What do movers cost in 2026?
Local movers charge $120–200 an hour for a two-person crew and truck, which puts a typical two-bedroom move at $700–1,500. A three or four-bedroom house runs $1,500–4,000. Interstate moves are priced by weight and distance instead, usually $2,500–7,000. Packing, specialty items and long carries are billed on top, so the estimate type matters as much as the rate.
Updated September 15, 2026
Hourly versus weight, and why it changes what you should ask
Local moves are almost always hourly, billed from the moment the crew leaves the warehouse to the moment they get back, or with a flat travel fee tacked on. That means access drives the bill: an elevator building with a reserved loading dock is cheaper than a walk-up, and a 200-foot carry from the truck to the door can add an hour at each end.
Interstate moves are priced by the weight of your shipment and the mileage. The mover estimates the weight from a survey, and the truck gets weighed before and after loading. If your final weight comes in higher than a non-binding estimate, the bill goes up — which is exactly why the estimate type is the most important line in the paperwork.
Typical moving prices
Prices before packing services, storage or specialty item fees.
| Move | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Two movers and a truck, hourly | $120–200/hr |
| Studio or one-bedroom, local | $400–900 |
| Two-bedroom, local | $700–1,500 |
| Three to four-bedroom house, local | $1,500–4,000 |
| Interstate, two-bedroom | $2,500–5,000 |
| Interstate, four-bedroom | $5,000–12,000 |
| Full packing service | $400–2,500 |
| Piano, safe or gym equipment | $150–600 per item |
| Storage in transit | $150–500 a month |
Estimates, and the three words that protect you
Ask for a binding not-to-exceed estimate. It caps what you can be charged while still letting the price drop if the shipment weighs less than estimated. A binding estimate fixes the price either way, and a non-binding estimate is the one that grows on delivery day.
For interstate moves, federal rules require the mover to give you a written estimate and the FMCSA booklet 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move'. Refuse a quote given over the phone without a video or in-home survey — it's the single strongest predictor of a dispute later.
Insurance and how to check the company
Interstate movers must offer released value protection free of charge, but it pays 60 cents per pound: a 40-pound television is worth $24 under it. Full value protection costs extra and is usually worth buying. Read the deductible, and check whether boxes you packed yourself are excluded.
Look up the company's USDOT number in the FMCSA mover database to confirm it's authorized and see its complaint history. Most states license intrastate movers separately. Walk away from anyone demanding a large cash deposit, refusing a survey, or showing up in an unmarked rental truck — that's the classic hostage-load pattern.
Frequently asked questions
How much do local movers cost?
$120–200 an hour for two movers and a truck, which usually works out to $700–1,500 for a two-bedroom home including travel time.
How much does an interstate move cost?
$2,500–7,000 for a typical household, priced by shipment weight and mileage. Long-haul coast-to-coast moves with a four-bedroom load can exceed $12,000.
Should I tip movers?
It's customary: $20–40 per mover for a half-day and $50–100 each for a long or difficult day, handed to each person directly rather than to the foreman.
When should I book?
Four to eight weeks ahead, and earlier for the end of the month or anything between May and September, when demand peaks and rates rise.
Describe the job and we'll match you with the right company — free for homeowners.