How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Moving Company? The Complete Guide

Are you considering hiring a moving company for your big move, but aren’t sure if you can afford one?

While it’s certainly cheaper to take care of the move on your own, hiring a moving company comes with some major benefits. For one, hiring a moving company will save you a lot of time. This means you’ll have more time to focus on putting your new place together. Plus, hiring a moving company means you don’t have to deal with the huge amount of stress that comes with moving everything on your own.

Considering that moving is one of the most stressful life events (some even consider it more stressful than death), this benefit cannot be underestimated.

But, how much does it cost to hire a moving company, exactly?

Check out this guide to learn how much you need to budget for a moving company.

Average Moving Costs

Before we get into all the specifics that can affect the final cost of your move, let’s talk about your basic, average moving costs.

If you hire two movers to take care of a local move for you (that is, a move under 100 miles), then you can expect to pay around $80 to $100 per hour. If your move is over 100 miles, then you can the average cost will be between $2000 to $5000.

However, the total cost will depend greatly on how far you’re moving plus how much of the work you’re willing to do yourself.

Cost of a Local Move

To get a better idea of how much you’re going to be paying and where your money is going, let’s take a look at how much it costs to move different types of homes locally.

• 1-Bedroom Home: If the weight of your move is an average of 3500 pounds and it takes 3 to 5 hours to complete the move, you can expect to pay between $200 and $500
• 2-Bedroom Home: If the weight of your move is 5000 pounds and it takes 5 to 7 hours to complete the move, you can expect to pay between $400 and $700
• 3-Bedroom Home: If the weight of your move is 10,000 pounds and the move takes 7 to 10 hours, then you can expect to pay between $600 and $1000
• 4-Bedroom Home: If the weight of your move is over 12,000 pounds and the move takes over 10 hours, then you can expect to pay between $800 and $2000

Of course, these are all just estimates, so it’s very important you get a quote from a local mover before committing to anything.

Cost of Moving Out of State

Moving companies typically set their out-of-state moving prices much differently than they set their local moving prices.

For local moves, a lot of companies will charge you an hourly rate. But, for out-of-state moves, most companies will charge you a flat-rate fee that’s based on the starting point, the ending point, and the number of items you have to move.

As we mentioned earlier, if you’re moving more than 100 miles, you can expect to pay anywhere from $2000 to $5000 for any out-of-state move.

Factors That Affect Moving Costs

Of course, there are many different factors at play that will affect the total cost of your move. These include:

• Extra Stops: If you need to make more than one stop on your move, it’ll cost you extra
• Location: If you live in an apartment building that lacks parking or has a lot of stairs, then you may be charged extra. Even if there’s access to an elevator it could cost more
• Specialty Items: Movers almost always charge more for heavy, bulky items such as grandfather clocks, pianos, or speaker systems
• Full-Service Moves: Some movers offer services that go beyond the transportation of your belongings. If you want your items packed and unpacked, it’s going to affect the cost
• Storage: You may choose to have a moving company hold onto some of your items if you’re dealing with a complicated move
• Moving Date: If you choose to move on the weekend or during peak season it’s going to cost you more
• Travel Fees: When moving long-distance, travel fees can add up quickly. These extra fees take into account labor costs, fuel, and the time it takes to get from point A to point B
• Moving Supplies: Unless you’re able to scrounge up some free stuff, you’re going to need to take into account the cost of moving supplies
• Liability/Valuation Coverage: It’s wise to purchase liability coverage if you’re using a moving company. Most offer different levels of protection, and which one you choose will affect the overall price

How to Cut Moving Costs

While all these extra costs may seem overwhelming, there are some things you can do to cut down on your moving costs. This includes:

• Getting rid of excess belongings before the moving process begins
• Choosing your moving date wisely: It’s best to move on a weekday, and the best seasons to move is during the wintertime
• Enlisting family and friends to help with the move: At the very least, they can help with packing so you don’t have to pay extra for that
• Renting a moving truck
• Renting a portable moving containers
• Searching recycling centers, Craiglist, and other places for free moving supplies
• Obtaining quotes from multiple movers so you can find the best deal
• Finding out if any of your moving expenses are tax-deductible
• Packing your items yourself
• Looking into moving discounts through membership programs like AAA

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Moving Company?: Are You Ready to Move?

Now that we’ve answered the question, “How much does it cost to hire a moving company?”, it’s time to start planning your move.

While moving takes a lot of work, the sooner you get started, the more money you’ll likely save.

Also, if you enjoyed this article about moving costs, be sure to check out this post on the essential moving tips and hacks you need to know.