How much do movers cost? (2024 Guide)
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Whether you’re relocating close by or across the country, moving can be a time-consuming and exhausting endeavor. Hiring a moving company can help take some of the stress — and back pain — out of it. But just how much do professional movers cost? This guide breaks down the costs to help you budget for your move.
What does a mover cost?
The average cost to hire movers is $1,625, but prices can range from as little as $450 to upwards of $12,700, depending on the details of your move.
Your total cost will depend on your home size, the distance of your move, your requested additional services and which professional moving company you hire. Moving costs generally include truck rental, fuel costs, other necessary equipment (for example, dollies and blankets) and loading and unloading labor.
We surveyed four providers and 17 local and national cost databases. All averaged figures were correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.
What factors affect moving costs?
Several factors influence moving costs, including the size and type of move, the distance and location and when you decide to move.
Distance and location
Distance and location play a major role in the cost of hiring movers. A move to Alaska from Florida looks very different from a move from Houston to Austin. For the latter, you have a flatter terrain, shorter distance and warmer climate. With the other, movers might need to travel across long distances of snowy, mountainous land and bodies of water to arrive at your final destination — all of which can substantially increase moving costs.
That said, local moves — those within 100 miles — are significantly cheaper than long-distance moves because of shorter labor time, lower gas prices and vehicle wear and tear. They cost between $450 and $2,800 on average. Long-distance moving costs fall between $1,600 and $12,700.
Labor and additional services
Hiring a moving company costs between $35 and $80 on average per mover per hour for loading, driving and unloading. Most moves need between two and five movers and take between two and 10 hours.
Many companies will offer to pack up your entire house at an extra cost. The cost for packing averages $70 per hour per worker for a minimum of three hours. These fees typically include the cost of packing materials. Here are some typical packing costs:
One-bedroom apartment: $300
Two-bedroom apartment: $600
Four-bedroom house: $1,000
Size and type of move
Your home’s size determines how many movers you’ll need to hire to pack up and transport your items efficiently. Since many movers charge by the hour, more belongings mean increased costs.
Studios and one-bedroom homes come in at the lower end of this price range, while five-bedroom or larger homes come in at the top of the price range.
Timing and seasonal variations
Moving during the off-season can save you on the cost of hiring movers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 31.3% of leases begin in June, July and August, while February, November and December have the fewest new leases. This means you could receive lower moving quotes in fall and winter when demand is lower.
If you can, avoid moving in the summer or during college move-in season. Weekends are also in high demand, so moving midweek can save you a few dollars.
Regional cost variations
Your area’s cost of living also influences how much movers cost. For instance, you might find your total cost to hire movers is much higher in California than in Mississippi. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s 2021 ranking of states based on overall regional price parities (RPP), California is the second highest in the United States, compared to Mississippi, where the RPP is lowest nationwide.
What are the types of moving services?
You have three options when choosing between types of moving services: investing in a full-service moving company, moving everything yourself or splitting the difference with a self-service move.
1. Full-service moving companies
Full-service moving companies pack and unpack your belongings and disassemble and reassemble your furniture on top of the typical services like loading and unloading your boxes and transporting your belongings to your new home.
If you want a full-service move, your prices may increase by $500 to $2,000 on average, or $70 an hour more per movers and packers.
2. Self-service moving companies
If you want to avoid the higher costs of working with a moving company but don’t have the means to move all your items yourself, then a self-service portable container moving company — such as PODS — may be the perfect solution. According to PODS, a moving and storage company, self-service moves with a PODS container cost between $350 to $500 for a local move and $500 to $5,000 for a long-distance move.
Self-service moving companies don’t pack, load or unload your belongings, but they do drive the truck from your old home to your new one. As a result, you’ll spend much less on moving costs than you would if you hired a full-service moving company.
3. DIY moving
Moving your home yourself comes with several options. Local moves can sometimes be done with a personal truck, leaving you to pay only for fuel expenses. But if you don’t have a truck, are moving a longer distance or have bulky items, you’ll likely need to rent a moving truck.
The average cost to rent a moving truck is between $15 and $150 a day, depending on the vehicle size. You’ll also need to pay for gas, mileage fees and insurance.
Weighing DIY moving vs. hiring professionals
If you’re on the fence about hiring professional movers or moving yourself, both options come with several benefits and drawbacks that may make either the right choice for you. But keep in mind, you don’t necessarily have to choose between the two. You can choose which services you want to help lessen the stress of DIYing it.
To have the best of both worlds, “be sure to have a detailed, itemized list to help with packing — unless you want packing services, which can speed up the process,” explains Sean Brown, an in-home estimator for Two Men and a Truck.
DIY moving pros and cons
If you decide to make the move on your own, you’ll save on the cost of hiring a professional and gain flexibility and control over your move. However, you’ll spend more energy packing, loading, unloading and driving. Your valuables are also more likely to get damaged during this process if you don’t have the expertise to do the job correctly.
Pros
Flexibility with planning
More control over the move
No increased prices during peak season
Cons
Less experience could damage possessions
More manual labor
Must purchase own insurance coverage
Time-consuming planning and packing
Hiring movers pros and cons
Hiring professional movers near you may cost more than doing it yourself — especially if you move during peak season. Despite the higher price tag, you’ll save on the stress of the move and the time and energy it’ll take to do it yourself, all while ensuring your move is smoother and safer.
Pros
Less stressful
Safer move
Saves you time and energy
Trained professionals know how to protect your valuables
Cons
Even higher costs during peak season
Higher cost
Less control over the move
How do I hire reliable movers?
When putting your valuables in the hands of another, finding reliable movers is essential. Plan ahead by researching moving companies, obtaining accurate estimates and reading the fine print.
Research moving companies
Always vet prospective moving companies to protect your valuables and avoid moving company scams. Check out moving companies online to read reviews from other customers. Then, contact the companies by phone and ask them the following questions to double-check their reputation:
Is this a non-binding or binding estimate? A binding estimate will not change as long as the major details of your move do not change.
What insurance does your company offer?
What is your licensing number through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)? You can check the company’s credentials through the FMCSA’s database.
When will I receive my possessions?
Obtain accurate quotes and negotiate with movers
To find the most accurate quotes, contact at least three moving companies for prices near you to compare estimates and services for the most competitive pricing on the market.
Don’t sign a contract with a company until you’ve received a moving assessment. Reputable moving companies will assess your possessions to determine the cost of the move by weight. No estimate is valid without an assessment, either an in-person consultation or a virtual quote via video call.
Understand hidden fees and extra charges
The price you see isn’t always the price you get when it’s time to cross all T’s and dot the I’s. Watch out for hidden fees and add-ons, like:
Additional stops: If a mover needs to stop at your storage unit to pick up items before delivering everything to your new home, expect to pay about $75 extra.
Bulky items: Larger items like pianos, hot tubs or vehicles can significantly increase costs from $200 to $3,000, depending on the size, weight and ease of packing.
Elevator and/or stair fees: If you live in a multilevel home, you may incur a fee of around $80 for movers to carry belongings up and down flights of stairs or wait on elevators.
Fuel: Movers may charge you the national average price of fuel. This price is often included in the total cost of moving and is calculated based on the estimated mileage. You may have additional fees for distances that exceed the agreed-upon amount.
Junk removal: Clearing up old junk before your move can cost between $250 and $650. This additional cost can ultimately speed up the moving process by clearing out what you don’t need.
Long-carry fees: The moving company may charge around $100 to carry your items more than 75 feet from your front entrance if the moving truck can’t park directly in front of your home.
Moving insurance: A reputable moving company should provide the minimally legally required plan to cover your items. You can spend from $5 to $10 per pound extra for added protection.
Moving supplies: Extra items such as cardboard boxes, bubble wrap and packing tape will come at a cost — from $1 for a small box to $20 for a mattress bag.
Storage: If you need to store your belongings, you could pay between $60 and $260 on average. Larger, climate-controlled storage units cost more than small units.
Tipping: Tipping movers can increase costs by 10% to 20%, or around $5 to $10 per hour per mover.
How do I save money when hiring a mover?
Saving on the cost of your move can help you keep money in the bank for a rainy day. When applying cost-saving strategies, making a plan and organizing your belongings can go a long way. “The more prepared they are, the smoother it’ll go,” said Brown.
Follow these additional tips to save on the cost of your move.
Avoid moving on the weekends, as this is a busier time to move.
Don’t settle before you’ve received three quotes from local moving companies for competitive pricing.
Have your items packed and ready to avoid paying movers to do the job.
Less is more when it comes to moving, so toss, sell or donate junk and unnecessary items before packing.
Plan the move during the off-peak season.
Bottom line
Your moving costs will vary by the amount and size of your belongings, the distance, the time of year, local moving prices and more. While hiring a moving company can ease some of the burden of planning and moving your belongings yourself, it’s not for everyone. If you’ve tapped away at your calculator, you may find that it’s more cost-efficient to DIY the move or invest in a self-service moving company.
No matter your decision, being prepared for your move — and knowing the costs that come with it — help set the tone for a hassle-free move.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.
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