How Much Does It Cost To Move a 2,000 Sq. Ft. House?
Quick answer: Moving a 2,000 sq. ft. house costs $985 – $2,900 for a local move and $2,983 – $8,557 for a 1,500+ mile move with full-service movers, based on moveBuddha pricing data.
Your price depends on distance, shipment weight, timing, and add-ons. Compare top long-distance movers or get a custom range from our moving cost calculator.
rating
4.9 / 5
- Best overall value
- Veteran owned
- Portion to charity
rating
4.9 / 5
- Certified crews
- Flat-rate pricing
- Family-owned
rating
4.23 / 5
- Specialty packing services
- White-glove reputation
- 80+ years' experience
Why 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.
Jump to the 2,000 sq. ft. moving cost info you’re looking for:
How much does a local move cost for a 2,000 sq. ft. house?
A local move for a 2,000 sq. ft. house costs $985 – $2,900 in major metros, according to moveBuddha pricing data for three- to four-bedroom homes. A local move usually means 50 miles or less, though some companies stretch that to 100 miles.
Local movers charge by the hour, so your bill depends on crew size and how long the job takes. A three-bedroom move typically needs a crew of three to four movers and a full day of work, plus extra hours if you add packing.
Rates vary by city. A Seattle move can top out more than $1,000 higher than the same move in Atlanta, Orlando, or Phoenix:
| City | Avg. cost (3 – 4 bedrooms) |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | $1,042 – $1,834 |
| Orlando, FL | $985 – $1,735 |
| Phoenix | $1,035 – $1,836 |
| Seattle | $1,639 – $2,900 |
City averages only go so far. moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator weighs your distance, home size, move date, and service level together, so your range reflects your actual move instead of a metro average.
How much does a long-distance move cost for a 2,000 sq. ft. house?
A long-distance move for a 2,000 sq. ft. house costs $2,983 – $8,557 with full-service movers on routes of 1,500 – 2,100 miles, according to moveBuddha pricing data for two- to three-bedroom homes. Moving containers cost about 30% less than full-service movers for the same home.
Any move over 50 – 100 miles counts as long distance. That isn’t always an interstate move: a 400-mile move within Texas or California is still long distance. Long-distance movers price by shipment weight and mileage, not hours on the clock.
These moveBuddha route averages show how full-service and container costs compare for a home this size:
| Route | Full-service | Container |
|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR, to Chicago | $3,972 – $8,557 | $2,141 – $4,242 |
| Dallas to New York City | $2,983 – $7,096 | $1,812 – $3,645 |
| Nashville, TN, to Los Angeles | $3,500 – $7,763 | $1,981 – $4,118 |
| Richmond, VA, to New York City | $1,522 – $4,320 | $899 – $1,499 |
Real moves can land above these averages once storage or specialty items enter the picture. Two Better Moves Project participants moved 2,000 sq. ft., three-bedroom homes over similar distances and paid very different amounts.
Adam moved from Austin, Texas, to Stockbridge, Massachusetts (about 1,900 miles), with JK Moving and paid $15,960 against an $11,175 quote.
Amy moved from Rochester, New York, to Mineral Wells, Texas (about 1,500 miles), with United Van Lines and paid exactly her $8,425 quote.
Moving containers cost about 30% less than full-service movers on average, which can save you hundreds on a long-distance move.
Learn MoreHow do movers price a long-distance move?
Long-distance movers estimate the weight of your belongings through an in-home or virtual walkthrough, then quote based on weight, mileage, and services. Expect one of three estimate types, as outlined in the FMCSA’s guide to moving estimates:
- Binding estimate: Your price is locked, even if your shipment weighs more than expected. If you add items or services, the mover must issue a new binding estimate.
- Non-binding estimate: Your final price follows the actual weight of the loaded truck. Federal rules cap what the mover can collect at delivery at 110% of the estimate.
- Binding not-to-exceed estimate: Your price can’t go above the quote, but it drops if your shipment weighs less than estimated.
Pro tip: Compare at least three quotes, and confirm which estimate type each one is before you sign. The moveBuddha Mover Marketplace collects up to five no-obligation quotes from one request, so you can line them up side by side. See our guide to binding vs. non-binding estimates.
What affects the cost to move a 2,000 sq. ft. house?
Shipment size and distance drive most of the cost, but timing, access, and add-ons can each move your quote by hundreds of dollars:
- Shipment size: Two 2,000 sq. ft. homes can hold very different amounts of stuff. Long-distance movers price by weight, while local movers price by crew size and hours.
- Type of mover: Rental trucks and moving containers cost about 30% less than full-service movers on average. Full-service costs more but handles all the loading, driving, and unloading.
- Distance: The farther you go, the more you pay for fuel, tolls, and driver hours. Fuel surcharges alone add 8% – 15% to transportation charges on many long-distance moves.
- Timing: Summer is peak moving season, and movers charge more from May through September. Weekday moves also tend to cost less than weekend moves.
- Access: Stairs, elevators, long carries, and shuttle service add $75 – $500+ when the truck can’t load right at your door. Tight urban parking is a common trigger.
- Add-on services: Professional packing adds $0.15 – $0.21 per pound on average. Bulky items like safes, large appliances, and oversized sectionals add $150 – $400 each.
Which movers are best for a 2,000 sq. ft. home?
A 2,000 sq. ft. home is big enough that a lowball phone quote can climb well past the estimate on moving day. These three movers earned our top spots for homes this size because they survey your belongings first and back it with a flat-rate or binding price.
Safeway Moving: best overall value
Safeway Moving quotes through a virtual walk-through with a triple-check verification system, then locks in a flat rate. Interstate moves include 30 days of free climate-controlled storage, which helps if your closing dates don’t line up. As a moveBuddha Certified mover, Safeway also comes with $1,000 in added coverage and dispute mediation.
American Van Lines: best for full in-house control
American Van Lines runs its own fleet and crews instead of subcontracting, so the same company handles your three bedrooms from pickup to delivery. Pricing is flat-rate and all-inclusive, and long-distance moves include 30 days of free storage. American is also moveBuddha Certified, but give a complete inventory, since customers who underestimated their belongings paid well over their quotes.
Allied Van Lines: best for fragile items
Allied Van Lines offers binding estimates with no deposit to book, plus fragile-only packing and custom crating for antiques and large TVs. Allied’s sample quotes for a two- to three-bedroom home run $4,300 for 1,000 miles and $6,300 for 2,500 miles. Service depends on your local Allied agent, so check that agent’s reviews before you book.
Compare all three side by side:
rating
4.9 / 5
- Best overall value
- Veteran owned
- Portion to charity
rating
4.9 / 5
- Certified crews
- Flat-rate pricing
- Family-owned
rating
4.23 / 5
- Specialty packing services
- White-glove reputation
- 80+ years' experience
FAQ about moving a 2,000 sq. ft. house
Is it cheaper to move a 2,000 sq. ft. house yourself?
Yes, a DIY move is cheaper than hiring full-service movers. Rental trucks and moving containers cost about 30% less on average, but you handle the loading and unloading. See our list of cheap moving companies for budget options.
How can I save money moving a 2,000 sq. ft. house?
Declutter before you get quotes, since less stuff means a lighter, cheaper shipment. Compare at least three movers and ask about moving discounts. Moving between October and April can also lower your price.
Is professional packing worth it for a 2,000 sq. ft. house?
Professional packing is worth it if you’re short on time or have fragile, valuable items. It adds $0.15 – $0.21 per pound on average. Many movers also offer fragile-only packing to keep costs down.
What should I do if I’m downsizing from a 2,000 sq. ft. house?
Sell, donate, or toss what won’t fit before moving day, starting with our decluttering guide. For items you want to keep, Safeway Moving offers warehouse storage for an added fee. PODS containers can stay at your property or a PODS Storage Center.
What is the cheapest time to move a 2,000 sq. ft. house?
October through April is the cheapest time to move, since demand for movers drops after summer. Avoid peak season from May through September, and pick a weekday over a weekend.
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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