The Average Cost to Move a 4 Bedroom House

The average cost to move a four-bedroom house locally costs $1,000 to $5,000 or more, even if you hire the best moving companies in the biz. A long-distance move for a four-bedroom house costs from $2,470 to $13,000 because the long-distance moving company has to spend more time on the road from point A to point B.

Moving costs depend on many things, but distance is the most important. Generally speaking, moving a larger four-bedroom cross-country will be more expensive than relocating a smaller four-bedroom a few hundred miles.

So many other factors play into the total cost of your four-bedroom move. Instead of letting an estimate take you by surprise, check out moveBuddha’s in-depth guide on the average cost to move a four-bedroom house. Then, use our moving cost calculator to get an even clearer picture.

Costs to move a four-bedroom home

Whether you’re relocating across town or the country, you have a few options for moving your four-bedroom home. Pricing varies dramatically for local and long-distance (or cross-country) moves depending on whether you hire a moving company, rent a moving container, or DIY-ing the whole thing with a rental truck.

Moving company Moving container Rental truck
<50 miles $1,550–$3,600 $900–$1,520 $86–$126
250 miles $2,470–$5,960 $1,728–$2,787 $471–$825
1,000 miles $4,950–$8,100 $2,467–$4,134 $1,096–$2,010
2,500 miles $8,372–$13,221 $3,944–$6,827 $2,347–$4,381

Local moves

Are you relocating to a new home in the same area? Most local moves are anywhere from 50 to 100 miles, but every moving company defines them differently, so check with your mover to see where your move falls.

For local moves, you’ll need to decide between hiring a professional moving company or opting for a DIY move with a moving container or a rental truck.

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Want to find the best companies for your local move, check out this list of the best local movers in your area.

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Cost to move with a professional moving company

When you hire a professional moving company, you pay for convenience and expertise. The local mover crew will handle everything, from packing and loading to unloading and unpacking. The average cost for a local move ranges from $1,550 to $3,600, depending on the size of your home and the distance between your old and new residences.

  • Movers do all the heavy lifting — literally
  • Faster and more efficient
  • Professional movers have experience handling valuable or fragile items
  • More expensive than a DIY move
  • Potential scheduling conflicts with the moving company

Cost to move with a rental truck or container

Hiring a moving truck rental company or moving container company means you’re responsible for packing, loading, driving, unloading, and unpacking your belongings. Truck rental companies provide the vehicle, while moving container companies drop off a portable container that you load and they transport it to your new home.

On average, truck rentals cost $86 to $126 for local moves, while containers cost around $900 to $1,520.

  • More control over the moving process
  • It can be more cost-effective than hiring a moving company
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Time-consuming and requires more physical labor
  • Potential for damage to belongings due to inexperienced packing or handling

Long-distance and cross-country moves

Depending on your moving company’s policies, long-distance moves range anywhere from 250 to 2,500+ miles. We would generally recommend hiring a moving company for long-distance moves, but plenty of folks opt for moving containers and rental trucks to save a few bucks.

Moving companies price long-distance and cross-country moves similarly, but the two move types aren’t quite the same. For starters, cross-country and interstate moving companies need to have special permits and licenses to transport your stuff between states. Because of that and the longer distances, cross-country moves tend to be on the pricier side, so keep that in mind if you’re crossing state lines.

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Cost to move with a professional moving company

This is by far the most hassle-free way to move a long distance. Long-distance moving companies typically charge based on the weight of your belongings and the distance of the move. They provide the moving truck, equipment, and trained staff to handle everything from packing and loading to transportation and unloading at your new home.

On average, moving companies charge $2,470 to over $13,000 for long-distance moves. That’s a pretty big range, but it depends on factors like distance, time of year, add-ons, and more. Remember, you’re paying a premium to have the moving company take care of everything for you.

  • Safe and efficient transportation of your belongings with industry tools like dollies and trucks with special suspension
  • Professional movers have experience handling valuable, heavy, or fragile items, including pianos and heirlooms
  • Free temporary storage in transit often included (depending on the moving company)
  • More expensive than a DIY move
  • Limited control over the moving process

Cost to rent a truck or moving container (DIY)

Are you in the mood for a road trip? If so, a rental truck might be right up your alley. Since this is a long-distance move, you’ll need to plan for additional expenses beyond the truck, like hotels, food, gas, and tolls. On average, rental trucks cost $471 to $4,381 for long-distance moves.

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If you’re not up for driving (and we don’t blame you), go with a moving container company instead. It’s cheaper than hiring a full-service mover because you still handle loading, packing, and unloading, but the container company handles transportation and storage. Moving containers cost anywhere from $1,728 to $6,827 for long-distance moves.

  • Load and unload containers on your own schedule
  • It can be more cost-effective than hiring a moving company
  • Storage options available at your home or a company facility
  • Requires more physical labor and time
  • Responsible for driving the truck or coordinating container pickup and delivery
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Factors that affect the cost of moving a four-bedroom home

Whether you’re moving locally or cross-country, the circumstances of your move will be the biggest factor in determining the final price. The biggest factors are size and distance — and the variances can be huge.

The point is that it’s tough to predict pricing because the move size can vary drastically from customer to customer. Several factors affect the cost of moving a four-bedroom home.

Home size

One person’s four-bedroom house can look more like a two-bedroom, while someone with a ton of stuff can fill an entire 18-wheeler with a four-bedroom.

The industry standard for a four-bedroom house generally falls in the 2,000-square-foot or more category.

That floor plan usually includes:

  • A living room
  • Dining room
  • Kitchen
  • Two or three bathrooms
  • Four medium-sized bedrooms

However, not all four-bedroom homes are the same. Yours might be larger or smaller than the industry standard, which will affect your moving costs.

The time it takes to move

Full-service moving companies often charge a flat hourly rate for local moves. So, the longer it takes the movers to transport your things into the truck, on the road, and unload them at your new home, the more you’ll likely pay. You can speed things up by minimizing how much stuff you’re moving and preparing well before your move by packing everything efficiently.

Check out our tips for when to start packing.

Your move date

Moves planned on short notice at the last minute will cost more because the movers put you at the front of the line. Not all movers can pull off a move with 24 hours’ notice, though, so a tight move date will limit which movers are available for the job.

Weight or cubic footage on the truck

How much stuff you move has a direct impact on your move pricing. If you hire a moving company for a long-distance move, they’ll charge you based on how much your stuff weighs or takes up space on a truck (cubic feet).

Moving container companies charge by container, so as long as you can fit everything in the container within the weight limit, you’re golden. If you rent a truck, make sure to book the right moving truck size to transport your belongings. You don’t want to book too much or too little space, especially for a cross-country move.

Common add-on costs

Moving a four-bedroom home is no small task. Why not make it easier on yourself? These additional services might increase your move costs, but some customers happily spend the money to avoid the hassle:

  • Packing materials and services: The cost of boxes, tape, bubble wrap, blankets, and packing paper add up. If you don’t want to deal with packing yourself, you can always hire a professional mover to do it for you, although this level of white-glove service doesn’t come cheap.
  • Furniture assembly and disassembly: You might need to disassemble furniture into smaller pieces for the move. If you don’t want to relive the trauma of assembling IKEA furniture, you can always pay for the movers to disassemble and reassemble everything.
  • Storage: Not everyone is ready to move into a new place right away. Storage is a popular add-on that gives you more wiggle room with move dates. Moving container companies sometimes include this for free, while moving companies might offer it for a flat monthly rate.
  • Insurance coverage: Your renters or homeowner’s insurance policy will probably cover some of your move. Most moving companies also include basic value protection, but you can always buy up on additional coverage, especially for valuable or fragile items.
  • Expedited service and guaranteed delivery dates: If you need your stuff delivered by a specific date, you’ll likely pay a rush fee. The same goes for guaranteed delivery dates, since most moving companies work within date ranges, not guaranteed dates.
  • Tips: People don’t always remember to budget for this, but it’s kind to tip your movers for a job well done.

How to cut the cost of moving a four-bedroom home

No matter how you slice it, moving a four-bedroom home will cost a few bucks. However, you can do a few things to reduce the cost of moving.

Plan a DIY move

DIY moves are popular because, planned well, they’re the cheapest way to move a four-bedroom home.

You can pull this off nearly any way you like, whether you:

  • Persuade a friend with a truck or trailer to help you move
  • Rent a moving truck
  • Hire a moving container company to handle the transportation
  • Use your own car and make multiple trips (for local moves only)
  • Pay for labor-only services, where movers provide manpower to help you unload your truck or container

DIY moves come in all shapes and sizes. If you want to balance affordability with convenience, compare truck or container companies to find the best price and options for your budget. We also recommend reserving your truck or container early to secure a better rate.

Make a moving checklist and budget

Disorganization and forgetfulness will cost you more in the long run, so come up with a game plan for your four-bedroom move.

Remember: Every move is easier when you use a moving costs checklist to ensure you’re factoring in all the relevant costs. Moving is one area where you’ll want zero surprises!

It’s not unusual for moves to go over budget, but even then, it’s still a good idea to have a rough ballpark budget. This will keep you from spending too much on the move.

Take a second to enter your info in our moving cost calculator to see moving estimates for the journey to your new location. Remember to factor in additional services like packing services, packing materials, and insurance when calculating the average cost of moving.

Always request multiple moving quotes

Don’t go with the first quote you see. Get estimates from at least three moving companies to compare moving quotes. If you aren’t sure whether you want to hire a moving company or rent a truck or container, get at least three quotes for each option. This way, you have a better idea of fair pricing for each type of move.

Move during off-peak times

Summer and weekends are the most common time to move. If you can swing it, try to move during the off-peak season or even on weekdays. Movers will sometimes cut you a break on pricing if you move when business is slow.

Declutter

The less stuff you move, the less you’ll pay. Decluttering for a move will help. You can sell, donate, or recycle items you no longer need to reduce the weight or volume of your move.

Score cheap packing supplies

Packing supplies are an often unexpected moving cost, so plan for packing materials right now. Look for free and cheap moving boxes at local grocery stores. Use newspaper and clothing to pack non-breakable items and save the more expensive bubble wrap and packing supplies for fragile items.

Check out our guide on where to buy moving boxes.

FAQ about the cost to move a four-bedroom home

How do you calculate the cost of moving?

Several factors affect the cost of your move. The best way to get a ballpark estimate is to use our moving cost calculator, which gives estimates for hiring professionals, buying a container, or renting a truck.

What is the average cost to move a four-bedroom house locally?

Local moves usually charge by the hour. For a four-bedroom house, you can expect to pay between $900 and $3,600, depending on how much you’re moving, time of year, and moving method.

What is the average cost per mile for moving a four-bedroom house long-distance?

Long-distance moves are usually priced based on the distance of the move and the weight or volume of your belongings. Costs range a lot here, from around $3,000 to more than $13,000. You can expect to pay around $0.75 per mile, although most long-distance movers will cut you a better deal on the per-mile rate the further you move.

What factors affect the cost of moving a four-bedroom home?

The most common factors that affect the cost of moving a four-bedroom home include:

  • The volume and weight of what you’re moving
  • Distance
  • Labor costs
  • Add-on services like packing, storage, or assembly

How much do you tip movers?

It depends on how long the move takes. The general rule of thumb is that you should tip $20 per person for a half-day move, $40 per person for a full-day move, and $60 per person for a move that takes 12 hours or longer.

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