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Moving Cost Calculator

Get low, mid, and high cost estimates for your local, long-distance, or international move

Moving Cost Calculator

Estimate only: Based on typical US moving-company and truck-rental rates. Actual quotes vary widely by city, season, and mover — get 2–3 local quotes before budgeting.

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Quick summary

Choose your move type, home size, and distance, decide between professional movers and a rental truck, and add packing service or storage if you need them. You get a low, mid, and high estimate split into the mover or truck, packing, storage, travel or fuel, and miscellaneous costs. For the default local move of a 2-bedroom home with professional movers and your own packing materials, the range is $970 to $2,900, with a mid estimate of $1,670. The figures are built-in typical ranges, not quotes.

Reviewed by Simple Calculators TeamLast reviewed

How to use this calculator

  1. Pick the Move Type — Local (under 50 miles), Long Distance, or International — and your Home Size.
  2. For long-distance moves, enter the Distance (miles). Local and international estimates are flat ranges that do not use distance.
  3. Choose a Moving Approach: Professional Movers or DIY Truck Rental (DIY is not offered for international moves).
  4. Set Packing Service to No (buy own materials) or Yes (professional packing), and enter Storage Months (leave 0 if you don't need storage).
  5. Read the Low, Mid, and High Estimate, then use the Cost Breakdown to see which category drives the total before you request quotes.

Moving Cost Formula

Long-Distance Move (Professional Movers, Mid Estimate)

Total=Base+⌈d100⌉×R+P+S×m+0.18 d+250\text{Total} = \text{Base} + \left\lceil \frac{d}{100} \right\rceil \times R + P + S \times m + 0.18\,d + 250
Base
Local mover cost for your home size (2 bedrooms: $1,100 mid)
d
Distance in miles
R
Long-distance charge per 100 miles for your home size (2 bedrooms: $450)
P
Packing: materials ($220 mid for 2 bedrooms) or professional packing ($850)
S × m
Storage at $120 per month (mid) times Storage Months
0.18 d
Travel / fuel at 18¢ per mile (mid)
250
Miscellaneous costs (mid)

Worked example

A 500-mile move of a 2-bedroom home with professional movers, your own packing, and no storage

Given
Base = $1,100
d = 500 miles
R = $450
P = $220
m = 0 months
Calculation
1,100+5×450+220+0+0.18×500+250=3,350+220+90+2501{,}100 + 5 \times 450 + 220 + 0 + 0.18 \times 500 + 250 = 3{,}350 + 220 + 90 + 250
Result
$3,910 mid estimate (low $2,330, high $6,200)

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move?

It depends mostly on distance, the size of your home, and whether you hire help. With this calculator's built-in ranges, a local 2-bedroom move with professional movers and your own packing comes to about $970–$2,900, with a mid estimate of $1,670. A 500-mile move of the same home comes to about $2,330–$6,200, with a mid estimate of $3,910. Get written quotes to confirm your actual price.

How does the calculator estimate long-distance moves?

For professional movers, it starts with the local cost for your home size and adds a charge for every 100 miles or part of 100 miles — $450 per 100 miles at the mid estimate for a 2-bedroom home. It also adds travel costs of 12, 18, or 25 cents per mile for the low, mid, and high cases. For a DIY truck, it adds about $40 in fuel per 100 miles at the mid estimate.

Is it cheaper to move yourself?

Usually, yes. In this calculator, the truck rental for a 2-bedroom local move is $250–$600, compared with $700–$1,800 for professional movers. But DIY means your own time and labor, possibly paid helpers, and the risk of damage or injury. For long moves, also weigh lodging and time off work. Switch the Moving Approach to compare the two totals.

Should I pay for professional packing?

Packing service replaces the cost of materials with the cost of full packing labor. For a 2-bedroom home, the calculator's mid estimate goes from $220 for materials to $850 for professional packing. It can be worth it if you're short on time, have many fragile items, or have a large home; packing yourself saves money if you can start a few weeks early.

How is storage priced?

Storage is estimated at $60, $120, or $220 per month for the low, mid, and high cases, multiplied by the number you enter in Storage Months. Three months at the mid rate adds $360. Unit size, climate control, and location change real prices a lot, so check local storage rates if storage is a big part of your plan.

How accurate is the international estimate?

Treat it as a very rough, flat starting point. For professional movers, the calculator multiplies the local mid-estimate mover cost for your home size by 3, 4, or 6 for the low, mid, and high cases, then adds packing, storage, and the same flat travel and miscellaneous ranges used for local moves. It does not depend on distance, so the calculator does not ask for one, and travel such as flights isn't included. DIY truck rental is not offered for international moves. Shipping method, customs, and destination drive real costs, so get quotes from international movers.

When is the cheapest time to move?

Demand for movers is generally highest in summer, at the start and end of each month, and on weekends, so prices and availability are tightest then. Moving mid-month, midweek, or outside the summer peak often gives you more date choices and room to negotiate. This calculator doesn't adjust for season, so ask movers to quote a few different dates.

Key terms

USDOT Number
A US Department of Transportation registration number required for interstate moving companies — verify it before hiring.
Binding Estimate
A guaranteed final price for your move, not subject to change based on actual weight or time.
Full-Service Move
A move where movers pack, load, transport, unload, and unpack everything.

Methodology, sources & limitations

This page shows the formula, assumptions, and limitations used for this estimate. Rates, thresholds, and other time-sensitive inputs can change, so verify them against the relevant official source before relying on a result.

For our review approach and the primary sources we consult, see the methodology and source policy. If you spot an outdated figure or formula, please contact us with a correction.