Moving Cost Guide

How Much Does a Moving Company Cost?

Researched and written by Matthew Collins · Reviewed by Amanda Brooks · Last reviewed August 2026

A moving company costs an estimated $630–$1,395 for a two-bedroom local move billed hourly, and $3,000–$7,000 for the same household moved full service on a typical 1,000-mile interstate lane. Both figures are editorial estimates from the Bestmovers.info pricing model, not measured transaction prices.

The rest of this guide sets out what those two numbers are built from, what a written estimate does not include, and the federal rule that governs how much a carrier may collect from you on delivery day.

Estimated cost of a moving company by move type

Estimated price ranges only — your actual quote depends on move size, distance, service level, date, and availability.

Move typeTypical rangeNotes
Studio, local$315–$775Two movers, $105 to $155 per hour
Two bedroom, local$630–$1,395Two movers, $105 to $155 per hour
Two bedroom, interstate$3,000–$7,000Full service, about 1,000 miles
Three bedroom, interstate$4,350–$10,850Full service, about 1,000 miles

Editorial estimates from the Bestmovers.info pricing model, reviewed May 2026. Not measured transaction prices.

How much does a moving company cost?

A moving company costs an estimated $630–$1,395 for a two-bedroom local move and $3,000–$7,000 for a two-bedroom interstate move on a 1,000-mile lane. Smaller households sit lower: a studio local move estimates at $315–$775. Larger households sit higher: a four-bedroom interstate move estimates at $5,850–$15,050. Every one of these figures is an editorial estimate published by Bestmovers.info and reviewed May 2026, not a price anyone was observed paying.

What does the price of a moving company depend on?

The price of a moving company depends on four things: how much the shipment weighs, how far it travels, how much of the labour the crew performs rather than the household, and how hard the property is to work in. Local crews are billed at an estimated $105 to $155 per hour for two movers and a truck, so hours are the variable. Interstate carriers price on weight and mileage from a filed tariff, so a purge before the survey is the single largest lever a household controls.

How is a local move priced against an interstate one?

A local move under roughly fifty miles is priced by the hour, while an interstate move is priced on the scale ticket and the mileage in the carrier's tariff. That is why the two figures cannot be compared directly: a local quote grows if the stairs slow the crew down, and an interstate quote grows if the shipment weighs more than the survey assumed. Under 49 CFR 375.519 the shipper may watch each weighing and may ask for a re-weigh before the charges are computed.

What is not included in a moving quote?

A moving quote does not include gratuity, and gratuity is not a fee a carrier may add: it is discretionary and paid to the crew directly. Bestmovers.info publishes no tip figure because the pricing model holds none. Quotes also commonly exclude valuation above the federal released value level, storage in transit, shuttle service where a trailer cannot reach the door, long carries, and third-party servicing for appliances or a piano. Ask for each of these to be priced on the estimate itself rather than discovered on the day.

How do you compare two moving quotes honestly?

Compare two moving quotes by putting them on the same terms first: binding or non-binding, the same inventory, the same valuation level and the same accessorial list. An interstate carrier must give a written estimate before the move (49 CFR 375.401), and on a non-binding estimate it may require no more than 110% of the estimated charges at delivery (49 CFR 375.407), with the balance billed afterwards. A quote that is cheap only because it assumes less weight is not cheaper, it is later.

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Helpful resources

Frequently asked questions

How much does a moving company cost for a two-bedroom home?
A two-bedroom move estimates at $630–$1,395 locally and $3,000–$7,000 interstate on a 1,000-mile lane. Both are editorial estimates from the Bestmovers.info pricing model, reviewed May 2026.
Is a moving company allowed to raise the price on delivery day?
On a non-binding estimate a carrier may require no more than 110% of the estimated charges at delivery, and must bill the remainder afterwards (49 CFR 375.407). A binding estimate fixes the price for the inventory surveyed.
Does a moving quote include a tip for the crew?
No. Gratuity is discretionary, is paid to the crew rather than the company, and never appears on a lawful estimate. Bestmovers.info publishes no tip amount because the pricing model holds no sourced figure for tipping.
How many quotes should you get from moving companies?
Three written estimates, each taken after an in-home or live video survey, is the working minimum. Sight-unseen numbers are not estimates, and the spread between three surveyed quotes is the only reliable evidence of what a move actually costs on your lane.
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