📦moverscostcalculator.com
2026 Edition · No form · No affiliate

What moving actually costs — no quote request.

Line-itemed move budget. 14 size × distance tiers sourced from MoveBuddha 2026, Move.org distance bands, and Allied published averages. FMCSA-anchored consumer safety. No name, no email, no funnel to a moving broker.

Line-itemed move budget

Every line, no funnel

Pick home size and distance band. See base + valuation + tips + supplies as separate line items. No name, no email, no quote request.

Your move
Estimated total
$942-$2,411
2 bedrooms · Local (under 100 mi)
Line items
Base move$800-$1,700
Full-value protection$12-$51
Crew tips$80-$360
Packing supplies$50-$300
FMCSA 110% rule: for interstate moves, the mover cannot collect more than 110% of the non-binding written estimate at delivery. Get a binding estimate where possible.

Source: MoveBuddha 2026. Family-sized load.

URL state shareable · Verified 2026-06-03
Hidden costs

9 line items rarely on the quote

Most movers' published quotes don't include these. Plan for them or they become bill-shock at delivery.

Packing supplies

$50-$300
Boxes, tape, paper, bubble wrap. DIY $50-$150; mover-supplied $150-$300+

Tip per mover

$20-$60 each
MoveBuddha 2026 reports $20-$60 per mover for local; higher for cross-country

Insurance (full-value)

1-3% of value
Released-value $0.60/lb is FREE but covers almost nothing. Full-value protection costs 1-3% of declared value.

Deposit

$100-$500
Reputable movers don't take large deposits. FMCSA: more than 25% deposit is a red flag.

Stairs / elevator fee

$50-$150 per flight
Many movers charge per flight of stairs or per elevator floor above 2

Long-carry fee

$75-$250
If truck can't park within 75 feet of door

Shuttle fee

$200-$500
When street access requires offloading to smaller vehicle

Storage in transit

$100-$500/mo
If origin and destination don't sync

Cancellation fee

$50-$200 within 48hrs
Always read the policy before booking
FMCSA consumer protections

The 5 rules that protect you

For interstate moves, FMCSA regulates how movers must behave. Know these before signing.

The 110% rule
Interstate movers cannot collect more than 110% of the non-binding written estimate at delivery. The remainder is billed within 30 days.
Released value (default)
Default liability is $0.60 per pound per article — covers almost nothing for damaged electronics, furniture, etc.
Full-value protection
Full-value protection requires the mover to repair, replace, or settle damaged items at full value. Cost typically 1-3% of declared value.
Binding vs non-binding
Binding estimate locks the price. Non-binding estimate can vary by up to 10% before the 110% rule kicks in.
Bill of Lading
Bill of Lading must accompany the shipment and be signed at delivery — your receipt + contract.

fmcsa.dot.gov pages returned HTTP 403 today; regulations summarised from FMCSA-derived secondary sources. Verify verbatim regulatory text via 49 CFR Part 375 on eCFR before relying.

Why this exists

Every other moving cost calculator is a lead-gen funnel

Search "moving cost calculator" and the top results all ask for your name, email, and phone before showing a number. The number that comes back is usually a quote-handoff to a partner mover paying a referral fee. The mover then calls you 8 times in 48 hours.

moverscostcalculator.com is the independent reference. No form. No email capture. No quote handoff. No affiliate revenue on any mover, broker, or lead-gen platform. Just the line-itemed budget you actually need. Methodology.