We moved from a 2-bed house to a house down the street. Use MoveBuddha's free moving cost calculator to estimate how much your move will cost. You'll receive an instant estimate of the move without having to enter your email or other personal information. Plus, you'll find useful tips for saving on your next move. We know it's a wide range, but there are several factors that influence moving costs.
The most important one is whether you choose a self-made move or a full-service one. The average cost of a self-made move can vary depending on whether you book a moving container or a rental truck, the amount of things you have to move, and how far you're going to go. Let's look at the cost of moving containers and moving trucks. Based on 2025 moving cost data owned by MoveBuddha, here's what you can expect to pay to move from different U.S. cities.
UU. These ranges reflect accurate estimates for the rental of trucks, containers and professional moving companies drawn from our updated cost guides. Whatever route you choose, knowing how many boxes you'll need is key to avoiding last-minute stress or overspending on supplies. Use our free moving box calculator to get a personalized list based on the size of your house, how many people are packing and your style of packaging.
Everyone should use a moving cost calculator before starting to receive quotes from moving companies. It gives you a clear idea of what your move should cost and the types of services available, such as full-service removals, containers or truck rentals. There's no doubt that you can try moving on your own if you want to save money. A home move can save you thousands of dollars compared to using a full-service moving company.
Keep in mind that while you'll save money, the move will cost you time and effort. If you're not sure if you're doing all the work yourself, consider hiring a container moving company. In the case of container moving companies, you are still responsible for packing and loading the container, but they will handle the transportation. The cheapest moving company depends on the type of move you choose. For home moves, renting a truck with U-Haul is one of the most affordable options.
For container removals, U-Pack offers the best prices and quick and transparent quotes. If you're looking for a full-service moving company, North American Van Lines and Mayzlin Relocation are among the most affordable options. Don't just search for the cheapest rate you can find, make sure that a cheap moving company also has a strong reputation in the industry. No, moving quotes don't include shipping the car.
Not all moving companies offer car shipping services. If you need to ship your vehicle, you'll usually need to get separate quotes from car shipping companies. Our car shipping cost calculator can give you a better idea of how this will affect your overall moving budget. Full value protection is an additional insurance option that offers a refund based on the value of each item and not the weight. This additional coverage can provide additional protection, especially for high-value items, but it will also significantly increase moving costs.
Yes, MoveBuddha's moving cost calculator is reliable. It's designed to capture relevant details about your move and transform this data into a reliable cost range. Its accuracy and reliability are the result of years of refinement based on real-world data and changing cost trends. While your actual moving expenses may vary, this range of costs should give you a good idea of what you can expect so you can properly budget for your move.
Yes, you can definitely negotiate with moving companies. They usually offer discounts on moving or other options to lower your quote. You can also bring quotes you received from competitors to see if they outbid other companies or offer even prices. Ask your sales representative for advice to further reduce your costs. For example, being flexible with moving dates or getting rid of high-cost items, such as pool tables or heavy safes, can help reduce overall moving expenses.
The most expensive part of a move is often the cost of hiring a moving company that offers a full service, especially for long-distance moves. or out of state. Labor, transportation, and additional services, such as packing, disassembling furniture, and handling special items, can add up quickly. If you want to reduce costs, consider moving yourself or hybrid moves that reduce the need for a full moving service.
Moving costs are largely determined by the size of the home (meaning, of course, there are many other factors at play here), but below we break down some general costs based on these two main factors). Keep in mind that the cost of your individual move will vary, so be sure to request multiple quotes. Below are some estimates based on the number of moving companies and the number of moving companies you'll normally need for a move of a certain size. However, keep in mind that each moving company will approach this issue differently, and there are many other factors that determine the cost and number of people moving, including the amount of the move and the distance.
Below are examples of some of our top moving company options to see how moving company costs may differ. As always, remember that these are just sample moves and some are just rough quotation marks. You should always look for your own quotes. Mobile quotes also usually include whether the mobile quote is binding or non-binding, which we will detail below.
Keep in mind that packing and unpacking services are not automatically included in local moves, so be sure to specify this add-on when doing the reservation. Local moving companies usually charge by the hour, so you'll usually see this type of estimate if you're only moving a few blocks away or across town. Usually, two moving companies can handle a local trip, but a longer distance trip is likely to require more moving. That means researching housing costs, rental rates and typical salaries in your new city to see how much you can afford.
We contacted 69 moving companies and asked each of them about a local and long-distance two-room move to get an idea of the prices. Many local moving companies include a standard van as part of the package, and larger vehicles cost more. Determine if the reduced cost of a self-made move is worth it or if it's better to hire a local moving company. Moving from Chicago to Detroit, for example, costs about 285 miles and about five hours by car, so it wouldn't be considered a local move.
Unlike a local move, the price of a long-distance move is largely based on the weight of the shipment. Find free moving boxes and supplies: An easy way to reduce moving costs is to look for free boxes and supplies for moving at local liquor stores, large chain stores, grocery stores, recycling delivery points, office buildings and schools. You can also buy them at a local home improvement store, a self-storage facility, a truck rental company, or a moving company.
