Moving Cost Calculator for Instant Moving Estimates (2024)

How to calculate moving costs

Whether you’re planning a local or long-distance move, a moving cost calculator is a great place to get started. Using key information — such as the size of your move and your starting and ending location — our moving calculator will give you an accurate price range for calculating the costs of your move.

Factors that affect moving costs

Our free moving cost calculator considers the same factors that professional moving companies use to provide a quote. Those factors include:

• Move size: Larger moves are more expensive, as they require more labor and a larger moving truck.
• Distance: The greater the distance, the more the move will cost.
• DIY vs. professional movers: DIY moving services like moving container companies are usually cheaper, but require that you do all the packing and heavy lifting yourself. Professional movers take care of loading, unloading, and transportation, but are much more expensive.
• Time of year: Summer pricing is higher in the moving industry because it’s the peak season for moving companies. The best time to move price-wise is between October and April.
• Moving date: Moving prices tend to be more affordable during the middle of the week and middle of the month. Prices are higher on weekends and at the beginning and end of the month, when most rental lease turnover occurs.

Additional moving costs and fees to consider

Full-service movers have a lot of additional fees that can come up depending on the details of your move:

• Specialty items: Pianos, pool tables, hot tubs, motorcycles, safes, and other bulky items are expensive to move and will increase your overall cost. Companies usually charge a few hundred dollars to haul these bulky items.
• Packing supplies: If a mover has to use moving supplies like bubble wrap, mattress covers, TV boxes, packing paper, or any other packing supplies, they may charge you. Some moving companies also allow you to purchase packing materials from them directly.
• Long-carry fees: If the mover can’t park their truck within 100-150 feet of your front door, they may charge a fee due to the extra work required to get your belongings to the moving truck. Depending on the size of the move, long-carry fees can add up to several hundred dollars.
• Stair-carry fees: If movers have to navigate several long staircases to get to your items, the moving company may charge a fee for each additional staircase beyond the first one.
• Elevator fees: Some movers will charge a fee if your residence is located on a floor that requires a lengthy elevator ride or if your building has a narrow elevator requiring a lot of trips.
• Packing and unpacking services: You can pay a full-service mover to unpack all your boxes and put everything away for you. Full unpacking will typically cost a few hundred dollars for a one-bedroom apartment up to a few thousand dollars for a larger home.

• Furniture assembly and disassembly: Many moving companies can help with disassembling and reassembling furniture, hooking up appliances, and even mounting a TV. Each of these services will increase your total move costs.
• Shuttle service: If the moving company has to use a smaller truck to park close to your property, the company will usually charge a shuttle fee to transport items from the smaller truck to the tractor-trailer.
• Storage: Most full-service movers offer the option to store your items, and many provide free storage for up to 30 days. For longer-term storage, it’s much cheaper to use a local personal storage facility.
• Extra stops: Need the movers to stop by a local storage unit or your in-law’s house? 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 on or before a specific date.
• Tipping: Moving is a tough job and many customers give their movers a tip for their hard work. The amount you should tip movers can vary depending on the specific move, but generally speaking, you should tip $20 per person for a half-day move and $40 per person for a full-day, eight-hour move. Check out our movers tipping guide for more recommendations.

9 tips for cutting moving costs

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

1. Sell, donate, or trash. Downsizing is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to reduce moving costs. The less you move, the less you’ll pay. Take time to consider which items are actually worth moving. Sell, donate, or trash anything not worth moving. This is especially true of heavy items like fitness equipment, old appliances, and book collections.
2. Adjust your move date. Moving companies charge more during popular times to move. If you can, avoid moving around holidays or near the end of the month. The summer months can also be 20-30% more expensive, so if you can avoid a summer move, do it.
3. Get multiple moving quotes. It’s not unusual for moving estimates to be different by thousands of dollars, especially if you’re moving long-distance. Get at least three estimates to ensure you’re getting a fair price on your move.
4. Be flexible on pickup & delivery times. Movers often face unexpected delays like weather or traffic issues. Customers with flexible move dates enable moving companies to build some cushion into their schedules, often resulting in a better price.
5. Book early. When possible, book your mover 30 to 60 days in advance. Full-service movers will increase prices for moves booked last-minute, or worst case, they may not have any availability. If you plan on moving during the summer or around a holiday, consider booking 90 days in advance to be safe.
6. Consider DIY moving services. Full-service moving companies take a lot of the work out of moving, but they also are expensive. Do-it-yourself moving options like rental trucks and moving container companies can be significantly more affordable if you’re willing to do some of the heavy lifting yourself. If you’re unable to do the loading and unloading, you can always hire labor-only moving helpers to assist.
7. Ask for price matching. The moving industry is competitive, and many companies have a price matching policy to try to win your business. Don’t hesitate to ask for a price match if you’ve found a cheaper quote elsewhere.
8. Get free packing supplies. When budgeting for a move, people frequently overlook the cost of packing supplies. Buying boxes, packing paper, and tape can all add up to hundreds of dollars. However, you can get free moving boxes and other supplies from people who just finished moving. Check out our article on finding free boxes for a lot more options.
9. Use your pre-existing insurance coverage. Check with your existing homeowners or renters insurance to see if moving is covered under your policy. If it is, you can avoid spending money on the moving company’s add-on full-valuation coverage.