Moving Cost Calculator
- Crew labor
- Truck
- Mileage
- Materials
- Profit
That bills out at $64.35 per mover-hour. If you quote hourly, charge at least that and set a minimum so short jobs still cover the truck.
Turn this into a quote
A one-page PDF for your customer, filled in from the numbers above. Your markup isn't shown.
How the moving cost calculation works
Quote a moving job from crew size, hours, truck, mileage and materials, with your markup on top.
Price the crew at cost
Multiply movers × hours × what a mover-hour costs you. Three movers for 5 hours at $28 is $420.
Add the truck and miles
Add the truck's cost for the day and the miles at your cost per mile. $150 plus 40 miles at $1.50 is $210.
Add materials
Boxes, tape, stretch wrap and pads you leave with the customer or use up. Here, $85.
Mark up the job cost
A 35% markup on $715 of cost adds $250.25, for a quote of $965.25.
Worked example. A 3-mover, 5-hour local move with a $28 labor cost per mover-hour, a $150 truck, 40 miles at $1.50 and $85 of materials costs $715. With a 35% markup the quote is $965.25, leaving $250.25 of profit (a 25.9% margin), or $193.05 per crew hour.
Moving Cost FAQ
How do I estimate what movers cost for a job?
Movers usually charge crew hours × hourly rate, plus truck time, mileage and packing materials. Enter those and your markup to see the price a customer pays and what's left after costs.
How do moving companies calculate cost?
Most local movers charge by the hour for the crew and truck, plus materials and any travel fee. Interstate movers price from their own published tariff, so a long-distance quote follows that tariff rather than this hourly build-up. This calculator works out the hourly-job version from your own costs.
How much do movers charge per hour?
There is no official rate; it depends on your market and your costs. Work it out from your side: in the example, 3 movers for 5 hours with a $965.25 quote bill out at $64.35 per mover-hour, or $193.05 per crew hour. Charge at least your own per-mover-hour figure from the result, and set a minimum so short jobs still cover the truck.
How much do movers cost for a local move?
For an hourly local move, the price is crew labor plus truck, mileage and materials, with the mover's markup on top. The default job here, 3 movers for 5 hours, costs the mover $715 and is quoted at $965.25. Change the crew, hours and your own rates to price a real job.
How much should I mark up a moving job?
Enough to cover office staff, sales, insurance, damage claims and profit, which hourly crew cost alone does not. Check the margin shown: if it is thin, a single damage claim can wipe out the job.
What rules apply to interstate moving estimates?
FMCSA says interstate household goods movers must have a USDOT number and be registered with FMCSA. Estimates should be written and signed, and based on an in-person inspection rather than given by phone or online sight unseen. On a non-binding estimate, the mover cannot require more than 10% above the estimate at delivery (the 110 percent rule). Moves within one state follow state rules instead.
What must I give an interstate moving customer?
FMCSA requires interstate movers and brokers to give customers the booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move and the Ready to Move brochure. You must also prepare an inventory of the shipment, and offer Full Value Protection as well as the basic 60 cents per pound liability.
Should drive time be included in the hours?
Yes. The crew is paid from the time they leave the yard, so include drive time in the job hours, or charge it as a separate travel fee.
How do I estimate hours for a local move?
Use your own past jobs by home size. Track the actual hours on every job and compare them with the estimate, because underestimating hours is where most moving quotes lose money.
Sources: FMCSA: Steps to select a mover (written estimate, USDOT number, 110 percent rule) · FMCSA: Tips for a successful move (Rights and Responsibilities booklet, inventory, liability) · FMCSA: Red flags of moving fraud (sight-unseen estimates) · FMCSA: Movers vs. brokers (estimates based on the mover's tariff)