Moving Cost Calculator
Alex Sherr is the founder of 9Kilo Moving. He has been in the moving and relocation industry for more than 17 years, making him an expert in his field. Alex started as a helper, dispatcher, and driver and has worked his way up to owning his own company. He takes great pride in his work and enjoys helping people relocate.
| Our Take | Price | Rating | Minimum Shipment Size | Storage | Booking Deposit | Cancellation Policy | Quoting Options | Discounts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Value GET QUOTE | 1.8 | 2+ bedrooms | Free 30 Days | 10% | Free up to 72 Hrs | Phone / FaceTime / Text | Senior / Same day Booking | ||
| Best Industry Reputation GET QUOTE | 2.1 | 1+ bedrooms | 30 Days | 20% | Free up to 72 hrs | Phone / Facetime | Seniors Discount | ||
| Highest Quality Service GET QUOTE | 4.5 | No Minimum | 30 days Free | | Free Up to 7 Days | OnSite Estimate | Same Day Booking | ||
| Most Professional GET QUOTE | 2 | 2+bedroom | 30 days Free | 30% | 72 Hours | Phone / Text |
Need to Budget Your Upcoming Move?
Our moving cost calculator can quickly help you estimate the approximate cost!
Once you fill out this short form below, you will get an instant moving cost estimate and up to 4 estimates from trusted and reliable moving companies.
Preparing for a move of any distance requires meticulous planning skills. After all, you have to research prospective movers, decide what to take and what to donate, and most important of all, calculate an estimate about how much your move will cost.
Expenses for a relocation go well beyond paying for a truck rental and taking care of the professional mover’s wages. You also have to account for several other factors that give you an idea on how much to budget for relocation. All moves are not created equal, and understanding some of the elements that make moves more or less expensive can translate into big savings if price is a factor.
Moving Cost Estimator for Upcoming Relocation
We offer an easy to use moving cost estimator tool! First, let’s review the factors that will give you an accurate estimate of an upcoming move.
Use Our Moving Price Table to Budget Your Move
Mainly Depends on Number of Bedrooms and Distance of the Move
Budgeting your move is a complicated process. It involves several variables which needs to be considered. Our moving cost calculator algorithm is a result of years of research and development. The below table will provide you with an approximate price of moving. If you are looking for a much specific relocation estimate, you can use the tool above.
Depending on the size of the the move, on an average, professional moving companies charge $350 to $1,450 for a local move. If you are planning a long distance relocation, the average cost will be around $2,500 to $5,100. Again it majorly depends on the size of the move.
Below are the variables involved in estimating the moving cost:
- Time of the Year – The moving costs are usually high in summer months
- Distance – Long distance moves are more expensive
- Size of Move – Larger moves are more costly
- Hiring a Mover vs DIY – Do-it-Yourself relocation is cheaper most of the times
| 1 Bedroom | 2 – 3 Bedrooms | 4-5 Bedrooms | |
| 50 miles or Less | $325 – $625 | $725 – $1,250 | $1400 – $3,000 |
| 250 miles | $900 – $1,850 | $1,650 – $3,600 | $2,000 – $4,450 |
| 1000 – 2500 miles | $950 – $1,850 | $2,100 – $7,000 | $5,400 – $8,000 |
| More than 2500 miles | $1,450 – $3,500 | $3,950 – $6900 | $8,400+ |
*Price ranges mentioned above are rough moving estimates based on information from historical pricing.
Factors Affecting the Moving Cost
Following is the list of factors involved to calculate accurate moving estimates and quotes for relocation
1. Total Weight of the Cargo
Companies like Mayflower and Allied Van Lines send representatives to customer homes for the express purpose of presenting an accurate estimate of moving costs. The representative sent to your home will base his or her estimate on the total weight of every box, crate, accessory, and furniture. With cargo weight an important factor that determines moving cost, you should consider lightening the load, so to speak, by donating some of your stuff to charity. Even better, hold a yard sale to generate money to offset your move.
2. Moving Distance
A long distance move requires different licensing, insurance, and regulatory requirements than in-town moves. Therefore, the overhead for a long-distance mover is more extensive. Also, of course, there is the extra fuel and mileage for the vehicle, plus extra time for the movers themselves. For long distance moves or national moving requiring multiple days, there are also the meal and lodging expenses for the moving crew. All of these factors need to be taken into account when looking at a moving cost estimate.
See also: For an out of state move, you can look into this detailed comparison of best moving companies in the United States.
3. Hire a Pro or Do it Yourself
Enlisting the help of a professional mover will take a substantial chunk out of your relocation budget. However, the time you save packing and unpacking for your move might be worth the extra cost, especially for long distance moves that require the use of GPS tools to ensure the move remains on a timely track. The primary cost component of hiring a moving company is the hourly wages paid to the workers. If you have the time and enough people to help you move, then doing it yourself is a viable financially helpful option.
4. Location
Where you are moving to or from can affect your bottom line as well. Fuel, parking, tolls and other expenses can drive up the price of the transport of your items. And a hard-to-maneuver neighborhood, street, or driveway can add time to your move on arrival and departure. And in moving, as in most things, time is money. Besides, if your move includes a period during which your items will be in storage, as in the case of multiple closings in various markets, there will be storage fees as well.
5. When are You Moving
The busy season for moving, whether it is across town or cross country, typically runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Kids are out of school and workloads usually decline during the summer months. Because of the high demand during summer, movers and moving supply companies increase prices on numerous products and services. To save money on a move, consider scheduling relocation before and after the two summer bookend holidays. You can also expect to pay more for moving during extended holidays, such as the long winter break that happens at the end of December and the beginning of January.
6. Packing Services
Movers offer a range of packing services, and the cost of the move is affected by the extensiveness of the service you choose. For example, some people buy their materials, pack everything themselves, and then load all of the boxes in a garage or front room of the house to facilitate a fast loading process. However, you may choose packing services wherein the mover provides packing materials and sends professional movers to pack the house’s items. You may then choose unpacking services as well, where the mover unpacks items in the correct room at their destination and hauls away all of the packing materials when they leave. This is, of course, the most convenient solution, but also the priciest.
7. Price of Renting a Van or a Truck
Moving your own stuff will require you to rent a van or a truck. The upside is you have eliminated the costly expense of paying for labor. You should research different moving vehicle rental companies starting with U-Haul. Because U-Haul has a presence in virtually every major market, the company can leverage its economies of scale to offer lower rental prices. If your move is across town, seek out an independently owned moving vehicle rental company. Remember that you have to pay for fuel, which is another reason to move during the off peak season from early September through late May.
8. What does it Cost to Move Large, Heavy Items?
You decided to go with a licensed and bonded professional moving company. The company you selected has established a long standing record of achieving first class moves for residential customers. By signing on the dotted line, you have a contractual bond that might include a few stipulations that you failed to detect. One stipulation involves moving large, heavy objects such as a piano, a pool table, and a driving lawn mower. Some movers charge extra for moving large, heavy objects like cars, motorcycles, and washing machines. Make sure you understand what the moving company charges for moving large, heavy objects.
9. Weight and Number of Household Items
When calculating your moving cost and quotes, the moving company should conduct an in-person estimate to accurately gauge not only the time it will take to load and unload the truck but the size of the truck itself. While some moving cost calculators may ask how many rooms are in your house to give you a general estimate of cost, an on-site estimate will ensure nothing is left unaccounted for. Also, quote can go up with certain items, like expensive antique furniture or a piano. Also, online estimates don’t always take into account items that can require more space, like outdoor furniture, lawn and garden equipment, and ride-on toys and vehicles.
10. Yes, You Need Insurance
You can opt for basic liability insurance to protect the value of your possessions, but you can expect a few coverage holes that can cause you to be left hanging financially. Basic liability insurance for property runs around 60 cent for every pound of insured cargo. For a little more money that is worth it, choose a full protection insurance policy. A full protection insurance policy covers everything damaged by Mother Nature, as well as by the carelessness of the moving company
Other moving expenses that increase the bottom line include tipping moving professionals and paying for what you eat during the move. Both expenses rise the longer it takes you to complete a move.
Moving Estimates from the Moving Company’s Perspective
The best movers offer free in home estimates to let customers known what they can expect to pay for a move. We recommend using our convenient online moving estimate calculator to come up with an accurate estimate. Then, use the numbers you churned out by using our calculator to compare with what a moving company presents as a moving estimate. Moving companies use one of three types of moving estimates.
Types of Moving Estimate
Binding Estimate
A binding estimate is exactly what the word “binding” means: You pay the moving company the entire amount of an estimate. For example, if a mover estimates it will cost you $3,000 to relocate, then that is what you are legally liable to pay when the move is over. A binding estimate locks you into a fixed price and the moving company must eat any expenses that increase the total cost of a move.
Non-Binding Estimate
A non-binding estimate allows a moving company to charge up to an extra 10% for the price of a move. Most moving contracts contain legal language requiring customers to take care of the additional expense of a move within 30 days of completing the move.
Not-to-Exceed Estimate
If you like to watch Let’s Make a Deal,” then you should love the pricing model behind a not to exceed moving cost estimate. With a not to exceed estimate, you pay the lower amount between the estimate given by the company and the final actual cost of the move.
Few Tips for Hiring the Right Mover
The first tip is common sense: Consider moving companies that specialize in performing the types of move you want to make. Some movers specialize in long distance moves, while other moving companies emphasize their in town moving services. After vetting movers according to the type of move you plan to make, conduct thorough research that involves reviewing several customer review sites such as Yelp and Google. Upload the Better Business Bureau (BBB) page for the moving company and read the customer feedback left by customers, as well as the rating designated by the BBB. An A+ rating represents the highest consumer satisfaction rating a business can earn.
Make sure to confirm the professional credentials of any moving company under consideration. Visit the website created by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to ensure any mover you are considering exceeds federal certification standards. Finally, take as much time as you need to read the proposed moving contract. The last thing you want is to be saddled with a bunch of fees tucked within the contract’s fine print.
If you are looking for a great mover who will help you work within your moving budget, let us help! At 9Kilo Moving, we have all of the professional moving connections to ensure your next move, whether it is to the next state or across the country, is handled with the safety and convenience you want at a price you can afford. With our fast, free, no-obligation online quote through our moving cost estimator calculator, you will be able to shop with confidence and find the mover who is right for you. Contact us today at 9kilo.com or call (888) 220-2928 and put our easy to use service to work for you. Get FREE moving quotes!
Content Update: There’s a new article published about “How Much Does a Moving Company Cost”, visit https://9kilo.com/national-moving/how-much-does-a-moving-company-cost to read more.
