Moving Cost Calculator
Enter your move details and get an instant cost estimate in seconds. Our calculator factors in distance, home size, move type, and additional services so you know what to expect before booking a mover.
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Get Your Free Moving Estimate
Tell us your route, move date, and home size. We will match you with a vetted interstate carrier and send your estimate within minutes.
Calculate Your Moving Cost
Fill in your move details to get an estimated price range. The more accurate your inputs, the closer the estimate will be to your final quote.
Disclaimer: Estimates provided by this calculator are based on industry averages and are intended as a general guide only. Actual moving costs vary based on specific inventory, access conditions, fuel surcharges, seasonal demand, and carrier pricing. Coastal Moving Services recommends requesting a written quote from a licensed mover before making any financial commitments.
Long Distance Moving Cost Examples
The tables below show typical price ranges for long distance moves across the most common home sizes and distances. Use these as a baseline when reviewing quotes from carriers.
| Home Size | Up to 500 Miles | 500 – 1,000 Miles | 1,000 – 2,000 Miles | 2,000+ Miles | Approx. Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $900 – $1,800 | $1,400 - $2,600 | $2,000 - $3,400 | $2,800 - $4,500 | 1,000 - 2,500 lbs |
| 2 Bedroom Apartment | $1,600 - $2,800 | $2,400 - $3,900 | $3,200 - $5,200 | $4,200 - $6,800 | 2,500 - 4,500 lbs |
| 3 Bedroom Home | $2,400 - $4,200 | $3,600 - $5,800 | $5,000 - $7,800 | $6,500 - $10,500 | 4,500 - 7,500 lbs |
| 4 Bedroom Home | $3,500 - $6,000 | $5,200 - $8,200 | $7,000 - $11,000 | $9,000 - $14,500 | 7,500 - 11,000 lbs |
| 5+ Bedroom / Large Home | $5,000 - $9,000 | $7,500 - $12,500 | $10,500 - $16,000 | $13,500 - $22,000+ | 11,000 - 18,000 lbs |
Disclaimer: All figures are industry average estimates compiled by Coastal Moving Services for informational purposes only. Actual costs depend on final inventory weight, carrier pricing, fuel surcharges, access conditions, packing services, and seasonal demand. These figures do not constitute a binding quote. Contact Coastal Moving Services for a written estimate specific to your move.
What Affects Your Moving Cost
Moving quotes are not arbitrary. Every carrier prices a job based on the same core variables. Understanding these factors helps you read an estimate accurately and spot anything that looks out of line.
Distance is the single biggest cost driver on any long distance move. Carriers calculate it using the total mileage between pickup and delivery addresses. A move from Florida to New York will cost two to three times more than the same shipment going 200 miles within the same state.
Long distance carriers price by weight, not by number of rooms. A fully furnished 2-bedroom with heavy appliances costs more to move than a lightly furnished 3-bedroom. The calculator estimates weight based on home size, but an in-home survey gives the most accurate figure.
Peak moving season runs from May through September. Friday, Saturday, and end-of-month dates are the most in-demand and typically carry a premium. Moving mid-week or mid-month during October through April can reduce your total cost by 10 to 20 percent with many carriers.
Professional packing adds labor and materials to the base quote but reduces the risk of damage claims. Full packing service for a 3-bedroom home typically adds $600 to $1,800 depending on the carrier and inventory. Partial packing, fragile items only is a cost-effective middle option.
Narrow driveways, no elevator access, stairs, long carry distances from truck to door, and parking restrictions all add labor time and cost. Notify your coordinator of any access issues at pickup or delivery before the quote is finalized to avoid surprise charges on move day.
Storage-in-transit, vehicle shipping, specialty item handling (pianos, safes, fine art), debris removal, and appliance disconnection and reconnection are all billed as add-ons. Each service has a line-item cost in your written estimate so you can compare and remove anything you do not need.
Moving Costs by Move Type
Different move types are priced differently. Local moves are billed hourly, long distance moves by weight and mileage, and commercial moves by scope. Here is what to expect for each.
Local moves under 50 miles are typically billed by the hour with a minimum of two to three hours. The rate covers a crew of two or three movers plus a truck. Stairs, long carries, and heavy items extend labor time. Most local moves for a 1 to 2-bedroom home complete in three to six hours.
Interstate and cross-country moves are priced by shipment weight and total mileage. Carriers charge a base rate per 100 lbs per 100 miles with fuel and accessorial fees added. Binding estimates lock in the price at the agreed weight. Always request a binding or not-to-exceed quote for long distance moves.
Same-day moves carry a rush premium on top of the standard hourly rate because the carrier must reprioritize scheduling and dispatch crew on short notice. The premium typically ranges from 15 to 30 percent above the standard hourly rate. Availability is subject to crew scheduling on the day of request.
Office and commercial moves are quoted by scope of work rather than a standard hourly rate. The estimate accounts for the volume of workstations, server equipment, filing systems, and any after-hours or weekend scheduling required to avoid business downtime. Larger relocations typically involve a dedicated project coordinator.
Professional packing is billed as a separate line item added to any move type. Full packing covers every room and includes all materials. Partial packing covers fragile or high-value items only. Unpacking at the destination is available on request. Packing materials — boxes, tape, wrapping paper, specialty crates — are itemized separately.
Carriers offer better rates when they can plan ahead. Booking four to six weeks out gives you access to more competitive pricing and better crew availability. Last-minute bookings in peak season often carry a 15 to 25 percent premium simply due to scarcity.
May through September is the most expensive period to move. If your timeline allows, scheduling your move between October and April, and choosing a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, can reduce your quote noticeably compared to a Friday or Saturday in July.
Long distance moves are priced by weight. Every piece of furniture, every box of books, and every appliance you sell, donate, or discard before the inventory assessment directly reduces your final quote. A pre-move purge is one of the most effective cost-reduction steps available.
Full professional packing is a convenience that comes with a cost. If you can pack non-fragile items such as books, clothes, linens, kitchenware, yourself and reserve professional packing for fragile, high-value, or large items only, you can reduce the packing line item by 40 to 60 percent.
Never accept the first quote without comparing. Getting two or three written binding estimates from licensed carriers gives you both a price benchmark and leverage. Coastal Moving Services matches you with multiple carriers so you can compare before committing to any one of them.
For hourly local moves, every minute of labor costs money. Disassembling bed frames, desks, shelving units, and other large furniture before the crew arrives reduces the time they spend on-site. Movers charge for disassembly time, and even 30 minutes saved translates directly to dollars.
Access fees for stairs, elevators, long carries, or shuttle trucks are among the most common surprise charges on a final invoice. Disclose access details at both pickup and delivery locations before the estimate is finalized so these costs are included in the written quote rather than added on move day.
