How Much Does It Cost To Move Out of State?
Quick answer: The average cost to move out of state is about $4,300, based on moveBuddha data. Full-service movers charge $1,100 - $13,700 for moves of 1,000 - 2,500 miles, while moving containers run $2,000 - $7,600 cross-country. Your price depends on distance, home size, and whether you hire one of the best interstate moving companies or handle some of the work yourself.
Jump to the out-of-state moving cost info you’re looking for:
Full-service mover costs
Full-service movers charge $1,100 - $13,700 to move out of state over 1,000 - 2,500 miles, based on quotes we’ve received and what Better Moves Project participants paid. A full-service moving company packs, loads, transports, and unloads your belongings and supplies the equipment and packing materials, so it’s usually the most expensive way to move.
The table below shows estimated full-service costs* by home size and distance.
| Home size | 250 miles | 1,000 miles | 2,500 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 BR | $700 - $1,900 | $1,100 - $2,700 | $1,500 - $3,500 |
| 2 - 3 BR | $1,600 - $2,900 | $1,900 - $4,500 | $2,900 - $6,500 |
| 4 - 5 BR | $2,100 - $3,950 | $4,100 - $7,800 | $7,900 - $13,700 |
*These price ranges are rough estimates. The actual size of your move, additional services, truck parking access, market conditions, time of year, and availability can greatly affect your final cost.
rating
4.23 / 5
- Specialty packing services
- White-glove reputation
- 80+ years' experience
Moving container costs
A moving container costs $2,000 - $7,600 for a cross-country move and $450 - $2,100 for moves under 250 miles. You pack and load the container yourself, and the company drives it to your new home, which makes containers a cheaper middle ground between full-service movers and a rental truck.
Moving containers from PODS, U-Pack, and 1-800-PACK-RAT are the most popular options. Here are typical container costs for an out-of-state move:
| Home size | Under 250 miles | Cross-country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 BR | $450 - $800 | $2,000 - $4,000 |
| 2 - 3 BR | $750 - $1,900 | $3,000 - $4,900 |
| 4 - 5 BR | $900 - $2,100 | $5,500 - $7,600 |
See how the top container companies stack up in our PODS vs. 1-800-PACK-RAT vs. U-Pack comparison.
Pro tip: Most container companies offer military, student, or online booking discounts, so ask before you reserve. Find current offers in our guide to moving container discounts.
rating
4.8 / 5
Rental truck costs
A rental truck is one of the cheapest ways to move out of state, with 16 - 26-foot trucks costing $600 - $4,900 for long-distance moves. U-Haul and Penske both offer nationwide coverage and multiple truck sizes, but you’ll drive, load, and unload yourself.
We got quotes for a short and a cross-country move to show how much truck size and distance change the price:
| Truck | Under 100 miles* | 2,126 miles** |
|---|---|---|
| Penske 16-ft. | $439 | Not available |
| Penske 26-ft. | $700 | $2,999 |
| U-Haul 15-ft. | $112 | $1,703 |
| U-Haul 26-ft. | $140 | $2,128 |
*York, Pennsylvania, to Wilmington, Delaware. **Charleston, South Carolina, to Phoenix. Quotes don’t include fuel, which can add hundreds of dollars on a cross-country drive.
Compare more options in our list of best rental trucks.
Costs by moving company
Better Moves Project participants paid an average of $3,501 - $9,870 with top interstate movers and PODS, depending on the company and distance. Each mover prices differently, so the company you choose can change your cost by thousands of dollars.
The table below shows average final costs reported for each company by distance.
| Company | Under 750 miles | 750 - 1,500 miles | Over 1,500 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safeway | $5,923 | $7,196 | $9,870 |
| American Van Lines | $4,263 | $4,853 | $6,218 |
| PODS | $3,501 | $4,608 | $5,801 |
| Mayzlin | $4,697 | $5,746 | $6,581 |
PODS came in lowest at every distance, but the trade-off is convenience. With a container, you handle the packing, loading, and unloading.
What real customers paid
Five Better Moves Project participants paid $5,060 - $8,798 to move out of state with full-service movers over 723 - 3,000 miles. Accurate inventories made the biggest difference between a final bill that matched the quote and one that didn’t.
Here’s what each participant paid. Click a move to read the full story.
| Move | Distance (miles) | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| FL to TN | 723 | $5,060 |
| MI to FL | 1,019 | $8,798 |
| NJ to LA | 1,303 | $5,100 |
| CA to NY | 2,911 | $5,425 |
| CA to FL | 3,000 | $8,345 |
Isabel’s California to New York move cost exactly her $5,425 quote, and Melissa paid $140 under hers. Shayndel paid $2,577 over her quote because she left items off her inventory, so list everything you plan to move before you get estimates.
Costs by popular route
Full-service moves on popular interstate routes cost $2,704 - $9,747 for a 2 - 3 bedroom home, based on quotes and reported costs from Better Moves Project participants. The five routes below lead into Florida and Washington, two of the top destination states in moveBuddha’s September 2026 moving cost calculator data.
These costs cover transportation only. Packing, storage, and specialty item fees add to the total.
| Move | Distance (miles) | Cost* |
|---|---|---|
| NY to FL | 1,300 | $2,704 - $6,506 |
| CA to WA | 1,100 | $2,976 - $6,973 |
| IL to FL | 1,300 | $3,061 - $7,558 |
| TX to FL | 1,200 | $3,539 - $8,159 |
| CA to FL | 2,750 | $4,631 - $9,747 |
*Cost ranges reflect full-service movers for a 2 - 3 bedroom home over approximate distances. DIY and container options cost significantly less.
Cost of other popular routes
Calculate your moving cost
The best way to find an affordable out-of-state mover is to compare quotes from several companies. moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator weighs distance, home size, move date, and service level together, so your price range reflects your actual move instead of a national average.
Use it below to get instant estimates from full-service movers, moving container companies, freight services, and rental truck companies, with no personal details required. If you’d rather have movers compete for your move, the moveBuddha Mover Marketplace collects up to five no-obligation quotes from vetted movers with one request.
What affects moving costs?
How you move, how far you go, and how much you bring drive most of your out-of-state moving cost.
These are the main factors to plan around:
- Weight: The weight or volume of your belongings is one of the biggest cost factors, and bulky items like pianos and safes can add $150 - $400 each.
- Distance: The farther you move, the more you pay in transportation and fuel.
- Timing: Moving during peak moving season in summer costs more than moving in fall or winter, and weekend moves can cost more too.
- Type of mover: Some types of moving companies cost more, and moving containers cost about 30% less than full-service movers on average.
- Additional services: Professional packing adds $0.15 - $0.21 per pound on average, and storage or appliance service adds more.
- Coverage: The moving insurance or valuation option you choose affects your total cost.
- Fuel: Fuel surcharges add 8% - 15% to transportation charges on long-distance moves. Many movers tie them to the national average diesel price published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which hit $6.199 a gallon on Oct. 5, 2026.
Additional moving costs
Expect expenses beyond the move itself when you relocate to another state.
Add these to your moving checklist:
- Housing costs: Budget for closing costs if you’re buying or a deposit and first month’s rent if you’re renting.
- Cost of living: Moving to a more expensive area raises everyday costs from day one.
- Vehicle fees: Your new state will charge for a driver’s license, title, and registration.
- Utilities: Setting up utilities can mean deposits and connection fees.
- Restocking: You’ll need to replace items you can’t move, like cleaning products and perishable food.
- Repairs: Lost or damaged items may not be fully covered by your mover’s liability coverage.
- Access fees: Long carries, stairs, and shuttle service add $75 - $500 or more when the truck can’t park close to your home.
How to lower your cost
The fastest ways to lower the cost to move out of state are to move less, move off-peak, and compare quotes.
Try these tips:
- Declutter. Every item you declutter before the move cuts weight and lowers your quote.
- Pack yourself. Skip full packing service, or have movers pack only breakables.
- Move off-peak. January is the cheapest month to move, and fall and winter rates run lower than summer.
- Compare quotes. moveBuddha users save 30% on average compared to people who book the first quote they get, and our calculator runs on 1,000+ live price points collected every month.
- Drive efficiently. If you rent a truck, stick to the speed limit to save on fuel.
Pro tip: Ask for a binding or “guaranteed not-to-exceed” estimate so your price can’t climb on moving day. Learn the difference in our guide to binding vs. non-binding estimates.
Need more ideas? See our guide to cheap ways to move out of state.
FAQs
How much does it cost to move out of state?
It costs about $4,300 on average to move out of state, based on moveBuddha data. Full-service movers charge $1,100 - $13,700 for moves of 1,000 - 2,500 miles, while containers and rental trucks cost less. Get a personalized estimate with our moving cost calculator.
What is the cheapest way to move out of state?
The cheapest way to move out of state is usually to rent a truck from U-Haul or Penske and do all the packing, loading, and driving yourself. A moving container is the next cheapest option, and full-service movers cost the most. See more cheap ways to move out of state.
What is the cheapest month to move out of state?
January is the cheapest month to move out of state, based on moveBuddha’s average cost data. May - September costs the most because demand peaks. Learn more about peak moving season.
How do you move out of state?
To move out of state, line up housing and income first, then set a budget that includes any relocation package from your employer. Choose a moving method, get at least three quotes, and declutter before you pack. A moving checklist keeps every step on track.
How do you choose an out-of-state mover?
Choose an out-of-state mover with an active USDOT number you can verify on the FMCSA site. Check BBB and Google reviews, and skip any mover that wants a large deposit or won’t do an in-home or video survey. Compare vetted options in our list of best interstate moving companies.
Why use moveBuddha?
- On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking.
- When you choose a moveBuddha Certified mover, you get $1,000 in added move coverage, plus dedicated support throughout your move.
- If something goes wrong, moveBuddha provides dispute mediation with Certified movers to help resolve the issue and protect your move.
How we chose the best moving companies
The moveBuddha team has spent nearly 10 years evaluating moving companies using a rigorous review system to identify the best moving companies. Our thorough methodology evaluates each moving company's services, cost, customer service, and reputation:
Moving services (35%):
We verify operating authority, insurance, and service scope against FMCSA/SAFER and state databases. We confirm availability via standardized mystery-shopping calls (packing tiers, storage type, specialty handling, delivery windows, valuation), and then review contracts alongside complaint and claims patterns over time.
Customer feedback (28%):
We run structured post-move surveys through our Better Moves Project with verifiable documentation. We emphasize on-time performance, care of goods, and estimates’ accuracy, and we investigate outliers before they influence scores.
Online reviews (7%):
We aggregate ratings across multiple third-party sites to reduce platform bias, analyze overall trends and company response behavior, and discount obvious spam/fake signals such as sudden bursts, duplicate language, and low-history profiles.
State availability (12%):
We confirm USDOT numbers, broker vs. carrier status, and any required state permits, then score a state-by-state service matrix that accounts for coverage gaps, seasonal limits, and lane strength. We award additional credit for documented cross-border or specialty lanes.
Additional services (12%):
We verify whether add-ons are performed in-house or subcontracted, look for crew training/certifications for high-value or oversized items, count only documented offerings (tariffs, photos, written service descriptions) confirmed via mystery shopping, and reward robust pre-move planning (virtual surveys, itemized crating).
Quotes/Payment options (6%):
We test standardized move profiles to assess estimate type (binding, not-to-exceed, non-binding), line-item transparency, and disclosed surcharges, require clear written policies for deposits, refunds, and cancellations, and award points for secure, flexible payment methods and customer portals.
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