Published by Chris Townsend
Last updated Dec, 03 2025
How Much Do Professional Movers Cost?
Although hiring professional movers can be a significant expense, many will tell you that it is well-worth it. Having to plan and execute a relocation is labor-intensive, time-consuming and physically and mentally exhausting. Hiring professional movers to manage your entire move can take a huge amount of stress off your plate.
So, how much do professional movers cost? This is likely one of the first questions you’ll find yourself asking when you’re weighing the options between DIYing the move or hiring it done. Each relocation is unique and the actual price you will pay varies based on a number of factors. However, let’s explore some estimates and help give you a rough idea of what it may cost you to hire professional relocators.
What Affects the Cost of Moving?
When you’re trying to calculate how much it will cost to hire movers, it’s important that you consider all of the factors that impact the hauling price. Here are some of the considerations you should keep in mind:
- Moving date. While this may come at a surprise, the specific date that you move can impact how much your professional movers cost. Follow these guidelines when you’re selecting your relocating date:
- Avoid moving on the weekend. Saturday and Sundays tend to be in high demand for companies. Shifting Monday through Thursday is almost always more affordable.
- Plan the move during the morning hours.
- If possible, avoid moving in late spring or summer. Peak season for the relocating industry is May to September. This is the time of the year where most families are shifting because of school schedules and activities. At this time, college students are also hauling back home for the summer or returning to school. Because of the high demand during this time frame, most professional shifters charge higher rates.
- Try to aim for a moving date that is in the middle of the month. Most leases start at end at either the beginning or end of the month, making this another busy time for hauling companies.
- Moving services. The cost to hire professional relocators is hugely affected by the number of haulers needed (labor), the services required, and any additional add-ons. Packing and unpacking services and the disassembling and reassembling of furniture are often extra services that cost more. Other add-ons provided by the mover included mattress bags, stretch wrap and felt pads. In most cases, these materials are factored into the original quote, but always make sure that you check!
- Size of your move. Do you have a large home or just a lot of stuff? Not only will the move take much longer to execute, the shipment of your possessions is also heavier. When it comes to long distance moves, the weight of your belongings directly correlates with the cost of your professional movers. As a general rule of thumb, the more possessions you have to move, the more expensive your move will be.
- Moving supplies. When calculating the price of your move, don’t neglect the cost of the supplies you’ll likely have to purchase. When hauling, you will need to acquire cardboard boxes, plastic bins, packing paper, and any other supplies specific to your relocation. These costs can add up rather quickly so be sure to determine exactly how much you need. Keep in mind, though, that if you purchase a packing service from your company, the supplies are usually provided in the price for this add-on. However, although packing services are convenient, you can expect to pay an extra few hundred dollars or more.
- Travel fees. Travel fees are one factor that often goes unnoticed and can add up rather quickly – especially for long distance relocations. Your professional movers should include the travel fees in your original moving quote. These fees factor in the labor costs for the time that it takes to transport your household goods from your current home to your new home. They also take into account fuel costs along the way. For local moves, you can usually expect the travel fee to be the equivalent of one hour of work.
- Liability and valuation coverage. If you’re hiring professional shifters for your relocation, you will most likely need to purchase some kind of liability coverage. That way your items are protected if the unexpected occurs. Most companies offer different levels of protection including: Basic Release Value Protection and Full Value Protection. You also may want to acquire additional insurance from a third-party if you feel the coverage with your company is not sufficient enough.
- Gratuity for your movers. When you’re considering all of the expenses involved in hiring professional movers, don’t forget to budget for gratuity. Many, if not all, customers want to reward their movers for an excellent job. Shifting is hard work and if you feel that the services provided were up to your standards, you should thank them with a nice tip. The industry standard for gratuity is tipping 5% of the total relocating cost. Or, you could choose to tip based on a flat fee than by percentage. It all comes down to your individual preference.
How Much Do Movers Cost?
With all of this in mind, how much do professional movers actually cost? Let’s break it down based on the two types of moves: local moves and long-distance moves. The following are just estimates based on past moving examples and the actual price will vary based on your unique situation.
- Local Moves: The average cost to move locally, or within the same state, is roughly $1,250. This estimate is based on a two to three-bedroom home at approximately 7,500 pounds. If you have a smaller home, you’ll likely require less haulers which will lower the labor costs. The cost of a local move is generally based on a flat dollar amount per hour, per mover and the number of relocators you need will depend on the size of your home. However, in some states, if you are relocating over fifty miles, the moving cost is based on the weight of the shipment. All in all, the cost to hire shifters locally differs based on whether or not you are being charged a flat rate or an hourly rate.
- Long Distance Moves: Long distance relocations mean that you are hauling from one state to another. The price of an interstate move is largely based on the weight of your possessions. However, other factors that go into the price of a long-distance move include the labor, insurance, distance traveled, and any additional services purchased. The average cost to move long distance is $4890. This estimate is based on a two to three-bedroom home at approximately 7,500 pounds and a distance of 1,000 miles.
If your company is charging you a flat rate, make sure to ask for a binding not-to-exceed estimate. This ensures that when your belongings arrive, you won’t have to pay any more than the originally established price.
In search of professional transporters for your local or long-distance move? Look no further than us for the job! Give us a call today for your free, no-obligation moving quote and find out how you could save up to 20% on your next relocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Professional movers typically cost $900–$2,500 for local moves and $2,200–$7,500 for long distance, based on recent pricing from large U.S. metro markets. Rates depend on the home size, 2–4 movers, packing needs, stairs, elevator access, long-carry requirements, and truck size. Local work is usually billed hourly, while interstate moves use weight or volume plus mileage. Delivery windows range from 1–3 days locally to 5–14 days for cross-country moves. You can compare typical ranges with our moving prices guide.
Local movers calculate cost by hourly rate multiplied by labor hours, plus materials and add-ons like packing or bulky-item handling. Interstate movers use weight or cubic feet, mileage, fuel, and access factors such as stairs, shuttle trucks, or long carries. Both service types adjust pricing based on home size, fragility of items, and loading conditions. For structured estimating, see our moving cost estimator.
Professional moving labor usually runs $90–$150 per hour for a two-person crew in most U.S. cities. Larger crews (three or four movers) rise to $135–$240 per hour. This covers loading, unloading, basic protection, and travel time. The final total depends on home size, packing, stairs, elevator timing, long walks from truck to unit, and traffic delays. Hourly pricing is standard for local work; interstate moves typically use weight-based pricing rather than hourly billing.
A typical 2,000 sq ft household costs $1,800–$3,500 for local moves and $4,500–$9,500+ for interstate moves, depending on volume, number of movers, packing needs, stair access, and the distance. Homes of this size often require 3–4 movers and a large truck, which increases loading time. Long-distance jobs also factor fuel, route mileage, and delivery schedules under FMCSA rules. For comparison, view typical ranges using our full service movers cost guide.
Yes. Packing services generally add $300–$1,200+, depending on home size and the number of boxes. Full packing for a 3–4 bedroom home can exceed $1,000–$2,000, especially when fragile kitchenware and specialty items are included. Costs vary based on materials, time required, and whether unpacking is needed. Stairs, parking restrictions, or limited loading windows can extend packing times. Many customers pair this with our packing and unpacking service.
A one-day local move with 2–3 movers typically falls between $700–$1,600, depending on hours worked, truck size, packing add-ons, stairs, elevators, and loading distance. Larger homes may require 8–10 hours of labor, raising the total. Movers also account for drive time between locations and building restrictions like freight elevator schedules or timed loading zones, common in major metro areas.
Long-distance pricing is higher because it includes mileage, fuel, weight/volume, driver time, and multi-day scheduling regulated by FMCSA. Crews often handle route planning, weigh-station stops, overnight travel, and delivery windows across 5–14 days. Costs also rise with packing needs, bulky items, limited access at pickup or delivery, and seasonal demand spikes from May through September. For state-to-state options, visit our interstate moving service.
Yes. Weekend rates usually run 10–20 percent higher due to demand and limited crew availability. Peak season (May–September) also sees higher rates, especially in hot markets like California, Texas, Florida, and New York. Costs fluctuate based on traffic, weather, local regulations, and freight elevator schedules. Booking weekday or off-season moves often provides better availability and reduced hourly totals.
