Moving Cost Calculator

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How Much Do Professional Movers Cost?

Professional movers can cost anywhere from $550 to $12,000.

It's important to note that there are a number of factors that can impact professional moving service costs, such as the distance of your move, whether you or the movers will be packing your belongings, the amount of packing supplies needed, the weight of your belongings, and the company you choose to hire.

How Much Do Local Movers Cost?

Local moves—that is, short-distance moves within the same town or to another relatively close town—can cost anywhere from $25 to $50 per hour, per mover. This means the rate you'll pay is dependent on how many people are needed for the moving team. This hourly cost range doesn't include fees for transportation, packing labor, moving supplies, and other associated costs, so you'll need to budget for those expenses.

How Much Do Long-Distance Movers Cost?

Long-distance moves—like moving out-of-state or cross-country moves—can cost anywhere from $800 to $12,000. This price is dependent on how much you're moving, how far you're moving, and what services are needed for your move. In many cases, a long-distance move requires a larger team, as well as fees for lodging, transportation, tolls, and other associated costs.

Family Removing Boxes From Truck

How Do Moving Companies Calculate Costs?

Professional moving services determine moving costs and quotes based on several factors, including (but not limited to):

  • Distance to move your belongings

  • Number of rooms to pack

  • Size of moving vehicle needed

  • Amount of time and labor needed to move

  • Amount of moving supplies needed

  • Weight of items

  • Time of year

  • Additional fees, such as stairs, overweight items, assembling/disassembling furniture, etc.

How to Save on Moving Costs

Want a more affordable move? There are all kinds of ways you can move on a budget! Here are a few tips:

  • Opt for a do-it-yourself (DIY) move

  • Get help from friends and family

  • Find free moving boxes and supplies

  • Use your own car to transport your belongings

  • Declutter the number of items you have to move

  • Research different moving companies to find the lowest rate

  • Book with moving companies in advance

  • Choose a less busy time of year to move

  • Lower the price with competitive price matching

  • See if your homeowners or renters insurance will cover moving costs

  • Leave heavy items behind

Professional Movers vs. Containers

Professional moving companies are not the same thing as container moving companies, though they offer similar services. With professional movers, your move is covered by a team that packs your belongings, loads them into a moving van or truck, transports your items, and unloads them at your destination.

With container moving companies, a shipping container is delivered to your home. You'll be in charge of packing and loading your belongings into the container at your own pace before scheduling a pick-up date. The container moving company will then pick up and transport your container to your new home, where you can unpack at your leisure. Once you're done, the company comes back to retrieve the container.

Moving Boxes Coming Out of Truck

MOVING TIPS

How Do Moving Companies Calculate Costs?

Looking to move soon but not sure if professional movers are in your budget? This video explains what factors contribute to the cost of professional movers, and what you can do to offset those costs.

How Much Do Professional Movers Cost?

Looking to move soon but not sure if professional movers are in your budget? This video explains how much local and long-distance movers can cost and what the differences are.

Is It Better to Hire Movers or Move Yourself?

Considering whether to hire a professional moving service or just do it yourself? Below, we break down the pros and cons of each option so you can make the best choice for your moving needs!


Hiring Professional Movers

Pros

  • Movers can help you pack: Full-service movers can save you time and effort by packing, loading, transporting, and unloading all of your belongings for you.

  • Supplies are often included: Many moving companies provide boxes, packing paper, mats, tape, and more either for free or a small fee with the cost of your move.

  • You avoid heavy lifting: Letting someone else pack and move your belongings saves you from potential injury and gives you time to coordinate the rest of your move.

Cons

  • It can be expensive: Between possible fees for moving supplies and additional service or mileage fees, your moving costs can add up quickly when you hire professional movers. Make sure to read through the moving quote that they provide to ensure you know exactly what is included and the services you are paying for.

  • Items can get damaged: There's always a chance that something could get damaged in the process. Even if you have moving insurance, it's still inconvenient to replace broken items.

  • You have less control: Depending on traffic and other deliveries the company is making, you may just get an estimate for which day your belongings will be delivered rather than an exact date.

Moving Yourself

Pros

  • It's typically less expensive: Moving van rentals are much less costly than full-service movers—and DIY moving can be even more affordable if you find and use free moving boxes!

  • You control your schedule: Moving by yourself gives you the freedom to move over many days in smaller, more manageable trips. You'll never have to worry about your items getting to your destination.

  • You can pack the way you like: When you pack your own things, you can organize and label everything the way you want, preventing items from getting temporarily lost or misplaced.

Cons

  • You do the heavy lifting: You may have heavy and bulky furniture that you can't carry by yourself, and moving all of those boxes alone can lead to a lot of soreness or even injury.

  • You're liable for damage: Moving insurance won't cover any broken or damaged belongings in a solo move, so it'll be up to you to replace your belongings out of pocket should something happen.

  • It can take longer: Getting settled in your new home takes time, and you could be using that time to coordinate other aspects of your setup instead of doing the moving yourself.

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Moving FAQs

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