Moving Cost Calculator

How moving costs are estimated

Local moves are usually charged by the hour for a crew and truck. Long-distance moves are priced by the weight of your belongings and the distance. Packing, stairs, large items and storage add to the total.

The formula

Local move = hourly rate × crew hours + travel fee + extras

Worked example

A two-bedroom local move often takes a crew of three about four to six hours. For example, at an illustrative $150 an hour for the crew, five hours plus a $100 travel fee and no extras would come to $150 × 5 + $100 = $850; this rate is only an example, not a quote.

How to use this calculator

Enter the number of movers, the hours of work and the rate per mover. Then add the truck and fuel cost, boxes and supplies, the tip, and any storage and other costs. The moving cost calculator adds these into an estimated moving cost, with labor, tip, truck and fuel, and supplies and other costs shown separately, which you can use to set a budget and to judge the quotes you receive.

What the result means

The result is a planning figure, not a price. Movers set their own rates, and those rates differ by city, season and company. Use the estimate to see roughly what to set aside and which choices cost the most. Then collect written quotes for the real number. If a quote is far above or below the estimate, ask the mover what it includes.

More examples

Time is the largest part of a local move. Using the same example rate of $150 an hour and a $100 travel fee:

Each extra hour adds $150 in this example, so the gap between a four-hour and a six-hour job is $300.

Extras are added on top. Say the five-hour move also includes $300 of packing help and a $75 stair fee. The total becomes $850 + $300 + $75 = $1,225. These amounts are examples to show the arithmetic, not typical charges.

What changes the result

• Home size. More rooms mean more boxes and furniture. That means more crew hours on a local move and more weight on a long-distance move.
• Distance. A local move pays for the drive in crew time or a travel fee. On a long-distance move, distance is one of the two main price factors.
• Packing help. Having the movers pack adds labor and materials. Packing yourself removes that cost.
• Access. Stairs, a long walk from the truck to the door, or a slow elevator all add time.
• Large items and storage. A piano, a safe or a period in storage is usually priced separately.
• Timing. Summer and the start and end of the month are the busiest times, so prices tend to be higher then.

Common mistakes

• Guessing the inventory. Walk through every room, closet, garage and storage unit before you ask for quotes.
• Comparing quotes that cover different things. Check that each one includes the same packing, materials, travel and insurance.
• Not being ready when the crew arrives. On an hourly move you pay for the time the crew spends waiting or boxing loose items.
• Forgetting building rules. Some buildings require an elevator booking or limit moving hours, and a delay costs crew time.
• Budgeting only for the movers. Boxes, cleaning, utility setup and time off work are part of the cost of moving too.

Related calculators

For a mid-month move, the prorated rent calculator works out the partial month at either address. Check the new rent against your income with the rent affordability calculator. If you are buying, the closing cost calculator covers the other large one-time expense.

Frequently asked questions