How Much Do Movers and Moving Companies Cost?
Updated July. 2023
We get it moving can be expensive understanding how much do movers cost can also be confusing. When deciding if hiring movers or if a moving company is right for you (and your budget), we understand that it may require a bit of window-shopping first. This guide is here to walk through how much movers cost and other factors that could weigh in on pricing as well.
The average cost of hiring movers can vary for a number of factors. It can also get confusing with all of the different charges some moving companies will throw at you. Some terms you may see include base fee, hourly rate, truck fee, and the cost per mover.
The size of your move, whether you’re moving local or long-distance, and the specifications of your home can all play a part in your total cost, as well. For instance, going up two flights of stairs will take your moving team much longer than the same move would at a one-level home. Looking for another way to save money? Check out our promo codes or get an instant moving quote to see how much our moving services cost.
We’re going to break down these terms and the costs you can expect for different sized moves.
How Much Do Movers Cost? — Common Price Ranges
Like we mentioned earlier, a number of factors contribute to the total cost of your move. We understand you’re probably working on a moving budget though and need a starting point. For that reason, we’ve given you some ballpark ranges that you can begin with as you map out the cost of hiring movers.
If the moving services you’re looking at quote you lower prices — we’re happy for you! If you receive an estimate that falls above the range we provided, please don’t send us hate mail. Read our section below about the factors you can control to change the cost of your move. A quick way to get an estimate is to use a moving cost calculator también. También puedes consultar esta guía para algunos consejos sobre cómo comparar cotizaciones de empresas de mudanza.
Rangos de precios para una mudanza con servicio completo (camión incluido):
- Estudio: $300-$600
- 1 dormitorio: $400-$650
- 2 habitaciones: $550-$850
- 3 habitaciones: $600-$1,150
- 4+ habitaciones: $850-$1,350
- Mudanza de larga distancia: Hay varios factores que influyen en el precio de una mudanza de larga distancia. Por lo tanto, el rango puede variar ampliamente. Digamos que deberás ahorrar lo suficiente para cubrir un precio que tenga, como mínimo, cuatro cifras.
Rangos de precios para una mudanza solo con mano de obra (en el hogar o carga/descarga):
- Estudio: $150-$300
- 1 dormitorio: $200-$350
- 2 habitaciones: $250-$450
- 3 habitaciones: $300-$550
- 4+ habitaciones: $350-$800
¿Qué hay detrás del costo promedio de contratar mudadores?
Si es la primera vez que contratas mudadores, entendemos que ver estos precios puede provocar un gran impacto. Pero recuerda que hay mucho incluido en el total. Expliquemos esos términos nuevos del vocabulario para que sepas por qué estás pagando.
Tarifa por hora — Una tarifa por hora es la cantidad que pagarás por mudador o por hora. Dependiendo de la empresa de mudanzas, algunas prorratearán el tiempo adicional por hora más allá de tu reserva. Jacksonville Elite Movers prorratea en incrementos de 1 hora. Estos son los precios que es más probable que varíen según la hora del día o el día de la semana en que quieras mudarte. Por ejemplo, tu tarifa por hora podría ser más alta un sábado por la mañana que un miércoles por la tarde.
Cargo por camión — Esto es bastante explicativo: es el costo de añadir un camión a tu mudanza. Esto llevará tu mudanza de solo mano de obra a servicio completo. A menudo es más barato — y menos engorroso — reservar tu camión a través de tu moving company que alquilar uno por tu cuenta.
Costo por mudador — Afortunadamente, este es tan simple como parece. Este es el costo de cada persona que trabaja en tu mudanza. Con algunos servicios, algunas personas pueden costar más que otras. El costo a menudo depende de su nivel de experiencia.
Tarifa base- Este es un cargo único por tu mudanza. Generalmente es un cargo destinado a organizar tu camión u otros recursos de mudanza que solicites. Esto es diferente de una tarifa por hora.
¿Cuánto les das de propina a tus mudadores?
It’s always nice to tip for a job well done. Plan to have a little cash on hand for the day of your move. However, if you booked Jacksonville Elite Movers, you don’t have to make a trip to the ATM — all payments can be done online at the end of your move.
Just like when tipping at a restaurant, there’s not a perfect rule. However, we like Consumer Report’s advice in their tipping guide. They recommend 5-to-10 percent of the total cost or $10 to $20 per person.
Remember, your mileage may vary when moving cross country
Many movers will charge you per mile, this can greatly affect the cost of moving cross country. It is important to get a clear rate per mile and calculate the drive yourself to get a good estimate of this cost. We should also note there are a number of ways to increase or decrease the cost of your move. So although we’ve provided ranges for the types of moves listed above, understand that some factors can cause your move to fall outside of this range.
Decrease how much your movers cost
- Be fully packed — You can significantly reduce costs by ensuring you are prepared for your move. That means all boxes all taped and secured, and all bags are packed. Your home is as clean as it can be. When the movers show up, you should be ready to just point to where things go. Read some tips on packing best practices to ensure all of your items arrive safely following your move.
- Move on a weekday — Most people want to move on the weekends, which makes sense. However, moves are more expensive on the weekends to accommodate the increased demand. So if you have the wiggle room in your schedule, opt to move on a weekday.
- Be flexible with your move date- Similar to weekends, people move the most in accordance with lease cycles. The first weekend and last weekend of each month are the busiest. So if you aren’t bound to a lease, choose to move in the middle of the month.
What could increase the cost of hiring movers?
- Stairs or long walking distances — The longer it takes the movers to transport your items to the truck, the longer the overall move. If you have a multilevel home, we recommend moving as many of your boxes and bags as possible to one location close to the truck. That could be your kitchen, living room, or even your garage. This will reduce the amount of transportation time. It’s also important to try to secure a parking spot for the moving truck that is close to the entrance of your home.
- Being unprepared — If being fully packed can reduce the cost of your move, then the inverse is also true. When it comes to moving, procrastination will cost you major bucks. Be fully packed and ready or expect to pay for your movers to wait on you to finish up. You can read our moving preparation guide for tips on how to best prepare for your big day.
- Moving during peak times — As we mentioned, people tend to want to move all at the same time: during the weekend at the beginning or end of the month. If you move during these peak times, you can expect to have a more expensive move.
Ready to book your move? Receive your free estimate.
How Much Does it Cost to Move by Myself?
If you’re still deciding whether or not to hire movers, it’s best to weigh your options. The only way to do that is to know the cost of choosing to move by yourself. If your decision to move by yourself is budget-based, remember that moving all on your own isn’t free either.
There are a number of hidden costs to moving that you may not think about at first. So we created a list of some items you will want to price-out and consider before you commit.
Moving Truck Rental -The costs vary by the size of the moving van or truck that you need. You should also consider the cost of gas and insurance for the vehicle. Some companies will charge you by the mile.
Fuel for Truck — Rules can vary by the rental company, but most will require that you return the truck with a full tank. Here’s a handy calculator you can use to help you budget how much gas will cost you.
Moving Supplies– There are a few moving equipment items that not everyone has on-hand, but they’re extremely useful on moving day. Moving blankets, plastic wrap, and dollies are all items that we highly recommend you obtain. Typically you can rent or purchase these supplies from your truck rental company.
Convincing your friends to help — Look, we don’t recommend asking your friends. But if you must, we suggest you at least buy them some fuel in the form of food. (We recommend pizza — and maybe some drinks.)
Opportunity cost — Let’s face it. The longer you spend moving, the less time you have to unpack and get settled. Moving is already one of the most stressful things you can experience, so it’s best to rip the bandage off and get it over as quickly as possible
Stress — We can’t neglect to mention the mental effects of moving. We get it — moving is increíblemente estresante. Evítate el estrés contratando a personas que se ocupen de los aspectos físicamente y logísticamente exigentes de tu día de mudanza.
Entonces, ¿deberías contratar una empresa de mudanzas?
Teniendo en cuenta que muchas personas consideran que mudarse es tan estresante como un divorcio, te mereces un plan que haga que mudarte a tu nuevo hogar sea lo más agradable posible. Existe la idea de que contratar a una empresa de mudanzas es algo que está reservado para los ultra ricos.
Esperamos que nuestra exploración sobre cuánto cuestan las empresas de mudanzas te haya demostrado que no tienes que pedir una segunda hipoteca para usarlas moving services¡Recuerda que tienes mucho control sobre las variables que pueden aumentar o disminuir el costo de contratar una empresa de mudanzas.
