The Cost of Moving in 2024

The price of your move will range from $278 to $18,500. It’s a huge window, so let’s take a look at what goes into the cost of moving in 2024 - and let’s see how you can keep those costs down, while we’re at it.

To bring you accurate and up-to-date pricing information, we got in touch with the team at Moving Feedback for some professional insight. With over 10 years of experience and plenty of industry know-how, they were able to shed some light on what goes into the final price of a move. With their help, we were able to make a guide to moving prices, as well as some helpful cost-cutting measures you can use on your end.

Let’s start with the basics. How do movers come up with their prices?

Hiring a professional moving company is a great way to cut down on stress, whether you’re dealing with a local / short distance relocation or a long distance / cross country move. Unfortunately, it’s not free. Your final price will depend on how far you’re traveling, and how much you have to transport.

A one-bedroom apartment is going to be a lot cheaper to move, especially if you’re only going across town. But if you’re moving a 5-bedroom home from California to Maine, you’ll be paying a lot more. A moving estimate will include the price of loading, hauling, and unloading, but if you want extra services, you can expect extra fees on top of your basic quote.

• Will you need packing?

• What about storage?

• Do you have any fragile, expensive, or just plain awkward items?

• Does your city allow large trucks to park on those tiny little streets?

All of these questions can cost you, but in most cases, these add-ons are either A: worth the investment, or B: unfortunately unavoidable.

If you’re traveling across country, you’ve got a lot of stuff, and you’ll need a lot of those add-ons and extras, your quote will be closer to that $18,500 mark. But if you manage to downsize, or you’re just moving small and local, your final figure will be closer to $278.

• Volume and Weight of Belongings: No matter how far you’re traveling, the amount you’re hauling always makes a big difference. Long distance movers will assign a weight to your belongings (or a volume in cubic feet), and local movers will bill you for all the time they spend loading up the truck. More stuff means a higher price tag, so it’s a good idea to get rid of all the excess before you shop around for a quote.

• Distance of the Move: Aside from the physical dimensions of your move, the distance traveled makes a huge difference. Your long distance movers will charge per mile, and your local movers will also bill you for the time they spend driving to point B. Unfortunately, you can’t do much to bring your destination any closer - but you can still schedule far away from peak moving season to save some cash. (Avoid summer at all costs.)

• Type of Move: Assuming you’re moving the same amount of stuff, local moves are generally cheaper than long distance moves, and long distance moves are generally cheaper than international moves. We say “generally” because there’s always variables that can make a local move more expensive - notably traffic, more belongings, and…

• Additional Services: These are those helpful add-ons we mentioned earlier. They may not be mandatory, but you’ll seriously want to consider shelling out for the added convenience:

  • Packing: Packing takes up a lot of time, and it’s one of the most frustrating parts of a move. Your sanity is priceless, so hire the pros to take care of it. It’ll cost you from a couple hundred to a couple thou (again, depending on how much you have to wrap and pack), but it’s money well spent.

  • Storage: Whether you need extra square footage or extra time to get everything situated at your new place, storage provides some much needed flexibility. It can cost you a couple hundred a month, but some movers offer a free month to sweeten the deal.

  • Specialty shipping: Antiques, collectibles, and odd, heavy, and expensive items all require extra TLC. If you’ve got art, a piano, a pool table, or anything else that’s just awkward, bulky, and/or pricey, you’ll benefit from the extra attention to detail.

• Local / Short Distance: Local moves (also known as short distance moves) are all within the same state, and within a 100-mile radius. Local movers bill per hour, per mover - and each room in your home or apartment will need about two movers. If you want to save on your local move, make sure you schedule smart. You don’t want to pay extra because your moving team was stuck in traffic.

• Long Distance / Cross Country: If you’re moving over 100 miles or across state lines, you’ll need to contact long distance movers. Also known as interstate movers, these guys charge per mile and per pound (although some will charge per mile, per cubic feet). To save on your long distance move, try to downsize as much as possible. You don’t want to be billed for moving that old couch you don’t even want anymore.

• Get Multiple Quotes: You’re dealing with a lot of money, so take the time to make sure you’re getting a good deal. It’s a good idea to get at least three quotes from three different movers. This way, you’ll know the average price of a move of your size and distance, and you’ll be able to steer clear of any rip-offs.

• Understand the Pricing Structure: When you’re shopping for quotes, remember the pricing structure. Hourly for local, and by mile and size for long distance. When you contact moving companies, ask them how they calculate their quotes, and ask them whether your move will count as local or long distance in their books.

• Plan Ahead: It pays to plan ahead. If you book far enough in advance (like 2 or 3 months) you’ll be able to secure a much better rate. Don’t forget to avoid peak moving season. June through August is always the busiest, as are any major holidays, long weekends, and the first and last days of the month.

• Declutter: If you don’t want it, don’t move it. Get rid of all your old, unused, or worn-out belongings before you shop for quotes. You can gift it all to friends and family, or (our personal favorite) sell it off to pay for your move. When all else fails, donate it or junk it - and be on the lookout for movers who offer junk removal services!

• Pack It Yourself: This is one of the most popular ways to save money on moving, but it takes a lot of time and energy. Note: DIYing your packing is an intensive process, and it may prevent you from signing on for your mover’s full-value insurance policy. If that’s not a problem, don’t let us stop you.

• Move During Off-Peak Times: If possible, try to shoot for a mid-week, mid-month move, far away from any major holidays or vacation times. Look at it this way: Any time the kids are out of school, you’ll have to pay a premium for your move. Avoid June, July, and August. Avoid Christmas break. Avoid spring break. Look, just move when most people are at work or in school, and you’ll save big.

Moving in 2024 will cost you anywhere from $278 to $18,000. But now that you know what goes into the price of your move, you should have a better idea of how to keep those prices as low as possible.

The cost of a move always comes down to how much you’re transporting, and how far you’re going. While you can downsize, DIY, and schedule smart, all these tips and tricks will only help if you’re moving with a team you can trust. Fortunately, we’ve put together a few guides to our favorite local and long distance movers, too!

Ready to get started? Check out our other moving guides, and see how you can make moving day easier than ever!