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How Much Does It Cost To Move?
By Aja McClanahan MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
The 2020s began with an unexpected moving boom that’s still going on in many parts of the country. With such high demand for residential moving services, prices can fluctuate considerably. Read on if you want to see what it costs to move these days.
Many factors can determine the cost of your move, including how much stuff you have, where you’re going and whether you’ll tackle the move on your own or hire professionals instead. In any case, we’ll help you figure out roughly how much it costs to move. If you’re comfortable with the initial figures, you can continue your research by contacting one or more moving companies for a firmer estimate regarding your location.
Average moving costs
Average moving expenses vary considerably depending on what items you’re moving and where you’re going. Certain regions may have more expensive labor and fuel, which can also affect what you’ll pay. Below are some ballpark moving costs that you can use as a guideline for budgeting.
Local moving
| Local cost | |||
| Home size | Movers | Cost per hour | Estimated cost |
| 1 Bedroom | 2 | $150 | $1,250 |
| 2-3 Bedroom | 4 | $200 | |
| 4-5 Bedroom | 5 | $250 | |
Long-distance moving
| Long distance cost | ||
| Home size | Miles | Estimated cost |
| 1 Bedroom | 1,000 | $3,500 |
| 2-3 Bedroom | 1,000+ | $6,300 |
| 4-5 Bedroom | 2,500+ | $10,000+ |
International moving
| International cost | ||
| Destination | Home size | Estimated cost |
| Europe | 3-4 Bedroom | $8,000-$12,000 |
| Asia | 3-4 Bedroom | $8,500-$13,000 |
| Australia | 3-4 Bedroom | $8,700-$12,500 |
Moving truck rentals
| Truck rental costs | ||
| Home size | Miles | Estimated cost |
| 1 Bedroom | 50 | $130 |
| 2-3 Bedroom | 450 | $700-$800 |
| 4-5 Bedroom | 1,750 | $2,140 |
What are additional moving costs and fees?
When you get a moving estimate, you’ll likely get a price that includes loading, transporting and unloading your items for the move. If you aren’t hiring help, you’ll likely just pay for the costs of a vehicle, fuel and packing materials. Here are some optional moving services you can ask to be included in your estimate.
Packing
You can have a moving crew pack some or all of your items. The most cost-effective way to handle this extra service might be packing the extremely tedious items like dishes, toiletries and small toys yourself. But you might have your movers pack more fragile furnishings like a china cabinet, a big screen TV, or large mirrors.
Storage
Many moving companies also offer storage options. If your permanent housing will not be available right away or your move is temporary, you can add storage to your moving estimate. Similar to your moving costs, the amount you’ll pay for storage will depend on how many things you’ll be storing.
The size of the storage space and how long you’ll use it determines the monthly fee. If it makes sense, you might discard some items before storing them to help you save money. Portable storage units called PODs could also be an option if you need more flexibility with storing and moving your belongings. If this interests you, check into pods moving costs to see if pods could be useful for your move.
Moving insurance
Moving insurance can protect your personal items in the case they’re lost or damaged during a move. You can often purchase this insurance directly through your moving company. If you’re moving items yourself and leasing a vehicle, the truck rental company may also offer insurance.
In either case, make sure you read the fine print for limitations and exclusions. For instance, some moving companies will not cover losses for items you pack or handle yourself. If you’re renting a vehicle to move items, there are different coverages for the vehicle and for your personal items. Make sure you understand how your moving insurance works and what circumstances could void your coverage.
How to calculate the cost of your move?
The best way to calculate the cost of moving is to have an accurate list of the items you’ll be moving. The more detailed and exact your inventory list, the better shot you’ll have at coming up with an accurate moving estimate.
Once you have a list of items, you have a few options to get an estimate:
- Enter the information into a generic or company-specific moving calculator
- Call one or more companies you’re considering to walk you through the estimate process
- Invite a moving company representative to your home for a walkthrough
Though that last option will most likely result in the most accurate estimate, it may not be convenient for the person moving or the moving company providing the estimate. You’ll have to determine whether this approach might work better for you and if it’s worth scouting out a moving company willing to come to your home for an estimate. This type of quote could give you more peace of mind since the chance of a price increase on moving day is reduced.
What factors affect the cost of moving?
The cost of your move will depend on various factors, so here are a few things to keep in mind when planning your move.
Distance
A long-distance move will cost much more than a local move due to the cost of the fuel and the time it will take to truck your stuff to a distant location. Movers who load your belongings onto a truck, drive many miles, then unload the same belongings will add to your moving costs — especially since long distances could require lodging for one or more movers. Even if there’s a separate moving crew from one location to the next, your moving estimate will still likely include costs for the fuel and drivers needed for the longer distance.
An international move can be very expensive due to the distance, taxes, insurance and even the method of transport. You can move personal items by land, sea or air, but each mode of transportation will have its pros and cons and different prices. The best long-distance moving companies can tell you about your options and which one is ideal for your circumstances.
Finally, if your move is local, beware of things that could increase your moving costs, such as stairs, loading an elevator or having to move during certain times of the day. (Some building management restricts move-ins to specific hours.) It’s best to work with an interstate moving company to determine how much they’ll charge for your local move.
Rooms
Typical moving estimates will ask for the number of rooms in your home to give you a quote. You can start with the number of bedrooms but should be prepared to give details about the other rooms in your home with items to be moved such as the living room, basement and garage.
Furniture
Once you specify the number of rooms, you’ll add more details by itemizing your furniture. This step is important because the movers need to know if there are especially large, fragile or otherwise awkward items to move, as these factors can affect your final moving costs.
Cubic feet or weight
Although you’ll provide as much information about how much you have to move to get the most accurate quote, it’s important to know that the final costs can, and often do, change once the moving crew arrives.
Upon arriving, your movers will assess what can actually fit in their vehicle(s), most often measured in cubic feet. In some cases, the moving company may tabulate your final bill based on weight.
In either case, know that what really matters is how accurate you are when reporting how much stuff you have to relocate. If your initial inventory comes up with 1,000 lbs to move and the actual weight is 1,750 lbs, your costs could change.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to ask your moving company, “What could change my estimate on moving day, and how do you calculate it?” Whether by the number of items, cubic feet or weight, you’ll know why the final price could change and to what extent.
How much does it cost to move FAQ
Are moving expenses tax deductible?
Moving expenses, for most people, are no longer tax deductible. There may be exceptions if you're an active member of the armed forces, if your move is related to a business you own, or if your move took place before 2018 and you haven't already claimed those expenses on your income tax return.
How much does moving cost per hour?
Hired moving services can cost anywhere from $50 to $150 per hour per laborer. This average will vary by location, distance and complexity of your move.
Is it cheaper to move by yourself or to hire a moving company?
Generally speaking, it's less expensive to move items yourself. However, a move can get expensive if there are losses or injuries involved.
What is the most inexpensive way to move?
The most expensive way to move is by hiring a company and having them pack and unpack your belongings. Although expensive, it may be a timesaver for busy people who prefer a full-service moving option.
Aja McClanahan is a writer that covers personal finance and a number of related topics. Her work and personal story of paying down over $120,000 in debt have been featured in publications around the web including sites like Money, CreditCards.com, Business Insider, Inc., Experian and many others.