“How much do movers cost?” is the perpetual question for people budgeting their moves.
Whether you are moving your home or office or renting a storage unit in the United States, calculating moving costs helps you stay prepared and avoid unexpected surprises at the end.
This guide helps you determine your average moving expenses by providing an approximate moving cost calculator and a few money-saving tips.
These tips can help you save some pennies on your final moving day.
NOTE: The prices mentioned below are not the final moving costs; they will vary depending on other factors such as home size, weight, moving time, distance, and complexity of the move.
Moving Company Cost Calculator: How Do Moving Companies Charge?
Before we jump straight into the free moving cost calculator, let’s look at the pricing techniques used by professional moving companies.
In the United States, packers and movers typically use two main pricing methods:
Hourly-Based Pricing
A moving company typically charges hourly rates for local moves under 50 miles.
The average cost of movers ranges between $139 and $150 per hour, but the price usually varies based on home size, the flight of stairs, packing services, etc.
Weight-Based Pricing
Professional movers typically charge by the weight of your load for long-distance moves.
The rate is approximately $0.70 to $1.00 per pound for the goods moved.
Pricing Formula for Calculating Moving Cost Estimates
An online moving calculator provides the following variables to help you determine how much you will pay for your move.
Calculate the total moving cost using the formula below:
(Company Moving Rate x Number of Hours) + Additional Charges = Final Moving Cost
- Company Moving Rate: The hourly rate charged by your local movers.
- Move Duration: The number of hours it takes to complete your move.
- Additional Charges: Additional charges include an extra mover, heavy item fees, packing services, storage services, and taxes.
How to Calculate Average Moving Costs: Moving Estimator for USA Moves
Finding a moving estimate depends on the complexity of your move. With a moving cost estimate calculator, you get a fair idea of how to move on a budget.
Here’s a breakdown of the average moving costs.
| Average Hourly Cost | Number of Movers | Average Total Moving Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $139 | Two movers +1 truck | $417 |
| $139 | Two movers + 1 truck | $556-$695 |
| $199 | Three movers + 1 truck | $995-$1,393 |
| $199 | Three movers + 1 truck | $1,393- $1,592 |
| $259 | Four movers + 1 truck | $2,331 – $2,590 |
Local Moving Cost Calculator within the USA
Are you moving within the same city or a nearby location under a 50-mile radius? The average cost of moving a house locally will range between $417 and $2,590.
The average cost of local movers ranges between $139 and $150 per hour.
Remember, the total moving cost can fluctuate when additional charges are involved, such as complex apartment or condo moves, long flights of stairs, or complex entryways.
Other factors, such as labor time, packing services, and the number of rooms, might also increase the cost.
Piano Moving Cost Calculator
Moving a piano by yourself is complicated and certainly not a DIY job.
Considering how these artistically handcrafted pieces are built, hoisting them requires precision and experience.
Therefore, having professional piano movers by your side can help you lift such hefty items.
Local moving companies charge somewhere between $250 and $1,000 on average for moving an upright piano.
Moving grand pianos, however, costs more because they are heavier.
On average, expect to pay between $299 and $2,000.
Factors such as an additional mover, difficult access points, equipment usage, too many stairs, piano dismantling & crating, and distance influence the final piano moving cost.
Office Moving Cost Estimator
Budgeting for an office relocation requires two things: moving strategically so as not to disrupt business operations and arranging for special services for IT migration.
For that, you need experienced commercial movers.
The average corporate moving cost for an office of 1000 square feet is between $700 and $4,100.
For an office of 10,000 square feet or more, the cost might be $30,000 or more.
The cost varies based on the extra crew member added, the square footage, data and IT cabling, distance, specialty services, building complexities, etc.
Long Distance Moving Cost Calculator for In/Out of USA
Making long-distance moves successful doesn’t have to be stressful.
The best way to save on long-distance moves is to compare quotes early and plan well ahead.
Any distance beyond 50 miles is considered a long-distance move, whether it is a shorter move of 100 to 200 miles to a different city or 200 to 500 miles to a nearby state.
Roughly, the moving cost for long-distance moves averages between $2,000 – $10,500 or more.
A moving rate calculator helps you analyze your additional charges as you move across different states in the U.S.
Here are a few examples of average moving costs from the East Coast to the West Coast.
| Long-Distance Moving Cost Estimator | Moving Costs (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| The cost of moving from NYC to San Francisco | $1,850 – $7,200 |
| The cost of moving from Miami to San Francisco | $1,650 – $7,800 |
| The cost of moving from Virginia to Seattle | $4,100 – $ 10,500 |
Long-Distance Piano Moving Cost Calculator in the USA
On average, packing and moving a piano will cost between $700 and $4,300 for long-distance moves.
These expenses rise when additional movers, fuel, mileage, and lodging charges increase.
Other factors, such as the type of piano (upright vs. grand piano), piano dismantling, and complexities, also affect the cost of moving a piano across states overseas.
Long-Distance Office Moving Cost Calculator in the USA
Office relocation costs are slightly expensive, especially when covering larger distances.
Migrating large corporate machinery is complicated and time-consuming.
Hence, the cost of moving offices across the country averages $8,000, with prices ranging from $8,000 to $30,000 or possibly even more.
| Office Size (square feet) | Average long-distance moving costs in the USA |
|---|---|
| 1,500 | $8000- $15,000 |
| 3000-5000 | $8000- $24,000 |
| 10,000+ | $8,000- $30,000 or more |
No two moves are alike, and some are more expensive than others. Common cost factors include labor, equipment migration, packing materials, IT transfer, and downtime.
Additional costs, such as an additional mover, moving insurance, storage, and junk removal services, can also increase moving costs.
7 Tips on How to Save Money While Moving
The moving cost calculator helps you arrive at a realistic moving budget after comparing multiple quotes from moving companies.
Yet, you wish to pinch pennies on your move.
Here are a few tips you can follow:
1. Free Packing Supplies
Are you worried about where to find your moving supplies? You can borrow packing materials from friends or family and buy boxes from nearby stores and shops.
2. Declutter and Donate
Purge broken items, recycle old furniture, donate unused items to charity homes, dispose of old furniture items, or sell them online to earn extra cash.
3. Off-Season Moving
Knowing the best and worst months for moving can help you save on expenses. Moving during off-season months (October-May) can help you reduce your moving costs.
4. Avoid Weekends
The start and end of every month are peak moving times. Schedule your moves on weekdays or mid-month.
5. Leverage Discounts
Student discounts, promotions, and special deals for AAA tenants can help you reduce hefty moving rates.
6. DIY Packing
Handle the packing yourself and hire professional movers only for heavy lifting, loading, and unloading.
7. Rent a Moving Truck Container
Renting a truck or a moving container is an affordable way to transport your items yourself.
If you are moving out of a one-bedroom apartment, rent a truck that charges by the mile.
For a two-bedroom or four-bedroom apartment move, consider renting a moving container that can accommodate your oversized furniture.
Conclusion
There’s no surprise in admitting that a moving cost calculator helps you set clear expectations for a move and provides an estimate before you decide between DIY moving and hiring professional movers.
Once you decide, the moving estimate calculator aids you in budgeting, comparing quotes from multiple movers, and learning a few tips to save money on your move.
