People living in older apartments must have faced the struggles of climbing those few flights of stairs.
Some of you might be used to huffing and puffing up and down those stairs on a day-to-day basis, and it might be like a normal routine for you.
But the part where you have to move your belongings while navigating stairs becomes a bit more complex.
However, if you’re moving with the help of a professional moving company, they’ll ensure that you don’t have to face the difficult aspect of moving alone.
Now, the one question that comes to people’s minds is, do movers charge extra for stairs? So, the answer is it depends.
There are some moving companies that do not charge extra for stairs; they charge you on an hourly basis, where the extra charges would apply for additional services like an extra mover, moving specialty items, storage services, junk removal, etc.
On the other hand, there are some moving companies that charge extra for hauling up and down stairs.
Some stairs are tricky to navigate, so movers typically charge extra for moving things upstairs and downstairs.
If you are unsure about the cost of moving your home with stairs, contact your local movers for a moving quote.
Then, you will know exactly how much the move will cost, and you can plan your moving budget accordingly.
Why Do Moving Companies Charge Extra For Stairs?
Moving with the help of stairs requires a lot of effort and energy. Below is a detailed explanation of why movers charge extra for a move involving stairs.
1. The Amount of Time It Takes
The amount of time a move takes to complete plays an important factor in deciding what the final cost would be.
Some moving companies charge on an hourly basis.
For example, the longer the move takes (the time it would take for the movers to pack, load, move, and unload your stuff), the more cost you have to pay as per the final bill.
When moving long-distance, expect some movers to charge you a one-time stair fee for all the time they have spent on hauling your stuff back and forth the stairs.
In other scenarios, some moving companies might charge you extra if the building has an elevator, but the movers are forced to wait longer for that elevator.
This may occur if you have not reserved the elevator prior for the movers, for which they might charge you an additional fee for all the time lost.
2. Extra Efforts
If you are moving to or from a walk-up or high-rise building with a non-operational elevator, movers will undoubtedly have to work extra hard to move heavy furniture, large boxes, or fragile items.
In these scenarios, movers have to navigate through difficult staircases and narrow hallways, which will also increase the overall complexity of the move.
There is more physical work involved, so you can expect the moving cost to go up as well.
3. Risk of Damage To The Belongings
There are less chances of your stuff getting broken or damaged if the movers have access to an elevator to move your belongings.
But when the movers are moving stuff up and down the stairs, there is a high risk of your belongings getting damaged, which means the movers have to be extra cautious while hauling your stuff up and down the stairs.
Expect the final cost to go up as some moving companies charge extra when there is a usage of stairs, especially when specialty items are involved.
What Factors Influence The Cost of Hiring Movers For Stairs
Whether or not movers will charge extra for stairs will depend on several factors, including:
1. Where Is The Location?
Where you are located will make a huge difference. If movers have to use stairs to get to your new location, it may incur a higher cost than a location that does not have many stairs or elevator access.
If you are moving into a 4th-floor apartment without an elevator, then be prepared that you’ll likely be charged extra, and your final move cost is going to increase. It’s not just that; professional movers usually charge extra fees for moving specialty items up and down.
2. Type of Move
The type of move also plays an important factor in understanding whether you will be charged extra for stairs or not.
Choose between DIY moving vs hiring a professional moving company.
For instance, if you are hiring a full-service professional moving company, they may charge extra stair fees for moving heavy furniture and fragile items.
But if you are moving the belongings yourself, then you will be loading and unloading the truck, which means you will be responsible for handling the stairs.
3. Amount and Type of Belongings
The amount and type of stuff your movers will be hauling up and down will determine whether you will be charged extra for the move or not.
In the case of moving heavy furniture or fragile items, some moving companies will certainly charge stair fee for the extra effort.
4. Has Elevator Access or Not
If a building has no elevator (a walk-up), or if it does but it’s not operational when your movers are scheduled to arrive, then some moving companies may charge you extra in the final bill for using the stairs.
5. Number of Stairs
If there are many stairs, the moving cost will be higher. This is because it will take longer for movers to move everything up and down the stairs.
They charge on an hourly basis, so your final invoice will be more expensive.
Moreover, moving heavy belongings back and forth through stairs requires more energy and effort; there is a higher chance that your stuff can be damaged or broken when there are more stairs. So, movers will move things carefully, leading to more time and, hence, higher costs.
6. Type of Stairs
The type of stairs also plays an important role in the estimated moving cost.
If the stairs are straight, the movers will have no trouble moving your belongings.
However, if the stairs spiral and have many landings, it will take longer to move your belongings, so the movers will charge extra.
7. Necessary Equipment Required
If the movers are handling the belongings that require special equipment to get to your new location, then you should be prepared for the extra dollars that can be added to your bill.
For example, if you are planning to move a piano, the movers you hire will need to bring a special piano board to lift the piano down the stairs.
8. Moving Company Policies
It is important to note that each moving company has different policies.
So, when we ask, “Do movers charge extra for stairs?” We need to know that not all movers charge extra for stairs.
To have better clarity, you can call different moving companies to get the best quote.
Some companies charge a flat fee for all moves involving stairs or an hourly rate for the time it takes to move the stuff.
Other moving companies may charge an extra fee either per step or per flight of stairs.
Knowing about the company’s policies before considering hiring them can help you know what to expect.
How Much Do Moving Companies Charge For Stairs
Now it’s time to answer the big question: How much do moving companies charge for stairs?
Before we get to that, it’s essential to know that not all moving companies charge extra for stairs.
There are three ways in which moving companies charge for stairs. These include:
1. Hourly Charges
Some movers charge on an hourly basis. They add the extra time it takes to move the stuff up and down the stairs or even wait for the elevator that has not been reserved for them to their final cost estimate.
2. Flat Rate
Meanwhile, other moving companies can give you flat rates, including stair fee charges, after doing a proper analysis of your home before they give you an accurate moving quote.
3. Extra Charges For Stairs
Usually, the extra charge for stairs is calculated either on the basis of per step or per flight of stairs.
According to some moving companies, one flight of stairs is usually included in the cost of moving an apartment.
Movers usually charge $60-$70 per flight of stairs beyond the first flight.
However, please note that these are approximate figures; the stairs carry fees will depend on a number of factors, including the location, number of stairs, and the type of belongings.
Talk to your local moving company to know what extra charges, including the stairs fee, will be added to your final cost to avoid any unwanted surprises when you are given the final bill.
Conclusion
Movers typically charge extra for stairs because hauling belongings up or downstairs requires extra effort and time.
Additionally, if there is no elevator access, movers will need to use high-quality moving equipment to move specialty items like pianos, gym equipment, etc.
However, not all moving companies are the same, so it is important to contact your full-service moving company and ask them about their company’s policies before planning to hire them.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What counts as a flight of stairs for movers?
For most companies, a flight of stairs is five steps. If you have five or more stairs together in a group without any landing, they will typically consider them a billable flight of stairs.
If you have four or fewer stairs, movers usually let it go and do not charge anything. This depends on company to company.
2. Do all moving companies charge extra for stairs?
No, not all moving companies charge extra for stairs.
Some moving companies charge on an hourly basis, and some offer a flat rate, while others may charge based on the number of stairs.
Be sure to ask about the policies before hiring a moving company.
3. How much time does it take to move the belongings up and down?
The time it takes to move your belongings up and down will depend on several factors, including the amount of belongings you have and the number of stairs you have.
Usually, if you have heavy furniture and large boxes, it will take longer for the movers to move these items than it will for lighter items. Additionally, if your staircase is narrow and spiral, it will take longer for the movers to complete the job.
3. How do you cover stairs for movers?
Stairs are vulnerable to damage during the moving process, so they must be well protected before the movers haul the belongings up and downstairs.
The best way to cover the stairs is to cover them with old blankets, rugs, and stair runners.
