Whether you’re considering hiring long-distance movers or short-distance movers, you’re probably wondering how much of a dent it will take on your budget.
So how much do movers cost? Regardless of how far you’re moving and how much you’re moving, hiring movers won’t be cheap. But it may very well be worth it, and the price will depend on several different factors.
A Ballpark Range
If you are hiring professional movers, you can usually expect to pay at least $600. The average cost of a local household move is $1,250, and the average cost of a long-distance household move is $4,890.
Keep in mind- these are pretty rough estimates and the actual price of your move will vary greatly depending on your household size and the distance of the move.
So just remember, the only way you can learn how much your move will cost with a degree of accuracy that makes you feel fairly confident is to request a free estimate from the company.
4 Factors That Affect the Cost of Moving
The cost of hiring movers will be affected by several things, but here are a few you may not have considered.
Travel Fees
What are travel fees? Travel fees take into account labour costs for the time it takes to get from Spot A to Spot B and cover fuel costs. Local moves will likely have a travel fee equivalent to an hour’s worth of work.
Moving Supplies
Make sure you add cardboard boxes, plastic bins, and any other supplies needed for the move into your budget.
The Date of The Move
The date of your move can affect the price of your move. Moving on a Saturday or Sunday, in particular, may increase your costs.
Moving from May to early September can also increase your costs. This is the time when families usually choose to move because it’s less likely to interrupt school schedules.
If possible, consider making the move in the off-season. Moving on a Tuesday in November will cost you much less than moving on a Saturday in June.
Local Movers vs Long Distance Movers
Local movers charge by the hour. So this could be anything from $90 to $120 an hour for a 2-person crew.
In addition to this, most local moving companies offer the service of packing and unpacking your items. If you decide to take advantage of this, you can expect to be charged additionally for it.
Long-distance moving costs are usually calculated by weight. This means that every additional item you choose to take with you will cost you extra money.
Most cross-country movers will charge you based on the weight of your shipment and the distance to your new home but will charge you for additional services as well. These may include:
- a long carry fee — if the distance between your front door and the moving truck is abnormally long.
- an extra stop charge — if you want to have an extra pick-up on the way to your new home.
- a storage fee — If you need to have your items placed in storage before they are delivered to your new house or apartment.
Do I Really Need to Hire Movers or a Moving Company?
It depends on you, your household, and your specific needs. We would recommend asking yourself these five questions before you make the choice.
Do I Have Specialty Items That Need To Be Moved?
Take stock of large specialty items in your house that you may have forgotten you need to make the move with you.
Whether it’s a piano, a fridge, a hot tub, or a large piece of artwork. These things all require special attention when moving. If you’re unable to move these items, you don’t want to be realizing that halfway through the day of the move.
Am I Able To Meet The Physical Demands Of Moving?
A cross-country move is not worth putting your health at risk. Loading and unloading a truck, lifting heavy boxes, and navigating plenty of stairs can be a risk and a hazard for some folks.
If moving to a new home could compromise your well-being, we recommend hiring movers.
How Much Time Do I Have?
You should always calculate how much time you’ve got left until the move-out date. No one wants to move on someone else’s timeline.
Remember — you have to inventory all your household items, get rid of the ones you won’t use again, gather all of the required packing materials, pack up all your things, and disassemble and pack your furniture.
If this doesn’t seem possible with your current timeline, then it’s best to hire professional movers.
Will I Be Able To Keep This Move Safe?
Do you know which safety measures to take to prevent scraped floors, chipped walls, and dented door frames? Are you confident that you won’t drop any of the heavier boxes and break everything inside?
These are questions you need to ask yourself, and if the answer is no, then it’s probably going to be best to hire movers.
Do I Have Friends and Family Willing to Help?
If your parents live nearby, your best friend Nick is free on Wednesday, and your neighbours are feeling extra nice, then you may not need movers. Of course, you should probably reimburse your friends and family with some pizza, wings, or beer once the move is over.
But if you and your spouse (or just you) are going at this alone, then hiring movers is going to be your best option. Certain things take a village, and moving is one of those things.
Each move is unique, making each price for a moving company a little bit different. Remember to consider external factors, plan accordingly, and always ask for an estimate from the company. Good luck and happy moving!