How Much Does it Cost to Move a Mobile Home?

How much does it cost to move a mobile home? When using a full-service mobile home mover to relocate a single-wide trailer within 50 miles, the average cost is typically between $3,000 and $9,000. All else being equal, moving a double-wide mobile home or triple-wide manufactured or modular home can cost $15,000 or more. Of course, these are just estimates.

Your actual costs may be more or less depending on:

• Necessary moving permits (both residential and transportation)
• Utility disconnects and reconnects (hookups)
• Set-up services
• Labor and materials
• The age, weight, and size of your mobile home
• The distance between your old and new locations

Your costs could also go up if you hire a professional moving company to help you pack and load your mobile home to make it ready for transport. Needless to say, working with mobile home movers can be much more complex than a “standard” move — but it’s doable.

Let’s take a closer look at the ins and outs of moving a mobile home.

Can you move a mobile home by yourself?

Unlike moving a small boat, piano, or hot tub, moving a manufactured home DIY-style isn’t a feasible option.

Mobile home moves require specialized equipment, experienced crews, and knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws. As a result, a lot of planning is needed for this process to go smoothly, even for local moves.

That said, each year, thousands of mobile homes are moved each year by full-service movers without issue, both around the corner and across state lines.

Is it worth moving a mobile home?

In most instances, the cost of moving a mobile home is well worth it when compared to what it would cost to buy a new or pre-owned one at your new location. Moving your mobile home could actually help you save money compared to buying a new home — even with the costs of a full-service move.

Before deciding whether to move your current mobile home or invest in a new one, it’s worth doing a cost-benefit analysis to see which option makes more sense for your situation.

The best mobile home movers to consider

Mobile home moving is a very specialized moving service. Because of this, mobile homeowners don’t have as many options for professional movers as they would with a typical household goods move. That being said, the following are good choices to consider if you’re serious about transporting your mobile home.

uShip

uShip is a unique platform that lets you post your mobile home moving needs, and then have qualified carriers submit bids for your move. Not only does this let you quickly get multiple free quotes, but uShip also helps you review carriers’ history and customer reviews to help in your decision. You can also use the platform to connect directly with mobile home movers to discuss any questions or specific needs for your move.

Bennett Truck Transport

Bennett Truck Transport specializes in moving manufactured and modular homes. The company services 48 states in the United States, as well as 11 Canadian provinces through its 30 terminals. This woman-owned company prides itself on providing safe delivery of mobile homes, as well as its partnerships with several leading manufactured home manufacturers.

Local movers

Because mobile home moves often stay within state lines, there are many local companies that focus on moving mobile homes within their specific state. Companies like J & S Mobile Homes in Florida or Arizona Mobile Home Movers in Arizona can provide specialized support for in-state moves thanks to their in-depth knowledge of local regulations and requirements.

Pros and cons of hiring a full-service mobile home moving company

Like it or not, transporting a mobile home isn’t a DIY-friendly task. It pretty much always requires full-service mobile home movers. That being said, understanding some of the basic pros and cons of these services can help you plan whether it is worth it to move your mobile home in the first place.

Pros

• They’ll prepare, move, and set up your mobile home
• They’ll take care of permits
• You won’t have to risk driving a heavy, oversized load
• It’ll save you time, energy, and hassle

Cons

• It can be expensive
• You may need to do some of the prep work yourself
• Finding a reputable, experienced, and quality-centered company isn’t easy
• Your actual cost may be more than estimated due to unforeseen factors
• You may damage your mobile home during the move

What factors affect mobile home moving costs?

The costs associated with transport services for moving a mobile home can vary greatly, but generally, you can break them down into the following categories:

The distance of the move

Like on typical household goods moves, the shorter the distance between your old and new home, the less you’ll usually pay.

Moving mobile homes requires specialized equipment and powerful trucks that use tons of fuel. Depending on where you’re moving, necessary permits, pilot cars, and police escorts may be required as well. The regulations are often different for each state and municipality — which can significantly drive up moving costs.

In addition, if you’re moving across state lines, you’ll need to hire a company that has interstate operating authority — our best interstate companies page is a good resource for this. Make sure that your chosen company has a USDOT Number and the proper licenses for such moves, particularly for interstate and long distance moves.

Home size/Type of mobile home

Along with distance, size is a big factor in determining how much it’ll cost to move your mobile home. Single-wide mobile home units may only cost half as much to move as their double-wide and triple-wide cousins.

If your unit doesn’t fit down a street with other vehicles present, you may need to schedule a road closure or have a police escort, both of which can significantly increase your move pricing.

Depending on how old they are, how big they are, and whether they made it from wood or metal, mobile homes generally weigh between 35 and 50 pounds per square foot.

In other words, a 900 square foot unit can weigh as much as 45,000 pounds. To put that into perspective, that’s roughly the maximum allowable cargo capacity of the tractor-trailers (18-wheelers) you see out on the highway.

If your unit is too high to fit under an overpass or too heavy for a small local bridge, the moving company may need to take a lengthy detour, which will also add to the overall cost.

Age and condition

If your mobile home is decades old, there’s a good chance it has sustained structural damage from water or termites that have significantly weakened it over the years. With some older mobile homes, this damage can be so severe that moving the unit is no longer an option.

However, in other cases, the damage may be fixable. Still, the company may need to customize its equipment to move it safely or require that you complete certain repairs prior to transport, translating into more time and a higher overall cost. For example, in some cases, you may need to extend the moving company’s trailer if the portion of your mobile home that will hang over the back or sides cannot support itself.

If such issues are a cause for concern, you should address this early on in the pre-move process, not at the 9th hour.

Permits and Inspection

Local regulations can have a big impact on moving a mobile home. Depending on where you’re transporting your home, you may be required to have escort vehicles in addition to the moving truck. Other rules may come into play depending on the size of the mobile home.

Figuring out which permits you to need for each town, city, and state through which your mobile home will travel is a job best left to experienced professional mobile home movers. If a prospective company informs you that they don’t handle permits during the pre-move screening process, it should be a huge red flag, and you should cross them off your list immediately.

Also, keep in mind that in addition to transportation-related permits, you may need set-up permits. Mobile homes moving into some states may be subject to inspection and, in some cases, quarantine at ports of entry.

This is especially true in large agricultural states like California and Florida, which have strict rules intended to keep out non-native insects (like gypsy moths and others) that could harm local crops and entire industries.

Some towns, cities, and states will also require relocated mobile homes to be inspected to ensure they’re safe, livable, and up to code. Again, your company should help guide you through these confusing legal requirements (from HUD and other agencies) on the front side.

Labor and materials

Moving a mobile home is a material-intensive job, from chains and lumber to fifth wheels, tow-hitches, and heavy-duty tarps. In addition, your crew will consist of a foreman (or woman), a driver, and multiple helpers.

Though the estimate will include most labor and materials, some items may not be included in your initial quote, especially if your mobile home move has several additional requirements.

Set-up services

When it comes to safety, convenience, and peace of mind, full-service mobile home movers are worth their weight in gold. Just keep in mind that they may have additional fees for preparation, minor disassembly and unloading, mobile home installation, and other set-up services when you get to your destination.

Depending on which you’ll need, these services may include:

• Disconnecting and reconnecting utilities (these may need to be done by plumbers and electricians)
• Removing and reinstalling outside features such as skirting, porches, chimneys, and awnings
• Shoring up your mobile home’s frame if it’s become weaker by termites or water damage

Did You Know?

Some mobile home movers require homeowners to remove exterior features like skirting, guardrails and stairs themselves, so ask what your responsibilities will be before signing a contract.

Insurance

When deciding which company to use to move your mobile home, it’s important to cover insurance thoroughly. Insurance is one of those grey areas that often gets brushed over, and if there is damage while your home is in transit, you don’t want to find out after the fact whether you’re covered or not.

In addition to discussing insurance with each company’s representative, get a copy of their policy and various options in writing. It’s also worth calling your current insurance company to ask whether they’ll provide a supplemental policy to cover your mobile home while you move it.

Even if they don’t, they’ll probably be able to give you helpful tips and refer you to a mobile home transport company that provides one-time transportation policies, which usually aren’t very expensive.

What moving option is right for my mobile home?

The right answer here depends on more than just answering the question “how much does it cost to move a mobile home”. You have to look at the different options and consider whether it’s a realistic move depending on the condition of your home. The average professional moving company is capable of helping you transport your household goods to a new home — not necessarily transporting your mobile home along with you.

Whether or not you should transport your mobile home as part of your next move comes down to your specific situation. It may be more cost-effective for you to transport your single-wide home than to try to buy a new home. On the other hand, if you live in an older double-wide home, added transport costs could make this a less desirable option.

If you do decide to move your mobile home, be sure to do your research. Carefully compare local haulers in your area and make sure you understand the logistics of your move. These moves can be complex, but with good planning, they are doable.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Have other questions in addition to “how much does it cost to move a mobile home”? Here are the most commonly asked questions when it comes to making a move with your manufactured home.

How much does it cost to move a mobile home 20 miles?

Depending on multiple variables, mobile home moves under 20 miles are usually between $2,000 and $5,000.

Can you move an old mobile home a short distance?

Depending on how structurally sound the frame is, you may be able to move a mobile home a short distance without much trouble. You may even be able to transport it long distance to a new city or to neighboring states.

Where can I find a company that will move my mobile home for me?

Always ask friends, family members, and coworkers for referrals before hiring a company to move your mobile home. Once you have a list of candidates, check them out to make sure they have experience and verified customer reviews.

Will I need to purchase mobile home insurance?

Your mobile home mover should offer you different insurance options, or you can purchase a policy from a third-party insurer. You’ll also need insurance once you’ve set up your unit in your new mobile home park, so ask management for specific requirements.