1-bedroom long-distance move (400-1,500 miles).
$2,800-$5,500 typical cost. Per-pound or per-cubic-foot pricing.
The shape of the move.
$2,800-$5,500 typical. Pricing model is per-pound or per-cubic-foot. Single-truck shared load (with other shipments) typical for cost efficiency, 7-14 day delivery window. Common scenario: career-stage relocation across regions (Northeast → Southeast, Midwest → West).
What you're actually paying for.
Per-pound rates ($0.15-$0.21/lb for long-distance) dominate. 1BR household typically 3,000-5,000 lb = $450-$1,050 just for shipping weight; remainder is line-haul + fuel + labour + insurance. Shared-load efficiency keeps the band competitive.
What competitors won't tell you upfront.
Storage-in-transit ($100-$500/mo) if origin and destination dates don't sync. Shuttle fee ($200-$500) if destination access is restricted (common in urban high-rises). Long-carry ($75-$250) if street parking is restricted. Tip per mover at long-distance can run $50-$100 each (longer engagement).
Anti-pattern detection.
Reasonable: binding or binding-not-to-exceed quote after in-home survey or detailed video survey, written delivery window (e.g. 5-10 business days), FMCSA-registered mover (verify on FMCSA SAFER), $0 deposit until pickup or under 25%. Suspicious: very-low non-binding quote (110% rule overrun risk), large deposit demanded before pickup, no SAFER registration.