Moving Cost Estimate Calculator: Local Hourly or Long-Distance by Weight
Estimate what movers will charge: a local move priced by crew size and hours, or a long-distance move priced by shipment weight and miles, plus packing, materials, valuation coverage and tips, a likely range and 2026 truck-rental prices to compare.
How it works
Local: cost = hours × crew rate, where hours = mover-hours for the home size ÷ crew size (at least 2) and crew rate = 2-mover rate + extra movers × added rate · Long-distance: cost = shipment weight × (0.50 + 0.0003 × miles) per lb · Total = movers + packing + materials + valuation + tip % · Likely range = total × 0.8 to × 1.3
Local movers bill by the hour for a crew and truck. The calculator starts from the labor a home typically needs, about 6 mover-hours for a studio, 12 for two bedrooms and 21 for three, and divides it by the crew: two movers for up to two bedrooms, three for three bedrooms and four for larger homes. That gives about 3–4 hours for a studio or one bedroom, 6 for two bedrooms and 7–8 for three or four, in line with the 3–9 hours Opendoor reports for 2026. Each mover beyond two adds about $40 an hour to the crew rate. Long-distance movers price by the weight of the shipment and the distance. A rate of $0.50 per pound plus $0.0003 per pound per mile, applied to planning weights of about 2,000 lb for a studio, 5,000 lb for two bedrooms and 12,500 lb for five or more, lands inside the 2026 cost ranges Opendoor publishes for 500, 1,000 and 2,000 miles. Use a mover’s survey weight under More options when you have one. Ranges are wide because access, stairs, bulky items, season and how much is packed all change the bill, so the range runs from 20% below to 30% above the estimate. Packing, materials, full value protection and a tip are added only if you enter them. Treat the result as a budget and get written estimates.
Worked example
A local 2-bedroom move needs about 12 mover-hours; with the typical 2-mover crew that is 6 hours, and at $120 an hour the movers cost $720, with a likely range of $576–$936. The same home moved 1,000 miles long-distance is about 5,000 lb at 0.50 + 0.0003 × 1,000 = $0.80 per pound, or $4,000 (Opendoor’s 2026 range for a 2-bedroom over 1,000 miles is $3,200–$5,500).
Sources: Opendoor: How much does it cost to move in 2026? (hourly rates, weights, long-distance ranges, truck rental) · moveBuddha: How much do movers cost? (2026 local averages and long-distance ranges)
Frequently asked questions
How much do local movers cost per hour in 2026?
Opendoor’s 2026 guide lists about $80–$130 an hour for 2 movers and a truck, $110–$170 for 3 movers and $150–$220 for 4. Many companies add a travel fee and have a 2 to 3 hour minimum.
How much does a long-distance move cost?
It depends mainly on weight and distance. For 1,000 miles, Opendoor’s 2026 ranges are about $2,000–$3,500 for one bedroom, $3,200–$5,500 for two, $4,500–$7,500 for three and $6,500–$10,000 for four bedrooms. A 2-bedroom move of 5,000 lb over 1,000 miles comes out at about $4,000 here.
How much does my move weigh?
Rough guides put a studio at 1,500–2,000 lb, two bedrooms at 5,000–6,000 lb and three bedrooms at 8,000–10,000 lb, but furniture density varies a lot. A mover’s in-home or video survey gives the weight the price is based on; enter it under More options.
What does this estimate leave out?
By default, packing service, boxes, full value protection, tips, storage, specialty items such as pianos and safes, long carries, stairs and elevator fees, and fuel surcharges. Add the ones you expect under More options, then compare written quotes.
How much should I tip movers?
Common guidance is 15–20% of the bill, or about $20–$50 per mover for a full day. Enter a tip percentage under More options to include it in the total.
Is renting a truck cheaper than hiring movers?
Usually, for the truck itself: 2026 local rentals run about $30–$90 a day plus mileage and fuel, and one-way long-distance rentals about $600–$3,200 depending on truck size. You do the loading, driving and unloading, and pay for fuel, rental insurance and equipment such as dollies and blankets.
Related calculators
This is a planning estimate from 2026 US averages; a written estimate from a licensed mover is the price that counts.