How Much Do Long-Distance Movers Cost?

Table of Contents

• 1. How Do Movers Calculate the Price?
• 2. Specialty Items
• 3. Moving Cost Calculator for Moving Cost Estimates

 

When you’re dealing with a long-distance move, there are a lot of things that need to be taken into consideration. In general, hiring long-distance movers is more expensive than hiring local movers. Many different factors can influence the final price. We broke down the most influential aspects when it comes to calculating a long-distance moving price, to make the whole process much more transparent and straight-forward.

 

How Do Movers Calculate the Price?

When it comes to calculating the price of the move, many different factors influence the final quote. To get a better understanding of how everything works, let’s talk about the key factors that are included in the final price:

1. Location
2. Specialty Items
3. Service Type
4. Size of the Move
5. Additional Stops

 

1. Location

When it comes to your location, two main factors affect the price. The first one is the location of your current residence, and the second is the location of your new residence. Here are some important things to note about how location can impact the price:

• Floor number – This is especially important if your building doesn’t have an elevator. Although higher floors are more expensive, even if the building has an elevator, stairs are likely to increase the price even further.
• Parking spots – Sometimes companies will include a long-carry fee if your building doesn’t have a nearby parking spot for the truck because that means that the workers will have to carry your items further.

 

2. Specialty Items

Moving companies will charge higher prices for bulky and heavy items such as pianos, fine art pieces, antique furniture, large electronics, king-sized beds, etc. Some items will need special care and handling, which can also be included in the price. Moreover, please note that most moving companies have a list of prohibited items that they simply won’t agree to move. Some of these items usually include:

• Heirloom jewelry;
• Flammable items;
• Guns and ammo;
• Acids;
• Car batteries.

 

3. Service Type

Lastly, most companies offer different service packages. You can usually choose between full or partial service. Full service includes everything from:

• Moving the items;
• Boxing and wrapping;
• Providing packing material;
• Loading and unloading;
• Handling valuable items such as fine art pieces.

On the other hand, partial service is a narrower selection of services you’d like to include in your move. That can only be packing, for example, or two or three services from the list. Most companies also offer labor services, so make sure to check that out if you think it’s a more suitable fit.

 

4. Size of the Move

Before emailing a quote, companies will also inquire about the items and the number of rooms. If you have a larger house, your move is likely going to be more expensive, larger house = more stuff. If you have a studio apartment, for example, then you’re in luck, because your quote will be significantly lower.

 

5. Additional Stops

If you’re planning to make additional stops in the moving process, such as going to a friend’s house to pick up some items or visit your storage space, you will be charged more. It’s important to notify the moving company of any potential additional stops ahead of time, so they would be able to give you a precise quote.

 

Different Types of Quotes

When inquiring about quotes and prices, you will usually come across two different types of quotes – flat-rate and hourly. You should choose the most suitable option depending on your personal needs and budget.

• Flat-Rate

  Flat-rate quotes are often ideal for long-distance, larger moves. Companies, including us, calculate the rate based on the inventory, distance, specialty items, number of trucks, and the amount of manpower needed to complete the move.

• Hourly

  Customers usually go for hourly moving quotes when they’re moving locally. Hourly quotes aren’t set, and they are subject to changes in case additional labor is needed to complete the move. Hourly quotes can be used for long-distance moves as well, but the final price might be a bit steeper than flat-rate. However, not all companies will do hourly contracts – they only offer flat-rate. Also bear in mind that most companies have a minimum of 2-3 hours. That means that they won’t accept your booking for anything less than that.

 

Moving Cost Calculator for Moving Cost Estimates

On our website, you can find a customized online moving cost calculator that will help with estimating the price of your move. All you need to do is go to our free quote page and enter relevant information, such as:

• Moving dates;
• Location;
• Size of the move.

Once complete, you will receive a confirmation via email. Our team will take all the information you provided us with and create a custom moving quote for you. We will appoint a personal moving consultant, who will email you the quote and give you a call to break it down. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes, and it’s very transparent. If you prefer hearing the quote in person, one of our personally-appointed consultants can come over and give you an on-site estimate, which you can schedule by filling out a short form.