How Much Do Boston, MA Movers Cost?
Quick answer: Hiring movers in Boston typically runs $100 per hour. On average, a full move will cost you between $490 and $3,422. If you're planning a move out of Massachusetts, check out our options for long-distance movers in Boston—the cost will vary based on the destination.
Fact Checked by: 
Our track record
Average cost of local movers in Boston, MA
Hiring a full-service Boston mover is definitely the most convenient option, but that convenience comes at a cost — professional movers tend to be more expensive than other moving options. If you want movers to do all the heavy lifting for you and you can afford it, hire a full-service moving company for your Boston move.
Here's how much professional movers cost in Boston based on your move size:
| Home size | Avg. total cost | Cost/hour | # of movers | # hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $490 | $140 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
| 1 bedroom | $630 | $140 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
| 2 bedroom | $938 | $196 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
| 3 bedroom | $1,994 | $274 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
| 4 bedroom | $2,268 | $274 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
| 5+ bedroom | $3,422 | $384 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
Read more cost details
It's worth noting that the cost per hour for Boston movers remains the same for all home sizes, ranging from $140 per hour for two movers to $384 per hour for five movers. As the size of your home increases, the number of movers and hours required for the move also increases, resulting in a higher total cost.
Overall, hiring local Boston movers is a convenient and stress-free way to move within the city. By knowing the approximate cost for your home size, you can budget accordingly and make informed decisions for your upcoming move.
Easily compare personalized moving quotes for your Boston move using our free and instant moving cost calculator.
Best local moving companies in Boston, MA
Our expert team has thoroughly analyzed licensing, insurance options, online reviews, and hundreds of other data points to identify the top local moving companies in Boston.
- Safe Responsible Movers: 4.42 out of 5 stars
- Continental Moving: 4.24 out of 5 stars
- Oscar's Moving Company: 5 out of 5 stars
- Boston Best Rate Movers: 5 out of 5 stars
- Olympia Moving & Storage: 5 out of 5 stars
- Professional and polite staff (36%)
- Efficient service (31%)
- Careful handling (29%)
- Damage to items (22%)
- Lack of communication (18%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (16%)
Company Info
Years in Business: 17
DOT #: 2207440
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Storage
- Pay by cash
- Professional and polite staff (27%)
- Efficient service (24%)
- Careful handling (22%)
- Damage to items (19%)
- Unexpected charges (15%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (14%)
Company Info
State license #: 31320
Years in Business: 17
DOT #: 1637689
Alternate Names: Oscar's Moving Company
Oscar's Moving Company, established in 2008, specializes in local residential moving services in and around Newton, MA. Unlike many nearby movers, Oscar's Moving Company boasts a stellar reputation with a Better Business Bureau rating of A+, an impressive 4.8-star average on Google My Business, and a solid 3.8-star average on Yelp from 143 reviews. They offer a comprehensive range of services, including packing and unpacking, and even have the capability to move pianos. Customers can pay by credit card, though a deposit is required.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Pianos
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- Efficient service (41%)
- Professional and polite staff (38%)
- Careful handling (34%)
- Damage to items (15%)
- Unexpected charges (10%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (8%)
Company Info
State license #: 31391
Years in Business: 19
DOT #: 1718049
Alternate Names: Flat Rate Moving & Storage, Inc.
Boston Best Rate Movers has been a trusted name for local residential moves in and around Waltham, MA since 2006. Unlike many nearby moving companies, they offer a comprehensive range of services including packing, unpacking, and handling fragile items, making them an excellent choice for meticulous movers. Clients consistently praise their reliability, as evidenced by their 4.7 average rating across 32 Yelp reviews and 530 Google reviews, as well as an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Additionally, their no-deposit policy and acceptance of credit cards add to their customer-friendly approach.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
- DOD certified
- Efficient service (39%)
- Professional and polite staff (34%)
- Careful handling (31%)
- Damage to items (26%)
- Unexpected charges (21%)
- Lack of communication (19%)
Company Info
State license #: 70719
Years in Business: 31
DOT #: 70719
Olympia Moving & Storage, located in Watertown, MA, has been providing exceptional local residential moving services since 1994. They stand out among nearby moving companies with their comprehensive offerings, including packing and unpacking services, and the ability to move delicate items such as pianos, antiques, and safes. Their reputation is solid, boasting a Yelp average rating of 4.1 from 148 reviews, a Google My Business rating of 4.5 from 229 reviews, and an A+ Better Business Bureau rating. Olympia Moving & Storage also accepts credit cards and offers full valuation insurance coverage, ensuring peace of mind for their customers.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Crane vans
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOD certified
Visit our best movers in Boston page to see a complete list of moving companies, including hourly rates, services, and reviews. And if you're moving outside of Boston, consider one of Boston's top long-distance movers.
Moving costs in other nearby Massachusetts cities
Average cost to hire interstate movers in Boston, MA
Since the cost of moving out of Boston depends so much on where you're moving, we've included some example costs below to give you a better idea of pricing. For more detailed guides on your specific destination, find your moving route to Boston or use our moving cost calculator to get quotes from the top interstate movers.
Cost to move a one-bedroom home out of state from Boston
The cost to move a studio apartment or one-bedroom home out of state from Boston depends on the moving method you choose, how much stuff you have, and how far you're moving.
Take a look at some example costs to move a one-bedroom cross-country:
- Boston to New York City: $1,205–$3,135
- Boston to Los Angeles: $3,324–$7,306
- Boston to Chicago: $2,694–$5,893
- Boston to Houston: $2,911–$5,603
- Boston to Phoenix: $3,144–$6,212
Cost to move a two- or three-bedroom home out of state from Boston
As with any move, the cost to relocate a two- or three-bedroom from Boston can vary widely based on move size, distance, and time of year.
Here is a look at some two- and three-bedroom move costs out of Boston:
- Boston to New York City: $1,625–$4,281
- Boston to Los Angeles: $4,920–$8,838
- Boston to Chicago: $2,976–$6,439
- Boston to Houston: $3,903–$7,121
- Boston to Phoenix: $4,496–$8,180
Cost to move a four-bedroom (or larger) home out of state from Boston
The cost to move a four-bedroom or larger home out of Massachusetts will be significantly higher than for one- or two-bedroom houses, since a bigger house typically means more items. Movers calculate long-distance moves, in part, based on the total estimated volume and weight of your household belongings.
While moving costs can vary, take a look at these cost ranges for moving four or more bedrooms out of Boston:
- Boston to New York City: $2,341–$5,513
- Boston to Los Angeles: $9,729–$14,732
- Boston to Chicago: $5,044–$8,369
- Boston to Houston: $7,330–$11,436
- Boston to Phoenix: $8,624–$12,610
Best interstate moving companies in Boston, MA
Now that you have an idea of what your move from Boston should cost, it's time to start looking at the best interstate moving companies. We vetted each one, examining their pricing, services, and our own real-life customer reviews to pick the best options for you.
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Allied Van Lines: 4.75 out of 5 stars
- North American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
rating
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- Fragile packing
- Storage options
- 24/7 shipment tracking
- Quick & efficient
- Accurate quotes
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
Average cost of moving containers in Boston, MA
The cost of moving containers, such as PODS, will cost $220–$7,448, on average, in Boston. The exact PODS cost you'll pay will depend on whether you use an eight-, 12-, or 16-foot container (note: 12-foot containers are only available for local moves). The distance of your move will also greatly impact cost.
A local Boston move within 50 miles of your home will run between $220 and $813, while long-distance moves (100-250 miles) will typically cost $250–$2,107. Container pricing on cross-country moves from Boston can cost an average range of $2,068–$7,448.
Here's a breakdown of related PODS costs:
- Storage fee: $149–$359 (first 30 days is free)
- Damage coverage: 10–$439.95 per month, depending on the protection plan. Coverage ranges from container-only (no contents protection) to $300,000. All plans have a deductible of $100.
- Door lock (if necessary): $25 (if purchased through PODS; you can also purchase from home improvement stores or online retailers)
If you're looking for the cost-savings of a DIY move and the convenience of full-service movers, moving containers like PODS are a great option. You'll handle loading and unloading, but they will drop off your empty container at your current home, pick it up once it's loaded, and deliver it to your new location. This means you won't have to worry about driving.
PODS is our overall top pick for moving containers in Boston based on their stellar reputation, nationwide availability, and multiple container sizes and insurance plans. But you should take a look at least two other highly rated moving container companies on our list to see which one offers the right combination of services and pricing for your move.
Best moving containers in Boston, MA
The best Boston moving container companies provide multiple container sizes, pricing transparency and deals, and secure, state-of-the-art facilities for longer-term storage needs. They should also have a solid reputation for quality customer service and efficient drop-off and pickup of containers.
Check out these highly rated moving containers:
|
|
|
|
Average cost to rent a moving truck in Boston, MA
You'll definitely have to break a sweat, but moving truck rentals in Boston will be much easier on your wallet than full-service movers. The average cost to rent a moving truck in Boston ranges from $19-$39 per day.
While cheaper than full-service moving companies, you'll have to do all the heavy lifting yourself — from boxing up your belongings to loading them on the truck, hauling them to your new spot, and unloading everything there.
Here are the typical costs of Boston rental trucks:
- Base cost: $19–$39 per day
- Mileage fee: $0.89–$1.09 per mile
- Fuel cost: Depends on driving distance
- Truck coverage: $20–$55 based on coverage level
- Equipment costs (optional): Dolly, straps, blankets
The total cost to rent a truck from companies like Budget or U-Haul will depend on:
- How far you drive the truck
- How long you have the truck rental
- Additional insurance
- Parking
- Toll fees
- Fuel
- Accommodations and dining
- Moving equipment rentals
Best moving truck rentals in Boston, MA
The best moving truck rentals in Boston provide affordable rates with no hidden fees, a variety of truck sizes, and plenty of physical locations across the U.S. for convenient rental returns.
These top moving truck rentals certainly fit the bill:
|
|
|
|
Average cost of labor-only moving companies in Boston, MA
The average cost of labor-only moving companies in Boston is an hourly rate of $50 for each crew member. Most moves — even small one-bedroom apartments — require a crew of two movers, so plan on about $100.0 per hour to hire labor assistance in Boston.
Best labor-only moving companies in Boston
The best Boston labor-only movers have a reputation for professional and efficient service, but also provide reasonable hourly rates and a variety of optional services like packing that you can pick and choose from to create a customized plan suited to your specific needs.
We like these top-notch labor-only movers:
|
|
|
Factors that affect the cost of movers in Boston, MA
The biggest factor that affects the cost of movers in Boston, MA, is distance, but there are several other price considerations to keep in mind, including:
- The size of your move: The more belongings you have, the more your move will cost. Moving a four-bedroom home will typically be more expensive than moving a studio apartment.
- When you move: You'll usually pay more to move during peak season (May–September) because demand is higher. Similarly, the time of month and day of the week you book your move will impact cost. Demand will be higher the first and last of each month, when leases change over, and on Fridays and Saturdays, the most popular moving days. To save money on your move, consider booking during the week and in the middle of one of the off-season months, if possible.
- The type of move: Professional movers are the most convenient option, but they will cost you more than going with a DIY option like moving container companies or moving truck rentals.
- Any add-on services you select: Even if you go with a DIY move, you may want to hire third-party movers to assist you with loading and unloading. And professional movers offer a variety of optional services like packing and unpacking to help customize and streamline your relocation. But these additional services will come at an extra cost.
Quick tips for a stress-free move
- Have important documentation. Places like high rises and managed apartments will often require a copy of your mover's insurance and elevator reservation on moving day.
- Get approval. Check ahead with any neighborhood, community, or HOA rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Secure a parking permit (if needed). A permit for your moving truck is not required by the City of Boston, but it guarantees you a parking spot to avoid parking tickets. A one-day permit for a moving truck that needs two metered spaces would be about $110.
- Check state licensing laws. Moving companies in Massachusetts are required to obtain a license from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities – Transportation Oversight Division to provide local and intrastate moving services in Massachusetts movers must carry adequate cargo insurance and publicly file their tariffs required to list the services they provide and the cost for each.
- Invest in moving insurance. In Alabama and Massachusetts, Released Value Protection is a no-cost option provided by movers but offers minimal coverage at 60 cents per pound per article. If you seek full value coverage for your items, consider consulting with your moving company for alternative options or explore third-party insurance providers.
Work with your movers to ensure all these items are taken care of before moving day.
What is the cheapest way to move to Boston?
If you want to save money, you can hire a container company, where you do the packing and loading, and they transport your belongings in Boston for you, or you can rent a moving truck and handle it all on your own.
Here are the average moving costs from Boston to another state with different types of movers:
| Destination | Professional Movers | Containers | Rental Trucks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $2,690 - $6,460 | $1,565 - $3,253 | $646 - $1,362 |
| Columbus | $2,613 - $6,683 | $1,680 - $3,236 | $670 - $1,474 |
| Des Moines | $3,421 - $7,724 | $2,068 - $3,882 | $1,049 - $2,202 |
Helpful Boston resources
Boston moving services
Nearby cities
Not what you were looking for?
Check out other categories that can help you find the information you need!
