What Will My Moving Price Be?

Ready to take the mystery out of moving prices?

When you’re shopping for anything, cost is a key consideration. And when it’s a big purchase, getting a straightforward price upfront is critical so you can budget without worrying about surprise fees. This is especially true when looking for a moving company, but some companies don’t make it that easy.  

Luckily, there’s U-Pack®, where the billing process and services are simple. We’re a DIY long-distance moving service where you pack and load, and then we drive to pass along the most savings to you. Keep reading to learn more about moving costs and how they’re figured.  

understanding moving costs

 

5 tips to figure moving costs

Moving isn’t a one-price-fits-all scenario since several factors determine the final cost. Prices will vary between companies and depend on the moving date, distance, equipment availability and the size of your home. 

Here’s what you need to do to determine your moving costs: 

1. Research moving companies to find the right services

Make sure you know what’s included in the services provided by any moving companies you’re considering. For example, don’t pay for a full-service mover if you don’t need all their services. 

2. Get quotes to compare prices

Getting a quote is more than just finding the cheapest way to move. Ensure you’re comparing similar services between companies and are prepared for additional costs like fuel, storage or delivery fees. Start with U-Pack’s moving cost estimator to learn what goes into our rates and get a price for our moving services.

3. Understand how to read the estimate

Moving quotes vary from company to company, so be sure to read the fine print. Knowing what to expect from a moving estimate will help you compare costs between different companies while shopping for services.

Learn more about how to read a U-Pack moving quote.

4. Look for cost savings to avoid paying too much

Move during the off-peak season or using discount codes are great ways to cut costs. At U-Pack, our helpful moving consultants can advise you on the cheapest days to move. It’s also helpful to check if moving expenses are tax deductible based on your military status or location.

5. Budget for all moving-related expenses

Having a realistic budget for relocating will help avoid any surprises later. Consider the quotes you’ve gotten, then think about potential incidentals, like personal travel expenses, to figure out how much money you’ll need to move out of state.

Moving cost examples

To help you understand moving costs, we looked at a couple of moving examples and got estimates from U-Pack and U-Haul®. Prices were accurate at the time of posting, but actual moving prices will vary based on the moving date, distance, equipment availability and the size of your home.

Example 1: Moving a studio apartment from Carson City, NV, to Richmond, VA, in September 2023. 

  • U-Pack: $3,052. The price included 1 ReloCube moving container, delivery, transportation and standard liability coverage. 
  • U-Haul: $4,624.71. Included $3,649.32 for a 10-ft truck (rental, environmental fee, Safemove® damage coverage, SafeTrip® roadside assistance and estimated taxes) plus $975.39 in fuel for approximately 3,172 miles based on AAA’s average fuel costs at the time of posting and the estimated 12 MPG of the truck according to U-Haul’s website.  
     

Example 2: Moving a 3-bedroom home from Salem, OR, to Oklahoma City, OK, in September 2023.  

  • U-Pack: $3,064. The price included 17 linear feet in a moving trailer, delivery, transportation and standard liability coverage. 
  • U-Haul: $7,123.88. Included $6,263 for a 26-ft truck (rental, environmental fee, Safemove® damage coverage, SafeTrip® roadside assistance and estimated taxes) plus $860.88 in fuel for approximately 2,333 miles based on AAA’s average fuel costs at the time of posting and the estimated 10 MPG of the truck according to U-Haul’s website. 
     

What about full-service move costs?

Getting an accurate price for a full-service move is difficult without calling a company to schedule an in-home visit to prepare the quote. Even then, the cost can change if the actual weight of your belongings exceeds the estimate.  

Typically, you can expect to pay two-to-three times more for full-service vs. DIY moves. So, for our scenarios above, the costs would likely be between $8,000 and $21,000 depending on the company you choose, moving date, equipment availability, distance and size of your home. 

Learn more about the cost of moving companies

Have more questions about figuring out moving costs? 

U-Pack can help! Leave us a comment below, get a free instant online quote or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to one of our moving experts.