How Much Do Professional Movers Cost?

As you prepare to start a new chapter in a new location, you’re faced with a move. Professional movers will make the moving process a breeze, from packing and loading your possessions to transporting and unloading them, and potentially unpacking and removing your boxes. But how much does it cost to move? What do the services include? That’ll all depend on your specific needs.

Every move is unique and every homeowner needs different services from professional movers. How much it costs to move will depend on what services and professionals you hire. Below, we’ll break down the average costs for these moving services:

• Moving trucks
• Packing services
• Local movers
• Long-distance movers
• Full-service movers

General Factors that Affect Moving Costs

When you consider how much professional movers cost, you’ll need to factor in a few things. Your location may create higher or lower costs, but so could your home’s size and its number of bedrooms and if you have stairs. Consider how many items you own that you need to move and prepare for a higher cost if you have plenty of bulky, fragile or specialty objects.

With all that in mind, you can start thinking about what services you need to discover the average moving costs that apply to you. Check out the approximate relocation fees below based on your needs to get a better idea of how much professional movers cost. From there, you can budget for your relocation and get a quote from a professional and experienced moving company.

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How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Moving Truck?

To transport your possessions, you’ll need to know how much a moving truck rental costs. The price will depend on how the moving company charges you. There may be a $1 or less cost per mile under certain distances. You could have a cost per day that ranges between $20 to $100. If you have a large home and plenty of items, you may have to pay per trip — between $80 to $2,800.

The specific cost for a moving truck or other vehicle varies with:

• What size the truck or van is: More items or larger pieces of furniture that you can’t disassemble mean you’ll need a larger moving truck. The cost of a bigger moving truck is higher than a smaller rental.
• How many trucks or trips do you need: Speak with your moving company to discuss your options if you think one truck won’t hold your possessions. You may need to pay for a couple of trips or more than one moving truck.
• What distance the rental truck travels: Find out the pricing plan from your moving company. Do they charge per mile, and does that mileage fee cap at a certain distance? Are there options to rent the truck by the hour, half-day or day instead? How much will you need to pay in fuel costs? These are all things to consider when moving to a different state or location.
• Whether you or a professional will drive the truck: You may not need a license to drive larger moving trucks yourself. But it’s safer and easier to leave it to the professionals, even if there is an extra fee.
• If you need car towing: This applies if you have more than one vehicle and you can’t drive them all to your new location with the movers. You may then need to pay for car towing, but you’ll have to see if your moving company offers that service.

The moving truck rental cost may also include fees in addition to the vehicle’s cost. Find out if you have to cover gas, mileage, taxes, a deposit, or insurance fees. Account for those prices as you determine how much it costs to rent a moving truck.

Keep in mind what you can and can’t pack in a moving truck when you hire this service, such as jewelry, medications, collector coins, and other valuable personal goods. You’ll need to save space in your vehicle or consider renting a larger vehicle to transport precious objects, collectibles, or items that a moving company cannot pack and move.

With all this in mind, you might consider consulting with a moving company to load the truck for you.  A professional mover will be most capable of loading the truck efficiently.  This will ensure the most secure travel environment for your belongings.  

How Much Do Professional Packing Services Cost?

On average, professional packing services can cost anywhere between $60 to $100 an hour and up depending upon how many people are servicing your move. Packing is one of the most stressful parts of moving and hiring someone who can provide packing tips can make the process easier. Of special concern and not well-known information is the fact that if you pack your items yourself, they are not insured…this is often considered “PBO” – packed by the owner.  It’s time-consuming because you want to pack everything correctly to avoid damaging your precious items. When you hire professional movers, you’re paying for the convenience, insurance on your packed items and the ease of a burden off your shoulders. Professional packers will also let you know which items you can and cannot pack so that you are ready when the movers show up. 

How much professional movers will cost for you will depend on your possessions. If you have plenty of fragile, large or oddly shaped objects, the cost may increase. Your home’s size and the number of rooms you have also plays a role, as professionals will need to take care of each room appropriately. 

How much you have to pay for professional moving company will also vary with the specific services you need. At David McCarthy Moving, we offer various professional packing services, including:

• Packing: This service includes the supplies, materials and labor employed for packing your items. You can then choose full or partial packing services, which will influence the overall cost.
• Crating and rigging: You’ll only need this service if you have industrial equipment, machinery or large objects. We provide a custom crate to hold your item and rigging to keep it stable and secure during the move.
• Self-packing: This is a more cost-effective option where we provide the packing materials. You’ll take on the task of packing your possessions, and we’ll wrap, load and unload them.

When you trust professional packing services to take care of your items, you’re paying for their labor, insurance on your packed items, and decades of experience. That high level of experience translates to secure packing for anything from furniture to fragile objects, plus invaluable peace of mind during your move. Pick professionals based on your packing needs, whether you have fine art collections, antiques or musical instruments like a piano. While the price will go up for these specialty items, it’s worth it to keep those precious possessions safe during your relocation.

Related: Packing Tips for Your Next Move: A Room-by-Room Checklist

How Much Do Local Movers Cost?

With a local move, which is usually considered to be less than 100 miles, your fees generally won’t be as high. But the total cost of a local move will depend on the services you require, like a truck or packing. On average, hiring local movers could cost between $550 to $2,000.

The price you pay will depend on how big your home is and how many items you have, among other factors. The costs to hire movers will change with the services you add on, including:

• Professional Movers: Moving companies may charge an hourly fee per each mover you need. Those moving costs per hour could be anywhere between $90 to $120. You should also factor in a tip for each worker. Consider a $5 per hour tip for each professional.
• Packing: Factor in the cost of professional movers’ packing services, which you’ll need regardless of a local or long-distance move. Remember that moving a lot of items or objects that require special knowledge and packing will cost more.
• Transportation: Add in how much it costs to rent a moving truck for a local move. Because it’s a shorter distance, you won’t have to pay as much for gas as you would in a long-distance move. However, you could have to pay per mile.

Other add-ons that increase the cost of local moving services include specialized items and unpacking services. Decide if those extras would be worth it for your relocation based on the other factors that play into the price of a local move.

How Much Do Long-Distance Movers Cost?

Long-distance moves require more time from your movers and a longer drive if you rent a truck, which increases the move’s cost. A basic long-distance move of 100 miles or more could cost between $2,000 to $7,500. Whether your relocation is considered long-distance could depend on the moving company. They may classify certain distances, like 400 miles or higher, as a long-distance move instead. That could change the pricing format for the moving services you select, so be sure to consult with an individual moving company.

Again, the general overall cost for your move will depend on how big or small your house is and how much you own. You’ll have to account for the shipment weight of your belongings because a higher weight brings a higher moving cost. With that in mind, the price of a long-distance move will factor in:

• Long-distance moving company: For a long-distance move, you likely won’t have to pay moving costs per hour. Instead, there may be a fee per day that could apply per mover. You should still tip them, but instead of doing it per hour, give each mover a gratuity in alignment with their time investment, effort, efficiency and your satisfaction.
• Transportation: A long-distance truck rental can cost between $500 and $1,700 just for the truck. For longer moves, a company may include the mileage cost in the total instead of charging per mile. Because of the long drive, though, you’ll want to avoid trips back and forth between your old and new locations. Rent more than one truck if needed or go through your belongings to pare down what you have to transport.

If you’re moving across the country with thousands of miles between locations, going longer distances means paying higher prices. Base prices without any extra services can vary significantly from mover to mover.  Consideration is given to time required to load and unload, packing expense and time (often completed simultaneously with loading), oversized items, piano, artwork, long driveways, potential shuttle requirements, potential crane service, etc. 

Related: Tips for Successfully Moving to a Different State

How Much Does a Moving Company Cost?

Full-service moving costs cover everything you need for your move. Full-service professional movers offer services from start to finish, which impacts the total cost of your relocation. A full-service move is convenient, but with so many add-on options, the average price varies significantly. Full-service moving costs will vary based on what services are selected for your move as well as the distance between your originating location and your destination. 

Benefits of hiring professional movers include:

• Offering packing supplies and materials: Full-service movers seldom include packing materials and supplies in their services yet will offer them at an extra cost. Getting the materials from a moving company is a convenience — you don’t have to source your own supplies.
• Packing your belongings: Remember that packing is time-consuming and stressful, especially when you’re not an experienced moving company. Professionals make quick yet careful work of the moving process and often include this option in full-service moving packages. Be sure to ask your mover if your self-packed items are going to be insured.  
• Loading the truck: Professionals will know the best way to arrange your packed items in a truck for safe transportation. They’ll secure your objects so these will be safe no matter how far you’re moving.
• Unloading the truck: Just as professional movers brought your packaged belongings onto the moving truck, they’ll unload them. That saves you time and effort, eliminating another potential stressor from your move.
• Disassembling and reassembling furniture: If you have bulky furniture that can be disassembled, full-service movers can take it apart to remove it from your home and transport it to the new location. They may even offer reassembling services, taking furniture to the appropriate room to put it back together.
• Unpacking your belongings: Some moving companies offer unpacking services. They’ll either help with or take over the unpacking process, and all you’ll have to do is provide direction for what you want where.
• Disposing of the packing materials: Don’t worry about recycling boxes or disposing of packing supplies. A full-service moving company can take care of that for you, removing yet another stressor from your plate during your move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan your budget for each price involved with moving insurance, tips, fees and packing services. Read these common questions and answers while preparing for your move.

When Should You Hire a Mover?

Full-service moving costs are worth paying for many homeowners. Professionals eliminate the stressful and time-consuming parts of relocating. All you have to focus on is transporting any valuables or objects a moving company can’t. You then get to relax during your move and think about how excited you are to begin a new chapter of your life.

A full-service moving option could be an excellent choice for senior moves. Packing, loading and unloading belongings could be difficult or impossible for seniors. Instead, let a trustworthy moving company handle the heavy lifting and moving for a senior relocation.

How Much Is Movers Insurance?

The cost of moving insurance depends on a few factors, such as shipment weight and the cost of your property. Released value and full-value protections come from moving companies rather than insurers. They are protected by the U.S. Department of Transportation, whereas individuals cover the cost of insurance for high-quality and recommended third parties. Regular homeowners insurance coverage doesn’t include damages from movers transporting property, so it’s essential to carry movers insurance.

Here are some coverage costs for insuring your belongings while moving:

• Released value: Basic Carrier’s Liability refers to the federal minimum requirement for moving household goods for about 60 cents per pound. Most moving companies include the cost of released value for free in their base rate. 
• Complete value protection: Full replacement value covers the total cost of damaged, lost or destroyed household goods during a move and a moving company decides how replacements occur. Typically, this protection costs 1% to 2% of your property’s value. 
• Third-party coverages: Coverages for third parties like David McCarthy Moving generally cost between 1% and 5% of your total property value for moved belongings. The location, such as local moves versus long-distance and cross-country moves, plays a role in the total cost.

How Much Should You Tip Professional Movers?

While optional, movers in the industry typically receive tips after completing their service. A reward thanks professional movers for their hard work and a more leisurely experience on your end. When budgeting for your move, plan your overall costs with tipping included. Consider these custom standards for calculating a tip:

• How long the service takes: Generally, standard tipping provides $5 per hour for each person. Tips for less than four hours a half-day cost around $20 per person and a full eight-hour day tip pays $40 per person. More than 12 hours of service tips $50 to $60 per person.
• Other considerations: Flights of stairs and bulky items make moving a more significant challenge. Consider tipping a little extra for these factors, including special care with fragile items and overall professionalism. Add a custom amount for friendly and efficient moving services and non-required actions, like going the extra mile for you with furniture assembly or disassembly. 
• Extra rewards for movers: If you’ve received exceptional service for your items during moving, feel free to reward professionals with snacks or soft drinks. These refreshments go a long way to show your appreciation. Detailed glowing five-star reviews also have a significant impact on our company.

How Much to Budget for Moving Costs?

Prepare for all of the involved moving expenses with budgeting. When planning, remember how factors play a role in the cost of your moves, such as your size, distance, time of year, and date. Seasonal weather, such as hot temperatures or snow, and the day of the week play a role in the price. You can estimate moving cost with these expenses:

• Moving fees and rates: To calculate the initial cost of your move, multiply the hourly rate by the number of hours estimated for completing the service.
• Packing supplies and services: Factor in additional charges for packing supplies provided by the moving team, such as bubble wrap, paper, mattress covers, TV boxes and whether movers pack and unpack for you.
• Moving Insurance: Add in the cost of protection for your personal and household goods by creating an itemized estimate of your belonging’s cost and shipment weight with prices for your preferred insurance method. 
• Specialty items: Bulky specialty items like pianos, safes, hot tubs and motorcycles generally cost a few extra hundred dollars. 
• Additional fees: Charges costing several hundred dollars may occur if movers can’t park within 100 to 150 feet of your front door, they need to travel several flights of stairs, they use lengthy elevator trips or requested extra stops occur and for expedited deliveries.
• Tips: Factor in gratuity per hour and the number of professionals helping with your move for excellent services. 

Related: How to Move on a Budget and Save Money

How Much to Have Movers Pack for You?

David McCarthy Moving packs your belongings as a convenient service option. The moving insurance covers the liability of any items during the packing process. Packing costs depend on the size of the move and amount of rooms packed. 

Typical packing costs range from around $250 to upwards of $3,600, with about $1,500 on average. Rises may occur at the price of significant or expensive items like valuable art and fragile chandeliers. Hiring professional packers offers protected methods of boxing items and saves you time for focusing on other aspects during the moving process. 

Unpacking options allow you to relax while moving into a new place. Whether for residential or commercial locations, professionals put away objects into storage or arrange furniture and belongings where you’d like them to go. Having trained experts unpack for you provides excellent care for your items.

Contact David McCarthy Moving for a Free Quote

Every move has different needs, and because of that, everyone’s moving costs will be different. At David McCarthy Moving, we’ll strive to focus on your needs and create a quote based on what you find most appropriate for your move. Our guaranteed pricing helps you understand how much it will cost to move with our expert services.

Our full-time employees, company-owned equipment and fully licensed and insured operations mean you get reliable moving and packing services. We can provide any level of service you need, from a truck rental load and/or unload or a move across town to a full-service cross-country move. Our headquarters are located in Bradenton, Florida, but we proudly service the entire U.S. with commercial and residential relocations.

Contact us today for a free quote. Learn how we at David McCarthy Moving can offer you a stress-free moving experience at all levels.

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