Published by Chris Townsend
Last updated Dec, 01 2025
Hiring moving labor falls somewhere between a DIY and opting for a full-service move. In fact, it may be the ideal option for your upcoming haul if you simply cannot scrounge up enough manpower from your friends and family to get the job done. Hiring labor only relocating service can actually save you money, while still enjoying the benefit of having your belongings handled by professionals.
With that said, you may be wondering how much this type of service will set you back. The average cost of moving labor is between $60 and $80 per hour for two movers, with a two-hour minimum in most cases. Though, there’s much more to labor only relocating services than just average cost ranges.

What is Moving Labor?
The easiest way to explain what hauling labor is to break down the process into four distinct steps. Whether this is your first or tenth time shifting, these steps should be familiar to you.
- The packing stage. During a move, the packing process is the most time-consuming and extensive period because it involves having to pack up an entire household.
- Loading the truck. The stage is when all of the furniture, appliances and shifting boxes are lifted, hauled, and loaded into the back of a truck. This is the part of the shifting process where relocating labor tends to be the most necessary, as accidents on a transporting day can potentially lead to personal injury or property damage.
- Transportation of household goods. This phase involves your items being physically transported from your current home to your destination home. It may take anywhere from a couple of hours to several days, depending on the distance.
- Unloading of the moving truck. This is the final step in the process when the delivered items are unloaded at the new address. Like step two, this stage is very physically demanding and requires the skill to safely unload all of your belongings and place them in the appropriate rooms. As such, relocating labor is essential during this phase to successfully complete your move.
This is where shifting labor comes in. Put simply, moving labor services are professional haulers without the truck. They can assist you with the packing, loading, and unloading, leaving you to only take care of the transportation process.
Why Hire Labor?
Now that you know what moving labor entails, what exactly are the benefits involved in this type of service? Fortunately, there are a number of advantages to hiring them when you’re considering a DIY transport.
Affordability: By limiting your movers’ time to only the tasks that you need to be done, you can tailor the services to your needs and only pay for what you want. In fact, you can end up saving between 40 and 50 percent when you opt for them instead of full-service carriers. The physical transportation of your goods tends to be the most expensive part of relocating. By eliminating this step, you can enjoy significant cost savings.
Reliability: When your friends and family aren’t available, it’s a major relief to know that you can count on reliable professionals to help you move.
Convenience: In addition to reliability, these offer convenience when either your friends aren’t available or you simply cannot gather enough helping hands on your own. Transporting help is really just a simple phone call away and it doesn’t get more convenient than that.
Flexibility: One of the major advantages of hiring them is the fact that you decide the level of assistance that you pay for. Whether you just want your movers to handle the heavy lifting or need help packing up your home, you enjoy the flexibility of tailoring the services to your individual needs.
Safety & Insurance: Hiring professionals not only guarantees the safety of your prized possessions, it also ensures your own safety and that of your family. Paying for labor only services means that you’ll basically eliminate any risk of personal injury or property damage during the relocating process.
In the off-chance that something does go awry, your professionals are properly insured and you will be compensated appropriately.
What is the Average Cost of Shifting?
Like local services, haulers generally charge by the hour. With this in mind, you can expect to spend anywhere from $60 to $80 per hour, for two movers when hiring them only. Though, the cost of hiring them will depend on a number of factors including the duration of the move, your specific provider, the location of your home, specialty items, and any additional services that are requested.
The more that you understand how the cost of hiring them is formed, the better chance you’ll have at keeping your costs as low as possible. That said, keep these considerations in mind when it comes to budgeting for moving labor:
- Each additional hauler will cost you more. For example, if you hire two movers at $60 an hour, one additional mover will cost you an extra $30 per hour totaling $90 per hour for us.
- Most moving labor companies have a two-hour minimum. So, the average cost becomes $120 to $160 for two movers.
- Billing time typically begins the moment that the crew arrives at your home.
- Quality shifting providers won’t charge you any hidden fees or spring unpleasant surprises on you.
- Average work hours are typically charged in 15-minute increments.
- The transporter may, or may not, charge a travel fee for the time it takes for the movers to reach the job location.
- The shifter come equipped with all the necessary equipment and supplies, which is included in the total price.
- In general, the aforementioned average labor rates are the same regardless of the services requested.

Relocating Services
The main services that these haulers offer their customers include packing, furniture disassembling and reassembling, loading, unloading, unpacking, and even truck driving. Let’s take a look at each of these services in further detail.
- Packing and unpacking. Undeniably, packing is the most stressful and time-consuming part of shifting. If you weren’t able to enlist the help of your friends, you may be behind on your packing scheduling or just generally overwhelmed with the task ahead. In this case, hiring them to pack up your home can be the best decision you make for your relocation. To enjoy the ultimate level of convenience, you can opt for unpacking services as well.
- Furniture disassembling and assembly. Oversized furniture items are meant to be disassembled before they are packed and loaded into the truck. However, if you don’t have the time or you don’t know how to do it properly, professionals can get the job done in no time at all. They can also reassemble the items at your destination location if desired.
- Loading and unloading. It’s likely that loading and unloading the truck is the most assistance that you’ll need for your move. Not only is the process incredibly physically demanding, but it also requires the necessary skills, tools, and equipment to ensure the safety of your belongings. Why not leave it all to the professionals?
- Truck driving. Some haulers even offer truck driving assistance as one of their many services. In this case, you pack up your belongings and load them into the truck and then they drive it to your intended destination. This service helps you avoid the stress of driving a massive truck across the country.
How to Find Them?
Now that you understand what exactly moving labor is, how it can benefit your move, what these services are available, and how much shifting costs on average, all that’s left is to find quality professional services in your area.
Fortunately, if it’s moving labor that you need, then you’ve come to the right place. Look no further than us for all your hauling needs. Contact us today by calling the number at the top of this page or completing our convenient online request form. One of our experts will be in touch with you ASAP to provide you with your free, no-obligation estimate for shifting services and tell you how you could save up to 20% on your next move!
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving labor typically runs $45–$90 per mover per hour. A small studio often needs 2 movers for 2–3 hours, while a 3–4 bedroom home may require 3–4 movers for 5–8 hours. Total cost is shaped by crew size, stair use, elevator scheduling, long-carry distance, packing needs, and heavy items. Same-day requests and weekend windows usually trend higher. For hourly-only crews, see our movers by the hour guide.
Local labor-only jobs generally fall between $180–$600, depending on home size, number of movers, and how long loading or unloading takes. Homes with tight hallways, multi-story access, long walks from truck to the unit, or bulky furniture increase labor time. Urban loading zones may require navigating parking rules or scheduled freight elevators, which also adds minutes to the clock. For full local support, compare with our local moving companies.
Most households use 2–4 movers. Studios and small apartments typically need 2 movers, while homes with large furniture, stairs, or long carries benefit from 3–4 movers to shorten total hours and reduce strain on the crew. Oversized items like pianos, safes, or sectionals often require additional hands. Use our guide on how many movers you need for typical room-by-room estimates.
Labor crews usually charge hourly, with a 2–3 hour minimum. Time includes loading, unloading, walk time, stairs, elevator coordination, wrapping, and furniture placement. Flat-rate quotes may appear for very small jobs but still reflect estimated hours. If you want total cost predictability, explore our average cost of movers calculator.
Yes. Many labor teams offer packing and unpacking, billed at the same hourly rate. Packing time varies by home size, number of fragile items, kitchen volume, and organization level. A typical kitchen takes 2–4 hours for two movers. Bring-your-own-supplies is common unless materials are pre-requested. Compare with our dedicated moving and packing services.
Key cost drivers include home size, number of movers, access conditions, stairs, elevator rules, distance from truck to door, heavy-item handling, and time-of-day or weekend scheduling. Weather, urban traffic, HOA restrictions, and loading-zone permits also influence final hours. These factors apply whether you’re hiring standalone labor or full-service movers.
Labor-only work typically runs 2–3 hours for small units, 4–6 hours for medium homes, and 6–8+ hours for larger homes or those with challenging access. Extra time is added for packing, disassembly, wrapping, long-carry paths, basement or attic items, and building restrictions. For broader timing considerations, see our general moving services.
Labor-only crews are usually cheaper upfront because you’re supplying the truck, fuel, and logistics. Expect hourly labor only, without transportation charges. However, full-service movers can reduce total time by bringing dollies, pads, ramps, and coordinated loading expertise. For long-distance or multi-stop jobs, compare with our full-service movers to understand total cost differences.