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Before you hire a mover

What a local move costs, and how to choose a mover.

Is your move local or long-distance?

On this site, a move of under 100 miles is treated as local: one crew and one truck, usually finished in a day and usually priced by the hour. Between 100 and about 500 miles, movers more often give one price for the whole move. Beyond that, the price is usually worked out from the weight of what you ship and the distance it travels. Long-distance movers by city

Distance sets the price. The state line sets the rules:

• A move that starts and ends in the same state follows that state's own rules, and they differ from state to state.
• A move that crosses a state line follows federal rules, however short the trip.

What do local movers cost?

The table shows typical ranges for a local move, by the size of the home. They are averages, not quotes: what you pay depends on how much you move, how easy each home is to work in, and the mover's own rates. Get quotes for an actual price.

Estimate what your move should cost with your own home size, distance and date.

What makes a local move cost more or less

• Time. Most local movers charge by the hour for the crew and the truck, so anything that adds time adds cost.
• The size of the crew. A bigger crew costs more an hour and finishes sooner. A studio is often moved by two movers; a three-bedroom home usually needs four.
• Getting in and out. Stairs, a slow elevator, a long walk from the door to the truck and no parking near the entrance all add time. Some movers charge for stairs or a long carry on top of the hourly rate.
• Packing. Packing by the crew, and the boxes and materials, are usually charged as extras.
• Heavy or awkward items. A piano, a safe or a pool table may carry its own charge.
• Travel. Some hourly movers charge for the drive from their base to your home and back, or add a set travel fee.
• The date. Weekends, the end of the month and the summer months are when most people want to move, so those dates book up first and can cost more.

How do local movers price a move?

Most local movers price a move in one of two ways:

• By the hour. The bill is the hourly rate for the crew and truck, times the hours worked, plus any extras on the list.
• One price for the whole move. Some movers quote a single price after seeing what you are moving. A slow day then costs you nothing more, but the list of what is moving has to be right, and anything added on the day can be charged.

Either way, get the estimate in writing. On a move across a state line, the mover must give you a written estimate that says whether it is binding or non-binding. On a move inside one state, the state sets the rules. Two examples:

• New Jersey: the mover must give you the estimate at least 24 hours before the move.
• Texas: the mover must give you a written proposal before loading, and it must say whether it is binding or not-to-exceed. A binding proposal states the exact price; a not-to-exceed proposal states the most you will pay and lets the mover charge less. Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

What does a mover owe you if something breaks?

It depends on where you move and on what you sign.

On a move across a state line, Full Value Protection is the default under federal law: the mover is responsible for the replacement value of what it loses or damages. The lower level, Released Value, pays no more than 60 cents per pound per item, and it applies only if you give up full value in writing.

On a move inside one state, the state sets the lowest level a mover may offer:

• New Jersey: no less than $1.00 per pound per item.
• Florida: no less than 60 cents per pound per item.
• Texas: no minimum since January 2025. You and the mover agree on the amount, and the contract must say so if it is $0.
• New York: on a move paid by the hour, the low level is 30 cents per pound per item, and you must write it in by hand. Otherwise the mover's limit is the value you declare or $2,500, whichever is greater.

A rate per pound pays little for light, costly things: at 60 cents a pound, a 50-pound television brings $30. Neither level is insurance. If your things are worth more, ask what the higher level costs, and ask your home or renters insurer whether it covers your belongings during a move.

How to choose a local mover

1. Start with the movers near you, and read their reviews. Enter your ZIP code above and open your town's page. A review of a local move from a home like yours says more than a review in general. Look at how each company answered complaints, too.
2. Check the registration. A mover that crosses state lines must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and carry a USDOT number. For a move inside one state, some states keep their own register: the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles registers movers working inside Texas, and New Jersey licenses public movers through its Division of Consumer Affairs. Check the number with the agency that issued it.
3. Compare at least two written estimates. Put the hourly rate, crew size, minimum hours, travel charge and extras side by side. If one estimate is far lower than the others, find out what it leaves out.
4. Know the warning signs. The FMCSA warns against a mover that demands cash or a large deposit before the move, and against one that claims all your goods are covered by its insurance. On a move across a state line, you may not be required to sign a blank document.

Questions to ask before you book

• Do you charge by the hour, or one price for the whole move?
• If by the hour: when does the clock start and stop, is there a minimum, how is part of an hour counted, and is the drive charged?
• How many movers and what size truck will you send?
• What is included: blankets, wrapping furniture, taking beds and tables apart and putting them back together?
• What costs extra: stairs, a long carry, heavy items, packing, boxes?
• What do you owe per pound if something is broken or lost, and what does a higher level cost?
• How much is the deposit, and what happens if I cancel or change the date?
• Where are you registered, and under what number?
• Will your own crew do the move, or another company?

When to book, and how to pay less

• Book early, and pick a quiet day. Book as soon as you have a date. A weekday in the middle of the month gives you the most movers to choose from.
• Move less. Sell or give away what you will not use before the estimate, not after, so the estimate reflects what is moving.
• Be ready when the crew arrives. On an hourly move, waiting is paid time: have boxes packed, sealed and labeled, and beds stripped.
• Clear the way. Reserve the elevator and a parking spot for the truck. Some cities require a permit to park a moving truck on the street, so ask your city or your building.

Questions people ask about local movers

Can I get an estimate without a visit to my home?

For a move across a state line, the estimate must be based on a survey of your things, in person or by live or recorded video, unless you waive it in writing. Inside one state it depends on the state: New Jersey requires an inspection on site or by video, while Texas allows an estimate by phone.

Can the final bill be higher than the estimate?

It depends on the kind of estimate and the state. In New York, after a move inside the state paid by the hour, you generally do not have to pay more than the estimate plus 25% to have your things released (plus 10% if you pay by weight), and you have 15 days after delivery to pay the balance (New York Attorney General). In Texas, the mover must release your things once you pay the maximum price in the contract. On a move across a state line with a non-binding estimate, the mover must deliver once you pay 110% of the estimate, and bills any balance later.

What should I do if something arrives damaged?

Write it on the paperwork at delivery, take photos, and then file a written claim with the mover. For a move across a state line, a note on the delivery receipt is not a claim on its own; you have at least 9 months to file, and the mover must acknowledge the claim within 30 days and answer it within 120 days. In New Jersey and Texas, a claim on a move inside the state must be filed within 90 days of delivery.