Preparing for a cross country move is complicated. Planning a budget for one can be even trickier as customers often meet with non-binding estimates and hidden costs. We thought you might like some cold hard numbers you can count on, so we contacted numerous long distance moving companies and gathered all the information for you. Read on to learn just how much it will cost to move long distance.
Our Method
To get real prices for interstate moving, we created an example Move Plan for an average one bedroom home with no stairs and 390 cubic feet of furniture and boxes. We then got long distance movers to give us guaranteed prices for moving to and from different destinations around the country. The prices we got are for standard moving with no additional services such as packing, disassembly/assembly, crating, storage, etc.
Cost of Moving Long Distance
The cost of moving a one bedroom apartment long distance varied between $840 and $4460. Obviously, prices depend greatly on your pick-up and drop-off locations. For example, moving from NY to LA or the other way around will cost you an average of $2586 or $2863, respectively. Naturally, prices may be higher or lower than this average. Keep in mind that reliability and professionalism often come at a price in the moving business, so cheap long distance moving companies may not be your best choice.
The following matrix shows average guaranteed prices from movers in 13 major cities nationwide.
Additional Costs
Moving services are not the only expense you should be considering. Long distance moving entails costs that aren’t included in the quote. This includes:
- Shuttle fee – Moving into (or out of) a dense urban area sometimes means the 18 wheeler used for cross country transport can’t get to your exact location. In this situation, a shuttle is used to bring your belongings to your door.
Depending on the truck’s size, this service will cost $250-$500. - Storage in Transit (SIT) – Storage in transit is required when your new home isn’t ready for your belongings to be delivered, or whenever you need short-term storage in the moving process. Storage costs are calculated by volume:
Home Size Avg. 1 Month Storage Rate Studio (231cf) $100-$150 1 Bedroom, Small (390cf) $150-$250 1 Bedroom, Large (524cf) $200-$300 2 Bedroom (892cf) $250-$400 3 Bedroom (1215cf) $300-$500 4 Bedroom (1815cf) $400-$600 Most movers charge a monthly fee while some charge on a bi-weekly basis.
- Dedicated Delivery
- Guaranteed Delivery Date – If you would like to have your belongings delivered at a specific date rather than within a certain timeframe, ask your movers for guaranteed delivery date. Prices vary between $300-$1,500, depending on the inventory’s volume, route, and each mover’s operations status. One mover might charge double than the other if they have less flexibility in that area or timeframe.
- Insurance – The prices in our matrix include the default insurance package of 60 cents per lb. Spending more on additional insurance is optional yet highly advisable. The insurance purchased independently can cost around $10 per $1,000 of valued goods with a deductible of $250-$500.
Now that you have all the information you need, you can start focusing on the new beginning that awaits you across the country. Have a great move!
Want to read more? Learn about the cost of moving locally in another blog post of this series.
