If you’re moving within 50 miles, the average cost of a portable moving container is usually around $300 – $700 for one container. Naturally, for cross country moves, the average moving container price can range from $900 to $5,000 or more based on the distance and size of the move.

How Much Do Movers Cost? – Moving Cost Calculator

Q: How much does a moving company cost?

Depending on whether you are moving locally or long distance will determine how the moving company will charge. The two biggest cost factors when moving long distance are weight and distance. The more items you have or further they are being moved, the more it will cost. Local movers charge an hourly rate that generally includes a moving truck, all the equipment, miscellaneous materials, and the movers.

Q: How much does it cost to move a house?

A 3 bedroom house move from Los Angeles, CA to Denver, CO typically goes from $3600 - $6300

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How much does a moving company cost? How are moving costs calculated?

Trying to figure out the cost to move cross country can be complicated and confusing. However, our tireless research and focus on cost predictor metrics make answering this difficult question a whole lot easier.
Let’s take a look at this high level. One of the reasons why there is often so much anxiety over moving costs is the wide range of options that can exist price wise. A local move can literally cost anywhere from $250 to $2,000 based on the size of the move. Meanwhile, a long distance relocation typically goes from $1,800 to over $13,000. It makes perfect sense that the shorter the distance of the move, the more affordable it can be.

There are many factors that can contribute to a moving estimate. Here are some of the more prominent variables that you should keep in mind:

Distance matters: As mentioned above, long distance movers are typically more expensive.
All about size: Moving a small one bedroom apartment will be cheaper than a three bedroom house.
Moving season: When you decide to move is essential. During the summer months when kids are on break from school, movers are in high demand.
Do it yourself vs professionals: While a do it yourself move can be cheaper, there can be immense stress associated with it.
Extra costs: From packing supplies and cleaning services to shuttle fees and packing help, there are tons of moving costs associated with relocating.
Special items: If you have a hot tub, a piano or a pool table, it will cost you to have it moved. Basically, any specialty item that’s tough to relocate will be costly.

We’ve devised a table with accurate statistics to give you ballpark ranges for the cost of your move.

Moving Cost Calculator – Updated Pricing September 2024

	1 bedroom apartment	2 bedroom apartment	3 bedroom home	4 – 5 bedroom home
150 miles +	$1,850 – $2,065	$2,184 – $2,873	$2,961 – $4,200	$3,746 – $6,100
500 miles +	$1,994 – $2,868	$2,175 – $3,139	$3,002 – $5,411	$4,475 – $7,159
1000 miles +	$2,275 – $3,267	$2,403 – $3,715	$3,751 – $6,438	$7,106 – $8,679
2500 miles +	$4,266 – $5,500	$6,687 – $8,525	10,185 – $12,353	$12,631 – $17,652

*Ranges shown are very rough estimates based on historical pricing info from multiples van lines. The cost of your move will vary. The best way to get accurate pricing is to request a free moving quote from a professional moving company.

How much does it cost to move a house? What is the average cost to hire a moving company?

US Map
Trying to figure out average moving costs takes some knowledge and skill. Most local movers can be as affordable as $50 an hour to as pricy as $200 per hour. What decides their rate? Things such as the number of movers needed to complete the job, weight of your shipment and extra services requested are all contributing factors.

If you live in a small one-bedroom apartment or a studio, your move will likely take 2-3 hours, costing you $400 bucks maximum. However, a larger 2-3 bedroom home may take up to 5 hours to complete with 3-5 movers on hand – costing you anything from $600 to $2,000.

We mentioned that some local moving companies take the weight of your shipment into account. Well, this is pretty much common practice for all long distance moving companies on the market. Based on your moving inventory (a detailed list of items that you need relocated), your moving rates can be anything from $500 to tens of thousands.

Here’s a quick breakdown of typical average weight based on the number of bedrooms in a home:

Studio apartment: 1800 pounds
1 bedroom apartment: 2,200 – 3,200 pounds
2 bedroom home: 5,000 – 6,200 pounds
3 bedroom home: 9,000 pounds

*Please note that additional fees apply for distance, specialty items like pool tables and hot tubs etc. and extra moving supplies. Additionally, moving to or from less populated cities can cost more since fewer moving networks usually exist in these areas.

What is the average cost of a “do-it-yourself” move?

moving truck If you’re considering foregoing professional movers and handling your move on your own, there are a few things you should take into consideration in order to find a moving estimate. While there are several things that add up during a do-it-yourself move, there are really two popular options that most people consider. You can either rent a truck and do the heavy lifting yourself or use moving containers. Let’s take a deep dive into both options and examine the costs associated with each.

How much does it cost to rent a moving truck?

Much like anything else, renting a moving truck can be affordable or pricy based on your needs. With so many options on the market, it’s important to shop around and explore your options. For example, at U-Haul, one of the more recognizable names in truck rentals, a one day rental can go from $83 for a small local move to $1,419 for a long distance move one way. Please note that moving company prices differ so make sure you shop around.

What decides the price?

As expected, the longer the distance of the move and the bigger the truck you need, the more expensive your truck rental will be. All moving truck rates usually allow a set amount of miles and days as part of the agreement.

For example, if you are moving from Florida to New York, the rental truck rate would likely include 2,200 miles for driving and 3-5 days rental time. But if you’re a slow driver or you want to enjoy some stops along the way, additional rental days and mileage can be purchased. Just keep in mind that all of this adds up so keep a close eye on your budget.

It is also smart to factor in the cost of gas when renting a moving truck for a long distance move. Most moving truck rentals only get 8-12 miles per gallon (we know, not that great!). While it may not seem like a big deal ahead of time, the cost of fuel adds up quickly when driving cross country.

Is renting a portable storage container expensive?

To answer the question directly, it can be cheaper than hiring a professional mover but charges can add up fast. Moving using a portable storage container offers you a hybrid of do-it-yourself moving and using a professional company in a way. In essence, a company drops off a container at your home, you pack it with the belongings that you want moved and then they pick it up and transport it to your new residence or go a storage unit until you’re ready to move.

If you’re moving within 50 miles, the average cost of a portable moving container is usually around $300 – $700 for one container. Please note that a move usually requires 3 separate container charges – a drop off charge, a transfer charge and a pick-up charge. If you need to move the container more times, it will cost more. Again, be sure to factor this into your budget.

Naturally, for cross country moves, the average moving container price can range from $900 to $5,000 or more based on the distance and size of the move. One way to help keep moving company prices lower is to find a company that has locations in or near where you are moving to and from. Some companies also offer free storage for a month. By shopping around and comparing companies, you will be able to find the one that’s right for you and fits within your budget effortlessly.

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