How we calculate moving costs
Last updated: July 2026 · Rate tables refreshed annually each January.
Every estimate, table, and dollar figure on this site is produced by one rate model, the same code that powers the calculator. Nothing is hand-tuned per page. This page publishes the entire model so you can check our math.
The cost of any move is two things added together: handling (the crew hours to load and unload, which depends on your home size, not your distance) plus transport (a per-mile carrier cost that scales with distance). There is no cliff between “local” and “long-distance”, the same formula runs at 5 miles and 2,500 miles, so price rises smoothly with every added mile.
1. Handling, crew hours to load & unload
Handling cost = crew size × typical hours × $62/mover/hour (our 2026 blended national rate, covering labor, truck, and fuel). This is the same whether you move across town or across the country, the effort to carry your belongings onto and off the truck doesn’t change with distance. Estimated shipment weight is shown for reference.
| Home size | Crew | Typical hours | Handling cost | Ref. weight (lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2 movers | 3 | $372 | 1,800 |
| 1 Bedroom | 2 movers | 4 | $496 | 2,900 |
| 2 Bedroom | 3 movers | 5.5 | $1,023 | 5,500 |
| 3 Bedroom | 3 movers | 7.5 | $1,395 | 9,000 |
| 4 Bedroom | 4 movers | 9 | $2,232 | 13,500 |
| 5+ Bedroom | 4 movers | 11 | $2,728 | 18,500 |
2. Transport, tiered per-mile rates
Transport cost = each mile priced at the rate for its distance tier, then scaled by your home size. The per-mile rate steps down as the haul gets longer, because the fixed cost of sending a truck to your door is spread over more miles, the same economies of scale that make long-haul linehaul cheaper per mile. Rates below are for a 2-bedroom reference load; larger homes use a proportionally larger truck (roughly 0.55× for a studio up to 2.3× for a 5-bedroom).
| Distance tier | Rate ($/mi, 2BR ref.) |
|---|---|
| First 100 mi | $4.00 |
| 100–500 mi | $2.60 |
| 500–1,500 mi | $1.60 |
| Over 1,500 mi | $1.10 |
3. Seasonal & date multipliers
- May–September peak season: ×1.15 (~60% of US moves happen in this window).
- Last 5 days of any month: ×1.08 (lease-cycle demand spike).
4. Extras
- Full packing service: $270 (studio) to $1,750 (5+ bedroom), scaled to home size.
- Storage: $220 first month, blended national rate.
5. The range, and what we don't know
We display low/high as −18%/+22% around the computed midpoint. Real quotes vary with exact inventory, stairs and elevator access, long carries, shuttle requirements, and carrier scheduling, things no calculator can see. Distance is estimated from ZIP3-prefix centroids: major metro prefixes resolve to metro coordinates, everything else to a state centroid, and city names to exact metro coordinates, then straight-line distance is scaled by a 1.18 road factor.
Rate inputs are compiled from published van-line tariffs, mover hourly-rate surveys, and FMCSA household-goods guidance, and are reviewed each January. Found an error? We publish corrections on this page.