Moving Cost & Relocation Budget Estimator
Estimate the cost of a move and compare full-service movers, a moving container and a rental truck. Enter the distance, the weight of your belongings, the season and any extra services, and see the total for each option with a recommendation. Rates are planning assumptions you can edit.
Written by Suhaib Hassan. Figures are estimates you can edit. Our methodology.
It prices each option from weight, distance and services using rates you can change.
A move has many moving parts. This puts the three main options side by side so you can see where the money goes.
Typical belongings by home size
Starting points for weight and volume. Your actual load depends on furniture and how much you own, so use a mover's survey for a firm figure.
| Home | Approx. weight | Approx. volume | Container fit |
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Moving rules worth knowing
Interstate moves in the United States are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Estimates
A binding estimate fixes the price for the listed goods and services. A binding not-to-exceed estimate caps the price. A non-binding estimate can rise, but movers must limit what they can demand at delivery.
Weight and distance
Long-distance moves are priced by the weight of your goods and the distance, plus services. That is why weighing and decluttering before the move saves money.
Liability
Basic released value protection pays only 60 cents per pound per item, so a 10 lb item is covered for $6. Full value protection costs extra but pays to repair or replace.
Formulas
How the numbers are worked out.
Full-service movers
Weight in hundredweight times a handling rate plus a distance rate, adjusted for season, plus services.
cost = (lb ÷ 100) × (handling + rate × miles ÷ 100) × season + extrasMoving container
Number of containers times a fixed fee plus a per-mile charge, adjusted for season. You pack and load.
cost = ⌈ cu ft ÷ size ⌉ × (fixed + per mile × miles) × seasonDIY rental truck
Truck base and mileage, fuel, lodging, tolls and helpers.
cost = base + per mile × miles + miles ÷ mpg × fuel + lodging + tolls + helpersWorked examples
Illustrative figures, each checked by hand. The first is the default setup.
920 miles, 7,500 lb, default rates
Full-service movers with packing, released value.
= 4,605
+ packing 850 = $5,455
(the tool also applies your season factor)
Moving container
The same 1,071 cu ft load in 700 cu ft containers.
2 × (450 + 0.90 × 920) = 2 × 1,278
= $2,556 before extras
DIY truck
The same distance in a rental truck.
fuel 920 ÷ 8 × 3.55 = 408.25
lodging + tolls + helpers = 120 + 46 + 250
= $1,952
How to estimate the cost of a move
- Choose the driving distance and the size of the move, then check the weight of your belongings.
- Pick the season and any extra services such as packing or crating.
- Edit the planning rates to match quotes you have received.
- Compare movers, a container and a rental truck, and get written quotes before deciding.
These estimates are for planning only. Real prices vary widely by company, route, date and access, and long-distance movers give binding or non-binding estimates after a survey. Always get at least three written quotes.
By Suhaib Hassan · Reviewed 29 September 2026 · How CalculatePilot verifies formulas →
Sources
- FMCSA, Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move (49 CFR Part 375).
- FMCSA, Protect Your Move, for estimates, liability and consumer protections.
- U.S. Department of Transportation, Household Goods Program.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to move?
It varies greatly. Local moves are usually priced by the hour, while long-distance moves are priced by weight and distance. Use this tool for a planning figure, then get written quotes.
Is a container or a truck cheaper?
For long distances, a rental truck is usually the cheapest but you do the driving and lifting. Containers fall in the middle, and full-service movers cost the most but do the work. The comparison panel uses your assumptions.
How is a long-distance move priced?
Interstate moves are priced by the weight of your goods and the distance, plus services such as packing. Movers weigh the truck before and after loading.
What is released value protection?
It is the basic, no-extra-cost liability. It pays 60 cents per pound per item, so it does not cover the true value of most belongings. Full value protection costs extra but pays to repair or replace.
How can I lower my moving costs?
Declutter before you move, move in the off-season and mid-month, pack yourself, and compare quotes. Less weight and fewer services directly reduce a long-distance bill.
Typical mover prices by home size and distance: 2026 moving cost guide.
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