Cost to Move a 3-Bedroom House in 2026

How 3-bedroom pricing works

Local 3-bedroom moves are hourly, billed against our national baseline of $105–$155 per hour for a crew and truck, with loading taking 8 to 12 hours plus drive time. Local 3-bedroom jobs commonly run $840–$1,860.

Interstate 3-bedroom moves are priced by actual weight and mileage, plus packing, valuation coverage, and any accessorial fees. A three-bedroom shipment runs about 1,200–1,800 sq ft, ~8,500 lb, and estimates at $4,350–$10,850 on a 1,000-mile lane, with coast-to-coast full-service moves sitting above that range.

Cost by service type

• Full-service van line. Most predictable. Pack, load, drive, unload, place, with valuation options included.
• Portable containers, often two. You load and unload, and the company drives. Normally cheaper than full-service, though we hold no sourced figure for the discount.
• Rental truck. A large box truck plus help. Cheapest cash outlay, hardest physical job.
• Hybrid. Container or rental truck plus hired labor on each end.

What changes the price most

• Actual weight. Garage, basement and attic contents are the most under-estimated category, and the interstate bill follows the scale ticket.
• Long carry and stairs. Driveways too narrow for a tractor-trailer trigger a shuttle fee, and stairs to a finished basement add hours.
• Specialty items. Pianos, pool tables, gun safes, hot tubs, riding mowers, and large outdoor playsets each carry a per-item fee.
• Packing. A full pack for a 3-bedroom is charged as labor plus materials.
• Storage in transit. Adds a monthly storage charge plus a re-delivery fee.
• Date. Peak summer and weekend dates price above mid-week off-season slots.

Ways to reduce a 3-bedroom moving cost

1. Get four written estimates, three full-service and one portable container, to triangulate fair pricing.
2. Insist on a binding-not-to-exceed estimate for interstate moves. It caps your downside while still letting the bill drop if the actual weight is lower.
3. Declutter the garage, basement, and attic before the survey.
4. Pack your own boxes and reserve mover packing for fragile items, electronics, and artwork.
5. Move mid-week, mid-month, between mid-September and mid-May.
6. Disassemble basic furniture before the crew arrives to avoid extra hours.
7. Disconnect appliances and clear walkways the day before.

Movers vs containers vs DIY for a 3-bedroom move

• Full-service van line. Best when you have specialty items, cannot safely load yourself, or need a guaranteed delivery date. Highest cost.
• Portable containers. Best for flexible delivery, suburban driveways, and households that can recruit a small loading crew.
• Rental truck. Best for budget-driven shorter moves with strong help. Hardest physical job, and you carry full liability for damage.

Before you book

• Verify the mover's USDOT number on FMCSA SAFER.
• Ask whether the company is a carrier or a broker, and which carrier will actually drive your shipment.
• Insist on an in-home or live video survey before any interstate quote.
• Get pricing in writing on a binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimate.
• Never wire a deposit or pay by gift card or peer-to-peer app.