Average Cost of Movers in 2026

By the Moving Company Estimate data team · Last updated July 2026 · Methodology

Short answer: in 2026, a local move costs $305–$4,000 depending on home size (a 2-bedroom averages about $1,025), and a long-distance move costs $1,600–$16,000+ depending on weight and distance. Movers charge about $62/hour per mover to load and unload, plus a per-mile transport cost that scales with home size and shrinks per mile the farther you go, plus seasonal premiums of 8–15%.

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Local moving costs by home size

Local moves (under 50 miles) are billed hourly. Your cost is crew size × hours × hourly rate. Here's the 2026 national picture:

Local move (~15 mi), national blended rates, off-peak.
Home sizeLowTypicalHigh
Studio$325$400$500
1 Bedroom$450$550$675
2 Bedroom$875$1,075$1,300
3 Bedroom$1,200$1,475$1,800
4 Bedroom$1,925$2,350$2,875
5+ Bedroom$2,350$2,875$3,500

Long-distance moving costs

Long-distance pricing is weight-driven. At roughly 1,000 miles (Chicago→Dallas, NYC→Chicago class routes):

~1,000-mile interstate move, off-peak.
Home sizeLowTypicalHigh
Studio$1,300$1,600$1,950
1 Bedroom$1,725$2,100$2,550
2 Bedroom$2,675$3,275$4,000
3 Bedroom$3,900$4,750$5,800
4 Bedroom$5,325$6,500$7,925
5+ Bedroom$6,450$7,875$9,600

Cross-country (2,500+ miles, e.g. coast to coast):

~2,700-mile cross-country move, off-peak.
Home sizeLowTypicalHigh
Studio$2,275$2,775$3,375
1 Bedroom$2,975$3,625$4,425
2 Bedroom$4,400$5,375$6,550
3 Bedroom$6,500$7,925$9,675
4 Bedroom$8,625$10,525$12,850
5+ Bedroom$10,450$12,750$15,550

What changes your price

  • Date. May–September adds ~15%; the last five days of any month add ~8%. A flexible mid-month, off-season date is the single cheapest lever you control.
  • Packing. Full packing service adds $270 (studio) to $1,750 (5BR+). Packing yourself saves real money but shifts breakage liability to you.
  • Access. Stairs, elevators, long carries, and shuttle trucks all add billable time or flat fees.
  • Weight discipline. Every 1,000 lbs you purge before a 1,000-mile move saves roughly $550 at the 2026 band rate.

The fees that don't show up in averages

The gap between a quoted average and a final invoice is almost always fees, not rates. The recurring offenders: billed travel time or "double drive time" on local moves ($90–$190), stair and long-carry charges when the truck can't park within ~75 feet, shuttle trucks where a full-size van can't reach the street (several hundred dollars), building-required certificates of insurance, and storage-in-transit at $220+for the first month when closings don't line up. On long-distance moves, the estimate type matters more than any fee: a binding estimate fixes the price to a written inventory, while a non-binding one is settled at a certified scale after loading, which is where lowball quotes recover their margin. Ask every mover for the fee schedule in writing and normalize quotes to an all-in number before comparing; our local and long-distance guides itemize realistic all-in budgets by home size.

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FAQ

In 2026, expect a blended national average of about $62 per mover per hour including the truck, roughly $124/hour for a two-mover crew, $186/hour for three movers, and $248/hour for four. High-cost metros run 5–10% above these figures, and lower-cost metros about 5% below.

A local 2-bedroom move typically costs $840–$1,250 (three movers, about 5.5 hours). Long distance, the same home runs from about $2,500 at 300 miles to $5,700+ cross-country, driven by its ~5,500 lb shipment weight.

Usually, in cash terms: a one-way truck rental plus fuel for a 1,000-mile move runs $1,200–$2,000 versus $3,000–$5,500 for full-service movers. Containers (PODS-style) split the difference. The trade is your labor, time, and damage risk.

Common surcharges: full packing service ($270–$1,750 by home size), stairs or long-carry fees, shuttle trucks where a full-size van can't park, storage-in-transit, and specialty items like pianos or safes. Ask for every fee in writing before booking.

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