Our calculator uses real moving industry data, not generic averages, to give you the most realistic picture of what your move may cost before you start collecting quotes.
👇Use the Find-a-Mover tool to estimate your costs.
Moving Cost Calculator: Estimate Your Move in Under a Minute
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Data Analysis ByDaniel DelgadoRebecca Edwards is a journalist with 30+ years of experience covering home services and tech. After 23 moves across three states, she brings firsthand expertise to Move.org.
How our moving calculator works
Moving costs aren’t one-size-fits-all — and neither are moving estimates.
Our moving cost calculator works differently depending on your move type. For local moves, you’ll get an instant cost estimate based on typical hourly rates, crew size, and move details. For long-distance moves, we provide a realistic cost range based on years of industry research and real mover pricing — plus the ability to compare quotes from trusted movers.
This approach gives you a fast answer when possible, and a trustworthy estimate when exact pricing depends on distance, weight, and services.
What affects the cost of a move?
Put simply, moving costs vary. The final price of your move will depend on a number of considerations:
- What you're moving: The amount and types of belongings you’ll be moving — extras like cars, motorcycles, or specialty items like pianos can increase costs.
- How far you're going: The distance of your move makes a big difference. Most companies consider a move over 400 miles long-distance, which can limit services from long-distance-only carriers.
- Timing: Moving is seasonal, so the time of year can impact pricing, especially if your move is during the busy season.
- Services: Do you want help packing, unpacking, storing items, or moving special things like art or antiques? Those services can cost extra.
- Accesibility: Stairs, elevators, parking restrictions, and even narrow streets can be tricky for movers and big trucks — and could cost you more.
Because every move is different, even small changes to these details can affect your final price.
What real movers spent in 2024
(Median estimates based on hundreds of quotes gathered by Move.org)
🏠 3-bedroom move, <400 miles → $3,036
🏠 3-bedroom move, 400–800 miles → $6,320
🏠 3-bedroom move, 800–1,200 miles → $9,340
🏠 3-bedroom move, 1,200–1,600 miles → $12,360
🏠 3-bedroom move, 1,600–2,000 miles → $15,380
🏠 3-bedroom move, 2,000+ miles → $18,400
What it means for you: These benchmarks show what real people paid last year. Use them to spot a fair deal when comparing quotes.
Visit our Find-a-Mover tool to compare quotes now!
Why long-distance moving costs are given as a range
Unlike local moves, long-distance moving prices aren’t fixed upfront — and no honest calculator can promise an exact number without seeing your shipment.
That’s because long-distance movers base pricing on factors like:
- The weight or volume of your belongings
- The total mileage of your move
- The services you choose
- Carrier availability and routing
We know you probably want an instant, easy answer, but that's rarely accurate. Instead of delivering a single number that could be misleading, our calculator provides a data-backed cost range based on years of research and real pricing trends. From there, you can compare quotes from vetted, licensed long-distance movers to see what your actual price will be for your specific move.
This approach reflects how the moving industry really works — and helps you avoid surprises later.
How accurate are moving quotes?
(From Move.org’s State of Moving survey of 2,500 movers like you)
👍 52% paid within $100 of their quote
📦 Pro moves ranged from $1,012 to $25,000
🚗 Many bundled car shipping with household goods to save time and money
What it means for you: Shipping a car alongside your move? You can trust your final cost will likely match the quote — and bundling may help your budget and your schedule.
Find your car shipping bundle now!
How do different types of movers compare?
To save time and effort, we recommend either full-service or container movers (or a hybrid) over renting a truck.
| Type of mover |  Full-service mover |  Container mover |  Hybrid mover |  Hourly labor |  Truck rental |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| They load + unload |  Yes |  No |  Add-on option* | Yes | No |
| They drive | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Storage | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
*Costs extra.
Moving cost calculator FAQ
The cheapest way to move is typically a DIY move where you pack, load, transport, and unpack everything yourself. If you're doing a small local move and don't rent a truck, a true DIY move can save a lot of money — but it takes more time, effort (sweat), and planning.
But pure DIY won't usually work for a cross-country or other long-distance move. In this case, you can save costs by renting a big truck and doing all the labor yourself, hiring labor only for loading and unloading (you still do the driving), or using a moving container.
Moving is so expensive because professional moves involve more than just getting your stuff from one place to the next. Moving costs include (at a minimum) the price of fuel, wages for the moving crew, licensing and certifications, and maintenance for vehicles, equipment, and storage.
Costs can also increase based on distance, move size, services like packing or storage, and timing — especially during peak moving season. While professional moving can feel expensive, higher costs often reflect the resources and protections required to complete a move reliably, safely, and legally.
Costs for a full-service professional mover can vary (on average) from $1,200 up to $29,000, depending on distance, home sizes, and services.
Based on hundreds of moving quotes we gathered in 2024, the cost for a 3-bedroom move ranged from $3,036 for moves under 400 miles up to $18,400 for moves over 2,000 miles. Moves in the middle (800–1,200 miles) averaged $9,340.
Comparatively, I did a small one-bedroom move across town and only paid around $500.
Local and long-distance moves are priced in different ways, so estimates aren’t calculated the same.
Local moves are usually billed by the hour. Your cost depends on the mover’s hourly rate, how many movers are assigned to your job, and how long the move takes.
Long-distance moves aren't billed by the hour. Long-distance movers determine your estimate based on things like the weight of your belongings, the distance of the move, add-on services, and the time of year.
Because long-distance pricing depends on more variables, movers usually provide a cost range upfront and finalize the price after reviewing your inventory and shipment details.
Because moving estimates use a variety of factors to determine cost, several things can impact your total moving cost. Some of the factors that have the biggest affect on your moving estimate are distance, the size of your move, extra services (like packing/unpacking), and the timing of your move.
Even seemingly small changes — like changing your move date — can have a major impact on your final bill.
Moving cost calculators and online quotes are helpful for planning, but they aren’t final prices.
For local moves, calculators can be fairly accurate bscause pricing is hourly and more predictable. For long-distance moves, quotes are often shown as a range because the final cost depends on shipment weight, selected services, and carrier availability.
The most accurate pricing comes from using an online estimate as a starting point, then getting detailed quotes from multiple movers after a virtual or in-home survey.
