Moving Cost CalculatorEstimate the cost of a local or long-distance move: DIY truck vs movers
Compare the cost of renting a truck yourself with hiring professional movers for a local or long-distance move, based on home size, distance, season, stairs and packing. Every assumption is shown and editable.
- DIY vs movers side by side
- Local & long-distance
- Editable assumptions
- FMCSA consumer tips
Moving cost calculator
Edit cost assumptions
Defaults are typical US figures for planning. Replace them with real quotes for an accurate number.
How much does it cost to move?
It depends mostly on distance and how much you own. A local move (under 100 miles) is priced by the hour. A two-bedroom home with three movers at about $60 per mover per hour typically runs $1,200–$1,800 including the truck fee and tip, while renting a truck yourself costs a few hundred dollars. Long-distance moves are priced by weight and miles: a 2-bedroom home (about 5,000 lb) moved 1,000 miles is commonly $4,000–$6,000. Every assumption in the calculator can be replaced with figures from your own quotes.
How the estimate is built
| Home size | Est. weight | Typical crew | Base loading/unloading hours | DIY truck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | ~2,000 lb | 2 | 3 | 10 ft |
| 1 bedroom | ~3,500 lb | 2 | 4 | 15 ft |
| 2 bedrooms | ~5,000 lb | 3 | 6 | 15 ft |
| 3 bedrooms | ~8,000 lb | 3 | 8 | 20 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | ~10,000 lb | 4 | 10 | 26 ft |
Local pro = Crew × Hours × Rate (+ drive time, stairs, packing, ~10% tip) + truck feeLong-distance pro = Weight × (Base $/lb + $/lb per 1,000 mi × Miles ÷ 1,000) + extrasDIY = Truck rental + Mileage + Fuel (miles ÷ mpg × gas price) + SuppliesResults are shown as a ±15% range because real quotes vary by city, season, access and the mover. Peak season (May–September, weekends, month-end) costs more. Get at least three in-home or video estimates before you book.
Protect yourself: interstate moving rules
Check the USDOT number
Interstate movers must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Look up their USDOT number and complaint history before you sign.
Prefer a binding estimate
A binding estimate fixes the price for the listed items. With a non-binding estimate, federal rules generally limit what you must pay at delivery to the estimate plus 10%, with the rest billed later.
Red flags
Large cash deposits, phone-only estimates for big moves, no physical address, or a mover who won’t give you FMCSA’s “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” booklet.
Understand valuation
Basic “released value” protection pays only about 60 cents per pound per item. Full-value protection costs more but covers repair or replacement.
Related calculators
Moving involves more than the truck. These tools help plan the rest:
More Household Money & Bills calculators in this cluster:
Manzoor Ahmad
Calculator Developer · Founder of DexoCalc
I’m a pharmacist turned web developer with 13+ years of experience building web tools. Moving prices vary so much that a single “average” is misleading, so this calculator shows every assumption and lets you change it. Pair it with real quotes, and use FMCSA’s tools to check any interstate mover.
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Moving costs: frequently asked questions
Locally, around $1,200–$1,800 with professional movers, or a few hundred dollars with a rental truck. For about 1,000 miles, expect roughly $4,000–$6,000 with movers. Enter your details for a personalized range.
Renting a truck is almost always cheaper in cash, often by $1,000 or more, but you do all the lifting and driving. Movers make more sense for larger homes, stairs, heavy items and long distances.
A common guideline is about 10% of the labor cost, or roughly $20–$40 per mover for a half-day and more for a full day or difficult move. The calculator includes about 10% for local moves.
Mid-month weekdays from October through April. Summer weekends and the end of each month are the busiest and most expensive.
Mainly by the weight of your belongings and the distance, plus extras like packing, stairs, long carries and valuation coverage. Ask for a binding estimate after an in-home or video survey.
It’s a planning range built on typical rates, which you can edit under ‘Edit cost assumptions’. Use it to budget and to sanity-check quotes, not as a price guarantee.
Sources & references
- Protect Your Move, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- SAFER Company Snapshot: look up a USDOT number, FMCSA
These are planning estimates from typical rates, not quotes. Prices vary by location, season, access, inventory and company. Always get written estimates.