How much to charge for a local move
Updated 26 September 2026
Local movers usually charge by the hour for a crew and truck, or a flat price based on the size of the home. Either way, distance, stairs, packing and bulky items like pianos change the price, and a minimum stops small moves running at a loss.
Example local moving prices
| Job | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio apartment, 5 miles, no stairs | $320 – $420 | £250 – £340 | A$480 – A$640 | CA$420 – CA$560 |
| 2-bedroom apartment to a house, 15 miles, 1 flight of stairs | $760 – $1,010 | £610 – £810 | A$1,150 – A$1,540 | CA$1,010 – CA$1,340 |
| 4-bedroom house, 40 miles, full packing and a piano | $2,250 – $3,000 | £1,830 – £2,440 | A$3,380 – A$4,510 | CA$3,030 – CA$4,040 |
Priced with the starting rates in our local moving template, in each country's currency. They're a starting point, not a survey of local rates, so set your own from what your jobs take and what others charge near you.
How moving companies set their prices
By the hour
An hourly rate for a crew and truck, with a minimum number of hours and a charge for travel. It protects you when the customer isn't packed or the access is poor, but customers don't know the total until the end.
Flat price by home size
A set price for a studio, a one-bedroom home and so on, with extras for distance, stairs and packing. Customers know the price when they book, and it's how our template works.
By volume
Price from a list of furniture and boxes, converted to cubic feet or metres. It suits long-distance moves and homes that don't fit a bedroom count, like a small house packed full.
Sample local moving price list
The prices in our template, as a list you can adapt. Percentages change the price of the job; fixed-price extras are added on top.
| Item | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home size: Studio | $350 | £280 | A$530 | CA$470 |
| Home size: 1 bedroom | $500 | £400 | A$750 | CA$680 |
| Home size: 2 bedrooms | $750 | £600 | A$1,150 | CA$1,000 |
| Home size: 3 bedrooms | $1,100 | £880 | A$1,650 | CA$1,500 |
| Home size: 4+ bedrooms | $1,600 | £1,300 | A$2,400 | CA$2,150 |
| Distance between homes, per mile (first 10 included) | $3 | £2.50 | A$4.50 | CA$4 |
| Flights of stairs (both ends), per flight | $75 | £60 | A$110 | CA$100 |
| Full packing service | +35% | +35% | +35% | +35% |
| Piano or other specialty item | +$250 | +£200 | +A$380 | +CA$340 |
| Minimum job price | $300 | £240 | A$450 | CA$410 |
Put this price list on your website
Customers answer a few questions about the job, see the price and send you their details. This is our local moving quote form with the prices above. Try it as a customer would, then start from these prices and change any of them.
SwiftMove Removals
Instant moving estimate
Pricing mistakes to avoid
- Pricing by bedrooms alone. A two-bedroom apartment with a full storage cage can take as long as a three-bedroom house. Ask what's in the garage and any storage, and move the job up a size when they're full.
- Forgetting stairs. Every flight slows every trip. Our template charges $75 a flight in the US, counting both ends of the move.
- Underpricing packing. Packing a whole home can take a crew most of a day, plus boxes and tape. Our template adds 35% for full packing.
- Treating a piano like a sofa. Pianos, safes and pool tables need extra people and equipment. Our template adds $250 in the US for a piano or a similar item.
- Taking tiny moves at cost. A few pieces across town still need a truck and at least two people. The minimum in our template is $300 in the US.
Not sure what your time is worth? Work out your hourly rate with the pricing calculator, then check your job prices cover it.
Questions
- Should movers charge by the hour or a flat rate?
- Flat rates are easier for customers to accept, and they reward a fast crew. Some movers quote flat prices for standard homes and switch to hourly for jobs that are hard to size up.
- How do I quote a move without seeing the home?
- Ask for a video walk-through of every room, including the garage and any storage, and the access at both ends. Quote from that, and write down what the price assumes.
- Should I charge for travel time?
- Yes, in some form. Hourly movers often charge the drive from the depot, and flat-rate movers build distance into the price. Our template includes the first 10 miles between homes, then charges $3 a mile in the US.
- Should movers take a deposit?
- Many movers take one to hold the date, especially on busy days. Check your local rules on deposits and cancellations, and put your terms in writing.
- How do I put my moving prices on my website?
- Load your home-size prices and extras into a quote form. Customers pick their home size, enter the distance and stairs, tick packing or a piano, and see a range they can send you with their moving date.