What does a move cost?
How in-state and state-to-state moves are priced, which variables move the number most, and how to keep estimates comparable.
Hire Best Pros Editorial Team · Updated August 24, 2026
Most in-state moves are priced by the hour, based on crew size, truck and travel time. Most state-to-state moves are priced by weight or volume plus distance, with additional charges for services such as packing, stairs, long carries and storage. That difference is the single most important thing to understand before you compare quotes, because an hourly estimate and a weight-based estimate are not the same kind of number.
Key points
- In-state moves are usually hourly. State-to-state moves are usually distance plus weight or volume.
- Access details such as stairs, elevators and truck parking change the price more than people expect.
- A binding or not-to-exceed estimate protects you differently than a non-binding one.
- Costs vary based on location, project size, materials, complexity, access and the provider you hire.
Two different pricing models
If you are not sure which one applies to you, it comes down to whether the origin and destination are in the same state. Our move type finder resolves that from your two ZIP codes.
| In-state move | State-to-state move | |
|---|---|---|
| Usual basis | Hourly rate for crew and truck | Distance plus weight or volume |
| Travel | Travel time between locations | Line haul across the route |
| Common add-ons | Packing, materials, heavy items, stairs | Packing, shuttle, long carry, storage in transit |
| Estimate style | Hourly estimate with a range | Binding, not-to-exceed, or non-binding estimate |
What actually drives the number
- How much you are moving, which is why an honest inventory matters
- Access at both ends: stairs, elevator, walk distance from the door to the truck, and where a truck can legally park
- Packing: full pack, partial pack, or you pack everything
- Specialty items such as a piano, safe, gym equipment or large appliances
- Timing: end of month, weekends and summer are the busiest periods
- Storage between the move-out and move-in dates
- Valuation coverage, which is not the same as insurance
Getting estimates you can actually compare
Give every company the same inventory and the same access details. A quote based on a walkthrough or a video survey is far more reliable than one produced from a phone conversation, and it is much harder for the price to change on move day.
- Ask which estimate type you are receiving and get it in writing
- Ask what would cause the final price to differ from the estimate
- Ask how they handle a shuttle if a full-size truck cannot reach the door
- Ask what valuation coverage is included by default and what upgrades exist
- Ask for the pickup window and the delivery window, not just a date
Ready to get moving estimates?
Start your moveCosts people forget until the last week
- Boxes, tape and protective materials if you are packing yourself
- Tips for the crew, which are customary but at your discretion
- Elevator reservations or building deposits, common in apartments and condos
- Cleaning at the old place and the first grocery run at the new one
- Overlap between the two housing payments
Common questions
- Why do moving quotes vary so much?
- Usually because the companies were given different inventories or different access details, or because one quoted hourly and another quoted by weight. Standardize the inputs and the quotes converge.
- Is a binding estimate always better?
- A binding or not-to-exceed estimate gives you price certainty, which many people value. It is only as good as the inventory it was built from, so an accurate survey matters either way.
- How far in advance should I book?
- Earlier is better, especially for summer dates and the end of the month. Booking well ahead also gives you time to compare rather than accepting whoever has availability.
How this guide was written
This guide describes pricing structure. We do not publish average move prices or per-mile figures without a reliable, cited source.
This guide is general information, not professional advice for your specific situation. Read our editorial standards.