Moving Guide
How Much Does a Long-Distance Move Cost?
Real talk on pricing: what drives the number, honest ballpark ranges, and how to lower your cost without cutting corners.
The drivers
What actually determines your price
Five things move the number more than anything else.
- Volume of your stuff — measured in cubic feet (or weight). More belongings, more truck space, higher price. This is the biggest factor.
- Distance — how far your goods travel.
- Services — full packing, fragile-only packing, disassembly, storage.
- Access — stairs, long carries, elevators, tight streets on either end.
- Timing — summer (roughly May–August) is peak season and prices run higher than winter.
Ballpark
Honest ballpark ranges
Every move is different, so treat these as rough starting points — not a quote. A full inventory is the only way to a real number.
For a typical interstate move (long distance), you can expect roughly:
- Studio / 1-bedroom: ~$1,500–$4,500
- 2-bedroom: ~$3,000–$7,000
- 3-bedroom: ~$5,000–$10,000+
- 4+ bedroom: ~$8,000–$15,000+
Longer distances, more services, difficult access, and peak-season dates push you toward the top of each range.
Bottom line: Anyone who gives you a firm price in two minutes without asking what you're moving is guessing. A real quote comes from a real inventory.
Save money
How to lower your cost
Legitimate ways to bring the number down.
- Declutter first. You pay to move volume — every box you donate or sell is money saved.
- Be flexible on dates. Mid-week and mid-month, and off-season (fall/winter), are cheaper.
- Pack what you can yourself. Fragile and specialty items are worth having pros handle; books and clothes usually aren't.
- Book early. Last-minute peak-season moves cost the most and have the least availability.
- Get binding quotes from a few companies and compare apples to apples.