How Much Does It Cost to Move Across the Country? [2026 Data]

Cross-Country Move Cost Factors

Ready to make your budget for your upcoming long-distance move? Several components factor into the total price tag of a cross-country move. Here are a few determinants of the cost of moving across the country.

Distance and Location

Many movers charge by the mile, so the exact distance of your move is important for overall costs. Beyond a certain mileage threshold, moving companies bundle mileage costs and other transportation fees into one flat fee, making it easier to estimate costs. That bundled estimate usually kicks in for moves over 100 miles, which is very common when you’re moving across the country.

Moving several hundred miles often costs up to $2,500, depending on the exact distance, amount and weight of belongings, and more. Moving from one coast to another is the most expensive, driving costs up to $10,300. Plus, moving across state lines can incur other costs, including additional permits, escorts for oversized loads, and toll fees.

The start and end points of the move also affect the total bill. If moving trucks must spent a lot of time in urban areas where navigation is more difficult and time-consuming, the costs of the move will typically be higher.

Let's look at how distance affects the cost of hiring full-service movers for a two-bedroom home.

Home Size 

Another important factor to consider is the size of your home. Home size tends to positively correlate to the total since the larger the house, the more belongings and furniture you’ll need to move. Many moving and truck rental companies will request this information when determining your price estimate. The table below illustrates average prices for long-distance moves based on home size.

Transportation Types

The type of moving truck you choose offers flexibility for various budgets and your comfort with doing the heavy lifting yourself. Unsurprisingly, the more you handle on your own, the lower the cost of the cross-country trek. 

Always keep in mind that preparing for moving day can be stressful, and spending more on professional help is worth its weight in gold. Driving the truck, lifting heavy furniture, and coordinating tricky cross-country travel are best left to the pros whenever possible. Here are the three main moving truck options and their price tags.

Weight of Your Items

The total weight of your move (essentially the total weight of your items) influences your move’s total cost. In fact, weight is the second-largest contributor to the cost of your long-distance move after distance. While some companies offer an estimate based on your home size, most will request an entire inventory of the items you plan to move, including the number of boxes. Overall, movers will charge an average of $0.50 to $0.80 per pound. 

Remember that the weight of your items can also determine if the movers need to use a larger or even a second truck. In some cases, moving over a set number of pounds will trigger this option and require a higher rate for the overall cost of the move.

Estimating the weight of your belongings can be a difficult process. It’s usually best left to movers and their itemized lists. If you want to estimate the weight of the belongings in a certain room or your whole house, here’s a quick table to get started. For reference, a three-bedroom home is usually estimated to have around 8,000 to 9,000 pounds of belongings.

Buildings and Parking

When movers are transporting belongings in and out of a home, the ability to quickly maneuver through a building and property design becomes important. Many movers charge extra fees if they have to move items long distances, such as areas where they have to park a block away from the home’s entrance. Likewise, movers may charge additional fees if they have to use the elevator in an apartment building or navigate a significant number of stairways.

Packing Supply Cost

Full-service movers bring their own packing supplies, which are bundled into the provided cost estimate, so you don’t need to worry about managing packing supplies. However, many homeowners prefer to pack belongings as they manage garage sales, organize trash pickup, and guarantee their belongings are properly padded. 

Costs for common packing supplies include:

• Moving boxes (small): $1–$2 per box

• Moving boxes (large): $2–$3 per box

• Storage bins and crates: $5–$30

• Bubble wrap: $20–$40 

• Additional packing paper and padding/peanuts: $10 per pack

• Moving blankets: $10–$20 per blanket

• Packing tape: $2–$4 per roll

• Plastic bags or trash bags: $15–$30 for larger packs

• Markers for labeling: $1–$2 per marker

• Plastic wrap for furniture: $10–$20 per roll

• TV boxes: $10 per box

• Hanging art boxes: $10 per box

Cost of Add-On Moving Services

Homeowners may want to add several common professional services when they move. Add-on moving tasks include:

• Packing and unpacking: Moving companies provide add-ons for packing and unpacking belongings. Prices can vary: Some movers charge around $0.50 per pound for packing and unpacking, in addition to other weight fees. 

• Move-out cleaning: It’s also common to add cleaning services for a whole-house clean as a move goes underway to prepare it for the next occupant. Hiring move-out cleaning services costs between $120 and $420.

• Storage: Storage is very common for cross-country moves, and prices vary greatly depending on location and storage duration. Storage units cost around $100 to $450 per month for average storage needs, but can increase if special items (like sports cars) need additional protections. Movers may also charge extra if they have to make extra stops between homes and storage facilities.

• Expedited moves: Expedited moves and rush deliveries are arranged on very short notice. Movers can handle these requests, but they will charge a hefty service fee which can rise to 50% of an average move cost or more.

• Insurance: Moving insurance helps cover the cost of your belongings if they are damaged or lost. It’s especially worth adding for long-distance moves because there’s a greater chance of damage along the way. The price varies based on the amount of coverage you buy, but it usually costs 1% to 2% of your belongings’ total value, which the moving company estimates by weight. If you’re moving 10,000 pounds, expect insurance to cost around $600.

Additional Moving Services

Another important cost factor is whether you request additional services from your moving team. If you have items that need special attention during moving, like moving a piano or a shed, you’ll need to arrange for separate moving services.

This request will increase the project’s total cost but also take time-consuming tasks off your plate. Here are the most common add-on services for long-distance moves:

• Furniture assembly and disassembly: $35–$90 per piece 

• Piano moving: $2.50–$10.00 per mile

• Moving a shed: Up to $2 per mile 

• Antique or fine art moving: $150–$2,500 per piece 

• Moving a mobile home: $1,000-$20,000

Time of Year

You may be surprised to learn that when you move can affect the cost of your cross-country move. The summer months are the peak season for cross-country moves. This increase is partially due to the warm weather and students being out of school. Try to pick a moving date during the winter since this will likely be the least busy moving season and, thus, the least expensive. Pro tip: Schedule a midweek move for additional savings on moving trucks and teams.

Why You Should Hire a Moving Pro

Managing an entire cross-country move on your own might save some money on labor, but it means you’ll be left to do all the packing and the heavy lifting. Moving takes a lot of time, and your time is valuable, especially when you’re juggling packing and travel logistics with work, family, and other personal commitments. It’s worth your peace of mind to hire a pro mover near you to tackle your cross-country move.

Here’s why it’s ideal to hire a moving pro

A DIY move saves money, but you’ll still be spending some on transportation costs, like gas, tolls, and vehicle maintenance. Here’s why it’s better to work with professional movers for your cross-country move:

• Experienced pros can do the heavy lifting faster and more easily.

• Reputable companies are insured, so if things get lost or damaged in transit, you’re covered.

• You’ll have help planning travel logistics.

• You’ll save your back and joints from injury.

• You can pay extra for additional services, like packing.

• When you arrive, you won’t have to unload boxes, just unpack them—and some companies will even do that for you. 

If you want to DIY a cross-country move

People DIY their moves every day, whether it’s across town or to a different time zone. If you’re ready to do it on your own, here’s what you’ll need to remember:

• Driving the moving vehicle—whether your own or a rental—means added fuel and toll costs, as well as lodging for long drives.

• You won’t be prepared to deal with challenges and delays on the road like a pro.

• You might drop or otherwise damage heavy furniture or valuable items.

• You’ll have to pay extra for your own moving insurance.

• Travel logistics will be completely on you to plan.

8 Ways to Save Money When Moving Across the Country

Your cross-country move will inevitably put a dent in your wallet, but there are several ways to cut costs. 

1. DIY Pack and Unpack 

You can pack and unpack your home on your own instead of hiring professional help. Set a packing schedule that provides plenty of time to successfully pack your moving boxes and prepare your furniture for the big move. You could also enlist the help of family and friends to make the moving process quicker and more enjoyable. 

2. Don’t Pack Unwanted Items

Moving is the perfect opportunity to declutter your home. Be sure to throw out, recycle, or donate unwanted items since these will contribute to your project’s total weight cost and add unnecessary clutter to your new home. 

3. Use Recycled Packing Supplies 

Before making a big trip to the store for packing supplies, look around your home and see if you can find useful items, such as cardboard boxes, crates, and Tupperware. Another clever item to use is suitcases. Instead of packing your suitcases, fill them. You can also request used moving boxes from grocery stores, hardware stores, liquor stores, and other places frequently using cardboard.

4. Move During the Week

The weekends are a more popular time to move than the weekdays, so try to schedule your move during the week. Your moving service may also offer discounted rates for midweek moves. Also, consider moving during the off-season, such as the winter months. Moving companies usually charge you less when there is lower demand for their services.  

5. Check Your Insurance Policy

Sometimes, homeowners and renters insurance policies cover moving insurance. To avoid double-paying to protect your items during the big move, review your insurance policy with a fine-toothed comb for additional savings. You can also contact your insurer to determine whether your current policy covers moving expenses.

6. Get Multiple Moving Estimates

Before hiring a company for your cross-country move, get at least three free quotes for the prospective service and compare the costs. While paying a reasonable price is important, you’ll also want to consider the company’s professionalism and reputation. You may decide that it’s worth it to spend a bit more on a company that comes highly recommended. 

7. Explore Possible Discounts

There are many ways to get discounts on moving services. Some individuals may qualify for moving assistance programs, such as those with disabilities, senior citizens, and veterans. You can also ask your moving company if they offer any promotions or discounts. Sometimes, they may even be willing to negotiate by matching a lower quote you received from another company. 

8. Beware of Hidden Fees 

It’s important to read the fine print carefully before entering a contractual agreement with a moving company. Look for any clauses that may result in hidden fees or a higher final cost. If there’s any jargon you don’t understand or extra costs you weren’t aware of, clarify with your moving professional before signing.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.