Making sense of moving company costs 

Moving out of state can be a lot to take on, so hiring a moving company is a good choice for most people. How much you’ll pay will depend on several factors. Where you’re moving from, the destination, how much stuff needs to be moved, the amount of help you need and even the move date can affect the price. Learning what to expect from moving estimates and how to figure moving costs to find what works best for your needs and budget is a good idea. 

How do long-distance movers figure pricing? 

While total costs vary between companies, most base their prices on similar factors. 

Date of the move 

When you move can affect the price. Peak moving season (generally during the summer and around holidays) can have higher costs due to equipment demand, and weekends are usually priced higher than weekdays. If you can be flexible with your moving date, you might get a lower price by switching to a different time. 

Equipment rental and storage 

Some companies that offer moving containers quote a set rate for equipment rental with the first month of storage (whether you need it or not). If you don’t need storage, it may be cheaper with a company like U-Pack® — we only charge for storage if you need it. 

Transportation and fuel 

How far you’re moving greatly impacts the total cost of your move. You’ll have transportation costs with any company, but some services — like rental trucks — don’t include fuel in the price. Ensure that you understand what your quote includes so you won’t be surprised by an extra charge for fuel later. 

Learn how fuel prices impact moving costs, and don’t forget to add that expense to truck rental rates when comparing estimates.  

Moving labor 

If you need help packing and loading your belongings, you may be considering full-service companies that include everything. It’s no surprise that full-service moving is the most expensive. If you’re moving on a budget, you can save money using a DIY service like U-Pack, where you handle the packing, loading and unloading, and we take care of the driving. 

If you only need some help, like loading or unloading heavy items, you can add moving labor to your U-Pack move and only pay for the service you need. 

Shipment weight 

Some companies, specifically full-service movers that require in-home estimates, base the cost of your move on the weight of your shipment. These companies send a representative to survey your home and offer an estimate on the weight of the items. If they’re wrong, you could be looking at extra charges after your shipment is in transit.  

U-Pack moving costs are based on the space your items take up in a moving trailer (between 5 and 28 linear feet) or the number of ReloCube moving containers you use, not the weight.  

Learn more about moving weight restrictions. 

Liability coverage 

Some companies include the cost in their rates, but other companies might offer coverage for an extra fee. Rental truck rates don’t typically include coverage, so if you choose not to add protection, the person on the contract is responsible for any damages to the vehicle. U-Pack moves include standard liability coverage. 

What can I expect to pay for movers? 

After you’re finished comparing movers based on the services they offer, it’s time to get quotes. The process of requesting quotes is more straightforward with some companies than others. With U-Pack, you can get a free instant quote online or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077 if you’d rather speak to a moving consultant.  

U-Haul® also offers free quotes online. Just keep in mind that the cost doesn’t include fuel. Full-service companies require a video call or an in-home visit to determine pricing — and that rate can change based on the actual weight of your shipment. 

Want to know more about moving costs? Check out our moving cost calculator. 

Cost for an example move 

We looked at the cost of an example move for a 3-bedroom home from Missoula, MT, to Brentwood, TN, in June 2023. Prices were accurate at the time of posting. Actual moving costs will vary based on origin, destination, moving date and size of the home. 

For this move, U-Haul recommended a 26-ft moving truck. Let’s look at the price breakdown: 

*Based on AAA’s average gas price of $3.68 at the time of posting and U-Haul’s average of 10MPG according to their website. 

U-Pack recommended 17 linear feet in a moving trailer for the same move for $4,121. The price included the equipment, transportation, fuel and liability coverage, and there is no charge for taxes. And you don’t have to drive a rental truck over 2,300 miles! 

What about full-service pricing?

Because full-service movers require in-home estimates, it’s not possible to know exact moving costs until the shipment is loaded and weighed. But, in many cases, you can expect to pay 2 – 4 times more than DIY options. 

Check your moving price 

Get a free quote from U-Pack online or call us at 844-362-5303844-594-3077 and compare the cost of moving with U-Pack to other movers. We’re happy to help! If you have questions about moving costs or U-Pack services, let us know in the comments. 

Suggested reading: How much should you save to move out of state? 

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