Moving Cost Calculator

Local moves (under 100 miles) generally cost $500–$3,500+. Long-distance moves (1,000+ miles) range from $1,500–$8,500+. Home size, distance, shipment weight, and service level can all affect your final move cost.

• Professional movers: Local moves typically cost between $500 and $3,500+, while long-distance moves can range from $1,500 to $8,500+.
• Moving containers: Expect to pay between $400 and $700 for local moves, and $900 to $4,500 for long-distance container services.
• Rental trucks: Local truck rentals usually cost between $30 and $500, with pricing structures varying from company to company.

Let’s look at the cost of moving containers and moving trucks.

• Moving container cost (e.g., PODS): The average cost to move within 50 miles with portable moving container companies is around $400–$700 for one container. For interstate moves, average moving container costs range from $900–$4,500 or more.
• Moving truck rental cost (e.g., U-Haul): The average price for a local moving truck rental ranges from $30–$500, depending on the size of the truck and duration of the rental. For instance, Budget Truck Rental charges $20–$60 per day (plus a per-mile fee) as their base rate for local moves.

Most moving companies price local moves by the hour based on how many movers you hire and how long the job takes. Long-distance moves are typically quoted using your shipment weight and travel distance (plus service level), and our free moving cost calculator uses the same factors movers use, including:

• Move size: Larger moves are more expensive, as they require more labor and a larger moving truck.
• Distance: The greater the distance, the higher your moving quotes will be.
• DIY vs. professional movers: Moving containers or rental trucks are usually cheaper than professional movers, but you do the packing and heavy lifting.
• Time of year: Summer prices are higher because it’s peak moving season. The cheapest time to move is between October and April.
• Moving date: Moving prices are higher on weekends and at the beginning and end of the month.

Full-service movers may charge additional and hidden fees based on the details of your move:

• Specialty items: Pianos, pool tables, hot tubs, motorcycles, safes, and other bulky items can increase your cost. Ask your mover for a per-item handling fee before booking.
• Packing services: Professional packing costs an extra $0.15—$0.21 per pound on average. These services can add $900–$1,500 on average depending on home size and what you want packed.
• Packing supplies: If movers use supplies like bubble wrap, mattress covers, or packing paper, they may charge extra (or sell them to you directly). DIY packing supplies typically run $100–$350+ for a 2–3 bedroom home.
• Additional services: You can pay a full-service mover for add-ons such as packing and unpacking, furniture disassembly/reassembly, and furniture assembly.
• Long-carry, stair-carry, shuttle, or elevator fees: If the mover can’t park close to your door, has to use a smaller truck to get access, or navigate tricky staircases/elevators, they may charge access fees. These “destination fees” commonly add $75–$500+. Shuttle service is often priced by weight (typically $0.08–$0.12 per pound, with a minimum fee around $200).
• Storage: Some movers include short-term storage, but longer storage usually costs extra, around $50–$300 per month on average.
• Extra stops: Movers will typically charge a fee for additional stops beyond the primary residence.
• Expedited delivery: For an additional cost, movers will expedite your delivery and have your items delivered by a specific date.
• Tips: Tipping is customary for good service. Most people tip $20–$60 per mover (or 5%–10% of the total cost split among the crew).

There are a lot of ways to save money when moving. Here are some of our favorites:

• Sell, donate, or trash. The less you move, the less you’ll pay. Sell, donate, or trash anything that isn’t worth moving.
• Be flexible. Avoid moving around holidays, near the end of the month, or in the summer months. Having flexible moving dates can also result in a better price.
• Get multiple moving quotes. It’s not unusual for moving estimates to vary by thousands of dollars. Get at least three moving quotes for a fair price.
• Book early. When possible, book your mover 30 to 60 days in advance. Full-service movers may increase prices for last-minute bookings or have limited availability.
• Ask for price matching and discounts. Don’t hesitate to ask for a price match if you’ve found a cheaper quote elsewhere, or inquire about discounts.
• Get free packing supplies. Use our guide to find free moving boxes and other supplies. Buying boxes and materials can easily add $100–$350+ for a typical 2–3 bedroom home.
• DIY what you can. Packing yourself can save a lot. Full packing services often add $900–$1,500. If you’re moving into an apartment or city area, reserving parking/elevators in advance can also help you avoid access fees like stairs, long-carry, elevator, or shuttle charges (often $75–$500+).
• Use your insurance. See if your homeowners or renters insurance covers moving to avoid paying for full-valuation coverage.

moveBuddha helps 400,000+ people move every year, from cross-town to cross-country. Want to see how the calculator helped them? Read moveBuddha reviews.

Our calculator runs on one of the most comprehensive and current pricing datasets in the moving industry. It’s updated monthly with 1,000+ new data points from across the United States.

We source real-time rates through automated feeds and APIs, our Better Moves Project, direct quote requests, and anonymized user quotes from this very tool. Our dataset covers everything from full-service movers to containers, truck rentals, and moving labor. This approach means you can compare apples to apples.

Because our inputs update continuously, our cost averages reflect real-world conditions like fuel prices, labor availability, carrier capacity, seasonality, and active promotions. Rates adjust within weeks as the market shifts.

To keep results accurate and fair, we use median-based lane summaries, stratified sampling by service type, region, and move size, plus outlier detection and provider verification. We’re also transparent about what’s included.

After more than a decade of price tracking, our data has been cited by universities, hedge funds, and major outlets like The New York Times, Bloomberg, and USA Today. You get friendly advice backed by serious rigor.