Moving can be exciting, whether it’s up the street to a bigger home or across the country to pursue a better job opportunity. No matter the circumstances, there will be plenty to look forward to. For most Texans, though, figuring out what moving service to trust with preparing, packing, loading, and moving their most valuable possessions isn’t the most enjoyable part.
One of the first things most people consider when they start requesting quotes from professional movers is how much it will cost. The only way to know for sure how much a moving company will charge is to reach out for a quote. However, homeowners who want to have a better idea of what they’re getting into can also read on to find out how much it typically costs to hire moving services in Texas before starting to reach out.
The Average Cost of Moving
Prices for hiring moving companies range from a little under $200 to well into the thousands. For those who like to have the statistics in front of them when they evaluate prices, the average cost of hiring a moving company in Texas is around $1,500, but not all movers charge flat rates. In terms of hourly charges, the national average for local moves is around $109 per hour, while long-distance movers charge an average of $120 per hour.
The problem with averages is that they only show so much. If there are outliers, which there almost always are, they can skew the data to make it look like moving will be cheaper or more expensive than it is. In reality, some people will get incredible deals on moving services and wind up paying less than half of what they expected, and others will double their costs by hiring specialty movers.
Getting to the bottom of what to expect to pay professional movers require going beyond the averages to investigate things like price ranges and factors that influence the cost. Otherwise, customers could well be left turning down a good deal because they don’t have a clear grasp of what they should expect to pay.
Factors That Influence Cost
How far the items will be transported is certainly not the only factor that impacts moving costs. To provide an accurate quote, the moving company will also need to know things like:
- How many rooms the current home has.
- Whether there are fragile or specialty items that need to be moved.
- What level of service customers want.
- How many movers will be needed to get the job done efficiently.
- Whether there are staircases or other obstacles.
- What’s being moved.
- If the items will need to be stored before unloading.
Now, let’s get to the bottom of how each of these factors will influence the overall cost.
1. Number of Rooms
The number of rooms in a home will dramatically affect how much it costs to hire movers. Most of the time, home size is calculated not by the overall number of rooms in the home but by how many bedrooms it has. On average, here’s what customers can expect to pay for basic moving services:
- $299 for just a few items
- $342 for a studio
- $385 for one bedroom
- $558 for two bedrooms
- $731 for three bedrooms
- $904 for four bedrooms
- $1,077 for five bedrooms
The problem is that these numbers cover only basic, local moving costs, which isn’t what most people need. Knowing what it costs to get the minimum available services is still helpful in evaluating more complex quotes, though.
2. Distance of the Move
As a general rule, customers can expect to pay more if they plan on moving more than 50 miles. Long-distance movers often use a different fee schedule to calculate costs because they need to take into account factors such as fuel costs and driving time. Instead of charging hourly rates, many long-distance moving companies charge by cubic feet of space used in the truck. The average price ranges for long-distance moves vary from:
- $400-$1,898 to move 50-250 mi
- $750-$2,900 to move 215-500 mi
- $1,450-$5,250 to move 501-1,000 mi
- $1,500-$5,000 to move 1,001-2,000 mi
- $1,850-$7,200 to move 2,001-3,000 mi
These price ranges vary significantly not just because each moving company charges a different rate but also because of the many other variables that impact long-distance moving costs.
3. Level of Service
Local and long-distance movers, alike, typically offer add-on services designed to make customers’ lives easier during stressful times. Some people prefer to simply rent a truck from a moving company and take a DIY approach. Others want help with transportation and loading/unloading, but not packing. Full-service moving costs include everything from safely packing up the home to unpacking the items when they reach their final destination.
Packing and unpacking are by far the most popular add-on services. On average, they add $404 to a customer’s bill, but, again, that’s only a very rough estimate. Some moving companies have hourly fees for packing and loading, while others charge by box. The cost of packing also varies depending on what’s being packed and the type of boxes required. Companies may charge more for packaging china and glassware than books or linens, for example.
Because every company has such different fee schedules for packing services, it’s difficult to make generalizations. However, most people can expect to add at least a few hundred dollars to their bills. For packing materials, alone, most people pay:
- $50-$125 for a one-bedroom apartment
- $100-$200 for a two-bedroom home
- $250-$400 for a four-bedroom home
Don’t forget to subtract the cost of packaging materials from the overall quote when deciding whether packing services are worth the money. Labor costs without consideration of materials purchased can range from $305 to $1,180, or more, depending on the size of the home and what’s being packed.
4. Number of Movers
If the moving company calculates costs based on hourly rates, the charges will go up as more people are added to the job. For two movers, the average cost of around $100 will still apply. Add more people to the equation, or more trucks, and the hourly cost goes up. Companies in Texas that charge by the hour typically add $45 per person to make sure they will be able to pay their employees well.
5. Stairs and Other Obstacles
Some moving companies charge extra fees for dealing with obstacles such as stairs, narrow passageways, or steep driveways that could create extra risk for the workers. The rates for dealing with these kinds of added obstacles are typically set and range from $50-$70 per flight of stairs, or $75-100 for the required use of an elevator.
Make sure to offer plenty of details to moving companies when requesting quotes so that they’ll be able to provide accurate estimates and ensure the safety of both their workers and the belongings being transported. Sometimes, navigating obstacles and tight spaces requires the use of specialty equipment.
6. What’s Being Moved
There are several circumstances under which movers will charge different fees based on what they’re transporting. The packing service described above that bills by the box is just one good example. Fragile items that require a lot of special handling often cost more to transport than basic home goods, mostly because it takes more time to pack and move them.
Oversized items can also add to a moving bill. Pianos, pool tables, and hot tubs all fall into the category of large items that require special handling and technical expertise to move safely. Exceptionally heavy items may cost more to move, as well, even if they aren’t as fragile as those described above.
7. Need for Storage
Not all moving companies offer storage solutions, so those that do typically charge a premium for the service. The problem is that families often have no choice. If, for example, a family is moving to a new home in a different city or state and plans on driving one or more vehicles to the final destination instead of hiring a car moving service, it can be nearly impossible to time the drop-off correctly.
Some people also move to new cities and rent homes until they are able to find the right one to buy. In this case, more long-term storage solutions may be required. Either way, customers can expect to pay an extra fee for the service, but that fee is usually less than what would be required to rent a short-term storage unit.
The Best Way to Do the Math on Moving Costs
It doesn’t matter whether someone plans on moving a one-bedroom apartment across town and only wants loading and unloading services or needs to find a full-service, long-distance moving company to transport a four-bedroom home. The best way to figure out how much it will cost to hire movers is the same. It’s to reach out to local professionals to discuss the job and request detailed quotes.
Don’t forget to offer a full picture of what the move will entail. Movers need to know not just how many rooms the house has and how far its contents will need to be transported but also what types of specialty objects will be included, whether there are stairs and other obstacles, and if the customer will need temporary storage. Offering a complete picture of what to expect is the only way to get an accurate quote.
