Moving companies charge an average of $1,396 for shorter moves and $6,017 for moves over 100 miles.
If these prices shock you, you’re not alone. Our moving trends survey in 2022 showed that more than 40% of movers interviewed were surprised at the cost of moving.
The good news is that you can save a lot by doing some or all the work yourself — packing, loading, and driving to your new home. Or, you can get experts to help you find fair prices from top moving companies.
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Average cost of moving
| Average | Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Local move | $1,396 | $1,072–$1,720 |
| Long-distance move | $6,017 | $5,288–$6,745 |
Local moving costs
Local moves cost an average of $1,400. But the price depends on the moving company you hire, the amount of stuff you have, and the distance of the move. The range for local move costs is around $1,100–1,700.
Local moving companies typically charge an hourly rate based on the number of movers needed.
If you don’t know how many movers to hire, the moving company can help you. The company’s team will look at your belongings and any special circumstances (like piano moving or lots of stairs) to figure out how many movers you need.
Additional local moving costs
You may have to pay extra for special services. Here are a few examples:
| Service | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Stairs | $350 |
| Furniture assembly/disassembly | $2,300+ (part of a full-service move) |
| Piano moving | $400 |
| Full insurance coverage | 1–2% of your items’ value |
Ways to save on local moves
- Disassemble and assemble furniture. This can take a lot of time. If you do it yourself, you’ll pay the movers for fewer hours.
- Declutter. The less stuff you have, the less you’ll pay to move it.
- Skip the extra moving insurance. Local moves are generally safer than long-distance moves. If you’re willing to risk it, you can save money by using just the basic coverage.
- Place your things by the door. Your movers can load the truck faster if they don’t need to carry items through the house or down stairs.
Long-distance moving costs
Long-distance moves (over 100 miles) cost an average of $6,000. But the costs for long-distance moves range from $5,300 to $6,700. Long-distance moving companies generally charge based on move distance and the amount of stuff you have..
Additional long-distance moving costs
There are a few things that could make your long-distance move higher than your initial quote. Here are a few things that could add some extra costs to your move.
| Service | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Fuel surcharge | 10–20% of the total move cost** |
| Full insurance coverage | 1–2% of your items’ value* |
| Storage | $20–450 per month (depending on the size of the unit)* |
Way to save on long-distance moves
Declutter your home before requesting moving quotes. Movers charge by weight or volume, so having less stuff means your move will cost less.
Book your move during the off-season. Moves usually cost less in the middle of the week or in the winter when fewer people move. You can also contact moving companies to ask when they offer their cheapest rates.
Have your movers weigh your stuff twice. Your final bill will show the actual weight of your shipment. But the moving company could get the weight wrong (intentionally or unintentionally) – especially if they load your goods with someone else’s. Have them weigh it twice to make sure you’re paying the right amount.
Reminder: If your movers do a good job, you should give them a tip. Here’s how much you should tip your movers.
Do-it-yourself moving costs
About a third of movers we surveyed in 2022 said that moving companies charge too much. You can save money by moving yourself.
| Cost category | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Rental truck | $1,200–2,100* |
| Packing materials | $50–200 |
| Insurance | 1–2% of your total move cost |
| Food and lodging | Varies |
| Fuel | Varies |
Rental truck
The biggest expense for DIY moves is usually renting the moving truck.
According to HomeAdvisor, the average moving truck rental for a long-distance move costs $1,200–2,100. But we got quotes for long-distance moves, and it seems like that price range might be low. If you’re planning a cross-country move or a move to a more expensive area, you might pay a lot more.
Penske and U-Haul both quoted us more than $3,200 for a move from Framingham, Massachusetts, to Tampa, Florida, with a 15- or 16-foot truck. U-Haul’s quote also capped the move distance at around 1,600 miles. Penske’s quote included unlimited miles.
You’ll pay much less if you’re only moving one or two towns over. For example, both companies quoted us well under $300 for a 23-mile move from Winter Haven to Poinciana in Florida with the same size truck.
Packing materials
Another big DIY moving expense is packing materials, but there are ways to cut down the cost.
Buying or renting materials like boxes, tape, moving blankets, and trollies can easily cost you a couple hundred dollars. But you can also get moving boxes for free at grocery stores and on Facebook. And you can just use things like old sheets for moving blankets.
Insurance
Long-distance moves can be risky, so you may want to buy moving insurance — usually 1–2% of the total move cost. Truck rental companies usually offer optional coverage in transit. You can also check with your homeowners’ or renters’ policy to see if it’ll cover your items during the move, though that’s not very common.
Food and lodging
You can eat on a budget by packing food and choosing cheaper restaurants while on the road to your new home. Websites like Booking.com and Trivago can help you get good deals on hotel stays.
Fuel
Whether you’re renting a truck or driving your own vehicle, you’ll have to pay for gas. The GasBuddy app can help you determine your fuel costs in advance. Monday is usually the cheapest day to buy gas, so you may want to schedule your move for then.
Next steps
- Compare quotes: If you want to hire a moving company, start by comparing quotes from two to three movers with positive customer reviews.
- Declutter and start packing: Organize everything you own and get ready to pack for your next move. Start with our packing guides, like how to pack clothes for moving.
🚚 Need help with your move? Get expert advice and a fair price with Clever Move. It’s 100% free and there’s no obligation to book. Get started now.
Why trust us?
Our mystery-shopping team spent weeks calling dozens of moving companies to request quotes for local and long-distance moves so we could approximate average costs and analyze itemized moving quotes.
We also spoke with Tywanquila Walker, author of the Order Your Life Moving Guide, to get professional advice about how to save money when you book a move.
Learn more about Home Bay’s editorial policy.
