The short answer
Movers cost roughly $40–$50 per mover per hour for a local move, and are priced on weight plus mileage for anything interstate. In practice that means a two-bedroom home costs about $475 – $775 to move across town, and about $4,500 – $6,000 to move 1,000 miles with full-service movers.
Those are transport figures. Packing, storage, bulky items and full-value protection sit on top — and they are where most people's budgets slip.
How much do local movers cost?
Under about 100 miles, movers bill by the hour. You are paying for a crew, and the bill is crew size × hourly rate × hours, plus a travel fee for getting the truck to you and back. Most companies enforce a two or three hour minimum, so a very small job still has a floor.
| Home size | Crew | Hours | Typical total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2 movers | 2–3 | $235 – $375 |
| 1 bedroom | 2 movers | 3–5 | $315 – $575 |
| 2 bedrooms | 2 movers | 5–7 | $475 – $775 |
| 3 bedrooms | 3 movers | 6–9 | $795 – $1,425 |
| 4 bedrooms | 4 movers | 8–10 | $1,355 – $2,075 |
| 5+ bedrooms | 4 movers | 10–12 | $1,675 – $2,475 |
Based on $40–$50 per mover per hour plus a$75 travel fee. Packing and surcharges are additional. Rates run at the top of that band in dense metros and at the bottom in smaller markets.
How much does it cost to move out of state?
Once you cross a state line the pricing basis changes entirely. The carrier weighs the truck loaded and empty, and you pay on the difference plus the mileage. Home size is the best available proxy for that weight before anyone visits — a studio averages roughly 2,000 lbs, a four-bedroom house closer to 9,000 lbs.
| Home size | 250 mi | 1,000 mi | 2,500 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $844 – $1,125 | $3,375 – $4,500 | $8,438 – $11,250 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,013 – $1,350 | $4,050 – $5,400 | $10,125 – $13,500 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,125 – $1,500 | $4,500 – $6,000 | $11,250 – $15,000 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,294 – $1,725 | $5,175 – $6,900 | $12,938 – $17,250 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,463 – $1,950 | $5,850 – $7,800 | $14,625 – $19,500 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,688 – $2,250 | $6,750 – $9,000 | $16,875 – $22,500 |
Full-service transport only, no packing. Run your own route through the moving cost calculator for a figure based on the real driving distance.
What you pay depends on the kind of mover
Full-service movers
$$$They pack, load, drive, unload and can unpack. The benchmark for interstate moves and the option with the strongest liability protection.
Labour-only movers
$You rent the truck; they load and unload it, billed by the hour with no truck in the price. Popular for local moves and for loading a rental or container.
Moving containers
$$A container is dropped at your door, you fill it, the company drives it. In our model, 28% below full service on long-distance moves.
Rental truck (DIY)
$Cheapest on paper. The advertised day rate excludes mileage, fuel, equipment and insurance — so price the whole one-way trip before comparing it with a mover.
The costs that are not in the quote
Nearly every complaint about a final bill traces back to one of these. Each carrier sets them in its own tariff, so the amount belongs on your written estimate: ask about each before you sign.
| Charge | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Long carry | The truck cannot park close to the door; the trigger distance is in the carrier's tariff |
| Stair carry | Per flight, or billed as extra hours |
| Elevator fee | The building has no direct truck access |
| Shuttle service | The street is too narrow for the main truck, so a smaller vehicle ferries goods |
| Bulky item | Piano, safe, pool table, treadmill |
| Storage in transit | Goods held before delivery: a daily rate plus handling in, handling out and redelivery |
| Expedited delivery | A guaranteed narrow delivery window |
| Full-value protection | Replacement-value coverage, the default on interstate moves; each mover sets the charge |
How to tell a fair quote from a bad one
The cheapest bid is not always the best one, and occasionally it is a trap. A shipment held hostage against a suddenly inflated price is the single most common serious complaint filed against movers. Walk away if you see any of these:
- A quote given over the phone with no in-home or video survey
- A large cash or wire deposit demanded before moving day
- No USDOT number, or one that does not check out on the FMCSA register
- A blank or incomplete bill of lading presented for signature
- A company that answers the phone generically rather than by name
- An estimate far below every other bid — the classic hostage-load setup
Every interstate carrier must be registered with the FMCSA and carry a USDOT number. Checking it takes a minute and rules out most rogue operators before you have paid anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do movers cost on average?
For a local move, expect roughly $40–$50 per mover per hour — about $475 – $775 for a typical two-bedroom home. For a long-distance move, cost is driven by weight and mileage instead: the same two-bedroom home moved 1,000 miles runs about $4,500 – $6,000 with full-service movers.
How much does it cost to move out of state?
Interstate moves are priced on weight plus mileage. Our model puts a two-bedroom home at $1,125 – $1,500 over 250 miles, $4,500 – $6,000 over 1,000 miles and $11,250 – $15,000 coast to coast. Packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
Do movers charge by the hour or by weight?
Local moves, generally under 100 miles, are hourly with a minimum of two or three hours plus travel time. Interstate moves are almost always priced by the weight of your shipment plus the mileage, and federal rules require the carrier to weigh the truck.
How much should I tip movers?
There is no obligation and no set amount; it is never part of the quote. Tip more for a long day or difficult access, and tip each mover directly rather than handing a lump sum to the foreman.
Why are moving quotes so different from each other?
Carriers price on different bases, run different equipment and have different capacity on your dates. A truck already routed past your destination can quote far below one that would return empty. That is why identical jobs can draw very different quotes, and why three written estimates is the minimum.
What is the cheapest way to hire movers?
Book mid-week and mid-month outside the May–September peak, pack yourself, cut weight before the survey, and use labour-only movers or a container if you can handle the loading. Those four decisions together routinely cut a bill by a third.
Are moving costs tax deductible?
For most people, no. The federal moving expense deduction has been suspended for civilians since 2018. Active-duty military moving under permanent change of station orders remain eligible, and a handful of states still allow a deduction on state returns.
How far in advance should I book movers?
Four to eight weeks for a long-distance move, and eight to twelve if you are moving between May and September. Good crews on peak-season weekends are booked out first, and late bookings pay the premium.