On average local residential moves can cost up to $1,500 and long distance moves can average upwards of $6,000, but there’s really no set price when it comes to hiring movers. Although moving would be made much easier if there were a set price for everything, there’s a lot of variance in the cost of each and every move.
Residential moving companies look at numerous factors during the process of calculating the final price of your move. Each company has its own rates and fees, which in itself makes estimating costs on your own difficult. There’s also the fact that what you do in terms of your move affects the cost as well, such as when you book your move.
All of this can be overwhelming, so let’s break it down so that things can be looked at a bit more simplistically.
Local Moves
Local residential movers charge hourly rates per mover along with any other applicable fees, such as the use of a moving truck and equipment. However, there are still some averages you can use to get a good estimate of what you can expect to see on your bill of lading.
- Studio apartments cost around $300 when hiring movers, including loading, unloading, and transporting your goods. It can take 3 to 4 hours for the total move to be complete.
- One-bedroom apartments or homes come in at about $400 if the moving company deems only 2 movers necessary. These moves take a bit longer than studio apartments – 4 to 5 hours.
- Two-bedroom homes or apartments may require more than 2 movers and take anywhere from 5 to 6 hours to complete. Average costs for this residential move should be around $700.
- Three-bedroom houses or apartments will typically require at least 3 and no more than 4 movers and can take up to 9 hours to complete. You can expect to see final costs of around $1,400.
Long-Distance Moves
Long-distance residential moves are calculated based on shipment weight along with distance and additional services, which means you’ll be paying per pound to move your items – 70 cents on average. Let’s explore what you can expect when moving long-distance based on household size going 1,000 miles.
- Studio apartment moves weighing approximately 1,800 pounds typically receive moving quotes somewhere around $1,200.
- One-bedroom apartments or home moves weighing anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 pounds generally cost between $1,500 to $2,500.
- Two-bedroom homes or apartments weigh an average of 5,000 to 6,000 pounds and should cost about $3,500 to $4,400.
- Three-bedroom homes or apartments can weigh 9,000 pounds or more and will average $6,500 for long distance movers to complete.
Other Considerations
The final costs you pay will depend on base fees and rates along with additional services and fees required. Let’s look over some common services and fees you may encounter when you hire professional long-distance moving companies.
- Packing services ensure that each and every one of your boxes is professionally packed and that items arrives safely. Local movers charge an average of about $40 per hour to provide packing services while long-distance movers usually offer a fixed price.
- Moving insurance protects your items in the case of damage or loss, generally about 60 cents per pound or more if you get full protection insurance. Released value protection is affordable but full-value protection offers the most coverage.
- Special Items include items that are fragile, valuable, or difficult to transport and will add to the cost of your move. Some items considered special include pianos, large mirrors, antiques, and over-size furniture.
- The day you schedule your pickup and delivery matters as well, as the middle of the week and month is less expensive. Scheduling moved for the fall and winter is also more economical, as prices will be lower than in the summer or late spring.
- Storage facilities, if needed, will also add to the cost of your move and will depend on the moving company’s storage rates. You may also use a separate storage facility depending on your preferences.
- Additional stops may be required to pick items up or unload them before getting to your destination, which local and cross-country movers will charge for. If you’re using a separate storage facility, as mentioned above, you may be subject to these additional stop fees.
- Depending on where your current, or new home, is situated, other smaller fees may come into play that can add up – particularly if the move involves apartments. Local and out-of-state movers often charge extra for negotiating stairs, having to use a hoist to get oversized furniture in or out, and needing to use smaller vehicles to shuttle belongings from the main truck to the home because the moving truck is too big to get close.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a way to calculate moving costs myself?
If you want to try to estimate the cost of your move, you can use key information such as average hourly rate, amount of time to complete the move, number of movers, travel fees, and the costs of services and supplies you will be using. Even with this information, costs can vary from one moving company to another.
How much will moving supplies be?
Moving supplies cover things like cushioning, packing tape, stretch wrap, packing paper, and other items used to keep belongings from getting damaged. If your home is a three-bedroom, on average moving supplies cost about $80.
You can reduce expenses for moving supplies by finding discounted supplies or getting supplies from friends or family that have recently moved – they may have some extras lying around.
Is shipping a vehicle expensive?
If you need to transport a vehicle, shipping costs will vary depending on the way the vehicle is shipped, the type of vehicle, and how far it is being transported.
In general, terms, shipping a vehicle less than 500 miles will average approximately $750 while going $1,500 miles averages about $1,450. In general, the longer the distance the more you will pay but the lower per mile fees will be.
Thinking of Hiring Residential Movers?
If you’re thinking about hiring local or long-distance residential movers, the time to begin making plans, finding moving companies, and booking your move is now. The earlier you schedule your move, the better deals you’ll find, and the more you’ll save on the total costs of your move.
