How much does a local move cost?

A local move (under 100 miles) typically costs $800–$2,500 for a 2–3 bedroom home. Movers charge $100–$200/hour for a crew of 2–3, plus a truck fee. The average local move takes 4–8 hours. Moving a studio or 1-bedroom apartment runs $400–$900.

How much does a long-distance move cost?

Long-distance moves (over 100 miles) cost $3,000–$10,000 for a typical 3-bedroom home, with cross-country moves running $6,000–$12,000+. Price is based on weight/volume and distance, not hourly rate. A binding estimate is essential — never sign a non-binding estimate for a long-distance move.

What is the cheapest way to move?

The cheapest moving options are: rent a moving truck and do it yourself ($200–$800), use a portable storage container like PODS ($1,000–$3,500 depending on distance), or hire a labor-only moving crew to load/unload a truck you rent ($300–$600 for labor). Full-service movers are the most expensive but least physically demanding option.

When is the cheapest time to move?

Moving is cheapest October through April (off-peak season), mid-month (not at the end of month when leases turn over), and Monday through Thursday. Summer moves (May–September) and end-of-month weekends are peak demand — prices run 20–30% higher and availability is limited.

What is a binding vs. non-binding moving estimate?

A binding estimate is a guaranteed price — the mover cannot charge more than quoted unless you add items or services. A non-binding estimate is just a prediction — the final bill can be higher if your shipment weighs more than estimated. For long-distance moves, always get a binding estimate. Inflated final bills on non-binding estimates are the #1 moving scam.

Moving Costs: What You'll Pay for Local and Long-Distance Moves in 2026

Moving costs catch most people off guard — especially for long-distance moves where the final bill can arrive weeks after moving day. This guide covers what you'll actually pay for local and long-distance moves, how movers calculate their prices, and how to protect yourself from the industry's most common scams.

Moving Cost Overview

Move Type	Size	Typical Cost
Local (under 100 miles)	Studio/1BR	$400–$900
Local	2–3 BR	$900–$2,500
Local	4+ BR	$2,000–$5,000
Long-distance (100–1,000 miles)	2–3 BR	$3,000–$7,000
Long-distance (cross-country)	2–3 BR	$5,000–$12,000
International	2–3 BR	$10,000–$30,000+

How Local Moves Are Priced

Local moves are charged by the hour. You pay for:

Hourly crew rate: $100–$200/hour for a 2-person crew; add $40–$75/hour for each additional mover. Most 2–3 bedroom moves use 2–3 movers.

Truck fee: Some companies include the truck; others charge separately ($50–$150/day).

Travel time: Most companies charge a 1-hour minimum travel fee (portal-to-portal) — the time from their warehouse to your door and back. This can add $50–$150 to your bill even before loading begins.

Add-on fees: Stairs ($50–$100 per flight), long carries ($50–$150 if truck can't park close), packing materials, and furniture disassembly/reassembly.

Tipping: Not required but standard. $20–$40 per mover for a smooth move is customary.

What actually takes time (and money)

Movers charge for every minute — so understanding what slows them down controls your cost:

Loose, unpacked items that need to be wrapped on-site
Heavy specialty items: pianos ($150–$500 surcharge), safes, pool tables
Items in multiple locations requiring multiple trips through the house
Parking challenges requiring long carries from building to truck
Elevators with limited access windows (common in condos)

Arrive fully packed and labeled on moving day. Movers who have to pack for you while the clock runs cost significantly more than those who just carry boxes.

How Long-Distance Moves Are Priced

Long-distance moves are NOT priced by the hour. They're priced by:

Weight (or cubic footage): The total weight of your shipment, measured on a certified scale. A typical 3-bedroom home shipment weighs 5,000–8,000 lbs. Rate per 100 lbs varies by distance — roughly $4–$12 per 100 lbs per 1,000 miles.

Distance: The mileage from origin to destination. Longer moves cost more per pound.

Binding vs. non-binding estimate: Binding estimates lock in the price based on an itemized inventory. Non-binding estimates are predictions that can be exceeded.

Access fees and shuttle services: If a large truck can't access your origin or destination (narrow street, low bridge, gated community), movers use a smaller shuttle truck — adding $200–$500.

Storage in transit: If your new home isn't ready at delivery, storage runs $100–$300/month.

What a typical long-distance quote looks like

3-bedroom home, Chicago to Phoenix (1,800 miles):

Estimated weight: 7,000 lbs
Base rate: ~$5/100 lbs/1,000 miles × 7,000 lbs × 1,800 miles = ~$6,300
Fuel surcharge: $300–$500
Full-value protection insurance: $200–$400
Total estimate: $6,800–$7,200

Moving Options: Cost vs. Effort Tradeoff

Full-service movers (highest cost, least effort)

Professional crew packs, loads, drives, delivers, and unpacks everything. Best for long-distance moves and buyers who value time over money.

Cost: 2–3x more than DIY options. But for a cross-country move with valuable furniture, the reduced stress and professional liability for damage makes this the right call for many people.

Portable storage containers (PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT, etc.)

A container is delivered to your home. You load it at your own pace (no time pressure). The company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. You unload.

Best for: Flexible timelines, local or regional moves, or people who want to do their own loading without renting a truck.

Cost: $1,000–$3,500 depending on distance and container size. Long-distance (cross-country) can run $4,000–$5,000 for a large container.

Advantage: 30 days of free storage in most plans. If your closing dates don't align perfectly, this is valuable flexibility.

Rental truck (DIY)

You rent a truck (Penske, U-Haul, Enterprise) and drive it yourself. Friends or hired laborers load and unload.

Cost: $200–$600 for local moves; $1,000–$3,000 cross-country (one-way rates are significantly higher). Add gas — a 26-foot truck gets 8–10 mpg.

Best for: Local moves, younger movers comfortable driving a large truck, and situations where cost savings are the priority.

Hidden cost: One-way rentals are expensive and often have limited availability in popular routes. Book far in advance.

Labor-only movers

You rent the truck; they load and unload. Often booked through platforms like TaskRabbit or Lugg, or directly with local moving companies offering labor-only service.

Cost: $100–$200/hour for a 2-person crew, typically 3–5 hours for a 2-bedroom move. Total: $300–$1,000.

Best for: Local moves where you want help with the physical work but can handle driving.

The Best Time to Move (And How Much Off-Peak Saves)

Peak season (higher prices): May through September, especially June and July. Weekends. End of month (when leases turn over). Demand is highest, prices run 20–30% above average, and scheduling quality movers is harder.

Off-peak (lower prices): October through April. Weekdays. Mid-month. You'll often get 15–25% discounts and better mover availability.

Best booking window: 4–6 weeks in advance for local moves; 6–8 weeks for long-distance. Last-minute availability exists but you get whatever crew is available, often at higher prices.

Moving Scams to Avoid

The moving industry is one of the most complained-about service sectors. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) oversees interstate movers, but enforcement is limited. Protect yourself:

Low-ball estimate scam: An unusually low estimate to win your business, followed by a drastically higher bill on delivery. For long-distance moves, they hold your belongings hostage until you pay. Protection: get a binding estimate with a complete written inventory. Verify the company on FMCSA's SAFER database at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.

Rogue brokers: Some moving "companies" are actually brokers who take your deposit and subcontract the work to whatever carrier is cheapest — who you've never vetted. Protection: confirm you're dealing directly with the carrier (company with its own trucks), not a broker.

Missing items: Items reported missing after a move are a common complaint. Protection: photograph all valuable items before loading, carry irreplaceable items yourself, and get full-value protection insurance (not the default $.60/lb released liability coverage).

Name change scam: Fraudulent companies operate under multiple names to avoid negative reviews. Check the FMCSA USDOT number — it must match the company's legal name.

Phantom movers: You pay a deposit, moving day arrives, no one shows. Protection: never wire money or pay cash for a deposit. Credit card or check only.

What to Ask Before Hiring a Mover

Before signing anything:

Is this a binding or non-binding estimate? (Always insist on binding for long-distance.)
Are you the actual carrier or a broker?
What is your USDOT number? (Verify at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov)
What insurance coverage is included, and what is the cost for full-value protection?
What are the pickup and delivery windows? (Long-distance movers often have a delivery window of several days — confirm what's in writing.)
What is the cancellation/rescheduling policy?
Are fuel surcharges included in the estimate?

Bottom Line

Budget $900–$2,500 for a local 2–3 bedroom move with professional movers, or $400–$800 for a DIY rental truck. Long-distance moves in the same size range run $3,000–$7,000 with a full-service carrier. Get three binding estimates from FMCSA-registered carriers, verify each company's USDOT number, and never pay a large deposit via cash or wire. The cheapest estimate on a long-distance move is usually the highest-risk one.