You can find movers in Philadelphia for as little as $130 an hour – but unless you’re moving really small and a really short distance, you’ll probably end up paying a little more. (And potentially as high as $12,000).
In case you couldn’t tell, moving prices are spread out across a pretty huge window. Between moving studio apartments across town, and moving 5-bedroom homes all the way across the country, there are some major extremes in terms of costs, duration, and available services and add-ons. And if you’ve got 20 years of experience like us, then you’ve definitely seen it all.
We decided to use our experience to create an easy guide to the price of a Philadelphia move. While the other guys may be content with just throwing some numbers at you, we wanted to take a closer look at what you can expect to pay, and why. We’ll start you off with the basic factors, and then move on to the different types of moves (and their pricing plans).
Important Factors Behind the Cost of Your Move
- Distance
- Physical dimensions (AKA how much stuff you’re moving)
- Extras and add-ons (storage, packing, etc.)
- Full-Coverage Insurance
- Fees (fuel surcharges, access fees, shuttle fees)
Use our moving cost calculator to get a quick, free estimate for your Philadelphia movers cost.
How much does it cost to hire local movers in Philadelphia?
Short answer: As cheap as $130 an hour, and as much as $325 an hour. But what counts as a local move in the first place?
The moving industry likes to split moves up by distance. You’ve got long distance moving (which we’ll cover later), and you’ve got local moving. Anything under 100 miles and within the same state counts as a local move.
Just like any other mover, local moving companies come with their own pros and cons. Bad news first: They charge per hour, and per mover. It takes about 2 movers per bedroom. And as for the total hours… let’s just say paying per hour doesn’t always encourage fast work.
| Home Size | Average Total Cost | Cost per Hour | Number of Movers |
| Studio/1 Bedroom | $390 | $130/hr | 2 Movers |
| 2 Bedroom | $975 | $195/hr | 3 Movers |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,820 | $260/hr | 4 Movers |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,340 | $260/hr | 4 Movers |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $3,575 | $325/hr | 5 Movers |
Pro Tip
Want to save money with local movers? Just remember, efficiency is everything. Stage all your stuff in one easy-to-access corner or spare room, and make sure all pathways and doorways are clear and easy to navigate.
How much does it cost to hire long distance movers in Philadelphia?
If you’re trying to book long distance movers in Philadelphia, expect to pay between $400 and $12,000. Don’t worry – that $12,000 is a worst-case scenario for 5-bedroom homes and extra-long distances.
Long distance moves are anything over 100 miles or across state lines. Unlike their local counterparts, long distance moving companies calculate your moving prices based on distance traveled (in miles) and the dimensions of your belongings (typically weight in pounds, but sometimes volume in cubic feet).
Since every move is different, this pricing structure does make it a little challenging to map out in one guide. It’s a good idea to use a moving cost calculator to find your exact price, especially since you may have more or less stuff or more or less miles to travel. But for simplicity’s sake, take a look at how much it’ll cost to move 1,000 miles with professional movers in Philadelphia.
- 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
Moving long distance? Keep in mind, some extras come at an extra cost:
- Storage fees: $150–$500/month
- Insurance: $100–$300
- Packing and unpacking services: $500–$1,000
- Junk removal: $60–$600
| Home Size | Estimated Cost Range |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $2,800 – $4,500 |
| 2-Bedroom Home | $3,100 – $6,900 |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $4,500 – $7,550 |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $5,100 – $8,350 |
| 5-Bedroom Home (Max Est.) | Up to $12,000 |
Pro Tip
If you want to save money on a long distance move, the best strategy is to downsize as much as possible, before you even shop for quotes. If you have old, unwanted, or unused items, don’t take them with you to your new place! It’ll take up space, add more clutter, and add more to your final price. Find a good home for all of that stuff before you book movers.
How much does it cost to hire cross country movers in Philadelphia?
Cross country moving usually costs from $3,000 to $12,000. This is the most expensive type of move, but you’ll be thankful you hired the pros.
Why the higher price? Unlike your usual long distance move, a cross country relocation requires a lot of extra planning, coordination, and prep-work. More often than not, there’ll be a whole web of logistics behind your move, including moving agents, specialty service providers, and (of course) the actual guys doing the heavy lifting.
- 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–$2,000 to your bill, each.
| Home Size | Estimated Cost |
| Studio or 1-Bedroom | $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 |
Pro Tip
How Much Does it Cost to Move if it’s DIY?
Is it worth it to move by yourself? DIY moves can be done for as little as $150, but odds are you’ll pay a lot more than that.
Not only will you have to rent a truck and pay for gas, but you may also need to buy packing supplies, and pay professional movers anyways. After all, you can’t lift your fridge into a truck by yourself, and you can’t always count on your friends to help you move.
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
Pro Tip
How Long Does Moving Take?
Most moves take between 1 and 21 days. Much like that $12,000 figure, “21 days” is more of a CYA, worst-case scenario number. Odds are, if you’re moving local, you can get a job done in just a few days – or even less if you’re just moving a studio.
Long distance moving gets a little harder to predict. First of all, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established plenty of rules and regulations to keep interstate movers as safe as possible. This includes hour restrictions and mileage investigations if drivers have logged a suspiciously high amount of miles in one 11-hour shift.
Aside from the rules, there’s also the matter of bundling. Unless you’re moving a ton of stuff, you probably won’t be able to fill an entire moving truck with just your belongings. This means empty space – and empty space means wasted fuel.
To make the most of every mile, moving companies will bundle multiple moves together in the same truck. They’ll keep everything partitioned back there, but they’ll have to make a few stops to make dropoffs and deliveries. The upside? It keeps your costs down by maximizing efficiency.
Hire the Best with Moving APT
Philadelphia moving companies don’t need to break the bank – and they don’t need to skimp out on quality, either. If you’re looking for a Philadelphia mover you can trust (whether it’s a local, long distance, or cross country job), Moving APT has you covered.
We’re ready to help you build a completely custom move with all the services you need – and none of the extra fees you can live without. Tell us more about your move, and we’ll hook you up with a free quote.
