How Much Does It Cost to Hire Movers in 2026?
You have found the new place, signed the lease, and now comes the part nobody budgets for properly: getting everything you own from one home to the other.
The confusing part is that movers price local and long-distance moves in completely different ways. Local moves are charged by the hour; long-distance moves by weight and miles. Mix the two up and your budget will be wrong by thousands.
The Quick Answer
Angi puts the national average cost to hire movers in 2026 at $1,695, based on 6,434 verified projects. Most homeowners pay between $875 and $2,547 for a local move, while long-distance moves range from $2,700 to $10,000 or more.
The first step in budgeting is knowing which type of move you have. Under about 100 miles, you are almost always paying by the hour. Over that, or across a state line, you are paying by weight and distance.
Local vs Long-Distance Movers Cost by Home Size
This is the comparison most cost guides never put in one place — and it is the one that decides your budget.
The table below combines Angi's national averages with myfastmovers' crew-and-hours figures and CostFlock's compiled 2026 ranges, all checked Nov 2, 2026. Local prices assume a move within about 100 miles; long-distance prices assume about 1,000 miles. All prices below are national US estimates; your quote will vary by city, home size, and how much stuff you own.
| Home size | Local move (under 100 mi) | Long distance (about 1,000 mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $235 – $700 | $3,375 – $4,500 |
| 1 bedroom | $315 – $700 | $3,500 – $5,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | $475 – $1,600 | $4,500 – $6,000 |
| 3 bedrooms | $800 – $2,300 | $5,500 – $8,000 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,400 – $3,400 | $7,000 – $10,000+ |
| 5 bedrooms | $1,800 – $6,000 | $9,000 – $12,000+ |
Notice how the gap widens with size. A studio costs only a few hundred dollars more to move long distance than locally, while a four-bedroom home can cost five times as much. Long-distance pricing is driven by weight, while local pricing is driven by hours. The local ranges are wide because hourly rates vary so much by city: in a small market, two movers and a truck can cost under $100 an hour, while in a dense metro the same crew can cost $200 or more.
How Much Do Local Movers Cost Per Hour?
Local movers usually charge $40 to $50 per mover per hour, according to myfastmovers, with Angi listing a broader $25 to $50 per mover per hour. For a crew with a truck, that works out to roughly $85 to $210 an hour for two movers, according to Zarla. Most companies enforce a two- or three-hour minimum, plus a travel fee — usually around $75 — for getting the truck to you and back. So even a tiny job has a floor of roughly $250 to $400.
| Home size | Crew | Hours | Typical total | |---|---|---| | Studio | 2 movers | 2 – 3 | $235 – $375 | | 1 bedroom | 2 movers | 3 – 5 | $315 – $575 | | 2 bedrooms | 2 movers | 5 – 7 | $475 – $775 | | 3 bedrooms | 3 – 4 movers | 7 – 9 | $800 – $1,600 | | 4 bedrooms | 4 movers | 9 – 12 | $1,400 – $3,400 |
Stairs, long walks from the truck to your door, and awkward furniture all add hours — and hours are what you pay for on a local move.
How Much Do Long-Distance Movers Cost?
Once you cross a state line, pricing changes completely. The carrier weighs the truck loaded and empty, and you pay on the difference plus the mileage. This Old House puts long-distance pricing at about $0.50 to $0.80 per pound. A studio weighs about 2,000 pounds, a one-to-two-bedroom home about 5,000 pounds, and a three-bedroom home 9,000 pounds or more — which is why decluttering before a long-distance move genuinely saves money.
| Home size | 1,000 miles | 2,500 miles (coast to coast) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,375 – $4,500 | $8,438 – $11,250 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,000 – $5,500 | $10,000 – $13,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,500 – $6,000 | $11,250 – $15,000 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,000 – $8,000 | $14,000 – $18,000 |
| 4 bedrooms | $8,000 – $10,000 | $18,000 – $24,000 |
These figures are for transport only, with full-service movers, according to myfastmovers. Packing, storage, and bulky items sit on top. CostFlock's compiled 2026 ranges agree closely: $3,000 to $8,000 for a two-to-three-bedroom home at 1,000 to 1,500 miles, and $4,500 to $9,500 beyond 2,500 miles.
Worked Example: Moving a 2-Bedroom Home
Here are two versions of the same move — same furniture, different distance — using the figures checked Nov 2, 2026.
Local move: 2 bedrooms, across town, 15 miles. Two movers for 6 hours at $45 per mover per hour ($540), plus a $75 travel fee and about $60 tip — roughly $675 in total, inside the $475 to $775 range myfastmovers lists for a two-bedroom local move. Add packing help and the total rises by $300 to $500.
Long-distance move: 2 bedrooms, 1,000 miles. Transport for about 5,000 lbs runs $4,500 to $6,000, full packing adds $1,000 to $1,500, full-value protection $200 to $500, and tip $150 to $300 — roughly $5,850 to $8,300 in total. The same furniture, the same boxes — but the distance turns a $675 job into a $6,000-plus job. Comparing a local hourly quote with a long-distance flat quote is meaningless: they are two different products.
What Else Affects the Price?
Packing. Full packing service typically adds $1,000 or more, according to Angi. Packing yourself is the single biggest way to cut a moving bill.
Stairs, access, and bulky items. Flights of stairs, a long carry from truck to door, or no lift in an apartment building can add $100 to $500. Pianos, pool tables, and safes usually carry a surcharge of $150 to $600 per item.
Timing and storage. Summer is peak moving season, and prices are highest from May to September. Moving mid-month and mid-week is usually cheaper than the end of the month or a weekend. If your new home is not ready, storage-in-transit can add $100 to $300 per month for a small load.
Insurance. Basic coverage is included by law but only pays $0.60 per pound per item — a 50-pound TV is worth $30 under it. Full-value protection costs $200 to $500 extra but covers repair or replacement at real value.
How to Get an Accurate Price
Get at least three written estimates, and compare like with like — hourly against hourly for local moves, and flat binding quotes against flat binding quotes for long-distance moves. Ask whether the quote is binding or an estimate that can change on moving day, what is included (packing materials, disassembly, stairs, travel time), how long-distance pricing is calculated, and what insurance is included. For interstate moves, check the company's USDOT number and complaint history before booking. A quote far below the others is a warning sign, not a bargain — lowball estimates that double on moving day are one of the most common moving scams.
DIY vs Hiring Movers
Hiring movers is not the only option. Renting a truck yourself for a local two-bedroom move can cost $100 to $300 for the day, plus fuel, while a moving container for a long-distance move often falls between DIY truck rental and full-service movers. The trade-off is your time and your back: a local two-bedroom move takes a pro crew 5 to 7 hours, while the same job with friends and a rented truck often takes a full day. A popular middle ground is hiring labour-only movers to load and unload a truck or container you rented yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire movers on average?
Angi puts the national average at $1,695 in 2026, based on 6,434 verified projects. Most local moves cost $875 to $2,547, while long-distance moves range from $2,700 to $10,000 or more.
How much do movers charge per hour?
About $40 to $50 per mover per hour, according to myfastmovers, or roughly $85 to $210 an hour for a two-person crew with a truck. Most companies have a two- or three-hour minimum plus a travel fee of around $75.
How much does it cost to move a 2-bedroom home?
Locally, about $475 to $775 across town, according to myfastmovers, or up to $1,600 in expensive cities. The same home moved 1,000 miles costs about $4,500 to $6,000 for transport with full-service movers.
Are long-distance movers priced by weight or by hour?
By weight and distance. The carrier weighs the truck loaded and empty and charges on the difference, at roughly $0.50 to $0.80 per pound according to This Old House, plus mileage. Local moves are the ones priced by the hour.
Should I tip movers?
Tipping is customary — usually 10% to 20% of the total bill, or about $5 per mover per hour, according to Angi and CostFlock. Tip more for difficult moves with stairs or heavy items, and tip each mover individually in cash if you can.
Sources: Angi, myfastmovers, CostFlock, This Old House and Zarla moving cost guides. Prices are national US estimates checked Nov 2, 2026, and are not a quote for your move.