Short answer: most people hiring full-service movers pay $1,200–$3,800 for a local 2–3 bedroom move, or $2,800–$7,500 for the same home moving 500–1,500 miles, based on 2026 published industry cost surveys (Bellhop, moveBuddha, ConsumerAffairs, This Old House). Home size and distance explain most of the spread — everything else is detail.
Local moving costs by home size
Local movers (generally under 100 miles) almost always bill by the hour, for a crew plus truck. A studio or one-bedroom apartment usually needs a 2-person crew for 3–5 hours; a 4+ bedroom house can run a 4-person crew most of a full day. That's the entire reason the range widens so much by size — it's a direct function of labor-hours, not a marked-up flat fee.
| Home size | Typical local cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $500 – $1,500 |
| 2 bedroom | $1,200 – $2,500 |
| 3 bedroom | $1,800 – $3,800 |
| 4+ bedroom | $3,000 – $6,000 |
Long-distance moving costs by home size
Cross a state line or go past roughly 100 miles, and pricing logic changes entirely: van lines and interstate carriers charge by the weight of your shipment and the miles it travels, not by the hour. That's why a long-distance quote needs an actual inventory — weight is the input, not a guess.
| Home size | Typical long-distance cost (500–1,500 mi) |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,500 – $3,200 |
| 2 bedroom | $2,800 – $5,000 |
| 3 bedroom | $4,500 – $7,500 |
| 4+ bedroom | $8,000 – $15,000 |
Ranges synthesized from 2026 published industry cost surveys, cross-checked across sources rather than pulled from one. Use the calculator for a range specific to your route.
What actually moves the price
- Weight and volume. The single biggest lever on long-distance quotes — a heavily furnished 2-bedroom can cost more than a sparsely furnished 3-bedroom.
- Access. Long carries, stairs beyond one flight, or a building that needs a certificate of insurance for a freight elevator all add labor time or flat fees.
- Packing. Full-service packing (they box everything) typically adds 20–40% versus moving pre-packed boxes yourself.
- Timing. The last week of the month, weekends, and summer are the most expensive; a mid-month weekday move can undercut the range above.
- Specialty items. Pianos, pool tables, hot tubs, gun safes, and similar items typically add a flat $250–$400 each regardless of distance.
Full-service vs. doing it yourself
A DIY truck rental or portable moving container is reliably cheaper in raw dollars — but the savings come from your own labor, your own driving (often across multiple days for long-distance), and taking on the liability if something breaks. Full-service movers cost more because they're pricing in the crew, the truck, the driving, and basic liability coverage on your belongings. Which one is "worth it" depends on how much your time and back are worth, not just the sticker price.