1-bedroom local in Seattle
Capitol Hill 1BR (4th floor walk-up) to a Ballard townhouse, 6.4 mi. Three movers + 20-foot truck (Capitol Hill access), mid-month Tuesday in March. 5 hours + 1 hour travel at $155/hour, plus $90 stairs, $110 fuel: $1,130.
Washington Moving Cost Calculator (2026)
Washington's pricing is dominated by Seattle, where hill access, narrow streets, and ferry routing to island communities all add real time. Eastern WA pricing (Spokane, Tri-Cities) runs 25–30% lower.
By Daniel Harper, Senior Pricing Analyst · Reviewed by Melissa Grant, Editorial Reviewer · Updated April 2026
Estimate your Washington move
Drag the sliders. Numbers update live and reflect 2026 carrier tariffs.
800–1,200 sq ft, ~5,500 lb
800 mi
Interstate / long-distance (tariff billing)
Loaded, driven, and unloaded by a crew.
Off-peak weeks routinely save 15–25% on the same inventory.
Estimated price range
$2,150–$5,950
- Linehaul (weight × distance) priced against an FMCSA-filed tariff for ~800 mi.
- Full-service includes loading, transport, and delivery. Packing, valuation, stairs, and shuttle fees are extra.
Working range only. Confirm with a binding-not-to-exceed written estimate after a video survey.
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Why Washington is different
What drives pricing in this market
- Seattle hill streets and narrow Capitol Hill / Queen Anne / Madrona access routinely require 20-foot trucks instead of 26-foot — confirm truck size in writing.
- Ferry routing to Bainbridge, Whidbey, Vashon, and the San Juans adds $200–$650 to local jobs depending on truck size and one-way vs. round-trip.
- Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) regulates intrastate household goods carriers; verify the WUTC permit number in addition to FMCSA USDOT.
- Inbound demand from CA tech relocations keeps Seattle full-service pricing firm year-round.
Pricing
Cost by home size
Local rates assume two movers and ground-floor access. Stairs and long carries add 10–25%.
| Home size | Local move | Interstate move |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $315–$800 | $1,705–$4,380 |
| 1 Bedroom | $420–$960 | $2,325–$5,694 |
| 2 Bedroom | $630–$1,440 | $3,100–$7,300 |
| 3 Bedroom | $840–$1,920 | $4,495–$11,315 |
| 4+ Bedroom | $1,155–$2,560 | $6,045–$15,695 |
Real moves
Recent Washington examples
3-bedroom CA → WA inbound
Bay Area family of four, ~8,400 lb, 815 mi to Bellevue. Binding-not-to-exceed from a national van line: $6,420. Inbound peak summer pickup. Off-peak February pickup runs ~$5,400.
2-bedroom Seattle → Bainbridge Island
Capitol Hill 2BR to a Bainbridge home, 18 mi via ferry. Three movers + 26-foot truck, ferry round-trip $445. 7 hours + 1.5 hours travel at $145/hour, plus $445 ferry, $110 fuel: $1,790.
Deep dive
The Washington pricing playbook
Washington pricing splits cleanly down the Cascade range. Seattle and the Eastside ($115–$170/hour for two movers + truck) sit among the most expensive Western metros, while Spokane and Tri-Cities run 25–30% lower with strong regional carrier supply and almost no access friction. If your move originates east of the Cascades and the quote is built off a Seattle tariff, push back — it's a common silent markup.
Seattle's defining cost factor is access. Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Madrona, West Seattle hill streets, and most of the older Ballard housing stock simply can't accommodate a 26-foot truck. Most legitimate Seattle movers will downsize to a 20-foot truck for these neighborhoods, which means more trips and longer job times. Confirm truck size in writing on every Seattle quote — a 26-footer that arrives and can't fit blocks the entire job and triggers a wait fee at $145–$170/hour.
Ferry-served destinations are the second pricing wildcard. A move from Seattle to Bainbridge, Vashon, Whidbey, or any San Juan island routes through Washington State Ferries, with one-way fares for a 26-foot truck running $200–$325 depending on route. Round-trip puts the line item at $400–$650. Always get the ferry fee as a flat written line, not a passthrough — passthroughs inflate at billing time.
On the licensing side, Washington requires intrastate household goods carriers to hold a permit from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC). This is separate from the federal USDOT. Always verify both — WUTC complaints filings are a useful additional data point on top of FMCSA SAFER.
Inbound demand from California tech relocations keeps Seattle and Eastside full-service pricing firm year-round. If you're moving into WA from CA, expect Bellevue and Redmond addresses to attract a 8–12% relocation premium on top of the standard tariff. Outbound from WA is normal — no backhaul advantage either direction on most lanes.
By metro
Washington city pricing notes
Seattle
Highest WA rates; hill access and narrow streets often require 20-foot trucks instead of 26-foot.
Bellevue / Redmond
Tech-relocation premium of 8–12% on inbound jobs from CA; outbound prices at Seattle median.
Tacoma
10–15% below Seattle; deep regional carrier base, often family-owned.
Spokane
Cheapest WA metro; eastern WA pricing runs 25–30% below Seattle.
Bellingham
Strong inbound retiree demand; heavy outbound to BC moves require cross-border carrier specialization.
How to lower your Washington moving cost
- Confirm truck size in writing for Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Madrona, West Seattle hill streets, and any narrow-street neighborhood. A 26-foot truck that can't fit blocks the whole job and costs you a wait fee.
- Off-peak Seattle (October–April) saves 18–25%, but rain-day reschedule clauses matter — make sure your contract includes one.
- Verify both FMCSA USDOT and WUTC permit number. WUTC operates a separate intrastate registry.
- If moving from Seattle to a ferry-served island, get the ferry fee in writing as a flat line item, not a passthrough — passthrough fees inflate.
- Eastern WA pricing (Spokane, Tri-Cities, Yakima) runs 25–30% below Seattle. If your move originates east of the Cascades, push back on any quote built off a Seattle tariff.
By city
Washington city cost calculators
Frequently asked questions
Local moves in Washington typically run $400–$2,200 depending on home size, while interstate moves out of Washington average $2,800–$7,500 for a two-bedroom household. Distance, packing services, and the time of year all shift those numbers.
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