If you’re planning on making a long distance move in the near future, you may be exploring your options for hiring a moving company. Not sure how much you’ll have to pay if you hire a moving company to help you with long distance moving? Let’s take a look at the average cost of long distance moving now.
How Much Will I Pay For A Long Distance Move?
The average cost of a long distance move is around $4,000 if you are moving items from a 2-3 bedroom house (average weight of about 7,500 pounds) and moving about 1,000 miles. The further you move, the more you’ll pay since most long distance moves are charged at a per-mile rate.
The cost of moving can vary widely, however. There are a lot of different factors that can affect how much you’ll pay for a long distance move.
What Factors Affect The Cost Of A Long Distance Move?
Wondering what factors will affect the average cost of long distance moving? The factors that have the biggest effect on the cost of your move include the total volume of stuff you move, whether or not you opt for full-service moving, the distance of your move, storage fees, and even the time of year you move. Let’s take a deeper look at these factors now.
- Size of your home – Moving stuff from a 1-bedroom studio apartment will cost more than moving all of the stuff from a 2-3 bedroom home. Basically, the more stuff you have, the more you’ll pay. Most movers use the total weight of your home goods to determine your rate for a long distance move.
- Type of moving service – You can opt for full-service moving, in which your moving company will come to your home, pack up your stuff for you, transport it, and unpack it at your destination. This is very convenient, but it can easily double the cost of your move.
- Total moving distance – You’ll pay more for a 2,000-mile move than you would for a 1,000-mile move, since you’ll be charged a per-mile rate by most movers.
However, the longer your move is, the lower your per-mile rate will be, so while a 2,000-mile move will be more expensive than a 1,000-mile move, it won’t cost twice as much. - Storage fees – If you need to store some of your stuff with the moving company for any reason, they may charge you storage fees for every month that you have not picked up your stuff.
- Time of year – Summer is peak moving season, so movers are in high demand and can usually charge higher prices. Moving costs are typically lower in the fall, winter, and early spring.
- Challenging moving conditions – If your movers will face challenging conditions like a steep driveway, narrow staircases, and doors, or other things that may make the move harder, they may charge an additional fee.
These are just a few of the most common factors that affect the cost of your move. The best way to get an accurate estimate for the cost of long distance moving is to contact a moving company.
What Is Considered To Be A “Long Distance” Move?
Long distance moves are usually considered to be any move over 400 miles. Shorter moves – say, 50-200 miles – are usually considered to be “local moves” by movers, and they will cost you less. The average cost of a local move is about $2,000 – less than half of the cost of the average long distance move.
Again, however, the cost of both short and long distance moves can vary quite a bit depending on your situation, so it’s best to consult with an experienced moving company to get an accurate quote.
How Can I Save Money On A Long Distance Move?
The average cost of long distance moving is pretty high. Wondering what you can do to save some cash while moving? The best ways to save money include getting rid of your stuff, doing your own packing, shopping around for multiple moving quotes, planning well in advance of your move, and renting your own truck.
- Downsize your stuff before moving – Getting rid of unwanted junk, selling stuff you don’t use, and donating items you don't need is a good way to get rid of stuff before you move – and the less stuff you move, the less you’ll pay!
- Do your own packing and unpacking – Full-service moving is convenient but incredibly expensive. To save a lot of money, do your own packing and unpacking when making a long distance move.
Get multiple quotes for moving services – Shopping around with multiple long distance moving companies can help you save a few hundred dollars.
Consider renting your own truck – If you really want to save money, renting a truck from a company like U-Haul or Penske and moving your stuff on your own is the cheapest option. However, it will take a lot more time and effort to make your move without the help of professionals, so consider this before committing to a DIY move. - Plan ahead – The longer you plan ahead for your move, the more time you’ll have to shop around for quotes, get rid of stuff you don’t need, and choose a moving date that will save you money, such as a weekday.
Get Help With Your Long Distance Move – Contact A-1 Auto Transport
At A-1 Auto Transport, we can help you get the long distance moving services you need at a reasonable rate. Whether you are interested in full-service moving or just need a moving company to help you transport your packed items to your new home, we’re here to help you connect with reputable moving professionals in your area.
Written By:Joe Webster
Joe Webster began his journey in the auto transport field by attending the University of Southern California (USC), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Marketing.
After college, he started his career in the auto transport industry from the bottom up and has done virtually every job there is to do at A-1 Auto Transport, including but not limited to: Truck Driver, Dispatch, Sales, PR, Bookkeeping, Transport Planner, Transport Manager, International Transport Manager, Brokering, Customer Service, and Marketing. Working with his mentor Tony Taylor, Joe Webster has learned the ins and outs of this industry which is largely misunderstood.
With over 30 years experience in the industry, we've been helping people ship their vehicles, motorcycles, RV's, heavy equipment, household goods and more across the country or overseas without a hitch. Ask us anything.
