How Much Do Movers Cost In 2024?

While we noticed that the average movers’ cost for a standard three-bedroom home is $2,200, every home is different, and prices can fall anywhere from $200 to $12,700. For example, if you’re into minimalism and just moving down the road, you could pay on the lower end of that range. But if you have a ton of stuff and need movers to handle your collectibles with care as you move across the country, you’ll pay toward the higher end.

# of Miles	1 Bedroom	2 - 3 Bedrooms	4 - 5 Bedrooms
250	$1,050 - $2,400	$1,800 - $4,000	$3,000 - $5,200
1,000+	$1,700 - $3,700	$2,800 - $5,800	$5,300 - $8,900
2,500+	$2,200 - $4,700	$4,000 - $7,900	$8,200 - $12,700

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Local moves can cost between $300 and $6,900, depending on the number of bedrooms and belongings you need to move. We recommend finding a local moving company that offers clear and transparent pricing so you know where you fall within this broad range.

A long-distance move can cost between $1,050 and $12,700. Long-distance moves cost more than shorter distances under 250 miles because the moving company will need to factor in additional expenses, like extra fuel and time. Below is a breakdown of different prices for long-distance moves based on the number of bedrooms.

Type of Move	Low Estimate	High Estimate
Short-distance	$300	$6,900
Long-distance	$3,200	$17,000

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The average cost to hire a mover is between $40 and $80 per hour. Most moves need at least two movers to get the job done. However, you should expect to pay between $80 and $400 per hour depending on how many bedrooms you’re moving, if you have any specialty items, etc.

Home Size	# of Movers	# of Hours	Average Moving Cost
Studio/one-bedroom	2	4	$320 - $640
Two-bedroom	3	6	$720 - $1,440
Three-bedroom	4	7	$1,120 - $2,240
Four-bedroom	4	9	$1,440 - $2,880
Five-bedroom	5	12	$2,400 - $4,800

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In our research, we found several big factors that can dictate the cost of a moving project, including the size of your home, your possessions, how far your movers must travel and the number of movers required to get the job done.

Home Size

Again, the size of your home really impacts how long it takes for a moving crew to clear it out. If you have a small studio apartment, you might only need two movers to haul all of your stuff out. On the other hand, if you have a large four-bedroom home, it can take significantly longer and require a larger team of movers.

Home Items

What you have in your home can also slow things down or speed things up. Your prized wine cellar or workout studio could require specialty packaging or additional movers to get the job done. Meanwhile, it likely won’t take as long if you don’t have as much to move.

Distance

If you’re traveling a short distance, your costs will be a fraction of the cost of a cross-country  move. A local move for a one-bedroom studio could cost you as little as $320, but a move of that size with a distance of 250 miles starts at $1,050. Meanwhile, a move across the country that is over 2,500 miles starts at $2,200.

Number of Movers

Hiring movers can rack up prices. With the average cost of hiring a mover falling between $40 and $100 per hour, needing more movers makes a big difference in the cost of your project.

Insurance Coverage

The average cost of moving insurance is 1% to 5% of the total estimate of your property’s value. Though you might be tempted to skip out on moving insurance to save money, this insurance helps protect your belongings if they get damaged or lost in the move.

Accessibility

You’ll also need to consider how accessible your home is for movers. If you have several flights of stairs or other obstacles that could slow down the process, then you may have to pay additional fees.

EXPERT TIPS

How soon before moving should you start packing?

Dawn M. Smith

Military Moving Expert and Experienced Traveler, Advisory Board Member

Lowe Saddler

Lead Editor

Lexie Pelchen

Deputy Editor

It's Never Too Soon

It’s never too soon to start packing. Once you have a basic timeline in mind, start packing items you won’t use, like seasonal decorations and clothing. Then, you can move on to home decor items and books.

Dawn M. Smith

Military Moving Expert and Experienced Traveler, Advisory Board Member

Start Packing ASAP

To have the smoothest move possible, try to begin packing as soon as possible. Aside from at least a week’s worth of essential medicine, clothes and important doucments that you should pack seperately in a suitcase for easy access, start the process of decluttering, labeling and packing immediately. The more you can do in advance of your moving week, the better.

Lowe Saddler

Lead Editor

The Sooner, the Better

The earlier you can start preparing for a move, the better. Once you have a solid idea of when your move will take place, it’s good to start packing as early as one to two months before.

Lexie Pelchen

Deputy Editor

On top of the main cost factors, some additional costs and services can sneak up on you when planning a moving budget.

Movers and Packers Cost

Moving companies offer a variety of add-on packing services beyond the standard service of loading and transporting packed boxes.

You can save a lot of time by paying for a full-service move in which the movers pack your items into boxes for you as well as unload the packed boxes at your destination. Full-service moves can also include disassembling and reassembling furniture.

Moving companies may charge per hour or per box, but on average you can expect to pay about $700 for full-service packing and unpacking.

Moving Add-Ons

Many moving companies offer add-on services that can increase the total cost of your move by a few hundred dollars. A handful of examples of add-ons include:

• Disassembling furniture
• Reassembling furniture
• Felt pads
• Stretch wrap
• Specialty items

It’s important to note that some of this equipment may be included or you may be able to purchase it ahead of time for less. Be sure to ask about any extras when you book a moving company.

Specialty Moving Services Cost

Some items require special packaging equipment or special care. For example, moving a piano, hot tub or motorcycle could add between $300 and $2,000 to your move. Be sure to inform your movers of any specialty items before asking for a quote—especially if you’re getting a quote over the phone.

Auto Moving and Shipping Cost

If you’re planning a long-distance move, you might also need to move your car. The average cost to ship a car is $1,150, but you could spend as little as $550 or as much as $2,450 if you need to rush the shipment.

Moving Date

Summer is the peak season for moving companies in most areas, and most are fully booked one to two months in advance between June and September. You can save by waiting until the off-season to move, but keep in mind that winter weather can end up causing delays and may add to costs as well.

Another way to save is to opt for a mid-month, mid-week move. Many moves happen on the first or last day of the month when most lease terms end. Many people also opt to move on weekends to avoid taking time off work. If you have the flexibility to move mid-week, doing so can help you avoid high-demand, high-cost weekends.

Storage Rental

Sometimes, you need to move all of your stuff out of your old place, but you don’t have room to put it in the new place yet. In this case, you might want to put your items in a storage unit. Storage units cost between $75 and $300 a month. Larger storage units cost more to rent than smaller storage units and upgrades like temperature-controlled storage units can drive up your cost.

Tipping

While you don’t have to tip, tipping is a great way to show appreciation for the hard work your movers put into safely moving your belongings. You can tip any amount, but the most common amounts fall between 10% to 20% of the service cost.

Liability and Contents Coverage

All interstate moving companies are required by law to provide two standard options for liability protection:

• Released Value Protection: Basic coverage that comes at no extra cost, but only covers items at up to $0.60 per pound
• Full-Value Protection: Costs extra, but requires your mover to replace lost or damaged items or reimburse you for their full cash value

If you’re moving heavy or high-value items, consider purchasing full-value protection. Costs vary by mover, so ask about a company’s insurance and liability policies before signing a contract. You may also wish to purchase separate moving insurance from a third-party provider.

Below are the average costs for local and long-distance moves. Remember, every move is unique and these costs are just a snapshot of two specific moves. Always reach out to companies for unique quotes.

Company	Local Move Cost*	Long-Distance Move Cost**
International Van Lines	$2,519.00	$4,306.00
United Van Lines	$5,200.00	$5,900.00
Atlas Van Lines	$1,040.00	$6,120.78
Bekins Van Lines	$2,432.50	$6,425.20
Allied Van Lines	$3,951.50	$9,440.59
North American Van Lines	$3,951.50	$9,440.59
Mayflower Transit	$5,800.00	$6,500.00

*NOTE: This is a local estimate for a two-bedroom from Brooklyn, NY (11202) to Hoboken, NJ (07030)
**NOTE: This is a long-distance estimate for a two-bedroom from Brooklyn, NY (11202) to Charlotte, NC (28105)

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Many moving companies will handle moving estimates and quotes a little differently, so making an apples-to-apples comparison can be tough. However, understanding these terms and the different factors that can play into moving quotes and estimates can help you make a more informed choice.

• Estimates vs. quotes: To start, moving estimates tend to be more general and less accurate than moving quotes. Many companies will have instant estimates where you can put in your approximate distance and the size of the home you’re moving and they’ll generate an estimated cost. However, if you obtain a quote, you’ll typically need to share more accurate info, like exact addresses, moving date and an inventory of items.
• Binding vs. non-binding quotes: Even if you obtain a quote from a company, it doesn’t necessarily mean the price is fixed, unless it’s a binding quote. These quotes typically involve an in-home or virtual survey of your items to give you the most accurate price possible. After signing on with the company, it will typically not charge you any higher than what is on your binding quote. A non-binding quote is more like an estimate and your final price still may vary from that quoted cost.
• Not-to-exceed estimate: This type of estimate is all in the name: A not-to-exceed estimate means your total moving cost will not exceed the estimate the company gives you. This means your total moving cost may even come in lower.

What’s Typically Included in a Moving Quote

Most moving quotes will include the following information to help you make as informed a decision as possible:

• Your total quote or estimate: This number will typically be at the top of your quote and represents the total cost you can expect to pay for the move—or the company’s best estimate of your cost, depending on the type.
• Whether the quote is binding or not: As we explained above, quotes are either binding or non-binding, meaning they are fixed or not. Non-binding quotes should end up being what you pay on moving day. However, you should read your contract to see if there is any info about how much the actual cost may vary from the binding quote. Sometimes unexpected challenges arise and moving companies may want to reflect that.
• Labor costs: Many moving quotes will break down your costs into categories, including labor. Costs may be per mover per hour, a blanket hourly cost for the whole moving team or a blanket cost for your entire move. If you’re confused as to why the company broke it down in a certain way, be sure to ask.
• Transportation costs: Certain companies may get even more granular here, but costs can include the moving truck itself, gas and mileage to name a few. For long-distance moves, expect even more cost items here.
• Unique item costs: If you need movers to handle specialty items like pianos, antiques or cars, companies will break these down as individual and additional costs.
• Packing and unpacking costs: If the company is handling these tasks, expect line items for each on your quote.
• Insurance: Any additional insurance you purchase will be added to your quote.
• Move details: To make sure you and the moving company are on the same page, the company will typically list the move origin and destination, moving date and other important info on your quote. Be sure to double-check this. The company may also list a time range for when the move will occur but sometimes this is confirmed later.

Moving can be expensive, but there are a few ways to make your dollar stretch further Below are seven tips on how you can save money on moving.

1. Get rid of what you don’t need before the move starts. The less you have to move, the more money you’ll save.
2. Consider using your own truck and DIYing the move.
3. Do the packing yourself.
4. Ask for help from family and friends.
5. Move during the week or during the off-peak season (usually winter).
6. Look for free moving boxes and supplies through U-Haul’s Box Exchange program or through local social media groups.
7. Ask for quotes from at least three different moving companies to find the best prices.

Moving your home’s items yourself can potentially save you money, but it is unlikely to save you time and energy. Still, if you can find free boxes and only need to purchase tape, padding, mattress bags, bubble wrap and other packing materials, you could end up paying just for those materials—around $100 or more. If you need boxes for a bigger home, then you could pay around $300 for moving and packing materials.

Here is a breakdown of those costs:

• Boxes: $2 each
• Packing tape: $5 each
• Moving blankets: $20 each
• Furniture pads: $10 per pack
• Mattress bag: $10 each
• Bubble wrap: $20 per roll

If you’re moving more than a neighborhood away, however, then you will probably also need to rent a moving truck to move all of your items. The cost to rent a moving truck falls between $20 and $100 a day. Gas, insurance and dollies can increase costs, as well. In total, expect to pay somewhere between $150 to $400 for a local move if you plan to do it yourself.

Hiring a professional mover can make moving less stressful, but with prices for an average three-bedroom home costing around $2,200, it does come at a cost. For small, local moves, you might be better off DIYing it, but for larger moves that involve many rooms and boxes and heavy items, then you might want to work with a moving company near you.

We surveyed 2,000 Americans to find out the top trends and the biggest consumer motivators to move. Below, you will see some of the survey findings to get a more complete view of moving company trends and drivers.

• Almost 40% of respondents reported planning a move for financial reasons or a better standard of living.
• Nearly a quarter (23%) of respondents said their greatest fear related to moving was how much it would cost, closely followed by having a no-show mover or being ripped off at 19%.
• Feelings about the cost of movers were generally split, with 28% saying they spent somewhat more than they expected for movers, 24% saying they paid about what they expected and 11% saying they paid somewhat less than expected.

It is no secret that moving can feel overwhelming and time-consuming, often requiring careful planning and physical work. In some situations, hiring a professional moving company may be considered absolutely necessary rather than just a convenience.

Whether you’re faced with a limited timeframe, the need to move bulky items or want a smoother and more organized transition, opting to hire a moving company can substantially alleviate the stresses associated with moving.

Time Constraints

In the whirlwind of a move, time constraints can be a major factor in determining whether a moving company’s assistance is essential, especially when it comes to job relocations and tight moving schedules. In the case of job relocations, moving professionals excel at quickly packing, loading and transporting your belongings, providing a seamless and efficient moving experience.

For those with tight schedules because of lease endings or closing dates, a moving company’s expertise ensures skillful organization and timely execution, making them more likely to meet tight deadlines and facilitating a smoother transition to your new home.

Moving Bulk Items

If your current home is filled with large and heavy furniture, you may want to consider the assistance of a professional moving company. Not only do moving professionals have the specialized experience needed to handle items such as sofas, beds or pianos, but they also have the tools to minimize the risk of damage while transporting bulky furniture.

Moreover, a professional mover’s meticulous care is even more crucial when dealing with delicate or specialized items like antiques, artwork or mirrors. Their extensive knowledge of handling such items ensures a strategic and careful approach, reducing the potential for damage and making the moving process smoother overall.

We get that moving is overwhelming, as it involves time-consuming tasks such as packing, organizing and transporting your belongings. Many rely on professional movers to help. Offering stress relief, security and organization, the advantages of hiring professional movers are increasingly apparent compared to the challenges of a DIY move. We’ve listed a few below:

Less Stress

Hiring professional movers is a reliable way to reduce the stress typically linked with the moving process effectively. Professional movers’ extensive knowledge and experience allow them to skillfully handle every aspect of the move, including secure packing, navigating potential obstacles and guaranteeing the safe transportation of your belongings.

Peace of Mind

By enlisting the help of professional movers, you not only safeguard the physical well-being of your belongings but also gain significant peace of mind. Reputable moving companies often provide insurance coverage as part of their services, acting as a vital safety net in case of any accidents or damages during the move. This additional layer of protection offers reassurance, knowing that your possessions are adequately protected. Additionally, a professional mover’s reliability in sticking to schedules and timelines instills confidence that your move will be efficiently completed according to plan.

Organization

Choosing professional movers to handle your move guarantees a well-organized and smoothly coordinated process. Moving companies’ structured approach to planning and executing the move ensures a seamless transition, as they can provide a detailed plan that efficiently coordinates every step of the moving journey.

Additionally, movers are equipped with the right tools, packing materials and vehicles necessary to manage the moving process. Hiring a moving company guarantees that the moving process will be executed with precision and efficiency, providing you with the peace of mind that every aspect of the process will be carried out accurately.

Forbes Home Moving Advisory Board

Forbes Home's moving content is backed by our Forbes Home Advisory Board. Our moving experts specialize in various aspects of moving, from long—and short-distance moves to packing and furniture handling and even car shipping and sustainable moving supplies. With their deep knowledge, these industry experts help us review articles and advise on content at multiple stages in the editorial process, from ideation to publication.

Dawn M. Smith

Moving, Relocation, Car Shipping, Real Estate, Home Improvement

Dawn M. Smith

Moving, Relocation, Car Shipping, Real Estate, Home Improvement

Thanks to military life, Dawn knows all too well the ups and downs of creating a new home after each move.

Matt Graber

Local and Long Distance Moving, Packing, Home Staging, Furniture Handling, Sustainable Moving, Reusable Moving Supplies

Matt Graber

Local and Long Distance Moving, Packing, Home Staging, Furniture Handling, Sustainable Moving, Reusable Moving Supplies

With 15 years of experience in the moving industry in one of the world's most challenging markets, Matt Graber is an expert on moving services.

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