Uncover the Average Cost of Moving 150 Miles
Published by Chris Townsend
The moment you decide or learn that you have to move there are going to be dozens of questions that come to mind, one of those being cost related. Knowing the average cost of your relocation beforehand can help ease some of the financial stress of hauling upfront. Though, unfortunately, figuring out how much your move is going to cost can be a challenge. That’s where we come in.
Continue reading for our complete guide on the average cost of shifting 150 miles. That way, you can obtain a more comprehensive understanding of how much a move like this will set you back and then know how to budget accordingly.
Understanding Types of Moves
Understanding the average cost of relocating 150 miles begins by understanding the two main types of moves: local moves and long-distance moves. The main difference between local and long-distance hauling is the number of miles from the starting location to the destination. Each company defines these differently.
While some say that local moves are typically 50 miles or less and long-distance moves are over 50 miles, others extend the distance to as much as 150 miles. In this case, a local move is 150 or less and a long-distance move is more than 150 miles. Since the definitions vary from shifting company to company, the average cost of relocating 150 miles becomes a bit more difficult to determine.
What is the Average Cost of Moving?
With differing definitions for local and long distance moves aside, the average cost of a local relocation is between $80 and $100 for two movers and a moving truck. This means that the final price for your local move will be determined based on how long it takes for your movers to load and unload the truck. Ultimately, the more belongings you have to move, the more it’ll cost to move them.
Long distance moves, on the other hand, tend to be substantially more expensive. To move your stuff across state lines and span a distance over 1,000 miles, you’re looking at paying close to $5,000 on average. In general, long distance relocations can range from as little as a couple thousand dollars to over $10,000, depending on the specific distance and how much stuff you’re hauling.
How Much Does It Cost for Local Movers?
Again, the definition of a local move will vary based on the company you work with. However, with that said, you can expect to pay by the hour for a local move. If you have two movers assigned to your relocation, average costs will be between $80 and $100 an hour. Costs will go up per hour if your move requires additional hands on deck. Though, in some cases, this can increase the speed of your move, thus evening out the costs a bit.
To help put things in perspective, the average cost of hauling a three-bedroom home locally is between $600 and $1,000. This estimate is based on an approximate shipment weight of 10,000 pounds and does not factor in any additional services. Refer to the table below for local shifting estimates based on the size of your home:
Household Size | Average Shipment Weight | Hours Spent | Average Cost |
One-bedroom home | Approx. 3,500 pounds | 3 to 5 hours | $240 to $500 |
Two-bedroom home | Approx. 5,000 pounds | 5 to 7 hours | $400 to $700 |
Three-bedroom home | Approx. 10,000 pounds | 7 to 10 hours | $560 to $1,000 |
Four-bedroom home | Approx. 12,000+ pounds | More than 10 hours | $800 to $2,000+ |
How Much Do Long Distance Moves Cost?
Instead of paying per hour, the cost of your long-distance move is based on weight and mileage. In most cases, you’ll end up paying a flat rate with the starting location, ending location and total weight or volume of your household goods factored in. Depending on the weight of your shipment, you’re looking at spending between $2,000 and $8,000 to have your belongings moved over 100 miles from your current home by a professional company.
The following table outlines the cost of a few common long-distance relocation routes, using an average three-bedroom home as the example.
Starting Location | Destination | Mileage | Average Cost |
Seattle, WA | Portland, WA | 174 | $1,900 |
Los Angeles, CA | Phoenix, AZ | 373 | $3,750 |
Houston, TX | Philadelphia, PA | 1,547 | $5,850 |
What Factors Impact the Final Moving Cost?
Whether your 150-mile relocation is considered local or long-distance, there are some key factors that will impact the final cost of your move:
- The size of your home. As you might expect, it’ll cost you more to move a five-bedroom home than a small, studio apartment. When companies calculate your estimate, they will want to know how many bedrooms your house has and the approximate square footage. This will help them approximate the cost of your move, but having an in-home survey done will yield the most accurate estimate. Also, it’s important that you are transparent about what needs to be moved and what is staying.
- The specific circumstances of the locations. If you currently live in (or are moving to) an apartment building that has multiple flights of stairs or an unideal parking situation, you’ll likely be charged extra. Something as simple as living off of the ground floor can impact the cost of your move. If you live in a home, your neighborhood can even affect the price. Some companies will add on a surcharge for long carries, meaning the movers have to walk more than 75 feet from the truck to your front door.
- Distance and additional travel charges. Again, for long-distance relocations, the distance between your current home and your new home is one of the main factors that influence the total cost. Companies usually charge by the mile for long-distance moves.
- Additional stops. Although relatively uncommon, your move may require you to load and unload items at several locations. For example, if you need to have some of your items dropped off at a storage unit and the rest brought to your new home. Even more, than one extra stop is going to cost you more.
- Hauling specialty items. In most cases, movers charge extra to transport heavy, large, awkward, bulky, or fragile items – often referred to as “specialty items.” Some of these items include safes, pool tables, pianos, hot tubs, grandfather clocks, artwork, and various delicate antiques. You’ll also want to consider the cost of purchasing additional insurance to protect items of a higher value. Keep in mind that there are some items that hauling companies simply will not transport, such as perishables, car batteries, chemicals, and more. They also highly advise that you keep and precious, irreplaceable items with you at all times during the move.
What is the Average Cost of Moving 150 Miles?
Ultimately, the average cost of moving 150 miles depends on whether your moving company classifies this type of move as being local or long distance. This will determine whether you are charged by the hour or based on mileage and distance. So, when you are shopping for hauling companies and collecting quotes, be sure to ask how they define local and long-distance moves.
After all, the best way to obtain the most accurate price estimate for your move is to go directly to the source and request an in-home estimate from a reputable moving company.