How much do movers cost?
because friends don't ruin friends' weekends.
Five digits, please.
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What movers cost in LA, by home size
A local move in Los Angeles is priced by the hour: the crew, times the hours, times the rate. California caps that rate. Here is what a typical move runs, next to the most a mover can legally charge per hour for that crew.
A local move is priced by the hour: the crew, times the hours, times the rate. Here is what a typical move runs in your state.
| Home | Crew | Hours | Typical cost | Legal max per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2 | 3 | $540 to $646 | $215.48 |
| 1 bedroom | 2 | 4 | $720 to $862 | $215.48 |
| 2 bedrooms | 3 | 5 to 6 | $1,350 to $1,729 | $288.19 |
| 3 bedrooms | 4 | 6 to 7 | $2,160 to $2,526 | $360.90 |
| 4 bedrooms | 4 | 8 to 9 | $2,880 to $3,248 | $360.90 |
| 5+ bedrooms | 4 to 5 | 9 to 12 | $2,250 to $5,203 | $360.90 to $433.61 |
How this number works
Each row takes the crew size and hours that moving guides publish for that home size, times the average hourly rate for movers in your state.
Each row takes the crew size and hours that moving guides publish for that home size, times Los Angeles hourly rates, and never goes above the state cap. The cap for a weekday move inside California of 100 miles or less is $215.48 an hour for 2 movers and a truck, plus $72.71 an hour for each extra mover. Movers can charge less, never more.
The rows assume a 12-mile move across town with nothing unusual. Your own estimate starts from your two ZIP codes and what you're moving, so it can land above or below these.
What moves the price up or down
- Hours, more than anything. The crew bills every hour they're on the clock. Less stuff and a home that's packed and ready cost less.
- Drive time, counted twice. In California, the hourly clock includes double the driving time between your two homes.
- Stairs and long walks. Narrow stairs, no elevator or a long carry to the truck can add $200 to $500.
- Heavy things. A piano adds $260 to $580.
- Packing. Having the crew pack for you runs $280 to $2,200, materials included, depending on how much there is.
- The calendar. Peak season runs May through September, when dates book up first.
How this number works
California also lets movers add actual bridge and ferry tolls to an hourly bill, and rounds time to the quarter hour. The add-on ranges above are what homeowners report paying, not caps. Your estimate adds the ones that apply to your move.
The add-on ranges above are what homeowners report paying, not caps. Your estimate adds the ones that apply to your move.
Estimate vs. quote
An estimate
is what a move like yours usually costs, built from published prices. It's what this site gives you, free, before anyone sees your name.
It is not a price any mover has agreed to.
A quote
is a mover's own price for your move, once they know your stuff, your stairs and your date. It's the number you'd actually pay.
It is not always close to the estimate. Get it in writing before move day.
How far out to book
| Local move | 2 to 4 weeks ahead |
|---|---|
| Long-distance move | 4 to 8 weeks ahead |
| Cross-country | 8 to 12 weeks ahead |
| A weekend in peak season | 6 weeks or more |
Booking late, under 2 weeks out, means fewer movers to choose from, and moving guides warn it can raise the bill. None of them puts a dollar figure on it, so we don't either.
Questions people ask
Why is the price range so wide?
Because every mover prices differently, and the guides we use publish ranges, not single prices. Packing alone runs $280 to $2,200, depending on how much stuff you have and who's doing it. The estimate tells you the ballpark. Real quotes give you the number.
How much do movers cost per hour?
Published rates run $100 to $150 an hour for a 2-person crew on a small apartment, and $150 to $270 an hour for the 3-person crew a 2 bedroom usually needs.
How much do movers cost for a 1 bedroom apartment?
For a local move, a 1 bedroom usually takes 3 to 4 hours with 2 movers at $100 to $150 an hour. That works out to $300 to $600 before extras and travel time.
What counts as a long-distance move?
A move over 100 miles usually counts as long distance. Those are usually priced by weight and distance instead of by the hour.
How much should you tip movers?
Guides suggest at least 10% and up to 20% of the final bill.