Full-service moving: what's included and what it costs
Full-service movers handle every step from packing the first box to placing the last lamp. The price premium is real, and so is the time and risk it removes.
By Ryan Mitchell, Senior moving industry analyst · Reviewed by Amanda Brooks, Licensed relocation consultant · Updated May 2026
Full-service moving is a single contract for packing, loading, transport, unloading, and (usually) unpacking and debris removal. It's the closest thing the industry sells to a turnkey relocation: you walk out the door of an empty house and walk into a destination home where the boxes are already in the right rooms.
The premium over a self-pack interstate move is typically 25–60%, and the value depends on whether you're paying for time you don't have, capability you don't have (lifting, driving a 26-foot truck), or risk you don't want to carry yourself (damage liability, missed move dates, claims hassle). For 2BR+ households moving 500+ miles, full-service is often within striking distance of all-in DIY cost once time is priced in.
What's included in a full-service move
- Pre-move survey (in-home or video) and binding-not-to-exceed estimate.
- All packing materials — boxes, paper, tape, mattress bags, art crates.
- Full pack labor for every room, including kitchen, art, and electronics.
- Disassembly of beds, tables, and large furniture; reassembly at destination.
- Loading, line-haul transport, and unloading by the carrier's own crew.
- Placement of furniture and boxes in the rooms you designate.
- Optional unpacking and debris removal (typically a separate line item).
- Claims handling against the carrier on a single Bill of Lading.
What's not included by default
Several services that sound like they should be included usually aren't, and missing them is where customers feel surprised on the invoice. Confirm each in writing before you sign.
- Full-value protection coverage (default released-value pays $0.60/lb — almost never enough).
- Specialty crating for art, marble, glass tabletops, or oversized TVs.
- Piano, safe, treadmill, and large aquarium handling.
- Storage in transit if delivery is later than pickup by more than 7 days.
- Shuttle service when a tractor-trailer can't reach the door.
- Long carry beyond ~75 feet from the truck.
- Disposal of donations, sales, and items going to family members.
When full-service is the right choice
Full-service makes the most sense when at least one of these conditions is true: the household is 2BR+ on a 500+ mile lane, both adults work full-time, the move includes meaningful art / electronics / heirloom value, the timeline is compressed (under 4 weeks), or the household has physical constraints that rule out DIY loading.
It makes the least sense for studio and 1BR loads on short interstate lanes, for households with strong help and flexible dates, or for budget-constrained moves where 30–60 hours of personal labor is acceptable in exchange for $1,500–$3,500 in savings.
How to compare full-service quotes apples-to-apples
- Confirm each quote is binding-not-to-exceed after a video or in-home survey.
- Confirm carrier vs broker — see /trust/broker-vs-carrier.
- Match weight assumptions across quotes (a 1,000-lb difference is $400–$900).
- Match service scope: full pack vs partial pack, unpack included or not.
- Match liability: released-value (default) vs full-value protection.
- Match accessorials: stairs, long carry, shuttle, elevator reservations.
- Match pickup window and delivery spread (a guaranteed delivery date costs more).
Real 2026 cost guide
| Scenario | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR · 500–1,000 mi | $2,800 – $4,800 | Full pack, typical consolidated truck. |
| 2BR · 1,000 mi | $3,800 – $7,400 | Most common full-service profile. |
| 3BR · 1,500 mi | $6,400 – $11,200 | Van line consistency wins on long lanes. |
| 4BR+ · cross-country | $10,500 – $19,500 | Often dedicated trailer + premium service. |
- • 2BR+ households moving 500+ miles
- • Dual-income households with no time to pack
- • Moves with valuable art, electronics, or heirlooms
- • Compressed timelines (under 4 weeks from booking to move day)
- • Customers who want a single contract and a single party on the Bill of Lading
- • Studio or 1BR loads on short interstate lanes (containers usually win on price)
- • Budget-constrained moves with strong help available on both ends
- • Customers who want maximum control over packing decisions and timing
What to ask before you book
- Are you a carrier or a broker, and what's your USDOT number?
- Is the quote binding-not-to-exceed after a video or in-home survey?
- Is full pack and unpack included, or itemized as separate line items?
- Is full-value protection available, and what's the cost on my declared value?
- What's the pickup window and the delivery spread for my exact lane?
- Are stairs, long carry, shuttle, and elevator reservations itemized?
- How are claims handled — directly by you, or via a third-party administrator?
Get quotes for full-service moving
Tell us your move details once. We'll match you with FMCSA-licensed movers serving your route.
Where are you moving?
Get matched with up to 4 licensed movers in 60 seconds.
.
.
Free · No obligation · Licensed FMCSA-verified movers
Frequently asked questions
How much more does full-service cost than self-pack?
Is full-service the same as 'white-glove' moving?
Should I get full-value protection on a full-service move?
Will the same crew that packs my house deliver it?
Related services
Same-day, same-metro moves billed by the hour. The everyday workhorse service.
Multi-state and 75+ mile moves. Priced by weight and distance, not the hour.
Cross-state moves regulated by FMCSA. The same product as long-distance, with stricter consumer protections.
Full-service or partial packing by your moving crew. Materials, labor, and breakage liability bundled.
Storage-in-transit, short-term, and long-term storage with carrier liability bundled.
Open or enclosed car shipping, often bundled with household-goods moves on long lanes.