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How much will your move cost?
Get a quick, no-strings estimate for a local or long-distance move — whether you're renting a truck yourself or hiring movers. Then see how the right storage unit can keep the whole thing cheaper.
Pick the range that fits, or type a distance and we'll snap to the right band.
Roughly how much you're moving. Pick the closest match.
DIY means a rental truck or container you load yourself. Movers means a professional crew.
Ballpark estimate only — real quotes vary by season, fuel, and company.
What a move actually costs in 2026
Moving prices swing a lot — the same household can cost a few hundred dollars across town or several thousand across the country. The two biggest levers are how far you're going and whether you do it yourself or hire a crew. The ranges below are typical industry estimates to help you budget; they're not quotes.
If you move yourself (truck or container)
DIY is almost always the cheapest route — you're mostly paying for a rental truck or moving container, fuel, and supplies. It's also the model that fits how 10 Federal works: rent your unit online, move in on your own schedule, no appointment needed.
| Distance | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 5+ BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local (0–50 mi) | $200–$400 | $300–$600 | $700–$1,400 | $1,000–$2,000 | $1,500–$3,000 | $2,000–$4,000 |
| Regional (50–250 mi) | $300–$900 | $400–$1,100 | $800–$1,900 | $1,100–$2,500 | $1,600–$3,500 | $2,100–$4,500 |
| Long-distance (250–500 mi) | $400–$1,525 | $500–$1,725 | $900–$2,525 | $1,200–$3,125 | $1,700–$4,125 | $2,200–$5,125 |
| Cross-country (500–1,000) | $650–$2,775 | $750–$2,975 | $1,150–$3,775 | $1,450–$4,375 | $1,950–$5,375 | $2,450–$6,375 |
| Cross-country (1,000–1,500) | $1,150–$4,025 | $1,250–$4,225 | $1,650–$4,625 | $1,950–$5,625 | $2,450–$6,625 | $2,950–$7,625 |
| Cross-country (1,500+) | $1,650–$6,525 | $1,750–$6,725 | $1,950–$7,525 | $2,450–$8,125 | $2,950–$9,125 | $3,450–$10,125 |
Includes truck/container rental, fuel, and basic supplies. Doesn't include lodging on multi-day drives or hired loading help.
If you hire professional movers
A full-service crew packs, loads, drives, and unloads for you. You're paying for labor and convenience, so costs climb fast with distance and home size. Local hourly jobs land close to DIY pricing; long hauls are billed by weight and mileage and can run several times higher.
| Distance | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 5+ BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local (0–50 mi) | $200–$400 | $300–$600 | $700–$1,400 | $1,000–$2,000 | $1,500–$3,000 | $2,000–$4,000 |
| Regional (50–250 mi) | $500–$1,400 | $600–$1,600 | $1,000–$2,400 | $1,300–$3,000 | $1,800–$4,000 | $2,300–$5,000 |
| Long-distance (250–500 mi) | $800–$2,650 | $900–$2,850 | $1,300–$3,650 | $1,600–$4,250 | $2,100–$5,250 | $2,600–$6,250 |
| Cross-country (500–1,000) | $1,550–$5,150 | $1,650–$5,350 | $2,050–$6,150 | $2,350–$6,750 | $2,850–$7,750 | $3,350–$8,750 |
| Cross-country (1,000–1,500) | $3,050–$7,650 | $3,150–$7,850 | $3,550–$8,650 | $3,850–$9,250 | $4,350–$10,250 | $4,850–$11,250 |
| Cross-country (1,500+) | $4,550–$12,650 | $4,650–$12,850 | $5,050–$13,650 | $5,350–$14,250 | $5,850–$15,250 | $6,350–$16,250 |
Local moves are typically billed hourly (roughly $50–$90 per mover, per hour). Long-distance moves are billed by weight and mileage.
What moves the number most
Distance
Crossing state lines adds fuel, regulation, and insurance. It's usually the single biggest factor.
How much you're moving
More rooms means more weight, a bigger truck, and more hours of labor.
DIY vs. movers
Renting a truck yourself can cost a fraction of a full-service crew on the same route.
Timing
May–September and weekends are peak. Booking October–April often trims costs noticeably.
How storage keeps a move cheaper
This is where a unit earns its keep. If your move-out and move-in dates don't line up, a month-to-month storage unit is usually far cheaper than paying movers to hold your belongings or booking a second trip. It also lets you move in stages — clear out the non-essentials first, downsize what you're hauling, and avoid renting the biggest truck on the lot. Less weight and fewer trips is less money, every time.
Tips to Lower Your Moving Costs
- Move mid-week and mid-month: Movers and truck rental companies charge premium rates on weekends and at the end of the month when demand peaks. Shifting your move date by even a few days can save 10–20%.
- Declutter before you pack: Every item you don't move is money saved — fewer boxes means less truck space and less labor time. Sell, donate, or discard anything you haven't used in the past year.
- Collect free boxes: Liquor stores, bookstores, and grocery stores give away sturdy boxes daily. Post on Buy Nothing or Nextdoor — neighbors who just moved are often eager to offload boxes.
- Pack yourself; hire movers only for loading: Packing is the most time-intensive part of a professional move. Doing it yourself and hiring movers only for load/unload can cut the total bill by 30% or more.
- Use storage to bridge the gap: If your new home isn't ready on move-out day, a short-term storage unit is almost always cheaper than paying professional movers to wait or make a second trip.
Need storage while you settle in?
10 Federal Storage offers month-to-month leases with no long-term commitment — perfect for bridging the gap between move-out and move-in.