Short answer: a standard 2-person crew and truck typically runs $90–$150 per hour nationally, climbing to $120–$350/hour in expensive metro areas or for larger crews. This applies to local moves only — long-distance moves don't bill hourly.
Rate by crew size
| Crew size | Typical hourly rate |
|---|---|
| 2 movers | $90 – $150/hr |
| 3 movers | $130 – $210/hr |
| 4 movers | $170 – $280/hr |
A larger crew costs more per hour but often finishes the same job faster — the total bill isn't necessarily higher.
Why there's usually a minimum
Most companies bill a 2 to 3 hour minimum regardless of job size, since dispatching a crew and truck has a fixed cost regardless of how quickly they finish. This means a very small move (a few pieces of furniture) doesn't scale down proportionally — you're paying for the minimum block either way.
Why this doesn't apply to long-distance moves
Hourly billing works for local moves because the drive itself is short and doesn't meaningfully change the mover's cost — the real cost driver is loading/unloading time. Cross a state line or go beyond roughly 100 miles, and pricing shifts entirely to shipment weight and mileage; see our long-distance moving cost guide for that breakdown.