Moving Cost Calculator

Relocation expenses are easier to plan for when you can see them before the truck arrives, whether you are moving a few blocks or several states away. The figures here are planning numbers built into the calculator, not quotes from movers. Seeing a realistic range early gives you room to compare options and choose the approach that fits your budget.

The estimate starts from a base cost set by home size: $400 for a studio, $600 for one bedroom, $900 for two, $1,200 for three and $1,600 for four or more. A local move (under 100 miles) stops there. For a long-distance move the base is raised by half, and a distance charge of $0.50 per mile for every 1,000 lb of belongings is added, using an assumed load of 2,000 lb for a studio up to 10,000 lb for four or more bedrooms. Packing adds 30% of that subtotal, insurance a flat $300 and storage $200 a month. The low estimate is that total; the high estimate adds another 30%.

Treat the number as a planning figure rather than a quote, since the final bill shifts with the specific company, the time of year, and complications like tricky building access or unusually heavy pieces. Packing services and specialized handling are the line items people most often leave out, and they can move the total considerably. Before you commit, collect at least three binding estimates from established movers so you are comparing firm prices rather than guesses.