Cost pillar · 2026 data
How much does a long-distance move cost?
The honest answer is a range, because two things drive the price and they move independently. Here's the 2026 math by home size, by distance, and by season — every figure from the same rate model that powers your instant estimate.
Short answer: a long-distance move runs about $975–$19,600 end to end. The most useful single benchmark is a 2-bedroom at 1,500 miles: $3,425–$6,900.
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The two things you're paying for
Every interstate move is handling + transport. Handling is the crew loading and unloading — the same 3-mover crew loads a 2-bedroom whether it travels 400 miles or 2,800, so handling scales with home size, not distance. At $62/mover/hour, a 2-bedroom's ~5.5 hours of loading and unloading is a fixed base no matter how far you go.
Transport is a per-mile carrier cost that scales with weight (a bigger truck) and steps downacross distance tiers — the fixed origin-and-destination work amortizes over a longer trip, which is why the per-mile rate on a 2,500-mile move is far lower than on the first 100 miles. That's the real economics behind long-haul pricing, and why cost-per-mile is a misleading way to shop. See how to choose a carrier.
Cost by home size (~1,500 miles)
A cross-country haul at the benchmark 1,500-mile distance, by home size. Bigger homes carry both more handling and more transport weight.
| Home size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,725 | $2,600 | $3,475 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,250 | $3,413 | $4,575 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,425 | $5,163 | $6,900 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,000 | $7,563 | $10,125 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $7,200 | $10,900 | $14,600 |
Cost by distance (2-bedroom home)
Holding home size constant at a 2-bedroom, here's how price and transit window grow with distance. Notice the cost rises far slower than the miles — that's the per-mile step-down at work.
| Distance band | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional (~500 mi) · 2–5 days | $2,075 | $3,125 | $4,175 |
| Mid-haul (~1,000 mi) · 3–7 days | $2,750 | $4,150 | $5,550 |
| Long-haul (~1,500 mi) · 4–8 days | $3,425 | $5,163 | $6,900 |
| Cross-country (~2,000 mi) · 5–10 days | $3,875 | $5,863 | $7,850 |
| Coast-to-coast (~2,800 mi) · 6–12 days | $4,625 | $6,988 | $9,350 |
What season does to the bill
Timing is the biggest lever you actually control. Peak season (May–September) adds about 15%, and the last five days of any month add roughly 8% on top. Move off-season, mid-month, on a weekday and you stack all three discounts. The full breakdown, with dollar figures, is in the best-time-to-move guide.
Ways to spend less
- Move off-peak and mid-month. The single biggest controllable saving on a long haul.
- Compare full-service to a container. For a small home, U-Pack or PODS can beat a van line — see containers vs. movers.
- Purge before you weigh.Transport scales with weight — every box you don't ship is money saved.
- Get three real quotes. Interstate prices vary ~2× by carrier; competition is your best negotiating tool.
The dedicated cheapest-way-to-move guide prices full-service, containers, and rental trucks side by side.
Long-distance moving cost FAQ
Full-service interstate moves run from about $975 for a small studio on a regional haul to $19,600 for a 4+ bedroom coast-to-coast move. The single most useful benchmark is a 2-bedroom at 1,500 miles: $3,425–$6,900.
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