The average cost to hire movers to move a three-bedroom home locally costs around $2,100, and the average cost for a long-distance move for a home of that size is $5,500. Just how much your move will cost depends on the size of your home and where you’re moving, among other factors. Planning a move can be stressful no matter how big or small the home. And factoring in the cost of hiring movers is an additional task you might need to check off your moving to-do list. To help your move run smoothly, we’ve rounded up the average cost of hiring movers.
How Much Do Movers Cost?
While the average movers’ cost for a standard three-bedroom home is $2,100, every home is different, and prices can fall anywhere from $200 to $17,000. For example, if you’re into minimalism and just moving down the road, you could pay on the lower end of that range. But if you have a ton of stuff and need movers to carefully handle your collectibles as you move across the country, you’ll pay toward the higher end.
| TYPE OF MOVE | LOW ESTIMATE | HIGH ESTIMATE |
|---|---|---|
| Short-distance | $200 | $7,500 |
| Long-distance | $950 | $17,000 |
Cost for Local Moves
Local moves can cost between $200 and $7,500 depending on how many bedrooms you have and how many belongings you need to move.
Average Cost of Movers Per Hour
The average cost to hire a mover is between $25 and $125 per person. Most moves need at least two movers to get the job done, however, so expect to pay between $50 and $250 per hour.
| HOME SIZE | # OF MOVERS | # OF HOURS | AVERAGE MOVING COST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio/1-bedroom | 2 | 4 | $200 – $1,000 |
| 2-bedroom | 3 | 6 | $450 – $2,250 |
| 3-bedroom | 4 | 7 | $700 – $3,500 |
| 4-bedroom | 4 | 9 | $900 – $4,500 |
| 5-bedroom | 5 | 12 | $1,500 – $7,500 |
Movers and Packers Cost
Movers can also pack up all of your belongings to save you time and energy. Anticipate spending an extra $250 to $1,400 on complete packing services.
Long-Distance Move Cost
A long-distance move can cost between $950 and $17,000. Long-distance moves cost more than shorter distances under 250 miles because the moving company will need to factor in additional expenses, like extra fuel and time. Below is a breakdown of different prices for long-distance moves based on the number of bedrooms.
| # OF MILES | 1 BEDROOM | 2-3 BEDROOMS | 4-5 BEDROOMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | $950 – $2,800 | $2,100 – $4,800 | $3,500 – $8,100 |
| 1,000+ | $1,400 – $4,100 | $3,100 – $6,600 | $5,700 – $13,700 |
| 2,500+ | $1,800 – $5,100 | $4,300 – $8,900 | $7,800 – $17,000 |
Specialty Moving Services Cost
Some items require special packaging equipment or special care. For example, moving a piano, boat, hot tub or motorcycle could add between $300 and $2,000 to your move. Be sure to inform your movers of any specialty items before asking for a quote—especially if you’re getting a quote over the phone.
Auto Moving and Shipping Cost
If you’re planning a long-distance move, then you might also need to move your car. The average cost to ship a car is $1,650, but you could spend as little
as $1,200 or as much as $2,100 if you need to rush the shipment.
Factors That Affect the Cost to Hire Movers
Several big factors can dictate the cost of a moving project, including the size of your home, your possessions, how far your movers must travel and the
number of movers required to get the job done.
Home Size
Again, the size of your home really impacts how long it takes for a moving crew to clear it out. If you have a small studio apartment, you might only need
two movers to haul all of your stuff out. On the other hand, if you have a large four-bedroom home, it can take significantly longer and require a larger team of movers.
Home Items
What you have in your home can also slow things down or speed things up. Your prized wine cellar or workout studio could require specialty packaging or additional movers to get the job done. Meanwhile, if you don’t have as much to move, it likely won’t take as long.
Distance
If you’re traveling a short distance, your costs will be a fraction of the cost of a long-distance move. A local move for a one-bedroom studio could cost you as little as $200, but a move of that size with a distance of 250 miles starts at $950. Meanwhile, a move across the country that is over 2,500 miles starts at $1,800.
Number of Movers
Hiring movers can rack up prices. With the average cost of hiring a mover falling between $25 and $125 per hour, needing more movers makes a big difference in the cost of your project.
Insurance Coverage
The average cost of moving insurance is 1% to 5% of the total estimate of your property’s value. Though you might be tempted to skip out on moving insurance to save money, this insurance helps protect your belongings if they get damaged or lost in the move.
Accessibility
You’ll also need to consider how accessible your home is for movers. If you have several flights of stairs or other obstacles that could slow down the process, then you may have to pay additional fees.
Additional Costs and Services Associated With Hiring Movers
On top of the main cost factors, some additional costs and services can sneak up on
you when planning a moving budget.
Moving Add-Ons
Many moving companies offer add-on services that can increase the total cost of
your move by a few hundred dollars. A handful of examples of add-ons include:
- Disassembling furniture
- Reassembling furniture
- Felt pads
- Stretch wrap
- Specialty items
It’s important to note that some of this equipment may be included or you may be able to purchase it ahead of time for less. Be sure to ask about any extras when you book a moving company.
Storage Rental
Sometimes, you need to move all of your stuff out of your old place, but you don’t have room to put it in the new place yet. In this case, you might want to put your items in a storage unit. Storage units cost between $75 and $300 a month. Larger storage units cost more to rent than smaller storage units.
Tipping
While you don’t have to tip, tipping is a great way to show appreciation for the hard work your movers put into safely moving your belongings. You can tip any amount, but the most common amounts fall between 10% to 20% of the service cost.
DIY Moving vs. Hiring a Professional Mover
Moving your home’s items yourself can potentially save you money, but it is unlikely to save you time and energy. Still, if you can find free boxes and only need to purchase tape, padding, mattress bags, bubble wrap and other packing materials, you could end up paying just for those materials—around $65. If you need boxes for a bigger home, then you could pay around $200 for moving and packing materials.
Here is a breakdown of those costs:
Boxes: $2 each
Packing tape: $5 each
Moving blankets: $20 each
Furniture pads: $10 per pack
Mattress bag: $10 each
Bubble wrap: $20 per roll
If you’re moving more than a neighborhood away, however, then you will probably also need to rent a moving truck to move all of your items. The cost to rent a moving truck falls between $20 and $100 a day. Gas, insurance and dolly’s can increase costs, as well. In total, expect to pay somewhere between $150 to $400 for a local move if you plan to do it yourself.
Hiring a professional mover can make moving less stressful, but with starting prices for an average three-bedroom home costing around $2,100, it does come at a cost. For small, local moves, you might be better off DIYing it, but for larger moves that involve many rooms and boxes and heavy items, then you might want to work with a moving company near you