Moving is expensive either way: you pay with money or with your time and back. This calculator compares a do-it-yourself move with a rental truck against hiring professional movers.
Doing it yourself
DIY cost = rental days × daily rate + miles × mileage rate + fuel + supplies
For a local move of 100 miles: a truck at $40 a day plus $0.99 a mile, 10 mpg at $3.50 a gallon ($35 of fuel), and $150 of boxes, tape and pads:
40 + 99 + 35 + 150 = $324
Add any dolly or furniture pad rental, pizza for friends who help, and tolls or parking. One-way long-distance rentals are priced differently, often with a flat rate and a mileage allowance, and can run from several hundred to several thousand dollars.
Rental trucks are thirsty: most get only about 8 to 12 mpg, less when loaded or in hills.
Hiring movers
Local movers usually charge by the hour for a crew:
movers = hours × number of movers × hourly rate
A 2-bedroom apartment often takes 3 movers 6 to 8 hours. At $50 per mover per hour: 8 × 3 × 50 = $1,200, before any travel fee, stairs fee, packing service or tip (often 15 to 20% or $20 to $40 per mover for a full day). Long-distance moves are priced by weight and distance, and interstate movers must be registered with the FMCSA.
Comparing
Here, doing it yourself saves about $876, but count what it costs in time, the risk of injury and damage, and whether you have friends available. Many people mix the two: pack themselves and hire movers only for loading and driving, or rent a moving container.
Ways to save
- Declutter first: every box you do not move saves time and money.
- Move midweek and mid-month, avoiding summer weekends and month-end when prices peak.
- Get at least three written estimates, and prefer binding or not-to-exceed quotes.
- Collect free boxes from stores, and use towels and linens as padding.
- Check whether your employer covers relocation costs.
Protecting your belongings
Movers’ basic liability often covers only about 60 cents per pound per item. Consider full-value protection for valuable items, and photograph electronics and furniture before the move.