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Moving cost estimator.The 110% rule, shown.
Per-pound rate, fuel surcharge, packing, stairs, and full-value coverage. Plus the FMCSA 110% rule that caps your at-delivery bill on non-binding estimates. Free. No signup.
The move
Rate assumptions
Add-on services
Estimated total
$3,381
Range: $2,874 – $3,888
Non-binding cap
$3,719
110% of estimate, per FMCSA
Weight (est.)
5,000 lbs
Binding max
$3,381
Packing added
$0
Stairs added
$0
In plain English
Expect $3,381 for this move at 5,000 lbs estimated weight. The crucial thing your written estimate does is set the ceiling on what the mover can collect at delivery. A binding estimate caps the bill at $3,381. A non-binding estimate caps the at-delivery bill at $3,719 (110% per FMCSA 49 CFR Part 375), with any overage deferred for 30 days. If the mover refuses delivery without payment over 110%, that is a federal violation.
Get the estimate in writing, marked binding or non-binding, and demand a weight ticket from the certified scale before payment. The estimate that comes in $500 lower than competitors is often non-binding and will not stay that low.
Rate defaults reflect 2026 US household-goods market medians.
Why this one
Every other calculator gives a number.This one names the ceiling.
FMCSA 110% rule, surfaced
Non-binding estimates can grow up to 110 percent at delivery before the mover must release the shipment and defer billing. We show that number. The federal rule is the only thing standing between you and a hostage-load shakedown on move day.
Binding vs non-binding, named
Binding estimates cap at 100 percent. Non-binding cap at 110. Every other calculator silently assumes non-binding because the math is friendlier. We show both, side by side, so you know what you're shopping against.
Add-ons priced, not hidden
Packing service is +30 percent. Stairs or long carry is +10. Full-value coverage is +1 percent of declared value (about $6/lb baseline). Most calculators bury these as 'optional extras'; we make them line items.
How it works
The math behind the estimate.
Estimated weight by home size: studio 1,500 lbs, 1BR 2,500, 2BR 5,000, 3BR 7,500, 4BR 10,000, 5BR+ 12,500. The actual move bills against weight at the certified scale; these are 2026 averages from Allied and Consumer Affairs surveys. A heavy book collection or a full garage tips you to the next category.
Long-distance estimate (100+ miles) = weight × per-pound rate + miles × $0.60. The 2026 per-pound median is $0.50, with summer rates and remote-origin surcharges pushing it to $0.70. Fuel surcharge of 5 percent typical layers on top.
Local estimate (under 100 miles) is hourly: two movers at $80 per hour, with hours scaled to home size (studio 3 hours, 1BR 4, 2BR 6, 3BR 8, 4BR 10, 5BR+ 12). Larger crews can shorten the hours but the total bills roughly the same. Local moves do not get a weight ticket; the bill is whatever the clock and the truck say.
Add-ons: packing service adds 30 percent, stairs or long carry adds 10 percent. Full-value coverage is computed at 1 percent of declared value where declared value defaults to $6 per pound (the standard interstate floor for full-value coverage pricing). All add-ons apply after fuel surcharge.
110% non-binding cap = estimate × 1.10. This is the federal ceiling on what the mover can require you to pay at delivery under a non-binding estimate. The remainder is deferred 30 days. If the mover demands more than this to release the shipment, it is a violation of 49 CFR Part 375 and grounds for an FMCSA complaint.
What this calculator can't see is the moving contract itself: whether the estimate is marked binding or non-binding (some movers leave this blank), the valuation election (basic 60c/lb vs full-value), the arbitration clause that limits your venue if the shipment arrives damaged, the cancellation penalty if your closing slips, and the shuttle-truck surcharge that gets added if the truck can't reach the door. Once the dollar estimate is clear, scan the contract to see what the mover is actually allowed to do when reality differs from the estimate.
Questions
Moving cost FAQ.
How much does a long-distance move cost?+
Long-distance interstate moves of 100+ miles bill by actual weight at the scale plus mileage. The 2026 median rate is around $0.50 per pound with a $0.60 per mile add-on. A 2-bedroom (about 5,000 pounds) moving 1,200 miles costs roughly $3,200 base before packing, stairs, or valuation upgrades. The number grows fast: a 3-bedroom (7,500 lbs) at 2,000 miles can run $5,000 to $8,000 before add-ons. Summer moves (June through August) typically run 10 to 15 percent higher than winter.
What is the FMCSA 110% rule?+
Under 49 CFR Part 375, when you have a non-binding written estimate, the mover cannot require payment of more than 110 percent of the estimate to release your shipment at delivery. The mover can bill for the remaining charges, but only on a 30-day deferred basis. If a mover refuses to release your shipment unless you pay over 110 percent at delivery, that is a federal violation under the FMCSA hostage-load rules and you can file a complaint at fmcsa.dot.gov. The 110% rule does not apply to binding estimates (those cap at 100 percent of the estimate) or to extra services you actually ordered after the estimate was signed.
What is the difference between a binding and non-binding moving estimate?+
A binding estimate guarantees the price. You pay the estimated amount at delivery, no more and no less, even if your shipment weighs more than expected. A non-binding estimate is the mover's best guess. The final bill is based on actual weight at the certified scale, and the mover can bill up to 110 percent at delivery (with the remainder deferred 30 days). Most long-distance movers quote non-binding because it lets them rebill upward when the shipment weighs more. Always demand the estimate be marked binding or non-binding on the document itself; an unmarked estimate is a red flag.
Should I get full-value coverage or basic valuation?+
Basic valuation (Released Value Protection) is free and caps the mover's liability at 60 cents per pound per item, regardless of actual value. A 50-pound TV is worth $30 in claims. Full-value coverage costs about 1 percent of the declared value, computed against $6 per pound at minimum, and pays replacement cost on damaged or missing items. For a 5,000-pound 2-bedroom move, that is about $300 added to the bill for $30,000 of coverage. Full-value coverage is almost always the better choice for interstate moves; basic valuation is risky for anyone with electronics or quality furniture.
Why is the moving estimate so much lower than the final bill?+
Three reasons, in declining order of legitimacy. First, non-binding estimates default to undershooting because the mover earns more if the actual weight comes in higher. Second, packing and add-on services (stairs, long carry, shuttle truck) get billed at delivery without showing on the estimate. Third, some movers run a hostage-load scam: lowball the estimate, hold the shipment until you pay 200 percent or more, and bet you won't fight back. The FMCSA 110% rule is the protection against the third; demanding a written binding estimate is the protection against the first two.
How much does packing service add to a move?+
Full-service packing typically adds 25 to 35 percent to the base estimate, depending on the home size and packing density. Partial packing (kitchen and fragile items only) runs 10 to 15 percent. The packing cost is usually billed at an hourly rate per packer for local moves and as a flat percentage of the weight-based estimate for long-distance. Doing your own packing saves the most money but voids the mover's liability for any breakage in boxes you packed yourself, which is a meaningful tradeoff if you're moving fragile electronics or art.