Cost Guide for 1-Bedroom Apartment Moves | Three Movers
Published by Chris Townsend
Arguably, the biggest concern that most people have when moving is how much it’s going to cost. While a one-bedroom apartment may be small compared to a large four-bedroom home, you still might be considering hiring a professional moving company. The exact cost will vary based on the distance of your move, the specific company that you hire, where you live, and any additional services that you select.
With this in mind, what is the average cost of moving a one-bedroom apartment?
To move a one-bedroom apartment locally (less than 100 miles), your movers will charge you by the hour and the total cost ranges from $400 to $1,600. With long-distance moves (over 100 miles), your relocating company will charge you based on the weight and distance. So, to move a one-bedroom long-distance you’re looking at between $2,000 and $6,000 on average.
Of course, getting an in-home estimate done by a professional apartment hauling company is the best way to know exactly how much it’ll cost you to move your one-bedroom apartment. However, the following guide will give you a general overview of what to expect.
Average Cost For Shifting One-Bedroom Apartment
With local moves, or moves less than 100 miles, movers usually charge by the hour. The average rate for two movers and a truck is roughly $100 an hour, which should be enough haulers to assist with a one-bedroom apartment shift. This type of move generally takes between three and five hours in total, bringing the cost of labor alone to $300 to $500.
How much does it cost?
Though, it’s important to keep in mind that every one-bedroom apartment is unique. The actual cost of your move, and whether or not it is higher or lower than the aforementioned averages, will depend on the following factors:
- The amount of stuff you have in your one-bedroom apartment.
- How easy the access is between the moving truck and front door at both the origin and destination location.
- Long carry charges (long hallways and inaccessible parking situations).
- The distance of your move.
- Whether or not you choose packing and unpacking services.
- The company you hire.
- Moving goods up and down flights of stairs.
- The specific date that you move.
When you request a quote from your hauling company, make sure that you are as detailed as possible about your relocation. This, along with requesting an on-site estimate, will ensure that you receive the most accurate quote possible.
Factors Affecting The Cost Of Shifting
The average cost also depends on the accessibility of the apartment. The change in cost because of the accessibility of the move can seem significant compared to the normal cost of moving a 1 bedroom apartment. The change may not seem significant when moving much larger apartments because the cost of relocating from larger apartments is already huge.
It will cost less to move from an apartment located on the ground floor when compared to an apartment located on the top floor. The accessibility of an apartment can also be affected by the size of the lobby, no. of doors in the building, the elevator system of the building, e.t.c.
As mentioned earlier, the weight of your belongings also makes big difference in the cost of moving. The weight of a 1 bedroom mostly depends on how sparse or jam packed the apartment is.
To better understand the effects of the factors mentioned above on hauling costs, we’ve created a table showing some cost examples for moving a 1 bedroom apartment.
| Accessibility | Average Cost Of Moving A Sparse Apartment | Average Cost Of Moving A Moderate Apartment | Average Cost Of Moving A Jam Packed Apartment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy Apartment Access | $400 to $450 | $500 to $700 | $800 to $1,000 |
| Moderate Apartment Access | $450 to $500 | $600 to $800 | $900 to $1,100 |
| Difficult Apartment Access | $500 to $550 | $700 to $900 | $1,100 to $1,300 |
Average Long-Distance Relocating Cost
Instead of charging by the hour, long-distance movers calculate costs based on the total weight of your shipment, the distance the movers must travel, and the price of additional insurance and extra services requested. While prices will vary from relocating company to moving company, the following table should give you a rough idea of the average range for moving a one-bedroom apartment long distance:
| One bedroom apartment (approx. 3,500 pounds) | 500 miles | 1,000 miles | 3,000 miles |
| Standard move w/ no extra services | $1,500 | $2,000 | $3,700 |
| w/ packing services | $1,800 | $2,200 | $4,000 |
| w/ additional insurance | $1,800 | $2,200 | $4,000 |
| w/ packing and insurance | $2,000 | $2,500 | $4,200 |
Again, these are only estimates and the actual cost of your move will vary considerably. Depending on the amount of stuff you have in your apartment, the total weight of your one-bedroom apartment may be more or less than 3,500 pounds.
Cost Examples For Moving 1 Bedroom Apartment Long Distance
| To / From | Distance | Cost Of Moving A 1 Bedroom Apartment |
|---|---|---|
| Anaheim, CA to Washington D.C | 2262 Miles | $3053.7 – $3845.4 |
| Anaheim, CA to Seattle, WA | 1161 Miles | $1567.35 – $1973.7 |
| Chicago, IL to Anaheim, CA | 2091 Miles | $2822.85 – $3554.7 |
| Atlanta, GA to Bakersfield CA | 2190 Miles | $2956.5 – $3723 |
| Bakersfield CA to Detroit, MI | 2296 Miles | $3099.6 – $3903.2 |
| Chula Vista, CA to Oklahoma City, OK | 1312 Miles | $1771.2 – $2230.4 |
| Jacksonville, FL to Chula Vista, CA | 2339 Miles | $3157.65 – $3976.3 |
| Fremont, CA to Tulsa, OK | 1706 Miles | $2303.1 – $2900.2 |
| Atlanta, GA to Long Beach, CA | 2186 Miles | $2951.1 – $3716.2 |
| Austin, TX to Huntington Beach, CA | 1374 Miles | $1854.9 – $2335.8 |
| Cincinnati, OH to Sacramento, CA | 2273 Miles | $3068.55 – $3864.1 |
| Los Angeles, CA to Durham, NC | 2518 Miles | $3399.3 – $4280.6 |
| Little Rock, AR to Oakland, CA | 1954 Miles | $2637.9 – $3321.8 |
| Tulsa, OK to Oxnard, CA | 1488 Miles | $2008.8 – $2529.6 |
Dying Your One-Bedroom Apartment Move
One-bedroom apartments are small and manageable enough that DIYing the move may be a feasible option. Oftentimes, handling the shifting process on your own is the more affordable way to move. Though, if you choose to opt for renting a truck and enlisting the help of some of your friends, there are still costs to consider:
- Moving truck rental. Prices will vary based on the company you rent the truck from, the size of the truck, and the distance of your move. Fuel may be an added expense, as some rental companies require that you return the vehicle with at least a half tank of gas. To put things in perspective, a 10-foot U-Haul moving truck – that is meant to accommodate the contents of a one-bedroom apartment – starts at $19.95 for local moves plus an extra $0.89 per mile.
- Moving materials. When you choose to DIY your move, you’re going to need all of the necessary materials and supplies to pull off your relocation. You can purchase packing kits from moving supply websites for between $40 and $100, but these only come with cardboard boxes and packing paper. Other supplies you’ll need to budget for include furniture pads, mattress bags, bubble wrap, securing straps, and more.
Pro Tip: For smaller moves – like a one-bedroom apartment – you can seek out free boxes from local establishments. You may also be able to get away with using towels, linens, and blankets in place of moving blankets or furniture pads.
Cost Saving Tips
If the cost of moving your one-bedroom apartment is a concern, there are numerous steps you can take to cut costs. The following are some tips to help you save as much money as possible when relocating a one-bedroom apartment.
- The less stuff you have to move, the less you’ll pay. When you’re preparing for your move, spend some time considering whether the stuff you own is worth taking with you or can be purchased used or new again in your new location. To save the most money, only take the essentials and sell, donate, or gift the rest. After all, the more stuff you need to move, the more expensive your move is going to be.
- Handle the packing yourself. You can save a ton of money by choosing to forgo packing and unpacking services from your professional hauling company. Of course, this process requires a lot of time and energy on your part, but doing it all yourself is the most affordable option.
- Choose your moving date wisely. Peak shifting season occurs during summer months, when companies are in high demand. As such, this is the most expensive time to move. Shifting at the beginning and end of a month as well as on the weekend is also generally more expensive than the alternative. In most cases, you can negotiate a better rate or a lower minimum if you opt for an off-peak day.
- Coordinate parking in advance. Prior to your move, make sure that you speak with your landlord regarding parking for your movers. Alternatively, you can plan to arrive early and use your own car to save a spot for the truck. For loading and unloading purposes, you want to secure the most convenient place to park the truck. This will help prevent unnecessary time being added to your move.
- Be prepared. When shifting locally, the majority of your charges are based on the amount of time it takes for your movers to complete your move. With that said, you can save money by planning and preparing for your relocation months in advance. Things like disassembling furniture and detaching mirrors from dressers will save on time – thus, saving you money on your move.
Ready to get your move started? Look no further than us to help you shift your one-bedroom apartment. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our moving experts to request your free, no-obligation estimate, and find out how you could save up to 20% on your next move!
