📦moverscostcalculator.com
2026 Edition · No form · No email capture

What moving actually costs — no quote request.

Line-itemed move budget. 14 size × distance tiers sourced from MoveBuddha 2026, Move.org distance bands, and Allied published averages. FMCSA-anchored consumer safety. No name or email required to see the number, and nothing gated behind a lead form.

Two movers carrying a wrapped couch into a yellow box truck parked on a suburban driveway, with stacked cardboard boxes in the foreground
Line-itemed move budget

Every line, no funnel

Pick home size and distance band. See base + valuation + tips + supplies as separate line items. No name, no email, no quote request.

Your move
Estimated total
$902-$2,231
2 bedrooms · Local (under 100 mi)
Line items
Base move$800-$1,700
Full-value protection$12-$51
Crew tips$40-$180
Packing supplies$50-$300
FMCSA 110% rule: for interstate moves, the mover cannot collect more than 110% of the non-binding written estimate at delivery. Get a binding estimate where possible.

Source: MoveBuddha 2026. Family-sized load.

URL state shareable · Verified 2026-06-03
Ready for binding quotes? Get matched with movers →

Via Angi, free to use. Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you submit a request. Never affects our estimates.

Hidden costs

9 line items rarely on the quote

Most movers' published quotes don't include these. Plan for them or they become bill-shock at delivery.

Packing supplies

$50-$300
Boxes, tape, paper, bubble wrap. DIY $50-$150; mover-supplied $150-$300+

Tip per mover

$20-$60 each
MoveBuddha 2026: $20-$30 per mover half-day, $40-$60 full-day (or 5-20% of the bill). Tip each crew separately on long-distance moves.

Insurance (full-value)

1-3% of value
Released-value $0.60/lb is FREE but covers almost nothing. Full-value protection costs 1-3% of declared value.

Deposit

$100-$500
Reputable movers don't require a large upfront deposit; FMCSA flags demands for a large deposit as a scam warning sign (no fixed percentage is published).

Stairs / elevator fee

$50-$150 per flight
Many movers charge per flight of stairs or per elevator floor above 2

Long-carry fee

$75-$250
If truck can't park within 75 feet of door

Shuttle fee

$200-$500
When street access requires offloading to smaller vehicle

Storage in transit

$100-$500/mo
If origin and destination don't sync

Cancellation fee

$50-$200 within 48hrs
Always read the policy before booking
FMCSA consumer protections

The 5 rules that protect you

For interstate moves, FMCSA regulates how movers must behave. Know these before signing.

The 110% rule
Interstate movers cannot collect more than 110% of the non-binding written estimate at delivery. The remainder is billed within 30 days.
Released value (default)
Default liability is $0.60 per pound per article — covers almost nothing for damaged electronics, furniture, etc.
Full-value protection
Full-value protection requires the mover to repair, replace, or settle damaged items at full value. Cost typically 1-3% of declared value.
Binding vs non-binding
Binding estimate locks the price. Non-binding estimate can vary by up to 10% before the 110% rule kicks in.
Bill of Lading
Bill of Lading must accompany the shipment and be signed at delivery — your receipt + contract.

fmcsa.dot.gov pages returned HTTP 403; regulations summarised from FMCSA-derived secondary sources (110% rule re-confirmed via search 2026-09-04). Verify verbatim regulatory text via 49 CFR Part 375 on eCFR before relying.

Why this exists

Many moving cost calculators ask for your phone number first

Search "moving cost calculator" and many of the results ask for your name, email, and phone before showing a number. The number that comes back is often a quote-handoff to a partner mover paying a referral fee, and then the calls start.

moverscostcalculator.com is the independent reference. No form. No email capture. The number is free to see, with nothing gated behind a lead form. Our cost figures are editorial and never influenced by commercial links; the one partner link (Angi, for live quotes) is clearly labelled and optional. Just the line-itemed budget you actually need. Methodology.