Planning a move can be an exciting time, and you’ll feel much better about it if you know the costs that will be involved beforehand. Cord Moving Company and Storage offers professional moving services for residential and commercial residents and businesses. Whether it’s a small, local move or a large, long-distance move across the country, we can help. As a licensed and insured, locally owned moving company with years in business serving customers nationwide, we provide reliable, full-service moving solutions backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
How Much Does A Moving Company Cost?
When hiring a moving company, it is important to know the answer to the question: how much does a moving company cost? The average cost of hiring a moving company is estimated at $2,300 within the same state and $4,300 cross states, according to the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA).
While these averages give you a starting point, your actual moving prices will increase or decrease based on the moving services you choose. When you compare quotes from different carriers, consider the value for money beyond just the base price. Look at credentials, insurance coverage, service guarantees, and what’s included in all-inclusive pricing versus potential extra fees or surcharges.
How Much Does a Local Move Cost?
If you are wondering how much a local move costs, the average cost for a move within a state is estimated at $2,300. This includes four trained professionals movers at an hourly rate of $200, based on an average weight of 7,400 lbs.
A local move across town will most likely be less than a move to another state. Local moves are typically quoted on a flat dollar amount per hour, and the distance within the state is also considered. Some moving companies provide customers with a flat-rate option for local moves by estimating the number of hours it will take to complete the job. Whether you are looking for St Louis movers or Memphis movers, our company handles local moves with efficient, prompt service, offering same-day availability for emergency move situations and flexible moving date options to accommodate your timeline. When budgeting, keep in mind that local moves generally require a minimum billing timeframe, such as a 4-hour minimum. You will also be billed for travel time from the mover’s terminal to your residence and back, along with a standard, flat-rate fuel surcharge rather than unexpected hidden fees.
How Much Does a Long Distance Move Cost?
When asking how much a long-distance move costs, the average long-distance move is estimated to be $4,300. This estimates an average distance of 1,225 miles and 7,400 lbs.
If you’re planning a move from one state to another, you’ll be making an interstate move. Unlike local intrastate moves, long-distance moves are quoted based on weight-based pricing calculated from cubic feet and weight ticket measurements, labor costs, and distance traveled. A significant advantage of choosing a legitimate professional for interstate moves is the “not to exceed” quote. This ensures your final cost will never go above the estimate unless you actively add items to your inventory, though it can decrease if your shipment weighs less. Included in the cost will be the price of insurance for your move. As trusted long distance movers St Louis and long distance movers Memphis, our company handles long distance moves, providing guaranteed delivery dates and door-to-door service.
Factors That Affect Your Moving Cost Calculator Estimate
It’s important to understand that there are many things that you need to account for when coming up with the total cost of the move, including:
- Where you live. Standard stair and elevator fees were eliminated from interstate moving tariffs years ago, though shuttle fees may still apply if a large truck cannot access your street.
- How far you’re moving and whether distance-based pricing applies.
- The time of year with peak season rates versus off-season rates. Pricing is dynamic and tied to overall truck capacity. Peak season runs from May 15th to August 31st. Booking your move a month in advance can save you 10% to 20%, and scheduling your move mid-week (Tuesday through Thursday) will generally place you in a lower pricing tier than a Friday or Monday.
- The amount of belongings you need moved based on your inventory list. Downsizing and shedding items you no longer use is one of the most effective ways to lower your total weight and overall cost.
When planning your budget using a moving cost calculator, here are some other things to consider when factoring in the total moving cost:
- Hiring movers
- Packing up your household goods
- Selling your home
- Preparing for the move
- Making travel arrangements
Prices can also depend on the distance of the move and if it is a local or intrastate move. Moving prices will increase or decrease based on the slate of moving services you choose. Packing, loading, and transporting your goods are usually included in the cost estimate. Our certified movers will carefully wrap, protect, and deliver your belongings on time with our on-time guarantee and damage-free guarantee.
Moving Add-Ons & Expenses
Don’t forget that there are other factors, or moving add-ons, that will add to the total moving cost. These include moving supplies like boxes, tape, and packing materials. Boxes can be bought with various sizes available, from small to medium and large. You may also need special packaging for fragile, delicate, or valuable items such as dishes, clothes, artwork, pictures, and other household goods. We extra care with antique or oversized items, furniture padding, and shrink wrapping to ensure item safety and minimize damage risk and breakage. If you choose full professional packing services, you can expect it to add approximately 35% to your base moving cost, while requiring a month of storage will add a similar percentage. Conversely, you can save money by servicing your own appliances, such as disconnecting your washer and dryer. Please note that for safety and regulatory reasons, movers legally cannot transport hazardous materials (such as aerosols, flammables, or ammunition) or move live plants across certain state lines due to agricultural restrictions.
You may also have to figure out if you’ll need to account for expenses such as:
- Auto transport for vehicle transportation (which generally ranges from $1,200 to $1,500)
- Specialty type of furniture or goods that need extra care
- Furniture disassembly and disassembly and reassembly
- Storage services
- Basic carriage liability is provided at no additional charge (covering 60 cents per pound per article). You also have the option to purchase full replacement value coverage with flexible deductibles.
Travel Expenses
In addition to the logistics of moving your belongings, you have to take into account any personal travel expenses. Costs for traveling to your new home, whether far or near, by car, will include hotels or other lodgings, gas, and food costs when driving. If you are flying, you’ll have to account for the cost of plane tickets and transportation from the airport to your new home. Remembering to factor these out-of-pocket travel costs into your overall budget will give you a much more accurate picture of your total moving expenses. For corporate relocation, military relocation, or time-sensitive moves, planning your delivery timeframe and confirming your guaranteed pickup date in advance helps coordinate your personal travel efficiently.
How Much Does a DIY Move Cost?
If you are wondering how much a DIY move costs, the base cost of a DIY move is estimated to be around $2,450. According to the AMSA, based on a distance of 1,225 miles, this total breaks down to at least $1,650 for a rental truck and mileage alone, plus nearly $800 in fuel ($3/gal).
However, standard estimates often miss hidden DIY costs. A true cost comparison must factor in multiple nights in a hotel, road meals, and pet boarding. It is also important to consider that standard homeowners insurance policies typically do not cover your belongings once they cross state lines in a rental truck. If you are considering portable moving containers, keep in mind they can expose your items to the weather and increase the risk of damage if your furniture is not wrapped with professional moving pads.
Now that you have an idea of the cost of hiring movers, what if you decide to make a move on your own without the help of a professional moving company? If you’re looking to save money and do it on your own, you’ll have to first figure out what you’ll transport your belongings in. Renting a truck will cost a flat fee of about $30 a day plus about sixty cents to one dollar a mile.
You’ll also have to make sure all of the equipment is included to help you move heavier items. Plus, don’t forget it will take more than one person to move your stuff! You’ll also have to make sure you have all of the right moving supplies, including tape, boxes, and packing material. Fuel costs vary for moving trucks. Moving insurance, food, hotels, highway tolls, taxes, and other costs must be taken into consideration as well. When doing a cost comparison between DIY and professional services, factor in the risk of lost items, the physical labor required to load and unload (remembering that while you may have help loading at your origin, you will likely be unloading on your own in a new city), and whether you need liability protection or damage protection coverage.
Preparation and planning go a long way when it comes to searching for a moving company and making your move. When you search for “moving companies near me” online, it’s important to find reputable movers with good online reviews. You can always ask friends, family, or local real estate professionals for referrals as well. Competence, experience, and reliability are crucial. Make sure you can find verified reviews and find a trustworthy mover to ensure a safe, affordable, stress-free move. Be cautious of moving brokers who offer impossibly low online quotes but may arrive with undersized trucks and limited accountability. Legitimate, professional carriers will typically provide competitive quotes that are within 5% to 10% of each other. Look for established companies that are BBB accredited, AMSA member certified, bonded, and fully equipped with a modern fleet. Check their trust record, read the contract terms and fine print carefully, understand the cancellation policy and deposit requirements, confirm accepted payment methods and the payment schedule, and ask about their claims process if damage occurs.
Ready To Finalize Your Moving Cost Calculator Quote?
No job is too small or too big for us to handle. Competence, experience, and reliability are crucial when choosing a moving company. Our experienced, certified team of background-checked, trained professionals operates with convenient, and efficient service. We hope this guide and our moving cost calculator give you a clear sense of pricing so you can prepare for your relocation.
Book your move today and take advantage of our competitive rates, and comprehensive service options. We offer instant quotes, no-obligation estimates, and customized solutions for residential, commercial, senior moving needs, student moving, and business relocation needs. Call us today to finalize your quote on your upcoming move today.