Hiring movers can streamline and simplify your move, from saving time to handling the details of logistics. Whether you need someone to help carry boxes or you want professionals to manage the entire process, knowing the cost of these services is key. So, how much do movers actually cost? Whether you’re switching apartments in Houston or making a cross-country move to a rental in Miami, it’s important to understand the costs associated with hiring a moving company. This guide will break down how much movers cost so you can budget and prepare accordingly and not be caught off-guard.
How much do movers cost?
So how much do professional movers cost? Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The cost of hiring movers and getting a company to help with your move depends on a variety of factors, from how far you’re moving to how much stuff you’re transporting.
To give you a ballpark figure, hiring a moving company for a local move ranges in price from $450 to $2,800. According to CNN, the national average cost of using movers is $1,625. Moving company costs increase significantly if you’re moving cross-country, ranging from $1,600 to well over $10,000.
What do most movers charge per hour?
Most movers will cost between $40 and $80 per mover per hour. This cost can increase if your move involves items that are especially heavy or fragile. The number of movers will generally depend on the size of your apartment and how many items you need to relocate. Some movers will pack up your entire apartment for an additional fee.
What does the cost of hiring movers include?
The cost of hiring movers typically includes the labor for loading, transporting, and unloading your belongings. In most cases, the use of a moving truck is also part of the service. However, additional costs can come into play for services like packing, unpacking, and providing packing materials. Be sure to check with your moving company to understand exactly what is included in your quote and whether extra services will add to the final price.
What impacts the cost of hiring movers?
There are several factors that impact the cost of hiring a moving company and movers.
1. Time of year
The season and time of year that you move have an impact on how expensive your move will be. The majority of people move during the summer months. In fact, roughly 40 percent of all moves happen during the summer. If you plan your move in the off-seasons of fall, winter, or early spring, you may benefit from lower moving costs.
2. Distance of the move
The price to hire movers and use moving services also depends on distance and how far the movers have to travel, like moving to a different state. For a local move that’s within 100 miles of the original apartment, costs are generally lower since there are fewer logistics and travel expenses involved.
Longer moves require more planning and are more complicated. Costs need to cover more necessities like gas, mileage, tolls and potential lodgings or essentials for the drivers and movers. You’re also paying for time. If the company charges an hourly rate, you’ll pay for all the hours the movers spend getting to the destination. For flat rates, they’ll be higher, as well, to account for the hours, miles, and time invested.
3. Amount of goods being moved
If you’re packing up a studio apartment and are mainly moving personal belongings, moving services cost less because the company is transporting fewer goods. But, if you’re packing up an entire three-bedroom apartment with furniture, appliances and more, it’ll require more labor and increase the total cost.
4. Number of movers
On top of paying by the hour, you may also pay per mover. For easy, local moves where you only need one or two movers, you’ll pay less. But, if you’re moving cross-country with a three-bedroom apartment’s worth of stuff, it’ll may require a bigger team and more experienced movers. In that case, you may pay for the extra movers and their expertise.
5. Size of the moving truck
The larger the truck, the higher the cost. The size of the truck needed for your move also impacts the average cost. Smaller vehicles have better fuel efficiency and cost less due to their reduced capacity. But, bigger moves typically require larger box trucks or even semis to fit everything. Larger trucks not only have higher rental fees but also lower fuel efficiency, leading to more frequent stops for gas, which can add to the overall cost.
6. Specialty services and items
Moving fragile, unique items like grand pianos, extra vehicles, or antique furniture drives the cost more since these objects require special care and attention.
7. Full-service moves
Full-service movers take care of pretty much everything for you during your move, from packing up your apartment to assembling furniture at your new place. But, that kind of personalized service comes at a much higher cost because it requires more hours, skills, and personnel.
If you pay for labor-only movers and no additional services, you’ll keep costs down.
8. Packing supplies
Moving services that take care of everything for you also typically provide packing materials, but you rarely have control of the price. You can avoid these costs altogether by buying or using your own packing materials.
9. Accessibility or difficult locations
Movers charge a premium for more complicated moves. For example, if your new apartment is on the top floor of an older apartment building with no elevator, the movers will have to carry all the boxes and furniture up multiple flights of stairs. Typically, that can add a couple of hundred dollars to your bill.
How can I reduce costs when hiring moving companies?
If you have a tight budget and need to keep costs down during the moving process, there are plenty of ways you can reduce your moving expenses.
1. Move on a weekday
Because of work, the majority of people plan their moves to happen on the weekend. Not only does this mean that movers have less availability, but also movers cost more on the weekends due to the increased demand.
You can usually find a better deal and more availability by moving during the week between Mondays and Thursdays.
2. Pack everything yourself
For an extra cost, a full-service moving company will pack all your belongings for you. You can avoid this charge by packing up your personal belongings ahead of the move. That way, you’re only paying for the labor of having movers load and unload boxes.
3. Find free packing supplies
Unless you have a ton of moving boxes and bubble wrap lying around, you’ll have to buy packing materials. Depending on how much stuff you need to pack, you may have to spend a decent amount of money on all the supplies you need.
Luckily, there are ways to find free packing materials. If you know you have a move coming up, you can start saving boxes you get in the mail in advance. People frequently get rid of unwanted packing materials on online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace. Check with friends, family and acquaintances to see if they have boxes and other materials to spare. You can even request free boxes from USPS.
4. Don’t move at the beginning or end of the month
Since most apartment leases start or end at the beginning or end of the month, those are the busiest times for movers. By planning your move for the middle of the month, movers cost less and have more availability.
Is it cheaper to move by myself and not hire movers?
Generally speaking, it’s cheaper to do a DIY move and not hire professional movers. For one thing, you don’t have to pay an entire crew of people to help you with the move. You’ll still need to pay for a moving truck, gas money, packing supplies and maybe some pizza and beer as a thank you to any friends or family members who helped out.
In some cases, you may not even need to rent a moving truck. If you don’t have a ton of stuff to move, you can usually make do with your own car and borrow a friend’s truck.
While DIY moves can save money, hiring movers can offer convenience and efficiency, especially for long-distance or large moves where the effort and time commitment can be significant. Ultimately, the choice depends on your budget, the size of your move, and how much time and energy you’re willing to invest.
How much should I tip?
On top of the overall moving costs, it’s customary to tip the movers assigned to your move. It’s not required, but it’s good practice and generally expected as a final thank you for a job well done. It’s especially recommended to tip your movers more if the job was especially big, or they had to handle fragile items. Fast, efficient service and your movers going above and beyond are also reasons to tip more.
There’s no set amount since moving costs are different for each person and company.A general rule of thumb is to tip between 10-20% of the total moving cost, or around $4-$5 per hour per mover for local moves. For long-distance moves, you might tip closer to $6-$8 per hour per mover, especially if they handle challenging tasks like stairs or heavy items. You can also consider a flat amount per mover, like $20-$50 per person, depending on the complexity and length of the move. Another way to thank your movers is by providing easy food like pizza and and drinks.
What are the benefits of hiring movers?
Even though using a moving company can be expensive, there are multiple benefits to hiring movers to assist you with a big move.
1. Hiring a moving company can prevent injuries
From heavy boxes to giant pieces of furniture, the process of moving apartments is rife with opportunities to accidentally injure yourself or others. While there are certainly some items you can easily move by yourself, others it’s best to leave the pros. Since movers do this for a living, they have more than enough experience handling heavy boxes or unwieldy furniture.
Movers also have the proper tools for the job. From moving dollies to hand trucks, having the right equipment reduces the risk of injury. So, why put yourself at risk of lifting that too-heavy box of books when you can call in the pros?
2. Moving companies save you time
Saving time is one of the biggest advantages of hiring a moving company. Most people don’t have the benefit of hitting pause on all their other responsibilities while moving house. Moving takes a lot of time and can take anywhere from a few days to several months from start to finish. A moving company takes the stress of planning off your plate. Even if you do have the time, it’s nice to leave the process in the hands of professionals.
3. Moving companies provide professional service and expertise
When your car breaks down, you take it to the mechanic. If your sink gets clogged, you call a plumber. We turn to professionals to solve all kinds of problems, so why wouldn’t you do the same for moving? Professional moving companies are here to make the process of moving easy for you. They take care of all the heavy lifting (literally), offer quality customer service and take the burden off your shoulders.
How much will my move cost?
Now that you know what factors impact the cost of hiring professional movers, you may wonder how much your specific move will cost you.
To calculate the cost of your move, you can use our moving cost calculator to get a free estimate and start creating your moving budget. As you’ve seen above, there are plenty of ways you can keep moving costs down, from packing your belongings yourself to being flexible with the season or time of the month that you move.
