Professional movers in Phoenix can cost you as little as $80 an hour – but if you’re moving a ton of stuff across country, the price can balloon as high as $12,000 (and sometimes even higher). Every move is different, but with the right questions, you can get in the right ballpark.
Fortunately, we’re ready to answer your questions and walk you through the price of Phoenix moving. At Moving APT, we’ve been in the industry for over 20 years. We’ve seen moves of all shapes and sizes, and we’ve handled jobs that needed all sorts of special attention and premium services.
Moving in Phoenix doesn’t have to be a challenge. Especially if you’re working with the right team. But between local movers, long distance movers, and coast to coast moving companies – not to mention all the extras and add-ons – it can be hard to choose.
In this article. we’ll walk you through your options, and we’ll show you how much you can expect to pay for each one.
Use our moving cost calculator to get a quick, free estimate for your Phoenix movers cost.
Summary:
Moving companies break jobs up into three main categories: Local, long distance, and coast to coast. In this article, we’ll take a look at what goes into the cost of these three types of relocations. And if you’re DIY-minded, don’t worry. Later on, we’ll also go into the price you’ll pay if you’re moving all by yourself.
Local Moves: Local moving companies specialize in relocations that are less than 100 miles, and within the same state. Local movers charge per hour, per mover. You’ll probably need 2 movers per bedroom, so prepare your wallet accordingly.
Long Distance Moves: Long distance moving companies specialize in relocations that are over 100 miles, or across state lines. Long distance movers charge per mile, and per pound (although some prefer volume by cubic feet).
Pro Tip
Trying to save money? Downsize before you request quotes from moving companies. Doesn’t matter if you’re moving local or long distance; the more stuff you have, the more money you’ll spend. Get rid of your old and unwanted items, either through pawning, handing down, or just donating.
A quick look at the major factors behind your moving costs:
- The size of your home
- The distance you’re moving
- The extras you need (packing, storage, etc.)
- The time of year (summer is most expensive)
- The unavoidable fees (access fees, shuttle fees, etc.)
How much does it cost to hire local movers in Phoenix?
If you’re just looking for local movers in Phoenix, you can get the job done for as little as $80 an hour. This is a best-case scenario, though, and odds are, your move will take more than an hour – even if you’re just moving down the block.
Local moving companies specialize in everything under 100 miles and within the same state. The upside is that they really know their way around, including all those secret shortcuts you’re sure nobody but you knows about. This is a good thing. You want your local move to be completed as fast as possible, especially since your movers are billing you per hour.
Keep in mind, we’ve seen local moves that were actually more expensive than long distance relocations. It all comes down to how much stuff you have to move, since more heavy furniture and more items to wrap and pack means more hours on the clock.
| Home Size | Average Total Cost | Cost per Hour | Number of Movers |
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $280 – $560 | $80/hr | 2 Movers |
| 2 Bedroom | $600 – $840 | $120/hr | 3 Movers |
| 3 Bedroom | $960 – $1,600 | $160/hr | 4 Movers |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,280 – $1,920 | $160/hr | 4 Movers |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $1,800 – $2,800 | $200/hr | 5 Movers |
How much does it cost to hire long distance movers in Phoenix?
If you’re looking for a long distance moving company in Phoenix, expect to pay between $400 and $12,000. Sure, that window is so huge it’s almost unhelpful, but there’s a reason for such a huge range: Long distance moving costs are super variable. Unless you use a moving cost calculator (hint hint) it can be tough to know the exact cost of an interstate move.
Anything over 100 miles or across state lines counts as a long distance move. Just to give you a better idea of how much you’d expect to pay on the big day, we ran the numbers for a 1,000-mile move.
If you’re moving more than 1,000 miles, expect to pay a little more. But if you’re moving less than 1,000 miles, you’re in luck – you’ll be paying less.
- 1-Bedroom Apartment (1,000 miles): $2,800–$4,500
- 2-Bedroom Home (1,000 miles): $3,100–$6,900
- 3-Bedroom Home (1,000 miles): $4,500–$7,550
- 4-Bedroom Home (1,000 miles): $5,100–$8,350
Additional Long-Distance Moving Costs
- Storage fees: $150–$500/month
- Insurance: $100–$300
Packing and unpacking services: $500–$1,000 - Junk Removal: $60–$600
| Move Type / Service | Estimated Cost Range |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment (1,000 miles) | $2,800 – $4,500 |
| 2-Bedroom Home (1,000 miles) | $3,100 – $6,900 |
| 3-Bedroom Home (1,000 miles) | $4,500 – $7,550 |
| 4-Bedroom Home (1,000 miles) | $5,100 – $8,350 |
| Storage Fees (Monthly) | $150 – $500 |
| Insurance | $100 – $300 |
| Packing & Unpacking Services | $500 – $1,000 |
| Junk Removal | $60 – $600 |
How much does it cost to cross country movers in Phoenix?
Cross country moving from Phoenix will cost between $3,000 and $12,000. Much like a run-of-the-mill long distance move, it all comes down to how much you’re moving – but the distance is pretty much maxed out.
Why does cross country moving cost so much? We’re glad you asked. Moving any distance requires coordination, planning, and a ton of moving parts (pun intended). You’ve got moving agents, packing and loading teams, drivers, and of course, federal rules and regulations that your movers will need to work around (more on those later).
When you request a cross country or coast to coast relocation, all of these factors get even more expensive. You may require multiple trucks and drivers to cover the distance, and multiple agents to coordinate every handoff.
- Studio or 1-Bedroom
- Apartment: $3,000–$5,000
- 2-Bedroom Home: $5,500–$7,500
- 3-Bedroom Home: $7,000–$10,000
- 4-Bedroom Home: $9,000–$12,000
Key Cost Factors
- Distance: The farther the move, the higher the transportation costs.
- Fuel Surcharges: An additional $300–$800 depending on truck size.
- Specialty Services: Packing/unpacking, furniture assembly, and handling fragile items can add $500–$1,000 to your bill.
| Move Type / Service | Estimated Cost Range |
| Studio or 1-Bedroom Apartment | $3,000 – $5,000 |
| 2-Bedroom Home | $5,500 – $7,500 |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $7,000 – $10,000 |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $9,000 – $12,000 |
| Fuel Surcharges | $300 – $800 |
| Specialty Services (Packing, Furniture) | $500 – $1,000 |
How Much Does it Cost to Move if it’s DIY?
You can DIY a move for like… $150, $200. Yes, you’ve probably seen advertisements for trucks that are $20 a day, but you’ll have to shell out more than that if you want to make your move a success.
Truck Rental Costs
Small truck: $20–$30/day
Medium truck: $40–$70/day
Large truck: $80–$120/day
Gas Expenses
Local move: $30–$60
Long-distance move: $200–$500 (depending on the mileage)
Packing Supplies
Boxes, tape, and other materials: $100–$250
Labor Costs (if hiring helpers)
$40–$60/hour per person
DIY moving takes a lot of discipline if you want to keep your costs as low as advertised. You may need to get a little resourceful to save more cash, too. Try to search around for cheap (or free) boxes, and see if you can convince (or coerce) your family and friends into helping with the heavy lifting.
Pro Tip
We’re not saying this just because we’re professional movers. DIY moving takes a lot of hard work, and after you pay for gas, food, and lodging, your savings may not be worth the extra effort. Sometimes, it’s just more efficient to book professional movers – and it’s certainly easier!
How Long Does Moving Take?
Expect your move to take between 1 and 21 days. Local moves can be done in a day or two, assuming you don’t have like… a five-bedroom house and the Collyer Brothers living in your attic. Long distance relocations usually take about a week, and for those extra long hauls (i.e. cross country moving) you’ll probably wait closer to that 21 day maximum.
Why does moving take so long?
A couple of reasons, including the amount of stuff your movers have to load into the truck, and how many miles they have to travel. But as it turns out, a smaller amount of belongings doesn’t always mean a faster move – and in fact, it may mean a longer wait.
If you’re just moving a studio apartment’s worth of stuff, that means a ton of empty space in the back of the truck. Movers don’t like to send half-empty trucks all over the place, so they’ll bundle several moves together for maximum efficiency. They’ll keep your items safe and separate, but there’ll be delays for offloading and reloading other moves on the same route.
Oh, and aside from bundling, movers still need to abide by rules and regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association. If your movers log a suspiciously high number of miles in one 11-hour shift, they may be investigated for safety violations (like speeding)
Hire the Best with Moving APT
If you’re trying to find movers in Phoenix, we’ll make it easy for you. Choose Moving APT, build a completely custom move, and we’ll send you a free quote based on your exact needs.