Relocating? Brush Up on the Cheapest Ways to Move Across the Country
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Matthew Stalcup, Contributing AuthorClose
Matthew Stalcup Contributing AuthorMatt is a Sacramento Valley native and current Portland, Oregon resident who is always happy to be writing. He holds a degree in English Literature and Technocultural Studies from the University of California, Davis, and is a recent inaugurate to the exciting world of real estate.
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Taryn Tacher, Senior EditorClose
Taryn Tacher Senior EditorTaryn Tacher is the senior editorial operations manager and senior editor for HomeLight's Resource Centers. With eight years of editorial and operations experience, she previously managed editorial operations at Contently and content partnerships at Conde Nast. Taryn holds a bachelor's from the University of Florida College of Journalism, and she's written for GQ, Teen Vogue, Glamour, Allure, and Variety.
Maybe you just landed a job in another state or decided it’s time to live closer to family. Whatever the reason, you’re ready to pack up and move west… or east, north, or south! Moving across the country is a huge decision that won’t just impact your social circle and environment but also your wallet.
Long-distance relocation isn’t cheap, but no worries — we’ve got your back. We gathered estimates from national moving companies to reveal the cheapest way to move across the country.
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Overview of average moving service prices
When it comes to moving services, there are plenty of options, and the cheapest one depends on your specific needs. For a quick overview of the average costs of different moving services, take a look at the following tables, where we’ve estimated the cost to move in the spring.
Just keep in mind that prices vary depending on distance, location, time of year, and volume of belongings.
Full-service moving company: $3,000 – $24,858
(Per Moving.com’s cost estimation tool)
| Miles | 1 bedroom | 2 bedroom | 3 bedroom | 4 bedroom |
| Up to 555 miles (Charlottesville to Chicago) | $3,487 – $4,804 | $4,804 – $6,146 | $7,400 – $10,003 | $10,003 – $14,938 |
| Up to 1,050 miles (San Diego to Seattle) | $4,133 – $5,765 | $5,765 – $7,403 | $8,926 – $12,090 | $12,090 – $18,089 |
| Up to 2,565 miles (NYC to San Francisco) | .$5,553 – $7,871 | .$7,871 – $10,150 | $12,245 – $16,610 | $16,610 – $24,858 |
Shipping services: $545 – $5,100
| Moving service | 1 bedroom | 2 bedroom | 3 bedroom | 4 bedroom |
| Moving container (average cost for 100 – 2,050 mile moves) | $2,700 | $3,260 | $3,480 | $6,050 |
| Cargo trailer rental (up to 1,200 miles per U-Haul) | $545 | $725 | $725 – $1,275 | $1,275+ |
| Truck rental (1,750 miles per move.org) | $1,640 | $1,690 | $1,790 | $2,140 |
| Freight trailer (up to 1,200 miles per U-Pack) | $3,408 | $3,970 | $4,535 | $5,100 |
Choose the right moving service for your specific needs
No two moves are exactly alike. Depending on your timing, physical abilities, access to help, and other factors, you may need more support than the cheapest moving service offers. To better understand your options and the pros and cons of each, let’s take a closer look at each type of moving service.
Full-service moving companies
If your schedule is jam-packed, or packing and heavy lifting just isn’t your thing, then a full-service moving company is the right choice for you. A full-service moving company helps you with every step of your move, including planning, packing, loading, relocation, and unpacking.
Because this service involves more intensive work than transporting your items from point A to point B, you’ll pay significantly more for a full-service move.
However, note that a full-service move includes professional movers, which would cost around $80 to $100 per hour if you hired labor separately. Additionally, you’ll rely on the same company for every step of the process, consolidating costs and streamlining logistics.
Pros:
- One-stop-shop for moving.
- All costs included.
- Stress-free.
Cons:
- Higher cost.
- No storage option.
- Less control over your move.
Companies that offer full-service moving packages include United Van Lines and Mayflower.
Cargo trailer rental
If you have a large truck or van with decent towing capacity, you might consider renting a cargo trailer. Cargo trailers are either covered or uncovered and are usually available to rent for a period of days. These trailers are much cheaper if you return them to the same location after moving. However, even with one-way trips, there’s typically no additional fee for per-mile usage.
Be aware that, even if your vehicle is up to the task, towing a large trailer changes the way you drive. Familiarize yourself with best practices for towing a trailer before hitting the road.
Pros:
- Rental by the day.
- No per-mile costs.
- Move your vehicle at the same time as your belongings.
- Cheaper than a rental truck or van.
Cons:
- Wear and tear on your vehicle.
- Packing with uncovered trailers is tricky.
- You may end up paying for more space or time than you need.
Companies that offer rental trailers for moving include Budget, U-Haul, and Penske.
Rental trucks and vans
Rental trucks and vans are similar to trailers in the sense that you’ll pack, load, and unload your belongings yourself. However, because you’re using the company’s vehicle, you’re on the hook for mileage fees and gas along the way.
Also, renting a truck means that you’ll need to be comfortable driving a large vehicle. Because moving trucks are so heavy, accidents involving these trucks cause serious damage. Many auto insurance policies don’t cover rental truck accidents, so you might need to purchase additional insurance for the duration of your move for around $15 to $30 per day.
Depending on your driving situation, you might end up paying additional fees, as well. For instance, if you are a licensed driver under the age of 25, most companies will charge more for you to drive their truck. If you want to share the responsibility of driving the truck over thousands of miles, you may need to pay a per-day fee for the additional driver.
On a final note, if you use a rental truck or van, you may need to pay to have your personal vehicle shipped to avoid making the drive twice. Shipping a mid-size car across the country costs around $1,700.
Pros:
- No personal vehicle is needed.
- Load and unload on your schedule.
- A wide variety of vehicle sizes available.
- Rental companies usually have dollies and moving blankets available to rent as well.
Cons:
- You might need to ship your vehicle.
- Mileage fees add up fast.
- Liability for accidents and damage (dependent on your insurance).
Companies that offer rental trucks and vans for cross-country moves include Enterprise, U-Haul, and Budget.
Moving containers
Moving containers is a relatively new and popular option for long-distance moves. You pack up the container at your current location and the moving company loads the containers onto a truck before shipping them to your new address.
The biggest advantage to moving containers is that you can leave them at the new location for an extended period, eliminating the need for interim storage if you have a gap between moving out of your old place and moving into your new one. The biggest disadvantage, however, is that moving companies have a limited selection of container sizes available. So if you’re between sizes, you may end up paying for container space you don’t use.
Take note that there other issues you might run into when parking your container. In some cases, there are restrictions on where you can leave the container and for how long. Containers range from anywhere from 6 feet to 16 feet long, so it’s important to verify that you or the company has a safe and legal place to leave it. Some companies, like Pods, may have a storage facility nearby where you can leave your container for a fee. If you’re moving into an apartment complex or neighborhood with narrow streets and little parking, the situation could get complicated.
Also, remember that these containers aren’t temperature-controlled. Take care to remove or insulate items sensitive to extreme heat or cold, such as electronics, valuable art, personal care products, and perishable food.
Pros:
- No additional storage is necessary.
- Hassle-free shipping process.
- Unload for as long as you need.
Cons:
- Pay per entire container, not just used space.
- Potential parking issues.
- No temperature control.
Freight trailer shipping
The final option to consider is renting space on a freight trailer. Freight trailer shipping allows you to purchase space on a trailer per linear foot. Much like storage pods, the company drops the trailer off at your home and allows you to load it yourself. Once you’ve finished loading the trailer, you mark off the amount of space you used, and the company picks the trailer up and drives it to your new home. However, unlike storage containers, you’ll need to unload your belongings when the trailer arrives and can’t just leave them there until you’re ready.
Be aware that you’re shipping your belongings inside a semi-truck with a full trailer, meaning that serious shifting around can occur during driving. While companies usually provide a large bulwark to separate your load from others, it’s still important to ensure that everything is secure so that nothing gets damaged during the trip.
Pros:
- Usually cheaper per mile than containers.
- Pay for only the space you use.
- No vehicle or long-term parking space is necessary.
Cons:
- Jostling during shipping.
- Limits on loading/unloading times.
- It may be difficult to lift heavy furniture into the trailer.
Companies that provide freight trailer shipping services include SureMove and U-Pack.
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Don’t forget to negotiate with moving companies for the best price
Most of the companies mentioned above provide estimates online or over the phone. However, an estimate isn’t a price set in stone. You may be able to negotiate with a company to match the price of another moving service.
A final pro tip: If you need help moving but think that professional movers are too expensive , consider hiring local freelancers using services like TaskRabbit.
Header Image Source: (Michael Scherback / Unsplash)
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