Moving Cost Estimator

This calculator splits your move into the four cost buckets that actually show up on a mover's invoice and prices each one separately. Transport switches models at the 100-mile mark: local moves are charged a $200 base fee plus $3.50 per mile, while long-distance moves switch to a weight-and-distance formula (roughly $0.65 per pound per 1,000 miles, with a $500 floor) because interstate carriers price by truck-weight capacity rather than a simple mileage rate. Labor cost only applies once you select a paid service tier — DIY has none — and scales with a crew size estimate (minimum two movers, more for larger homes) working hours derived from your bedroom count; choosing full service rather than load-only labor applies a 1.8x multiplier to account for both loading and unloading. Professional packing, if selected, is priced per room at $35, with the room count set to double your bedroom count plus a flat allowance of three rooms for the kitchen, bath, and living areas — so a 2-bedroom home is billed for 7 rooms ($245), not the 5 rooms you might expect, since each bedroom is counted twice to cover closets and adjoining space.

Insurance defaults to a basic valuation coverage calculated as a small fraction of your estimated weight, with a $50 minimum. This model only prices the four cost buckets it computes — it has no way to know about seasonal demand surges, fuel surcharges, stair or elevator access fees, or specialty items like pianos and safes, so a real mover's quote can land meaningfully higher or lower than the number shown here. The biggest lever is service level — going from DIY to full service can more than double your total, since it adds both the multiplied labor cost and the packing fee. If your estimated weight feels uncertain, err high, since underestimating weight on a long-distance move is a common cause of surprise charges after the truck is loaded.