Long-Distance Moving Cost in 2026
By the Moving Company Estimate data team · Last updated July 2026 · Methodology
Short answer: a long-distance move (50+ miles, crossing state lines) costs $550–$15,550+ in 2026. The price is your crew's loading and unloading time plus a per-mile transport cost: a 2-bedroom home runs about $2,675–$4,000 at 1,000 miles, while a 4-bedroom on the same route runs $5,325–$7,925. The per-mile transport rate steps down the farther you go, the fixed cost of dispatching a truck spreads over more miles, which is why doubling your distance never doubles your price.
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How the pricing actually works
Every move, local or long-distance, is the crew hours to load and unload (which depend on home size, not distance) plus a per-mile transport cost. Transport is what grows with distance, and its per-mile rate steps down the farther you go. These are our 2026 blended rates for a 2-bedroom reference load, the same model our calculator uses (larger homes scale up proportionally):
- First 100 mi: $4.00/mile
- 100–500 mi: $2.60/mile
- 500–1,500 mi: $1.60/mile
- Over 1,500 mi: $1.10/mile
Because the rate declines across tiers, your first 100 miles cost more per mile than your last 100 on a cross-country haul. That is the real economy of scale in long-distance moving: the fixed cost of sending a truck to your door is spread over the whole distance, which is why doubling your miles never doubles your price.
Cost by home size at three distances
Regional move, think Boston→DC or LA→Phoenix class distances:
| Home size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio (~1,800 lbs) | $650 | $800 | $975 |
| 1 Bedroom (~2,900 lbs) | $875 | $1,075 | $1,300 |
| 2 Bedroom (~5,500 lbs) | $1,500 | $1,825 | $2,225 |
| 3 Bedroom (~9,000 lbs) | $2,100 | $2,575 | $3,150 |
| 4 Bedroom (~13,500 lbs) | $3,050 | $3,725 | $4,550 |
| 5+ Bedroom (~18,500 lbs) | $3,725 | $4,550 | $5,550 |
Mid-country, the classic Chicago to Dallas (925 mi) or New York to Miami (1,280 mi) corridors:
| Home size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio (~1,800 lbs) | $1,300 | $1,600 | $1,950 |
| 1 Bedroom (~2,900 lbs) | $1,725 | $2,100 | $2,550 |
| 2 Bedroom (~5,500 lbs) | $2,675 | $3,275 | $4,000 |
| 3 Bedroom (~9,000 lbs) | $3,900 | $4,750 | $5,800 |
| 4 Bedroom (~13,500 lbs) | $5,325 | $6,500 | $7,925 |
| 5+ Bedroom (~18,500 lbs) | $6,450 | $7,875 | $9,600 |
Long-haul, short of coast-to-coast (e.g. Chicago→Los Angeles):
| Home size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio (~1,800 lbs) | $1,925 | $2,350 | $2,875 |
| 1 Bedroom (~2,900 lbs) | $2,525 | $3,075 | $3,750 |
| 2 Bedroom (~5,500 lbs) | $3,800 | $4,625 | $5,650 |
| 3 Bedroom (~9,000 lbs) | $5,550 | $6,775 | $8,275 |
| 4 Bedroom (~13,500 lbs) | $7,425 | $9,050 | $11,050 |
| 5+ Bedroom (~18,500 lbs) | $9,000 | $10,975 | $13,400 |
Past 2,500 miles you're in the top rate band, see our cross-country moving cost guide for coast-to-coast specifics.
Four things that move the number most
- Weight discipline. Every 1,000 lbs you purge saves $380 at 250 miles, $550 at 1,000 miles, and $820 coast to coast. Selling a rarely-used sofa (~350 lbs) before a cross-country move is effectively a $285 rebate.
- Season. May–September adds ~15%, and month-end dates add ~8% on top. A 2-bedroom at 1,000 miles goes from $3,475 mid-February to $4,325 on July 29, same stuff, same route.
- Consolidated vs dedicated truck. Sharing a trailer with other shipments is the default and the cheapest; paying for a dedicated truck buys firm dates at a 25–50% premium.
- Estimate type.Get a binding (or binding-not-to-exceed) estimate on a written inventory. A cheap non-binding number that grows 30% at the scale is the industry's oldest trick.
Get your route's number
These tables bracket the market; your exact origin, destination, size, and date produce a much tighter range. No email required to see it:
Get your exact long-distance quote
Answer six quick questions, your price range appears instantly, before any contact form.
- No email required to see your price
- Licensed & insured movers only
- Your estimate is yours to keep either way
Prefer to talk? Call (561) 220-0117, free, no obligation.
FAQ
In 2026, long-distance moves run from about $550 (studio, ~150 miles) to $15,550+ (5-bedroom home, coast to coast). The most common job, a 2-bedroom at ~1,000 miles, typically costs $2,675–$4,000 off-peak.
Long-distance pricing is two parts: the crew hours to load and unload your home (a fixed handling cost that depends on home size, not distance), plus a per-mile transport cost. In our 2026 model the transport rate steps down with distance, highest for the first 100 miles and lowest past 1,500, reflecting the economies of scale in long-haul moving. Seasonal demand and extras like packing are added on top.
A binding estimate locks your price to the written inventory; a non-binding estimate can rise at final weighing. For interstate moves, insist on a binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimate from a mover with active USDOT/FMCSA authority, it removes the single biggest source of bill shock.
On consolidated (shared-truck) moves, expect a delivery window, not a date: typically 2–7 days under 1,500 miles and 7–21 days coast to coast. Dedicated trucks deliver faster but cost meaningfully more.
In cash terms: rent a truck (cheapest, most work), use a moving container (middle), or downsize aggressively before hiring full-service movers, fewer, smaller items mean a smaller truck and fewer crew hours, which is where the savings come from.