Moving From Texas to New York: Movers, Costs, and Benefits

Texas. Hot weather, rising rents, and way too many Californians moving in. If you’re gonna be paying the big bucks, you may as well move someplace where you’ll be earning the big bucks, too.

Despite all the horror stories, New York is still just as popular as ever. All you have to do is look at the property values - no amount of wishful thinking is going to tank the market, especially in the Empire State. But if you’ve got the cash (and the mindset) to make it big in New York, you’ll need some professional help to get off on the right foot.

iMoving is the only platform that lets you search, calculate prices, and book your long distance movers entirely online. We make it easy to find the best Texas to New York moving companies, and we make it easy to look through their services and book what you need.

Got it? Alright, sales pitch over. If you’re still on the fence, read on to see what you can expect from your move from Texas to New York.

It’ll cost between $1,500 to $6,900 to move from Texas to New York, but we’ve seen the odd move that was lower or higher. It’s a big window, but long-distance moving has always depended on how much you’re transporting, and how far it’s going.

We’re gonna peel this band-aid off right now: Texas and New York are pretty far apart. Not quite coast to coast, but even at their closest (Texarkana to NYC) you’re still looking at a 1,373-mile drive. That’s going to cost you, but you can still save by downsizing.

You may not be able to reduce the distance between point A and point B, but you can definitely reduce how much stuff you’re transporting. Less stuff means less expensive - but it may also mean more waiting around for delivery…

Long-distance moving generally takes between 2 and 21 days, but Texas to New York is going to be 5 days minimum. Federal regulations limit how far drivers can go per day, so they can only log 400 interstate miles before they have to hit the pause button.

Aside from rules and regulations, your movers will also have to deal with empty space. It’s bad for business to send half-empty trucks all over the place. Instead, moving companies bundle several smaller moves together in the same trailer.

They’ll keep everything secure and separated, but you should expect delays for dropoffs and deliveries along the way.

If you’re just moving a studio apartment, it may actually take longer than moving a 5-bedroom home. But on the bright side, it’ll probably be a lot cheaper.

$1,500 to $6,900 is a pretty wide window. What goes into the price of a move? Let’s take a look at some of the most common factors:

1. Distance

Long-distance movers will base part of your final price on how far you’re actually traveling. Texas and New York are pretty far apart, and while you won’t be paying as much as, say, a Seattle to Miami move, the 1,373-mile minimum from the Lone Star State to the Empire State won’t be doing your wallet any favors.

2. Physical Size

We scared you with all that distance talk, huh? Don’t worry - you can actually do something about the physical size of your move.

Aside from mileage, the weight/volume of your move is probably the next biggest factor behind your final price. Fortunately, you can downsize and get rid of your unwanted items to save some serious cash. Less stuff = less expensive.

3. Packing Services

Packing services are entirely optional, but they’re worth the extra fee. Boxing, wrapping, taping - that all takes a ton of time, and a ton of patience.

Instead of ruining a few perfectly good weekends, you can have your movers take care of the whole process. Depending on how much you own, this will range from a couple hundred to a couple thousand.

4. Insurance

Movers are required to offer a bare minimum insurance plan. This bare minimum just happens to be good for $0.60 per pound. This means if a 4-pound computer monitor gets broken, you’ll just get $2.40 back.

Not a good deal. If you want to be reimbursed the full value of any lost or damaged items, you’ll have to pay extra for full-value insurance.

5. Access Fees

Draw a line from your front door to the street. Does it have to wind through long hallways, elevators, and multiple staircases? All of these obstacles will rack up extra fees, known in the industry as “access fees”.

Make sure you communicate with your movers ahead of time so they know what they’re getting into. It’ll also help you prepare your wallet accordingly.

6. Shuttle Fees

Moving companies typically use large semi-trailers for interstate hauling. They’ve got loads of space, but they aren’t always permitted to park on city streets.

In these cases, your movers will have to park the big truck on the outskirts of town and use a smaller moving truck to finish the job. It’s expensive and inconvenient, but it’s largely thanks to your city council.

7. Gratuity

These aren’t included in your quote, but we’ve included them here anyway. Tips are expected in the moving industry. This isn’t a barista asking for 40% just because she turned an iPad around for you.

Wrapping, packing, loading, and hauling is tough work, and unless your movers explicitly decline, you should budget out a 15% to 20% gratuity to be split up across your whole team.

You may have heard about people escaping from New York, but plenty of people are still moving in. Here’s why some folks are making the trip back east:

• It’s New York: New York has a global reputation. Sure, Texas may have one, too, but it’s not NEW YORK. Living in the Empire State gives you serious bragging rights (and you don’t have to admit you actually live in Albany or something, either).

• It’s not just the city: Most people immediately think of New York City, but there’s an entire state to explore. You can actually find more rural areas upstate, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that those NYC prices don’t extend through the whole state.

• Four seasons: Texas has two seasons: hot and muggy, and muggy and hot. Some folks don’t mind it, but if you’re dying for some change and you’d like some weather that just makes sense, New York is the place.

• More work: New York is famous for its job opportunities. From arts and culture to finance and tech, you can find just about any line of work. Plus, they tend to pay a lot more than what you’d find in Texas.

• Easier to get around: No more sitting in traffic. New York - especially New York City - has public transport really figured out. You may be a little intimidated at first, but once you realize you don’t have to search for parking, it’ll all make sense.

• Politics: Texas is red. New York is blue. You can decide for yourself whether this is actually a pro or a con. That’s all we can say without getting sucked into some kind of weird internet political fight.

New York is probably one of the best states for finding stuff to do. It’d take a pretty long time to list out all the points of interest, so we’ll just stick to the essentials:

• All the touristy stuff: If you’re in New York, you should check out all the tourist attractions at least once. In the city, there’s Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, One WTC, and the list goes on. And if you’re not in the city, there’s…

• Niagara Falls: There are actually a few different waterfalls at the same spot, but the most famous is Horseshoe falls. It’s a testament to the raw power of nature, and you can yell obscenities at the Canadians on the other side (although they probably won’t hear).

• The Catskills: Nature? In New York? It’s more likely than you think. The Catskills are a big mountain range that goes right through southeastern New York. There’s hiking, clean air, and tons of beautiful colors when the seasons change.

• Central Park: Going back to New York City, there’s tons to do in Central Park. It’s a huge slice of greenery in the middle of the city, and it’s big enough to have its own zoo and concert schedule.

• Arts and Culture: New York has Broadway. It also has tons of museums and art galleries. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Guggenheim Museum, you’ll find plenty to keep you cultured - or just occupied when the weather isn’t cooperating.

You made it to the end! Thanks for reading this far. Now that you’ve seen the price, our top choices, and all the excitement waiting for you in New York, it’s time to go shopping for your mover!

iMoving makes it easier than ever to compare prices and book Texas to New York movers. With an online marketplace of over 1000 verified pros, you can shop around, get quotes, and book your move without leaving your phone or computer. Just tell us more about your move, and let’s get started!