Home › Home & Construction › Moving Cost Calculator
Moving Cost Calculator
Use this free moving cost calculator to estimate your move before you book anything. Pick your home size, the distance, whether you want full-service movers or a DIY truck rental, and how much packing help you need, and see the estimated total with a line-by-line breakdown.
Estimates only. Real quotes vary by season, stairs, access, and heavy items such as pianos.
How it works
The calculator builds your estimate from three parts: a base charge, a distance charge, and a packing charge. The base depends on home size, because a bigger home means more furniture, more boxes, and more hours of work. The distance charge depends on the miles between the old home and the new one. Packing is separate, so you can see what supplies or a full packing service would add.
For full-service movers, the base covers loading, transport, and unloading for a local move: $450 for a studio, $650 for 1 bedroom, $950 for 2 bedrooms, $1,400 for 3 bedrooms, $1,900 for 4 bedrooms, and $2,500 for 5 or more bedrooms. The distance charge is $2 per mile for the first 100 miles, then $1.25 per mile after that, which reflects how long-distance pricing flattens out once the crew is on the road.
For a DIY move, the base is replaced by truck rental: a $120 rental fee plus $0.89 per mile. You do the driving and the lifting, so the labour cost disappears, but fuel is not included — budget for that separately, since a loaded truck uses far more fuel than a car. Packing costs the same either way: supplies only cost $80 for a studio, $120 for 1 bedroom, $180 for 2 bedrooms, $250 for 3 bedrooms, $320 for 4 bedrooms, and $400 for 5 or more bedrooms, while full packing service costs $200, $300, $400, $500, $650, and $800 for the same sizes.
These are planning estimates based on typical rates, not quotes. Real prices move with the season — summer and month-end dates cost more — and with stairs, long walks from truck to door, narrow streets, and heavy items. Use the estimate to compare movers against DIY and to set a budget, then get written quotes from two or three movers before you commit.
Worked example
The Patel family is moving a 3-bedroom home 800 miles, using full-service movers with full packing service. They select 3 bedrooms, enter 800 miles, choose Full-service movers, and choose Full packing service.
Step 1: Find the base charge. A 3-bedroom home has a base of $1,400.
Step 2: Work out the distance charge. The first 100 miles cost 100 × $2 = $200. The remaining 700 miles cost 700 × $1.25 = $875. Together the distance charge is $200 + $875 = $1,075.
Step 3: Add packing. Full packing service for a 3-bedroom home costs $500.
Step 4: Add the three parts. $1,400 + $1,075 + $500 = $2,975.
The tool shows the same result: Estimated total: $2,975 for a 3-bedroom home over 800 miles with full-service movers and full packing. If the family packed themselves and bought supplies instead, the packing charge would fall from $500 to $250, giving a total of $2,725 — a saving worth weighing against a long weekend of packing.
FAQ
How much does it cost to hire movers for a 3-bedroom home?
It depends mostly on distance. For a local move of about 50 miles with full-service movers and packing supplies, a 3-bedroom home costs about $1,750 in this calculator: $1,400 base, $100 for distance, and $250 for supplies. A long-distance move of 800 miles with full packing costs about $2,975. Get quotes from two or three local movers, because real prices vary by season, stairs, and access.
Is it cheaper to hire movers or rent a truck and move yourself?
Renting a truck is usually cheaper in cash, but it costs your time and effort. In this calculator, a DIY move for a 2-bedroom home over 50 miles costs about $345: $120 truck rental, $45 mileage, and $180 for packing supplies, plus fuel. The same move with full-service movers costs about $1,230. The gap narrows on long moves, where movers handle the driving and the heavy lifting.
How does distance affect moving costs?
Local moves are priced mainly by the size of the home and the hours of labour, with a small charge per mile. Long-distance moves add a per-mile charge that grows with the trip. This calculator charges $2 per mile for the first 100 miles, then $1.25 per mile after that for full-service moves, and $0.89 per mile for DIY truck rental on top of the rental fee.
What extra moving costs should I budget for?
Packing supplies, full packing help, fuel, tips for the crew, and any storage between homes are the common extras. Heavy or awkward items such as pianos, safes, and large appliances can also add fees. A good rule is to add 10 percent to your estimate as a cushion, and to confirm with the mover whether stairs, long carries, or parking problems carry extra charges.
How far ahead should I book movers?
Book four to six weeks ahead for a normal move, and eight weeks or more in the busy summer season or at the end of a month. Early booking gives you a better choice of dates and often a better price. If you are moving yourself, reserve the truck as soon as the date is firm, because the right size can sell out on popular weekends.