This guide gives you our real figures by shipment size, by route, by local versus interstate, and with or without packing, then covers the estimate types that determine whether your final invoice matches your quote.
Quick answer: Median quote $3,364. Middle range $2,426 to $5,509. A move under 400 cu ft medians at $2,441; a move of 800 to 1,199 cu ft medians at $6,641. Same-state moves median $2,702 and interstate moves median $3,553.
Where these numbers come from, and who we are
Every figure on this page is drawn from 3000+ moving quotes issued by Coastal Moving Services between 2024 to 2026, covering 2,002 unique state route combinations. We report medians rather than averages, because a handful of very large moves drags an average upward and makes it useless for planning. Where we give a range, it is the middle band, meaning the 25th to 75th percentile, not the extremes.
Coastal Moving Services is a licensed interstate household goods broker (DOT #4090919, , MC #1558401), based at 5455 North Federal Hwy Suite O, Boca Raton, FL 33487. We do not transport household goods ourselves. We coordinate moves with FMCSA-authorised motor carriers, and final charges are set by the carrier’s published tariff, which is available for inspection on reasonable request.
Key Points
- Median quote: $3,364. Middle range $2,426 to $5,509. Median shipment 486 cubic feet.
- Shipment size drives the price, not distance. Under 400 cu ft medians at $2,441. At 800 to 1,199 cu ft that becomes $6,641. Same route, nearly triple the cost.
- Same-state moves median $2,702 against $3,553 for interstate. The gap is smaller than most people expect, because same-state moves in our data carry a larger median shipment (588 cu ft versus 432).
- Packing adds roughly $1,500 to the median, from $3,142 without to $4,634 with, though part of that reflects larger and more fragile shipments rather than the labour alone.
- Just over half of all moves fall between $1,500 and $3,499. Only 6.8% exceed $10,000, and only 0.2% come in under $1,500.
- Get a binding or binding not-to-exceed estimate. Under FMCSA rules a non-binding estimate can rise to 110% of the quote at delivery, and you pay the balance within 30 days.
- Default damage cover is $0.60 per pound, per article. That values a 50 lb television at $30. Full Value Protection costs extra and is worth pricing.
- Off-peak and midweek saves 15 to 30%. October to April, Tuesday to Thursday, avoiding month-end.
What Actually Drives Your Moving Cost
Most cost guides lead with distance. Our data says that is the wrong place to start. Compare two rows from our own quotes: a move under 400 cubic feet medians at $2,441, while a move of 800 to 1,199 cubic feet medians at $6,641. That is a 172% increase driven entirely by volume, and it dwarfs what distance does across the same dataset.
The clearest illustration sits in our route table below. Los Angeles to New York, roughly 2,800 miles, medians at $3,906 on a 319 cu ft shipment. Las Vegas local, going nowhere at all, medians at $3,473 on a 1,016 cu ft shipment. The cross-country move costs barely more than the across-town one, because the across-town household owns three times as much.
Which gives you the single most useful thing on this page: if you want to lower your quote, you want to start decluttering. Not later, and not after you have booked. Before the survey, because the survey is what sets the number.
Moving Cost by Shipment Size
This is the table to start with. Find your approximate volume, and you have your budget before you have picked a route.
| Shipment Size | Middle Range | Median | Roughly Equivalent To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 400 cu ft | $2,048 – $2,862 | $2,441 | Studio or a lightly furnished 1-bedroom |
| 400 – 799 cu ft | $2,886 – $4,917 | $3,839 | 1 to 2 bedrooms. Our median move sits here at 486 cu ft. |
| 800 – 1,199 cu ft | $5,216 – $8,041 | $6,641 | 2 to 3 bedrooms with a garage or basement |
| 1,200 – 1,599 cu ft | $7,561 – $11,362 | $9,452 | 3 to 4 bedrooms, fully furnished |
| 1,600+ cu ft | $10,860 – $16,967 | $13,840 | 4+ bedrooms, or a smaller home with a lot in it |
Source: Coastal Moving Services quote data, 3000+ quotes, 2024 to 2026. Bedroom equivalents are approximate; two households with the same bedroom count routinely differ by 300 cu ft or more.
Where Most Moves Actually Land
Rather than guess at an average, here is the full distribution of our quotes. Find your bracket and you will know whether your estimate is normal.
| Quote Bracket | Share of Moves | Running Total |
|---|---|---|
| Under $1,500 | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| $1,500 – $2,499 | 27.6% | 27.8% |
| $2,500 – $3,499 | 24.5% | 52.3% |
| $3,500 – $4,999 | 18.7% | 71.0% |
| $5,000 – $7,499 | 14.9% | 85.9% |
| $7,500 – $9,999 | 7.3% | 93.2% |
| $10,000 and up | 6.8% | 100% |
Two things worth taking from this. Over half of all moves are quoted between $1,500 and $3,499, so if your estimate sits there, it is thoroughly normal. And almost nothing comes in under $1,500. If you have been quoted below that figure for anything larger than a studio, treat it as the warning sign described in the vetting section below rather than as a bargain.
Local Moves vs. Interstate Moves
The gap is narrower than the industry usually implies, and the reason is instructive.
| Move Type | Middle Range | Median | Median Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Within the same state | $2,003 – $4,141 | $2,702 | 588 cu ft |
| To another state | $2,521 – $5,840 | $3,553 | 432 cu ft |
Interstate medians about $850 higher, which is a 31% premium rather than the multiple people brace for. Notice the volume column, though, because it explains the whole table: same-state movers ship 588 cu ft while interstate movers ship 432. People moving across the country cull their belongings first. People moving across town take everything, including the things they should have thrown away, and that closes most of the distance gap on its own.
Same-City Local Moves by Market
Local pricing varies more by market than any other factor. These are our median quotes for moves staying inside one metro.
| Metro | Middle Range | Median | Median Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | $3,055 – $4,549 | $3,473 | 1,016 cu ft |
| Wilmington, NC | $2,069 – $3,029 | $2,937 | 569 cu ft |
| New Orleans, LA | $2,351 – $3,131 | $2,803 | 529 cu ft |
| Bluffton, SC | $2,601 – $3,385 | $2,715 | 640 cu ft |
| Omaha, NE | $1,788 – $3,010 | $2,597 | 514 cu ft |
| Houston, TX | $1,979 – $2,867 | $2,479 | 476 cu ft |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $1,911 – $3,123 | $2,443 | 608 cu ft |
| Atlanta, GA | $2,065 – $2,671 | $2,239 | 488 cu ft |
| Charleston, SC | $1,703 – $2,362 | $2,114 | 424 cu ft |
| Cincinnati, OH | $1,803 – $4,141 | $2,100 | 592 cu ft |
| Philadelphia, PA | $1,670 – $2,303 | $1,997 | 439 cu ft |
| Saint Louis, MO | $1,653 – $2,940 | $1,987 | 488 cu ft |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $1,801 – $2,815 | $1,903 | 487 cu ft |
| New York, NY | $1,803 – $3,750 | $1,903 | 488 cu ft |
| Norfolk, VA | $1,618 – $2,193 | $1,765 | 418 cu ft |
Las Vegas is the outlier, and volume is why: the median Las Vegas local shipment is 1,016 cu ft, more than double New York’s 488. Vegas households live in houses with garages. New York households live in apartments. That difference, not labour rates, explains a $1,570 gap in the medians.
What Common Routes Cost
Fifteen of our highest-volume city pairs, with median volume alongside so you can adjust for a shipment larger or smaller than the typical one.
| Route | Range | Median | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles to New York | $2,932 – $6,245 | $3,906 | 319 cu ft |
| Chicago to New York | $2,001 – $3,525 | $2,621 | 339 cu ft |
| Seattle to Chicago | $2,199 – $3,994 | $3,036 | 360 cu ft |
| Reno to Las Vegas | $1,615 – $1,945 | $1,710 | 465 cu ft |
| Los Angeles to Las Vegas | $2,071 – $2,984 | $2,550 | 302 cu ft |
| San Francisco to New York | $2,391 – $3,088 | $2,630 | 300 cu ft |
| Los Angeles to Miami | $2,196 – $3,787 | $2,846 | 300 cu ft |
| Los Angeles to Austin | $2,396 – $3,498 | $2,999 | 341 cu ft |
| Chicago to Los Angeles | $3,069 – $4,820 | $4,294 | 400 cu ft |
| Chicago to Dallas | $1,956 – $2,961 | $2,080 | 300 cu ft |
| Dallas to Houston | $1,853 – $2,353 | $1,879 | 488 cu ft |
| Washington DC to New York | $1,871 – $1,990 | $1,987 | 300 cu ft |
| New York to Miami | $2,946 – $7,203 | $5,088 | 598 cu ft |
| Los Angeles to Portland | $2,955 – $5,980 | $5,246 | 565 cu ft |
| Atlanta to New York | $2,928 – $5,168 | $4,441 | 524 cu ft |
Read this table against the volume column rather than the mileage. San Francisco to New York medians at $2,630 on 300 cu ft. Los Angeles to Portland, a fifth of the distance, medians at $5,246 on 565 cu ft. Twice the price for a fraction of the miles, because the shipment is nearly twice the size. All 50 routes and 25 state pairs are on our estimate page.
What Packing Adds
| Packing Status | Middle Range | Median | Median Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| No packing on the estimate | $2,349 – $5,048 | $3,142 | 456 cu ft |
| Packing on the estimate | $2,998 – $7,414 | $4,634 | 625 cu ft |
The headline gap is about $1,500 on the median, and we should be honest that it is not purely the cost of labour. Look at the volume column again: moves with packing on them average 625 cu ft against 456 without. Households that buy packing tend to own more and own more fragile things, so part of that $1,500 is the packing service and part of it is simply a bigger move. Treat the figure as a planning range rather than a line-item price, and ask any company whether they charge packing per box or per hour, because that single detail moves the number more than anything you will negotiate.
The hybrid works well for most households: do your own clothes, books and linens, and hand over the kitchen, the artwork and the electronics. Our packing services page sets out what partial covers.
Binding vs. Non-Binding Estimates
For an interstate move this matters more than which company you pick, because it determines whether the number you were quoted is the number you pay. Federal rules under the FMCSA govern all three types.
Non-Binding
The company’s best projection, with the final invoice settled after your goods are weighed. The protection is that a non-binding estimate cannot be collected above 110% of the quote at delivery. Anything over that ceiling you have 30 days to pay. The exposure is real: if the estimator under-counted, or you booked off a phone call, the bill goes up. A video or in-home survey largely removes this risk.
Binding
A fixed price for the services listed, whatever the shipment actually weighs. You pay the quoted figure even if it comes in lighter, which is the trade for certainty. Companies price binding estimates slightly higher because they are carrying the risk you would otherwise carry.
Binding Not-to-Exceed
The best of the three for a customer. The carrier sets a ceiling, and if actual weight lands under the estimate you pay the lower actual figure rather than the ceiling. You pay whichever is less. Ask for this by name.
Also worth knowing: your mover must give you FMCSA’s Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet and the Ready to Move brochure before an interstate move. Both are linked in the sources below. Read the inventory before you sign it, since the carrier is required to note existing damage and you have the right to record disagreement.
What Is Not in the Quote
| Item | When It Applies | How to Handle It |
|---|---|---|
| Stairs and long carries | Flights without a lift, or a long walk from door to truck | Disclose at survey. Reserve a loading zone where you can. |
| Shuttle service | A full-size truck cannot reach your address | Confirm access early. Everything gets handled twice, and you pay for both. |
| Specialty items | Piano, pool table, safe, gym equipment, artwork | Name each one at the survey and get a flat fee in writing. |
| Packing materials | Boxes, tape and paper supplied by the mover | Source free boxes locally; pack non-breakables yourself. |
| Peak season | May to September, weekends, last three days of the month | Midweek, mid-month, October to April saves 15 to 30%. |
| Full Value Protection | Upgrade from the $0.60/lb default | Check whether your home or renters policy already covers transit. |
| Storage in transit | Your dates do not line up | Everything is handled an extra time. Ask what the second handling costs. |
On damage cover, know the default. Released Value Protection comes free and pays 60 cents per pound, per article. A 50 lb television is covered for $30, whatever it cost. Full Value Protection pays repair or replacement at current value and runs roughly 1% of declared value. Price it before you decline it.
How to Vet a Moving Company
The FMCSA receives thousands of moving fraud complaints a year. These are the signals that matter:
- A quote far below every other quote. Our data shows only 0.2% of moves come in under $1,500. If three companies quote $3,000 and a fourth says $1,400, the fourth is not cheaper. It is quoting a different job, or it intends to reprice once your belongings are on the truck.
- No survey before an interstate quote. Nobody can price a long-distance move off a room count. A phone number given without a video or in-home walkthrough will move, and it will move upward.
- A large upfront deposit. Normal practice is nothing, or a small date-hold. A demand for 25 to 50% before anyone has seen your home is the single strongest fraud signal in this industry.
- No written estimate. Federal law requires one for interstate moves. A verbal quote is not an estimate and carries none of the 110% protection.
- No verifiable USDOT number. Check it, and the complaint history, at protectyourmove.gov before you pay anything.
- Blank fields in the contract. Every blank is a term you have not agreed to and someone else can fill in later.
- Ask whether they are a carrier or a broker, and expect a straight answer. Both are legitimate and both are licensed. A carrier owns the trucks and moves you directly. A broker, which is what we are, arranges your move with FMCSA-authorised carriers and is required to say so. What should concern you is not the answer. It is a company that will not give you one, or that lets you assume it owns trucks it does not own.
How to Reduce Your Moving Cost
- Cut the volume before the survey. This is the lever, and our own data proves it: 400 cu ft medians at $2,441 while 800 cu ft medians at $6,641. Sell, donate or dump before the estimator walks through, because the survey sets the number. Our decluttering guide walks through it.
- Move off-peak and midweek. 15 to 30% for a date change, with no trade-off in service. October to April, Tuesday to Thursday, away from month-end.
- Get three written estimates from licensed companies, each after a video or in-home survey, and compare structure rather than headline. A low hourly rate with separate travel, materials and stair charges frequently loses to a higher all-in number.
- Pack the easy things yourself. Clothes, books, linens and pantry. Leave the kitchen, artwork and electronics to people who do it daily.
- Ask for binding not-to-exceed. It caps your downside and still rewards you for culling.
- Ask about discounts. Military, senior, AAA and student discounts exist and are rarely volunteered. It costs one question.
- Check your existing insurance before buying Full Value Protection. Some home and renters policies already cover goods in transit.
- Book early for summer. Six to eight weeks. Late bookings in peak season take whatever is left, and what is left is priced accordingly. See how far in advance to book movers.
How Much to Tip Movers
Tipping is customary rather than required. The standard is $20 to $50 per mover for a local move and $50 to $100 per mover for a long-distance move or a hard day involving stairs, specialty items or hours beyond the estimate.
Give cash to each mover directly rather than to a crew lead, and on a multi-day interstate move tip at delivery rather than pickup, since the crew unloading is often not the crew that loaded. Tips never appear on a quote or an invoice.
Get a Number for Your Actual Move
The medians on this page are a planning baseline. Your quote depends on your volume, route, dates and access. We coordinate FMCSA-authorised carriers and will give you a written estimate against your real inventory.
Moving Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to hire movers?
The median quote in our data is $3,364, with most moves falling between $2,426 and $5,509. Over half sit between $1,500 and $3,499. The biggest driver is shipment size rather than distance: under 400 cu ft medians at $2,441, while 800 to 1,199 cu ft medians at $6,641.
How much does a local move cost?
Same-state moves median $2,702, with a middle range of $2,003 to $4,141 and a median shipment of 588 cu ft. By market, medians run from about $1,765 in Norfolk to $3,473 in Las Vegas, and that spread is mostly volume rather than labour rates. Las Vegas households ship a median 1,016 cu ft against New York’s 488.
How much does a long-distance move cost?
Interstate moves median $3,553, middle range $2,521 to $5,840. Individual routes vary widely with shipment size: San Francisco to New York medians $2,630 on 300 cu ft, while Los Angeles to Portland medians $5,246 on 565 cu ft despite being a fraction of the distance.
Why is my quote higher than the median?
Usually volume. Compare your cubic footage against the shipment size table rather than your route. After that, the common causes are packing on the estimate, specialty items, stairs or a long carry, a shuttle, storage, or a peak-season date.
Does packing cost extra?
Yes. Moves with packing on the estimate median $4,634 against $3,142 without. Part of that gap is the service and part is that households buying packing tend to have larger, more fragile shipments, so treat it as a planning range. Ask whether packing is billed per box or per hour.
What is a binding not-to-exceed estimate?
A ceiling price where you pay the lower of the actual cost or the estimate. It is the most consumer-friendly of the three federal estimate types and you should ask for it by name. A plain binding estimate fixes the price either way; a non-binding estimate can be collected up to 110% of quote at delivery, with any balance due within 30 days.
What does the default moving insurance cover?
Released Value Protection is free and pays 60 cents per pound, per article. A 50 lb television is covered for $30 regardless of value. Full Value Protection costs roughly 1% of declared value and pays repair or replacement at current value. Check your home or renters policy first, since some already cover goods in transit.
Is a very low quote a good deal?
Almost never. Only 0.2% of the moves in our data were quoted under $1,500. When three companies cluster around $3,000 and one comes in at $1,400, the outlier is either quoting a different job or planning to reprice once your things are loaded. Verify the USDOT number at protectyourmove.gov before you pay a deposit.
What is the cheapest month to move?
October through April, midweek, avoiding the last three days of the month. That timing alone is worth 15 to 30% against a Saturday in July with no change in crew or service.
Is Coastal Moving Services a carrier or a broker?
A broker. We are licensed by the FMCSA (DOT #4090919) and we do not transport household goods ourselves. We coordinate your move with FMCSA-authorised motor carriers, and your final charges are set by the carrier’s published tariff, which you can inspect on reasonable request. A list of carriers is available on request. We say so plainly because the vetting section above tells you to ask every company this question, and it would be a poor guide that dodged its own advice.
Sources
- Coastal Moving Services quote data. 3000+ quotes issued from 2024 to 2026, across 2,002 unique state route combinations. Medians and 25th-75th percentile ranges. Route, local, state and shipment-size tables published in full on our moving estimate page.
- FMCSA: Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move (estimate types, the 110% rule, inventory rights, valuation)
- FMCSA: Ready to Move
- FMCSA: Protect Your Move (carrier verification, complaint history, broker rules)
Figures are planning estimates from completed quotes, not offers. Your cost depends on inventory, route, dates, access and services. Coastal Moving Services is a licensed household goods broker (DOT #4090919, MC #1558401) and does not transport household goods; charges are determined by the carrier’s published tariff.
