance moves.
Moving can get expensive, but there are several ways to save costs. Here are a few ways to keep your moving budget lower:
Declutter: Pare down your belongings beforehand to move as few items as possible and start fresh in your new home.
Sell unwanted items: Consider selling furniture and other large items on local secondary marketplaces. On top of saving money by moving fewer items, you can earn extra cash to put toward your moving budget.
Get started early: The more time you allow yourself to prepare, the more likely you are to sell your items for the best price. Also, by starting early and working slow, you’ll feel less overwhelmed by the scope of the work.
Move during the off-season: If possible, time your move during the off-season (October through April) when rates for movers and rental trucks are lower.
Opt for DIY packing and unpacking: Pack and unpack your belongings on your own to reduce costs. Your movers will move your boxes and furniture and unload in your new home.
Prep everything for your movers: To save on hourly labor costs, be sure everything is packed up and ready for transport when the movers arrive.
Recycle packing supplies: Ask friends or retail stores for used moving boxes and other packing supplies instead of buying them new. If you move frequently, store your boxes and supplies to reuse in the future.
Shop around: Get multiple quotes from qualified moving services to find the best deal.
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’ve surveyed over 10,000 real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from 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.
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Relocation costs depend on a variety of factors, such as the distance to your new home, the size and weight of your belongings, and any additional services you might need. Some of the main costs to consider when calculating relocation expenses include moving company fees, costs for rental trucks, packing materials, storage fees, and insurance.
Start by using a moving cost calculator to determine what’s doable in your budget. From there, search online and start requesting quotes from a wide selection of movers to determine which option is best for you. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, ask your moving company questions about their services and request consumer references before hiring.
Deciding whether it's worth it to hire movers depends on your budget, patience, and physical capabilities. It's difficult to gauge the amount of work that moving calls for, and it's easy to be off by about tenfold.
If you're able to call in some favors and round up friends to help, you might get through it just fine, but if you only have a few hands helping, things can quickly get overwhelming. Either way, bringing in the pros will save considerable time and stress, so if it's within your budget, it's a great investment.
You should book your moving company as far in advance as possible, at least two months or more. This is especially important if you're moving during the summer months, which are the peak moving season. This will help you save money on unexpected expenses and the stress that comes with trying to find a mover, which can be harder during certain months of the year.
The cost to hire movers for a full-service move is usually at least $2,000. This package typically includes packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, transportation, furniture assembly, and furniture disassembly.
Costs will vary based on the number of items you have, with additional surcharges for heavy and valuable items. If you’re interested in this service, be sure to get multiple quotes from different moving services to find the best deal.
