How Much Does It Cost to Move?

Understanding the costs of moving

How much does it cost to move? That can vary enormously depending on the amount of stuff that needs transporting and the distance it must travel.

If you’re moving from a furnished apartment across town, you’ll have few belongings. And you may get away with a couple of pizzas for strong friends and a bit of gas money for a borrowed or your own vehicle.

But, if you have a sprawling mansion crammed with valuable antiques, you could easily get into five figures for a long-distance move.

If you’re somewhere in the middle of those, you’ll likely be looking at thousands of dollars if you use professional movers. And that’s not the sort of money that will fall out of your couch when they take it out to the truck.

So, you must budget for these expenses when deciding whether moving is worthwhile.

In this article (Skip to...)

• Moving costs to consider
• Average moving costs
• Local vs long-distance move
• Tips for saving on a move

Moving costs to consider

The list of variables when it comes to moving home seems endless. In a minute, we will give you some ballpark figures. But you won’t know for sure until you get quotes from professional movers or start to tot up your likely expenses if you’re planning a do-it-yourself (DIY) relocation.

• Professional movers — These will likely provide a breakdown of costs within their quote, including labor and mileage
• All-in package — Movers are often willing to pack belongings in your old home before loading, and unpack them at your new home after unloading. But they’ll charge — perhaps $1,000 for an average home
• Packing supplies and equipment — If you go for an all-in-package, these are typically supplied. Otherwise, you’ll need various boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, tissue paper, and so on. Hint: you always need more than you think
• Transportation expenses — A company will likely give you a per-mile quote. But, if you’re a DIY-er, account for fuel, a rental of a truck, or a U-Haul-type trailer
• Storage fees — You don’t have to worry about these if you’re moving straight from front door to front door. But, if your closings don’t coincide, you may need to store your stuff for days, weeks or months.
• Insurance — The Insurance Information Institute website has a helpful article about making sure your belongings are fully covered during your move. Your existing policy may not be adequate for all the additional risks.
• Tips — If you are using a company or day laborers, remember to tip them. It’s seriously hard work. As a kid, this writer took a job with a moving company during one high school vacation and lasted two days. They deserve 10%-20%

Average movings costs

Your average moving costs will likely depend on some or all of the following:

• Where you live — The average wage locally will affect how much you’re charged for labor or will pay for day laborers
• How far you’re moving — Gas and vehicle wear-and-tear costs are obvious factors. But might the driver or crew need overnight accommodation and meals?
• How much stuff you’ve got — Do you need a small truck with a driver and one assistant or a huge pantechnicon with a five-person crew?
• Whether you have exceptionally heavy items — A grand piano, hot tub or pool table will likely be quoted separately
• Whether you have valuables — We all have things we value. But some items need special handling, which costs. You can’t just chuck your Ming vase, original Picasso, and priceless wine collection into standard packing boxes
• Ease of access — If either home is on a steep slope, or is a third-floor apartment in a walk-up, or has other access issues, the move will take longer and will cost more
• Your moving data — Moving is a seasonal business, with June to September as the peak season. Time yours for the winter, and it could be much less costly
• Moving permit — Some places require permits for street parking for moving vehicles. Fees are usually less than $80

So, how much does it cost to move?

According to Forbes magazine’s Home section, in 2024, the average cost of moving a 3-bedroom house locally using a professional company was $2,200. But you can double that for a long-distance move.

Forbes established its figures by checking movers’ sites. But Angi, a home services site, took the other route and surveyed people who have recently moved. Both came up with roughly similar figures.

Angi reckons that, in 2024, moving companies charged on average:

• Between $930 and $2,550 for a local (up to 100 miles) move
• Between $2,700 and $10,000 for a long-distance one

Cost of a local move vs cost of a long-distance move

Angi breaks down the cost difference between short- and long-distance moves and home size:

Forbes found the top-end estimate for an average long-distance move was $17,000. But it could be much more if you have complex moving needs, and especially if you’re relocating to a different continent.

So, how much does it cost to move? That’s about as close to a general estimate as you’re likely to get.

But you should get a much better idea as you get quotes from moving companies or begin to explore the costs of truck rentals and the like.

Tips for saving money on your move

Here are ways in which you might save some money on your move:

• Declutter before you begin to pack — Make piles for the trash, donating to a thrift store, and taking with you
• Recycle your packing materials — A friend might give you their saved ones or you could use sturdy boxes from your market and old newspapers
• Pack efficiently — You’ll need fewer materials and a smaller truck if you get more in each box. But make sure each is easy to carry and sufficiently sturdy
• Schedule your move in winter — Or, at least, do your best to avoid the peak summer season
• Negotiate with the moving companies that have given you quotes. Explore with them ways to save on their costs

How much does it cost to move? The bottom line

When you’re fixated on closing costs and down payments (or security deposits on a rental home), it’s easy to forget moving costs. But these can add up to thousands and affect your relocation’s viability.

So, take them seriously. And begin to refine your idea of what they might be early on.

If you’re a homeowner with a lower mortgage than you could get today, ask yourself whether you should move now. Perhaps a second mortgage would allow you to add to your current accommodation and remodel.

And that could make great financial sense. You’d pay a higher interest rate only on your new borrowing, leaving your existing mortgage (and its lovely low rate) in place.

But not only that: You’d skip closing costs, too.

Of course, staying put isn’t always an option. So, if you must relocate, get a grip on the likely costs early. And see how you can drive them down.