Moving Cost Calculator

About the Moving Cost Calculator

Moving house is expensive, stressful, and full of costs that are easy to underestimate. The biggest decision is whether to do it yourself with a rental truck and friends, or hire professional movers. The first is cheaper but exhausting; the second costs more but saves your back, your weekend and possibly your furniture. Knowing roughly what each option costs before you start makes the decision — and the budget — much easier.

This moving cost calculator estimates both. Choose the size of your home, enter the distance, and adjust the packing, truck rental, mileage, fuel and movers' hourly rate to local prices. It gives the estimated cost of a DIY move with a rental truck, the cost of professional movers, the difference between them, and the packing you will need.

How to Use the Moving Cost Calculator

Choose your home size, from a studio to four bedrooms.

Enter the distance in miles between the homes.

Adjust the cost of packing per box, including tape and wrapping.

For a DIY move, adjust the truck rental per day, the mileage charge, the truck's fuel economy and the fuel price.

For movers, adjust the rate per mover per hour.

How the Moving Cost Is Worked Out

  packing      =  boxes for the home size × cost per box
  truck days   =  1 + one extra day for every 400 miles
  truck        =  days × day rate + miles × mileage charge
  fuel         =  miles ÷ truck mpg × fuel price
  DIY          =  truck + fuel + packing

  crew hours   =  loading and unloading hours + miles ÷ 40 mph
  movers       =  movers × hourly rate × crew hours + packing

Step-by-Step Example

A 2-bedroom home moving 20 miles, a truck at 60 a day and 0.99 a mile, 10 mpg, fuel at 3.60, 40 boxes at 2.50, three movers at 50 an hour.

  Truck:     1 × 60 + 20 × 0.99         =  79.80
  Fuel:      20 ÷ 10 × 3.60             =  7.20
  Packing:   40 × 2.50                  =  100.00
  DIY:       79.80 + 7.20 + 100         =  187.00
  Movers:    3 × 50 × (6 + 20 ÷ 40)     =  975.00, plus packing = 1,075.00

Typical Figures by Home Size

These are averages. A home with lots of books, a large kitchen, a garage or a home office needs more boxes and more time; a minimalist home needs less. Stairs, long walks from the door to the truck and heavy items such as pianos add time.

Local and Long-Distance Moves

Local movers almost always charge by the hour per mover, often with a minimum of two to four hours and a charge for travel time. The estimate here follows that model and is most useful for moves up to about 100 miles. Long-distance and interstate movers usually price by the weight or volume of your belongings and the distance, and often include packing materials, fuel and insurance in the quote. For those moves, use the estimate as a rough comparison and get at least three written quotes.

DIY Moves

A rental truck is usually charged by the day plus a mileage fee for local moves, or as a one-way package for long distances. Fuel is extra, and trucks are thirsty: around 8 to 12 miles per gallon. You will also need helpers — friends, family, or hired labour for a few hours, which is a popular middle option — plus a dolly, blankets and straps. The saving is large, but so is the effort, and injuries and damaged furniture are not unusual.

Hidden Moving Costs

Tips for movers, often 10 to 15 percent of the bill or a set amount per person.

Insurance for valuables beyond the basic cover movers provide.

Storage if the move-out and move-in dates do not line up.

Cleaning the old home to get the deposit back.

Time off work, takeaway meals, parking permits, and utility connection fees.

Replacing things that do not fit or break along the way.

A contingency of 10 to 20 percent on top of the estimate is sensible.

Moving Containers and Hybrid Options

Between a full DIY move and full-service movers sit several middle options. A portable moving container is delivered to your door, you pack it at your own pace, and the company drives it to your new home — useful for long-distance moves or when dates do not line up, since the container can be stored. Some people rent a truck but hire labour-only movers for two or three hours to load and unload the heavy items. Others pay movers only for the furniture and move boxes themselves in a car over several trips. Each option trades money against time and effort, and the figures in this calculator help you price the parts.

Choosing a Moving Date

Moving costs vary through the year. Summer weekends and the end and start of each month are the busiest times, and rental trucks and movers cost more and book up early. A mid-week, mid-month move in autumn or winter is often noticeably cheaper.

Understanding Your Result

Moving cost gives the estimated DIY and professional costs.

DIY with a truck breaks down the truck, fuel and packing.

Professional movers shows the crew cost and packing.

Difference shows how much more movers cost.

Packing gives the boxes needed and their cost.

Worth knowing covers tips, or quotes for long moves.

When Should You Use This Calculator?

Deciding between a DIY move and hiring movers.

Budgeting for a move before choosing a new home.

Checking a quote from a moving company.

Planning packing and how many boxes to buy.

Comparing a truck rental with a moving container.

Common Mistakes

Underestimating the boxes you need.

Forgetting travel time in movers' hourly charges.

Leaving out fuel for the truck.

Relying on hourly estimates for long-distance moves.

Forgetting tips, insurance and cleaning.