Moving cost calculator

The four numbers that drive your move cost

Every move breaks down to four variables: distance, volume, method, and services. Distance is miles from A to B. Volume is roughly how much stuff you're moving (measured by home size). Method is whether you hire a full-service mover or rent a truck and move yourself. Services are the add-ons — packing, unpacking, specialty item handling, storage. Every moving quote you'll ever get is some combination of these four.

National averages as a sanity check:

• Local move, 2-bed: $900–$1,800 with movers, $400–$700 DIY
• Local move, 4-bed: $2,500–$4,500 with movers, $800–$1,400 DIY
• 1,000-mile move, 2-bed: $3,500–$6,500 with movers, $1,500–$2,800 DIY
• 2,500-mile move, 4-bed: $9,000–$15,000 with movers, $3,500–$6,000 DIY

Full-service movers vs. DIY truck rental

The headline savings of DIY is 50–70% — but DIY hides significant non-financial costs: 2–4 days of physical labor, the risk of damaging your stuff, the risk of injuring yourself, no insurance, and the time cost of driving a box truck across the country.

The math for when DIY makes sense: local moves of studios and 1-bedrooms (the labor is manageable), or moves where you're getting paid help (friends in exchange for beer and pizza can be quite efficient). The math for when movers make sense: cross-country moves with a family (the 3-day driving commitment is too much), 3+ bedroom homes (too much volume to pack and load efficiently), and any move with expensive or fragile items (professional movers carry insurance).

Hidden costs that blow moving budgets

• Packing supplies.Moving boxes, tape, bubble wrap, markers, paper. Easily $150–$400 for a typical household. Ask local grocery stores for free boxes — they'll have dozens.
• Insurance.Standard mover valuation is $0.60 per pound per item — laughable coverage. Full-value protection costs ~4% of your shipment value but actually covers real damage. DIY insurance via your rental truck company is limited and your auto insurance doesn't cover cargo.
• Specialty items.Pianos ($200–$600), gun safes ($150–$400), pool tables ($200–$500), hot tubs ($200–$800). Ask upfront — these aren't in standard pricing.
• Long carry / stair fees.If movers can't park within 75 feet of your door, or if there are more than 1 flight of stairs, expect surcharges of $75–$300.
• Tips. Standard is $20–$40 per mover for a half-day move, more for long loading days. On a $3,000 move, budget $150–$250 in tips.
• Storage.If move-out and move-in dates don't align, storage runs $100–$300/month for a typical household.
• Utility setup. New utility connections can cost $50–$200 each in activation fees. Budget $300–$500 for the cumulative setup of water, power, gas, internet, and trash at the new address.

Long-distance: the two pricing models

Full-service long-distance movers price moves one of two ways: binding estimate (a fixed price based on inventory, locked at signing) or non-binding estimate (price based on actual weight, weighed at pickup and delivery). Binding is safer but sometimes 10–15% higher. Non-binding can surprise you with a 20%+ upcharge if your actual weight exceeds the estimate.

Always get 3+ written quotes from USDOT-licensed interstate carriers. Avoid brokers unless they're upfront about it — brokerage arrangements are the source of most moving nightmares (bait-and-switch pricing, held hostage loads, damaged items with no recourse).

Timing affects price substantially

Moving companies charge peak rates in summer (May–August), end-of-month, and holiday weekends. Off-peak pricing — mid-month, mid-week, winter — can be 15–30% cheaper. If your timeline has flexibility, ask for off-peak pricing. "Show up any Tuesday in February" will often unlock the best rates.

Tax deductions for moving — mostly gone

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated the moving expense deduction for most people. The only remaining exception is active-duty military on a permanent change of station (PCS) order. Everyone else cannot deduct moving costs on federal taxes. Some states still allow moving deductions on state returns — check your state's rules.

Employer-paid moves

If you're relocating for a job, ask the employer to cover your move. Typical full corporate relocation packages include: van line costs, temporary housing, storage, home sale assistance, house hunting trips, and a lump-sum "miscellaneous" allowance of $2,000– $5,000. A typical mid-level relo package totals $8,000–$20,000. It's taxable income to you, so the employer usually grosses up the payment to cover the tax hit.

Final checklist

• Book movers 6+ weeks ahead in summer, 3–4 weeks in off-season.
• Inventory your stuff and declutter — every box you don't move saves $1–$3.
• Take photos of expensive items before packing.
• Keep valuable items (jewelry, documents, laptops) with you.
• Confirm the moving company's USDOT number at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move.
• Read reviews — sort by 1-star to see the failure modes.

Related calculators

Moving costs are just one line item in total relocation spending. See our closing cost calculator for home purchase expenses and affordability by city to compare housing costs across metros.