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On average, moving cross-country costs $4,500, although the price can range from $2,400 to $7,000, depending on various factors like the size of the residence, the weight of items, and the total distance.
Average Cost of Moving Cross-Country (By Type of Service)
| Type of Service | 1 Bedroom ($) | 2-3 Bedrooms ($) | 4-5 Bedrooms ($) |
| Full-Service Movers | 2,500 – 5,000 | 5,000 – 10,000 | 8,000 – 15,000 |
| Containerized Movers | 1,500 – 3,000 | 3,000 – 6,000 | 6,000 – 12,000 |
| DIY Truck Rental | 800 – 2,000 | 2,000 – 4,000 | 4,000 – 8,000 |
Additionally, how can you stay ahead of those costs? In this post, we’re going to help you explore the costs behind moving cross-country so that you can put together a budget that is reasonable for you and your family.
How Large is Your Current Home?
A good rule of thumb for a long-distance move’s cost is $700 to $3000 per room being moved. If you live in a larger home, then you’re going to pay more than if you were in a smaller home.
Typically, for a cross-country move, they will weigh the truck (before and after it is loaded) in order to use the weight as a part of their algorithm for determining the cost. Their estimate will be based on a walk-through of your current home, but the final cost will include the weight of the truck instead.
How Long Will Your Move Take?
Obviously, if you’re going to be using their movers for a week, you’re going to be paying more than if you were just using them for three days.
The distance of your move plays a big role in the cost– if you’re going a couple hundred miles, your move can likely be completed in a long weekend; but if you’re going from Pennsylvania to California, you could be looking at a week or more.
Cost of Moving Supplies
Now that we have the pieces of the puzzle around how the moving company calculates the average cost of a cross-country move, we need to look at some secondary details that should also be considered when you’re putting together a budget.
The cost of moving supplies will vary based on what you think you need. You may decide to ask around your local town to get extra cardboard boxes – office buildings, liquor stores, and fast food restaurants are often your best bet here.
Or, you can buy a complete moving kit, which has boxes, labels, writing implements, tape, scissors, and other such things.
No matter how you go about it, you want to be certain that you keep moving supplies in mind.
Cost of Additional Moving Services
Are your movers literally going to come to your home, load up your stuff, drive the vehicle, and unload it at your new home? Or are you going to need a little extra help from them? Additional services will also add some cost to a long-distance move.
For example, if you need help with packing, you can typically get it done for an additional fee. The moving company will send people earlier in the day in order to pack everything and get it ready to go.
Some companies include moving supplies in their packing services, some will charge an additional fee, and some may require you to buy them ahead of time.
Another consideration is storage. Are you going to need to have anything in storage when you arrive at your new home? Many cross-country movers own storage units as well or have an agreement with storage options. As a result, you may be able to get a discount.
How Are You Getting There?
If you move yourself, you may be driving the truck. But if you’re not driving the truck, you have to consider costs related to how you get there. If you drive, you need to be sure that you deal with things like gas, food, and hotel costs.
If you’re flying, you need to include the cost of the plane tickets and any overnight accommodations you need. Be sure that you include these costs when you’re budgeting for moving day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some ways to save on moving costs?
There are several strategies to reduce your moving expenses. First, declutter your belongings by getting rid of items you no longer need through a garage sale or donation. This will help you move fewer things and save on packing materials and space.
Second, compare quotes from multiple moving companies to find the most competitive rates. Additionally, try to be flexible with your moving date, as off-peak times can be more cost-effective.
Lastly, consider packing your belongings yourself, as professional packing services can add to your overall costs.
What’s included in the cost of a full-service move?
A full-service move means the moving company takes care of almost everything. They pack your stuff, load it onto a truck, move it to your new place, unload it, and even unpack it for you. They also give you the boxes and padding you need and put together or take apart your furniture when needed.
How can I get an accurate estimate for my cross-country move?
To make sure you know exactly how much your move across the country will cost, it’s really important to set up meetings with different moving companies. When they come to your home or talk to you online, these experts will look at how much stuff you have, how heavy it is, any special things you need, and how far you’re going. This helps them give you a precise estimate of the price.
Are there any hidden fees I should be aware of when moving cross-country?
When you’re getting ready to move across the country, it’s really important to know about extra costs that might surprise you and affect how much money you’ll spend. These extra costs can include things like paying more if they have to carry your stuff a long way, using smaller trucks if big ones can’t reach your new home, or needing to pay for storage if your move-in date gets delayed.
Schedule Your Cross-Country Move Today
There are all sorts of logistics related to moving cross-country, but you can find a lot of options that will lift the burden and make things less stressful. Start researching now and you’ll have a much easier time working out what you need to make your out of state move go off without a hitch.
