What an interstate move costs, by home size and distance
5 min read · updated 2026-10-09
A 2-bedroom move of about 1,000 miles usually costs $3,100–$5,600; a studio $1,800–$3,200, a 4-bedroom $4,500–$8,150. Size matters less than people expect: in this model a 5-bedroom home weighs 4.6 times as much as a 1-bedroom but costs about 2.3 times as much to move.
These are modelled ranges, not quotes. Federal filings contain no prices: each mover sets its own in its tariff. The model prices a move by weight and distance, adjusted for season, fitted to moveBuddha's published 2026 cost table and checked against HireAHelper and National Van Lines figures. Only a mover's written estimate is a price.
Cost by home size and distance
| Home | 500 miles | 1,000 miles | 2,000 miles | Coast to coast (2,800 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,500–$2,800 | $1,800–$3,200 | $2,150–$3,700 | $2,450–$4,050 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,900–$3,550 | $2,250–$4,100 | $2,750–$4,700 | $3,100–$5,200 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,600–$4,900 | $3,100–$5,600 | $3,750–$6,450 | $4,250–$7,100 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,250–$6,100 | $3,850–$7,000 | $4,700–$8,050 | $5,300–$8,850 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,800–$7,150 | $4,500–$8,150 | $5,500–$9,400 | $6,200–$10,350 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $4,400–$8,200 | $5,200–$9,450 | $6,300–$10,850 | $7,150–$11,950 |
Mid-month outside summer, with no packing, stairs or storage. The coast-to-coast column lies beyond the distances in the published table the model is fitted to, so it is the least certain.
Why size matters less than you'd think
The truck, the crew and the miles cost much the same whether the truck is half full or full, so each extra pound costs less than the one before. In this model a 5-bedroom home weighs 4.6 times as much as a 1-bedroom and costs about 2.3 times as much to move. Distance works the same way: a longer move costs more, but not in proportion to the miles.
What a home usually weighs
The weights the model assumes for each home size. Your own shipment can be lighter or heavier: on a non-binding estimate, what you pay follows what it actually weighs.
- Studio: about 1,800 lb (one room, no separate bedroom)
- 1 bedroom: about 2,800 lb (roughly 600–800 sq ft)
- 2 bedrooms: about 5,000 lb (roughly 1,000–1,500 sq ft)
- 3 bedrooms: about 7,500 lb (roughly 1,500–2,000 sq ft)
- 4 bedrooms: about 10,000 lb (roughly 2,000–2,800 sq ft)
- 5+ bedrooms: about 13,000 lb (2,800 sq ft and up)
When you move changes the price
In this model a move in June, July or August costs about 24% more than the same move mid-month the rest of the year, and the last and first days of a month add about 9%, when leases turn over. The two stack: a summer month-end move costs about 34% more.
What adds to the price
- Packing and unpacking: an extra service, and on a whole home a large one.
- Stairs, elevators and a long walk from the truck: priced in the mover's tariff, and they must be settled before the bill of lading.
- Heavy or delicate items: piano carrying is one of the extra services the federal booklet names. Ask how the mover prices safes and anything that needs a crate.
- Storage between pickup and delivery, and any extra pickup or delivery stop.
- Full value protection, the default coverage, which costs more than released value.
Find licensed movers for your move
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Common questions
How much does it cost to move a 2-bedroom apartment out of state?
Usually $2,600–$4,900 for about 500 miles, $3,100–$5,600 for 1,000 miles and $3,750–$6,450 for 2,000 miles, mid-month outside summer, before packing, stairs or storage.
How much does it cost to move a 3-bedroom house across the country?
Usually $5,300–$8,850 for about 2,800 miles, coast to coast, outside summer. That distance is beyond the published table the model is fitted to, so treat it as the softest figure here.
Is it cheaper to move in winter?
Outside June to August, yes: in this model summer moves cost about 24% more. Avoiding the first and last days of a month saves about another 9%.
Why do quotes for the same move differ so much?
Different movers saw different amounts of your belongings, priced different services, or gave different kinds of estimate. Compare them on the same inventory and the same services, and know whether each is binding or non-binding.
Sources
Every rule on this page was checked against these on 2026-10-09.