5 min read
How Much Does It Cost to Move?
Local and long-distance moves aren’t priced the same way at all — one’s an hourly rate, the other’s weight and mileage. Here’s what actually drives the number on your quote.
General information, not advice. This guide explains how things typically work — it isn’t legal, financial or professional advice for your specific situation, and Reloca8 isn’t liable for decisions made based on it. Always confirm current rules directly with the relevant council, provider or government website before acting.
The short version
A local move typically costs $301 to $3,512, priced by the hour. A long-distance move typically costs $2,509 to $11,641, priced by weight and distance — the average US interstate move covers about 569 miles. Nearly 41 million Americans move each year, and pricing shifts with the season, so a quote close to your move date beats one from months out.
Two very different price tags
Per moveBuddha’s 2026 moving industry data, local moves and long-distance moves aren’t just different in size — they’re priced by entirely different methods, which is why the ranges look so far apart.
Priced hourly — rate × crew size × hours, plus travel fee
Priced by shipment weight and distance
Local moves: priced by the hour
A local move is generally billed as hourly rate × crew size × hours worked, plus a travel fee and any add-ons like packing materials, an extra stop, or bulky-item handling. Hourly rates typically run $65 to $251, depending on your market and how many movers the job needs — which is why the same two-bedroom move can cost very different amounts in different cities.
Long-distance moves: priced by weight and mileage
Once a move crosses state lines, pricing shifts from hourly to weight-and-distance — closer to how a shipping quote works. The average interstate move in the US covers about 569 miles, while the average in-state move covers about 95 miles. Roughly 7.7 million Americans make an interstate move each year, out of the nearly 41 million who move at all — about 12.1% of the population, and the average American moves 11.7 times in a lifetime.
Timing moves the price, not just the truck
Moving costs are dynamic rather than fixed — carrier capacity, fuel prices, labor availability, and local demand all shift constantly, and moveBuddha specifically flags spring/summer and end-of-month dates (when most leases turn over) as peak periods. That’s a practical reason to get quotes close to your actual move date rather than locking in a price based on old estimates, and to ask about flexibility if your date can move by even a few days.
Local move
$301–$3,512 total, billed hourly.
Long-distance move
$2,509–$11,641, priced by weight and distance.
Avg. interstate distance
569 miles.
Peak demand
Spring/summer and end-of-month dates cost more.
The fastest way to know your real number
Generic averages only get you so far — actual quotes depend on your specific size, distance, and date. A free Reloca8 account compares moving-company quotes alongside new-customer internet, energy, and insurance deals at your new address, all on one dashboard.
Compare moving quotesSources
Disclaimer. Figures are national US averages for 2026 and move with fuel prices, demand, and your specific market — always get personalised quotes before budgeting your own move. Reloca8 is not a law firm, financial adviser, or government body, and accepts no liability for actions taken based on this guide — see our Terms of Service.