If you’re planning a cross-country move, creating a budget is essential. A good moving budget accounts for all the associated costs and fees that involve packing up and moving long distances. It also allows for some incidentals and surprises that may pop up along the way. The cost of long-distance moving can vary, but the average price tag ranges from $3,000 to $7,000.
What actually goes into the cost of your interstate or long-distance relocation? As it turns out, it’s a complex interplay of fees, labor costs, services chosen, and the physical footprint of your belongings. In this guide, we explore the factors that influence the costs associated with long-distance moves and how you can better manage them during your relocation.
Factors Influencing the Cost of Interstate or Long Distance Moving
Using professional moving services is an excellent way to reduce the physical and mental stress of your relocation, but it can be expensive. Typically, the factors that influence interstate moving costs include the following:
Distance Between Locations
The farther the distance between your current home and your new one, the higher the costs. There are a couple of reasons for this. For one, longer distances require more fuel, which increases the overall expense. More travel time also requires additional labor costs for the moving crew. The longer distances can even require lodging for your moving team.
Weight and Volume of Belongings
The size of your home and its contents often dictates the cost of your move because larger or heavier loads require bigger trucks or multiple trips. That increases the cost. In addition, heavier loads consume more fuel, which can add up over long distances. If you’re relying on the movers to pack your belongings (or buying materials from them to pack on your own), more items need more boxes, padding, and protective materials. Finally, the time it takes to load and unload all those boxes and pieces of furniture adds up to additional labor time.
Type of Moving Service
Full-service moves are obviously the most expensive, and they include packing, loading, transporting, and unloading. Full-service movers may even unpack your belongings at your request! Partial-service moves, meanwhile, are a “middle of the road” option that includes everything except packing and unpacking.
These aren’t the only options, however. You can also purchase container services at a moderate cost, which allows you to pack and unpack at your leisure and have the contents of your home transported to its new location. Finally, the least expensive option is to rent a truck and do everything yourself. While this can save money, it also requires you to handle all the heavy lifting and driving a larger vehicle.
Time of Year and Seasonality
Moving during the peak season (between May and September) will almost always cost more than if you choose to move during other times of the year. Many people try to schedule their relocation when their kids are out of school, or the weather is pleasant, which drives up demand and costs. The flexibility to move during the “offseason” between October and April can often save you money on your move.
Additional Services
Asking your movers to perform additional moving services like packing and unpacking, furniture assembly upon arrival, and other duties can add hefty fees to the cost of your move. For those trying to stay within a budget, it often makes sense to pack and unpack on your own as much as possible before relying on the movers to do the extra work.
Estimating Moving Costs
Budgeting enough funds for your move is essential, and the only way to do that is to fully understand your moving companies’ cost calculations. Most moving companies estimate costs in two ways: average cost per mile and weight-based pricing.
- Estimated Per-Mile Costs: Moving companies sometimes reference per-mile rates for long-distance moves as part of their initial cost calculations. While these rates can range from $0.50 to $0.80 per mile for distances under 1,000 miles and from $0.70 to $1.00 per mile for over 1,000 miles, the actual cost may vary based on the factors explained earlier. At Safe Ship, we provide a binding estimate fee based on the overall subtotal rather than a per-mile rate alone, ensuring you have an accurate, all-inclusive cost for your move.
- Estimated Weight-Based Costs: Some moving companies may also factor in the weight of your belongings. Typical rates range from $0.50 to $0.80 per pound. A one-bedroom apartment, for example, might “weigh” around 3,500 pounds and cost anywhere from $1,750 to $2,800. A three-bedroom house could weigh about 10,000 pounds and cost between $5,000 and $8,000 to move. One perk of working with a moving broker is that you don’t have to worry about the math behind weight-based pricing. Brokers provide a total cost estimate for your move based on the information provided and pair you with service providers that fit your needs.
Moving companies use this information to provide different estimates, such as non-binding, educated guesses based on average weights. Binding estimates are a guaranteed price based on your in-home inventory. A binding not-to-exceed estimate won’t exceed the estimate and could even be lower. In addition to this pricing, other common moving fees may be applicable, such as packing fees, lodging fees for movers, and hourly labor costs.
Moving brokers can help you facilitate multiple quotes from different movers at once, which can make the process of shopping for movers much less stressful.
Types of Interstate Moving Services and Their Costs
When you move across state lines with professional movers, you have a few choices. Different moving services cater to unique needs and budgets. For example, you could opt to hire full-service movers to carefully handle and load your belongings. Alternatively, you could choose to use a container-based moving solution that requires more work on your end but might lower the overall cost of long-distance moving.
Full-Service Movers and Their Price Range
Full-service residential moving services are exactly what the name suggests: a team of movers who will help pack, load, transport, and unload your belongings after reaching your new home. Full-service movers are often the most expensive option. That’s especially true if you are moving long distances. For example, a long-distance move could cost anywhere between $3,700 and $15,000, depending on the size of your house, the number of belongings you have to move and the distance between houses.
Container-Based Moving Services
Container-based moving services like PODS or U-Pack offer a flexible middle ground where you need to handle the physical act of loading your items, but a truck comes and picks them up to take them to your new home. It’s an affordable option if you don’t need help loading or unloading.
For short moves across state lines, costs can range from $400 to $700 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,000 to $2,500 for long-distance ones. Two- to three-bedroom homes can cost between $700 to $1,500 for short moves under 50 miles, while long-distance ones could cost between $2,500 and $4,500. Finally, large homes could cost as much as $2,500 for shorter-distance moves and $7,500 for long-distance ones.
Prices can vary and largely depend on several factors, including the number and size of necessary containers, how long you’re renting them for, and the season in which you’re moving.
Additional Expenses During Long Distance Moving
Labor and transportation costs aren’t the only factors that can influence your interstate moving costs. In addition, you may have to deal with the following expenses:
- Packing supplies: Whether you buy them to pack things yourself or rely on your movers to handle the work, you’ll have to pay for boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and other packing materials. Moving companies that sell these items typically do so at a significant upcharge, so it’s worth trying to source items from local stores or friends.
- Temporary storage costs: If your new home isn’t ready yet or your move takes additional time, you may need to temporarily store your belongings at a storage facility. In addition, it’s possible the moving company may need to store your belongings on their property for a short period.
- Travel expenses: You’ll also want to budget for travel expenses, both for yourself and for your movers. Particularly long moves (such as coast-to-coast relocations) often require overnight stays for your movers, and you’ll be on the hook for that, as well as any lodging and food for yourself.
Costs of Long Distance Moving for Specialty Items
Some items require special handling and transportation, and those requirements can sometimes add to your long-distance move’s overall cost. Items that require specific attention can include:
- Vehicles: Moving a vehicle can be costly, but many moving companies can facilitate your vehicle’s shipment as part of their services. Shipping a car can cost between $550 to $2,450, depending on the type of vehicle being shipped and the total distance. Transport to or from more remote areas can cause vehicle shipping costs to vary greatly. Vehicles shipped to remote locations like Hawaii and Alaska can easily cost double the standard rates due to carrier availability and access.
- Arts and antique furniture: Shipping antiques can add to your moving costs because of the additional care they require during the move. Ensure movers know the importance of these pieces and, if possible, consider preparing them for the move yourself to avoid damage.
- Pets: Some moving companies will actually take care of handling your pets, but there are specific rules for each state. Ask your moving broker about the potential of moving animals as part of your initial consultation.
Understanding Moving Insurance and Its Impact on Cost
Moving insurance is another cost you may not have considered but should factor into your moving budget. It protects your belongings during your move. Basic carrier liability coverage is typically included at no additional cost and offers minimal protection for your belongings. It’s a requirement for interstate moves, but it does not account for your items’ actual value and it’s more than likely insufficient for all but the most inexpensive items.
Full value protection, meanwhile, is a more comprehensive option that is based on your shipment’s total declared value. It usually costs between 1%-2% of your total declared value but provides repair, replacement, or cash settlement options in the event of damage to your possessions.
Cost of Long Distance Moving for Commercial Moves
Households aren’t the only customers who need help with long-distance transport. Corporate moving services are often more costly than household moves because of the additional complexities involved, such as office furniture and equipment costs. However, specialized commercial movers can help offset these higher prices with training and staff that simplifies relocating an office from one state to another.
The cost of moving your business largely depends on its size, the number of people you employ, and the services you require as part of the move. For example, it could cost as much as tens of thousands of dollars to move an office with more than ten employees. Common factors influencing your moving expenses include the number of computers, file cabinets, furniture pieces, and more. Like other relocations, mileage and required services also play a role in determining your move’s price.
The benefits of using corporate relocation services include reducing liability and professional packing for items that need transport across the country.
How to Save Money When Moving Across the Country
No matter how far you’re moving, it’s possible to save money while moving from one state to another. It takes smart planning and consideration. Common strategies for reducing your moving costs include downsizing before the move and eliminating anything you don’t actually need to take with you. You may also choose off-peak moving dates that don’t coincide with busy seasons to reduce the risk of being overcharged. Finally, it never hurts to ask about available discounts for military service, seniors, students, or other applicable reasons.
One other way to save money for your long-distance moving services is to trust a moving broker to help facilitate your move. A moving broker can source quotes from carriers who offer the services you need (and help you decide which ones you don’t).
Our commitment to service helps you find licensed cross-country movers within our carrier network at fair, competitive prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost to move across the United States?
Costs may vary, but the average cost to move across the US ranges from $4,000 to $15,000, depending on the size of your home and the distance. Prices will depend on services, timing, and specific locations.
What do movers consider long distance?
Most movers typically consider moves over 100 miles to be long distance. However, some companies may define long-distance moves as ones that cross state lines or exceed 400 miles. Clarify with the moving company because their definitions can affect pricing and available services.
How do long-distance movers calculate cost?
Long-distance movers calculate costs based on your belongings’ weight and the distance of the move. Other additional services that can impact the price include packing, storage, or special handling of your fragile items. Fuel costs, labor rates, and seasonal demand also influence your long-distance move’s final price.
