How Much Do Philadelphia Movers Cost?
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The typical cost for hiring movers in Philadelphia is $130 per hour, with the total cost to move ranging from $475 to $4,285, on average. If you’re moving out of Pennsylvania, the cost of hiring long-distance movers in Philadelphia really depends on where you’re moving.
Use our moving cost calculator below for a quick and personalized price estimate for your move out of Philadelphia, PA.
Jump to the cost information best for your Philadelphia move:
- Cost for local movers in Philadelphia
- Cost for interstate movers in Philadelphia
- Cost for moving truck rentals in Philadelphia
- Cost for moving container rentals in Philadelphia
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Average cost to hire a local moving company in Philadelphia
Hiring a full-service Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia move.
If you want to save money, you can do some of the work yourself — by hiring a container company or renting a moving truck where you do the packing and loading and they transport your belongings in Philadelphia for you.
Here are the average moving costs from Philadelphia to another state with different types of movers:
| Destination | Professional Movers | Containers | Rental Trucks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $3,331 - $7,639 | $2,060 - $3,842 | $1,025 - $2,294 |
| Houston | $3,358 - $7,758 | $2,186 - $4,016 | $1,134 - $2,416 |
| Salt Lake City | $3,902 - $8,389 | $2,476 - $5,210 | $1,516 - $3,120 |
And here's how much professional movers cost in Philadelphia based on your move size:
| Home size | Avg. total cost | Cost/hour | # of movers | # hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $475 | $182 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
| 1 bedroom | $657 | $182 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
| 2 bedroom | $1,058 | $255 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
| 3 bedroom | $2,435 | $357 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
| 4 bedroom | $2,792 | $357 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
| 5+ bedroom | $4,285 | $499 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
- Studio: The average cost to hire movers in Philadelphia to move a studio apartment is $475. You'll need two movers for three hours at $182 per hour.
- One bedroom: If you have a one-bedroom apartment or home, expect to pay around $657 for local Philadelphia movers. You'll need two movers for four hours at $182 per hour.
- Two bedrooms: The average cost to hire Philadelphia movers to move a two-bedroom home is $1,058. You'll need three movers for five hours at $255 per hour.
- Three bedrooms: For a three-bedroom home, expect to pay $2,435 for local Philadelphia movers. A three-bedroom typically requires four movers for eight hours at $357 per hour.
- Four bedrooms: Moving a four-bedroom house in Philadelphia will cost $2,792, on average. The cost to move a larger home can vary, but typically requires four movers for nine hours at $357 per hour.
- Five or more bedrooms: The cost of hiring Philadelphia movers for a home with five or more bedrooms is $4,285. You'll need five movers for ten hours at $499 per hour.
It's worth noting the cost per hour for Philadelphia movers remains the same for all home sizes, ranging from $182 per hour for two movers to $499 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 overall cost.
Overall, hiring local Philadelphia 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.
Best local moving companies in Philadelphia, PA
Our expert team of analysts has dug deep into licensing, insurance options, online reviews, and hundreds of other data points to find you the best local moving companies in Philadelphia.
| Company | Quote | Rating | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
most popular
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Get A Quote |
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925 N Lenola Rd, Moorestown, NJ, 08057 (856) 727-1060 |
| Anchor Moving & Storage Inc. | Get A Quote |
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8295 National Hwy Ste B, Pennsauken, NJ, 08110 (856) 787-9898 |
| Two Men and a Truck | Get A Quote |
|
97 Foster Rd #1, Moorestown, NJ, 08057 (856) 316-4687 |
Visit our best movers in Philadelphia page to see a complete list of moving companies, including hourly rates, services, and reviews. And if you’re moving outside of Philadelphia, consider one of Philadelphia’s top long-distance movers.
Average cost to hire interstate movers in Philadelphia
Since the cost of moving out of Philadelphia depends so much on where you’re moving, here are some example costs. For more detailed guides on your specific destination, find your moving route to Philadelphia or use our moving cost calculator to get quotes from the top interstate movers.
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Cost to move a one-bedroom home out of state from Philadelphia
Philadelphia to Los Angeles:
$3,052–$5,868
Philadelphia to New York City:
$865–$2,325
Philadelphia to Chicago:
$2,061–$4,281
Philadelphia to Houston:
$2,702–$5,167
Philadelphia to Phoenix:
$2,866–$5,705
Cost to move a two- or three-bedroom home out of state from Philadelphia
Philadelphia to Los Angeles:
$4,442–$7,755
Philadelphia to New York City:
$1,137–$3,318
Philadelphia to Chicago:
$2,546–$5,561
Philadelphia to Houston:
$3,358–$6,290
Philadelphia to Phoenix:
$4,001–$6,990
Cost to move a four- bedroom home (or larger) out of state from Philadelphia
Philadelphia to Los Angeles:
$8,437–$11,860
Philadelphia to New York City:
$1,663–$3,943
Philadelphia to Chicago:
$4,379–$7,860
Philadelphia to Houston:
$6,212–$9,207
Philadelphia to Phoenix:
$7,440–$12,763
Now that you have an idea of what your move from Philadelphia 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.
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- 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
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
- White-glove handling of fragile & high-end items
- Guaranteed pickup & delivery
- $250 deposit for interstate moves
- Mobile app with 24/7 customer service
- Financing available
Average cost to rent a moving truck in Philadelphia
You'll definitely have to break a sweat, but moving truck rentals in Philadelphia will be much easier on your wallet than full-service movers. The average cost to rent a moving truck in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia rental trucks:
- Base cost: $19–$39 per day
- Mileage fee: $0.89–$0.99 per mile
- Fuel cost: Dependent on driving distance.
- Truck coverage: $20–$55 based on coverage level
- Parking permit (if necessary): Moving Truck = $50.00 (Center City and University City) and $25.00 (All other areas), per 40 feet of space, per day (40 feet of space is the equivalent of two (2) parking spaces) Moving/Portable Storage Container = $50.00, per container (maximum of 5 calendar days). Temporary Dumpster = $40.00, per dumpster (maximum of 7 calendar days).
- 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
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
- Limits environmental impact as part of the EPA's SmartWay Program
- Non-slip flooring makes loading and unloading easier
- Easily choose truck size with their Truck Wizard Tool
- Competitive base prices with specialized discounts
- Round-trip and one-way moves available
- User-friendly website makes it easy to book the right truck
Average cost to rent a moving container in Philadelphia
Philadelphia has plenty of moving container companies to choose from. The containers are delivered, you load everything into them, the company picks it up, and it gets put in storage until you're ready for everything to be delivered to your new place.
Naturally, the advantage with containers like PODS and U-Pack is storage. These things will buy you time if you end up with a weird gap between leases.
Here's roughly what moving containers in Philadelphia are going to cost:
- Storage fee: $79.95 per 30 days
- Damage coverage: $10–$350 based on coverage level
- Parking permit (if necessary): Moving Truck = $50.00 (Center City and University City) and $25.00 (All other areas), per 40 feet of space, per day (40 feet of space is the equivalent of two (2) parking spaces) Moving/Portable Storage Container = $50.00, per container (maximum of 5 calendar days). Temporary Dumpster = $40.00, per dumpster (maximum of 7 calendar days).
- Door lock (if necessary): $10–$15
- Equipment costs (if necessary): Dolly, straps, blankets (optional)
Storing everything in a one-bedroom will end up costing somewhere around $90–$470 door-to-door. Still, you might want to factor in a little extra in case you decide to hire a third-party moving crew.
Each large container holds about three rooms until it's completely full. You might end up needing more containers, but keep in mind that your cost will essentially double with each container you add.
| Company | Quote | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
U-Pack 
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Check prices |
5 / 5
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PODS 
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Check prices |
4.8 / 5
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1-800-Pack-Rat 
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Check prices |
4.45 / 5
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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). Moving Truck = $50.00 (Center City and University City) and $25.00 (All other areas), per 40 feet of space, per day (40 feet of space is the equivalent of two (2) parking spaces)
Moving/Portable Storage Container = $50.00, per container (maximum of 5 calendar days).
Temporary Dumpster = $40.00, per dumpster (maximum of 7 calendar days).
- Check state licensing laws. For decades movers In Pennsylvania were regulated by the Public Utility Commission (PUC).
Each company was issued a PUC Number and was required to abide by a universal publicly published tariff that established the rates movers could charge for various services.
Now, some sources claim that the PUC no longer regulates in-state movers, and it appears as though the PUC’s website is no longer functioning. So if you’re moving within Pennsylvania, you’ll want to address these issues with your moving company representative and if possible, contact the state directly.
- Invest in moving insurance. In Pennsylvania, movers typically offer Released Value Protection at no extra cost, covering items at 60 cents per pound. For more comprehensive coverage, inquire about Full Value Protection with the moving company, or explore third-party insurance options for tailored plans. Consider coverage limits, additional costs, and reviews before making a decision.
Work with your movers to ensure all these items are taken care of before moving day.
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