The Cost of Moving: What to Expect

Expect to pay $800-$2,500 for a local move and $2,200-$5,700 for a long-distance move. These tend to be the average price ranges for most moves. There’s always going to be outliers, but these ranges are a great rule of thumb. Other factors will play into your total moving cost such as special items and packing services.

We’re here to make sure you know exactly what to expect price-wise from your moving company. We made this guide to leave no curveballs in your moving experience.

Moving is expensive and can be a big investment for many families. It makes the process much easier if you know exactly what to expect cost-wise walking into the moving process.

You’ll be far less stressed and have more time to worry about what matters; planning your new and exciting chapter in life. 

Do-it-yourself moving services such as renting a U-Box will always be the cheaper option. With a smaller price tag, you won’t be getting an actual moving team to assist you, but if you’re on a budget it’s a great choice.

Done for you moving services will be on the pricier side, but you get a team of trained moving professionals to help you every step of the way.

An estimate is the best way to know exactly what you should expect price-wise from your moving company. It’s an estimated price tag on what the entire move will cost.

Although this sounds straightforward and easy, you need to make sure you’re getting an accurate estimate. Some scam-moving companies will do a quick walk around your house and give you a super cheap estimate.

If an estimate in the moving world seems too good to be true, it most likely is. They will try to hold your belongings and demand more and more money.

Packing services may also add some additional fees to your move. If you are trying to save money on your move, it’s best that you pack as many items as possible on your own.

This will make sure that when your moving company arrives, they aren’t having to charge you for any unnecessary packing expenses.

With most estimates, they will give you an estimate based on the estimated weight of the moving truck. If that weight ends up exceeding the estimated weight, you may be charged additional fees.

Another factor that could add to the cost of moving is if you need special moving services. These include services for moving specific single items such as pianos, pool tables, or recliners.

If you have a home arcade as well, many of those items will require special moving. This is because any big, bulky item that requires a specific assembly process will need special precautions to make sure it remains undamaged during the moving process.

We’re trained in life to always find creative ways to save money and find the best deal on the market. Moving is the one exception to this rule. Under no circumstances should you ever choose the moving company with the cheapest price. 

This is because moving company scams will often try and lure you in with cheap prices and make something seem too good to be true. 

When hiring a moving company, it’s best to expect to settle with a price that’s dead set in the middle of all your estimates.

As stated earlier, you can expect a different price range based on the distance of your move.

Since the moving company is not traveling as far, local moves will always be less expensive than long-distance moves. For local moves, you can expect to pay $800-$2,500. 

Long-distance moves will usually range between $2,200-$5,700. The longer the move, the higher the price will be since you have to take the transportation fee into account.

We wish you a safe and happy move. Our only goal is to help you go into this process completely free of financial stress. Make sure to check out other iMoving articles as well for the best moving experience possible. Happy moving!