How Much Do Movers Cost?

By the Smart Taurus team · Updated 13 July 2026

Hiring movers in the US typically runs $900 to $2,600 according to Angi, but the structure of the price — hourly for local moves, weight-and-mileage for long-distance — matters as much as the number.

In short: According to Angi, hiring movers typically costs between $900 and $2,600. Local moves are billed hourly per crew member; long-distance moves are priced on the weight or volume of your shipment plus mileage. Home size, distance, access and add-ons like packing drive where you land in that range. Smart Taurus lets you post your move free and compare quotes from verified movers — competing bids, and trucks filling empty space on return routes, often undercut a single company’s estimate.

What do movers cost on average?

Angi’s benchmark puts hiring movers at $900 to $2,600. That range is wide because it spans everything from a studio apartment crossing town with a two-person crew to a four-bedroom house moving across the state with full packing. A small local move sits toward the bottom of the range; add bedrooms, miles, stairs or packing service and the price climbs quickly.

For partial loads and single large items, marketplace pricing tells a similar story from a different angle: uShip’s published averages put household goods shipments at $100–$700, because independent carriers fill spare truck space instead of dedicating a whole vehicle — the same mechanism behind backloading.

How is local moving priced differently from long-distance?

Local movers charge by the hour, with the rate set by crew size — two, three or four movers and a truck — and the clock covering loading, drive time and unloading. Your bill is essentially crew-hours, so preparation directly cuts the cost.

Long-distance (interstate) movers price on the shipment itself: its weight or cubic volume, the mileage, and services added along the way. That is why long-distance quotes involve an inventory and often a home survey — the company cannot price the job without knowing how much is going on the truck. In Canada the same split applies, with provincial moves priced hourly and cross-country moves by weight and distance.

What’s included in a moving quote — and what costs extra?

A standard full-service quote generally includes the truck, fuel, the crew, loading and unloading, furniture pads and basic protection. Watch for these common extras:

Packing service and packing materials
Stair fees, elevator fees and long-carry fees when the truck can’t park close
Shuttle service, if a full-size truck can’t reach your street
Disassembly and reassembly of beds and large furniture
Storage-in-transit, if your new home isn’t ready
Specialty items: pianos, safes, pool tables and other pieces needing extra crew or equipment

Basic protection — called released value protection in the US — covers goods at a fixed rate per pound, not their actual value. Full-value protection costs more but covers repair or replacement. Match the coverage to what your belongings are actually worth.

What’s the difference between binding and non-binding estimates?

A binding estimate is a fixed price for the inventory and services listed: if the shipment weighs more than estimated, the price holds, provided nothing was added. A non-binding estimate is the mover’s best guess — the final bill is based on actual weight and can come in higher or lower. Some companies offer a middle path, binding-not-to-exceed, which caps the price while letting it fall if the load is lighter. Whichever you’re offered, get it in writing, and make sure the inventory it’s based on is complete — an estimate built on a partial inventory protects nobody.

Should you tip movers?

Tipping movers is a common convention in the US and Canada, but it is not mandatory and is not included in your quote. Customers who tip generally base it on the crew’s effort, care with belongings, and the difficulty of the day — stairs, heat, heavy pieces. If you plan to tip, budget for it separately so the quoted price comparison between companies stays clean.

How do you pay less for your move?

Move less. Weight and volume set the price on long-distance moves — sell or donate before the survey, not after.
Pack yourself where you can; professional packing is a significant line item.
Be date-flexible. Summer, month-end and weekends are peak; a flexible midweek window attracts sharper quotes.
Compare competing quotes. Post your move free on Smart Taurus with photos and an inventory, and verified movers bid for the job — you compare prices, profiles and reviews side by side, then book, track and pay in the app.
Consider a partial-load carrier for smaller shipments — see our guides on the cheapest way to ship furniture and how to choose a transporter.

Planning a full household move? Start with our moving checklist — most overspending happens in the last two weeks, when options have run out.

Frequently asked questions

Do movers charge by the hour or a flat rate?

Local movers almost always charge hourly, with the rate scaling by crew size. Long-distance movers charge a flat figure built from your shipment's weight or volume plus mileage — usually after an inventory or survey.

Can a moving company change the price after loading?

With a binding estimate, no — the price is fixed for the listed inventory and services. With a non-binding estimate, the final bill follows the actual weight, so it can rise. This is exactly why the binding vs non-binding distinction is worth understanding before you sign.

How far in advance should you book movers?

For long-distance moves, aim for four to eight weeks ahead, and longer in summer. Local moves can often be booked with two to four weeks' notice, but the cheapest crews and best dates go first.

Do movers disassemble and reassemble furniture?

Most full-service movers handle standard disassembly — bed frames, dining tables, mirrors off dressers — but confirm it's in the quote rather than an on-the-day extra. Complex items like exercise equipment or cribs may be excluded.

Is insurance included when you hire movers?

Basic released value protection is included by law on US interstate moves, but it pays a fixed rate per pound rather than an item's real value. Full-value protection is the meaningful coverage and costs extra — compare it across quotes.

Is it cheaper to move mid-month?

Generally yes. Demand spikes at month-end when leases turn over, and on weekends. A mid-month, midweek move gives companies gaps to fill, which shows up in the quotes they send.

How much do movers cost for a one-bedroom apartment?

A local one-bedroom move sits toward the lower end of Angi's $900–$2,600 benchmark, since it needs a small crew and few hours. Distance, stairs and packing service are what push a small move up the range.