How Much Do Movers Cost in New York City?

When you’re planning a local move in New York City or a long-distance move from the Big Apple, then one of the very first questions that you’ll need to be answered is about the NYC movers cost.

New York City is one of the most expensive cities in the world, so you’ll want to know how much movers in NYC will cost so that you can plan and budget properly for your upcoming residential move. You surely wouldn’t want to experience one of those unpleasant surprises when you learn the cost of your move after it’s over.

The truth is that it pays to be well-prepared in advance.

Moving locally in New York City: Local NYC movers will typically charge $70-$90 per hour per mover. What this means is that on average, the cost of New York moving companies will range from $480 (studio apartment) to $2,880 (4-bedroom home).

Moving out of state to or from New York City: How much will long-distance movers charge when moving outside the New York metropolitan area – for example, moving to another state? On average, the cost of cross-country movers in New York City ranges from around $2,777 to $8,910 for a distance of 1,000 miles.

Read on to learn more about how much movers cost in New York City, including valuable information on the variable factors that affect the moving price and practical tips for reducing the cost of moving.

Average cost of local movers in New York City

As mentioned above, local movers in New York City will charge on an hourly basis.

When moving locally in New York or within the New York metropolitan area, the average cost for your move should be somewhere between $480 and $2,880 when moving out of a studio apartment and a 4-bedroom residence respectively.

It’s important to note that more than half of New Yorkers live in studios or small one-bedroom apartments. What this basically means is that there are likely to be much fewer furniture pieces to move due to the smaller size of those homes. And less furniture to move to another location automatically results in less money to pay local movers.

On the other hand, local NYC movers will require more time to complete the move when they are working on larger homes due to the greater number of items to pack and move by the pros. And of course, the extra labor means that the moving price will go up as well.

Home Size	Average Cost	Number of Movers	Number of Hours
Studio	$480	2	3
1-bedroom	$640	2	4
2-bedroom	$1,440	3	6
3-bedroom	$2,240	4	7
4-bedroom	$2,880	4	9

• Studio apartment. The average cost to hire movers in New York City when you’re moving out of a studio apartment is approximately $480 provided that 2 movers work roughly 3 hours to finish the local move.
• 1-bedroom. When moving out of a 1-bedroom home, using the services of a local moving company in New York City should cost you $640 on average as long as 2 laborers work roughly 4 hours on your move.
• 2-bedroom. When you’re moving out of a 2-bedroom home, then the average cost to hire local movers in New York City will be around $1,440 when 3 movers work approximately 6 hours to finish the job.
• 3-bedroom. When you’re moving out of a 3-bedroom home, then the local movers cost in New York City will go up to around $2,240 as long as 4 professionals work roughly 7 hours to complete the local house move.
• 4-bedroom. Moving out of a 4-bedroom home will cost you approximately $2,880 when you’re using the services of local NYC movers. In that case, you’ll need 4 movers to get the job done in about 9 hours or so.

It’s important to bear in mind that the above costs to hire movers in New York City are nothing but average values so the cost of your particular move may be higher depending on how many things items you have for moving, the specific local mover you pick, and any extra charges such as a long carry charge or a flight charge.

When you’re moving locally within the five New York City boroughs

• The Bronx (Bronx County),
• Brooklyn (Kings County),
• Manhattan (Kings County),
• Queens (Queens County), and
• Staten Island (Richmond County)

you’d be better off hiring one of the best local moving companies in the Big Apple – it’s a very convenient way to move house without having to go through the stress and hassle of organizing a DIY move.

Top-Rated Movers in New York City

Useful info: You should know that local moving companies in New York City are regulated by the New York Department of Transportation (NYDOT). In case of an issue with your local NYC movers, you can contact the Department for assistance.

Average cost of long-distance movers in New York City

When you need professional moving services in New York to move away from the most populous city in the country, then you should be aware that long-distance moving companies do not usually charge by the hour – instead, they give you a flat-rate price based on the weight of the shipment, the move distance, and the extra services requested.

The only sensible way to know the price of your cross-country move is to have moving professionals visit your home for an on-site survey. This way, the pros will be able to see in person the things you want to be transported and assess the difficulty of the move itself by taking a closer look at potential moving day issues such as multiple flights of stairs, a missing or non-operational elevator, narrow corridors, tight corners, large furniture items, or too much distance from the truck to the entrance of the residence.

Still, you should know the average cost of interstate movers in New York City in advance so that you can know what to expect price-wise and be mentally and financially ready for the moment when the moving experts supply you with accurate cost estimates after the on-site inspection of your home.

The average cost of long-distance movers in New York City ranges from $2,777 to $8,910 for a distance of 1,000 miles.

Home Size	Average Cost	Approx. Weight	Distance from NYC
Studio	$2,777 – $4,950	1,800 lbs.	1,000 miles
1-bedroom	$3,058 – $6,380	2,200 – 3,200 lbs.	1,000 miles
2-bedroom	$3,322 – $7,507	5,000 – 6,000 lbs.	1,000 miles
3-bedroom	$4,620 – $7,975	9,000 lbs.	1,000 miles
4-bedroom	$5,445 – $8,910	9,000+ lbs.	1,000 miles

• Studio apartment: $2,777 – $4,950. Hiring long-distance movers in New York City when moving out of a studio apartment (approximate weight of items: 1,800 lbs., distance to the new home: 1,000 miles) should cost between $2,777 and $4,950.
• 1-bedroom: $3,058 – $6,380. Hiring interstate movers in New York when moving out of a 1-bedroom apartment (approximate weight of items: 2,200 – 3,200 lbs., distance to the new home: 1,000 miles) should cost roughly $3,058 – $6,380.
• 2-bedroom: $3,322 – $7,507. Moving out of a 2-bedroom home (approximate weight of items: 5,000-6,000 lbs., distance to the new home: 1,000 miles) should cost somewhere in the range of $3,322 – $7,507 when using the services of a cross-country moving company in New York City.
• 3-bedroom: $4,620 – $7,975. Moving out of a 3-bedroom home (approximate weight of items: 9,000 lbs., distance to the new home: 1,000 miles) should cost around $4,620 – $7,975 when hiring New York City movers for a cross-country move.
• 4-bedroom: $5,445 – $8,910. Moving out of a 4-bedroom home to a location that’s roughly 1,000 miles away should cost you $5,445 – $8,910 when you’ve picked one of the best NYC movers as your relocation partner.

Use our Moving Cost Calculator to get free moving estimates from the best NYC moving companies.

All interstate moving companies in New York City are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Long-distance movers must have a valid USDOT number in order to operate across state lines – that is, to be registered with and licensed by the Department of Transportation (DoT).

Click here to check the legitimate status of movers in New York City and make sure they have a DOT number before you trust them with your valuable possessions.

Moving routes from New York City to other major U.S. cities

Here are some average moving costs along the busiest moving routes from New York City to other major cities in the country:

• Moving from New York City to Chicago
  • $2,525 – $4,500 (Studio apartment)
  • $2,780 – $5,800 (1-bedroom)
  • $3,020 – $6,825 (2-bedroom)
  • $4,200 – $7,250 (3-bedroom)

• Moving from New York City to Los Angeles
  • $2,336 – $5,320 (Studio apartment)
  • $2,990 – $6,608 (1-bedroom)
  • $4,677 – $8,233 (2-bedroom)
  • $6,214 – $9,390 (3-bedroom)

• Moving from New York City to Houston
  • $2,655 – $4,790 (Studio apartment)
  • $2,990 – $5,840 (1-bedroom)
  • $3,545 – $7,028 (2-bedroom)
  • $4,861 – $8,050 (3-bedroom)

• Moving from New York City to Philadelphia
  • $689 – $1,911 (Studio apartment)
  • $858 – $2,302 (1-bedroom)
  • $1,598 – $3,083 (2-bedroom)
  • $1,852 – $3,474 (3-bedroom)

• Moving from New York City to Denver
  • $2,120 – $4,890 (Studio apartment)
  • $2,772 – $5,880 (1-bedroom)
  • $4,070 – $7,231 (2-bedroom)
  • $5,521 – $8,850 (3-bedroom)

• Moving from New York City to Portland, OR
  • $2,570 – $5,852 (Studio apartment)
  • $3,289 – $7,269 (1-bedroom)
  • $5,145 – $9,056 (2-bedroom)
  • $6,835 – $10,329 (3-bedroom)

• Moving from New York City to Miami
  • $2,655 – $4,790 (Studio apartment)
  • $2,990 – $5,840 (1-bedroom)
  • $3,545 – $7,028 (2-bedroom)
  • $4,861 – $8,050 (3-bedroom)

• Moving from New York City to Boston
  • $689 – $1,911 (Studio apartment)
  • $958 – $2,302 (1-bedroom)
  • $1,598 – $3,083 (2-bedroom)
  • $1,052 – $3,474 (3-bedroom)

How Much Does It Cost to Hire Movers?

Factors that affect the cost of movers in New York City

The cost of hiring a moving company in New York City can vary greatly depending on a multitude of variables – critical factors that affect the relocation price one way or another.

By understanding these important cost-forming factors, you should be able to budget properly for the upcoming move and even take some proactive steps toward lowering the moving price.

Here are the major factors affecting the cost of NYC movers:

• Move distance. When you’re moving locally within the New York metropolitan area, local moving companies will charge you on an hourly basis. When moving long distance, cross-country movers in New York will quote you a flat-rate price based on distance, weight, and extra services.
• Size of the move. The more items you wish to take with you, the more labor will be required to pack them up and transport them safely. Also, more things to move means an increase in the total weight.
• Weight of shipment. Most interstate moving companies will weigh the truck after the loading process is completed to determine the total weight of the belongings.
• Time of the year. The peak moving season is during the summer months when most families decide to relocate. NYC moving company rates tend to be higher during the height of the moving season because of the greater demand for professional moving services.
• Additional services. Full-service moving companies in New York City offer various extra services such as packing, unpacking, temporary storage, furniture disassembly and reassembly, and so on. Each additional service will cost extra money, of course.
• Insurance. Basic moving insurance (known as Released Value Protection) is usually included in the quote, but if you want full value protection or additional insurance, it will come at a higher cost. Remember to research well your insurance options for peace of mind.
• Access. If the moving truck cannot park close enough to the entrance of your home, then your moving company is likely to charge you extra – called long carry fee – since the items will have to be carried a longer distance. This is especially true for big cities such as New York City.
• Special equipment. If your mover has to use specialized equipment – for example, a hoisting device – to get large and heavy items such as furniture or a piano through the balcony, then you will be charged extra for the service.
• Tolls and parking fees. The NYC moving company you hire may charge you for tolls or any parking fees they incur during the move. This is standard practice because parking in New York City can be pretty problematic.

What’s the Average Moving Cost?

Additional fees and charges when using NYC movers

In New York City, as with many large urban areas, moving can come with its own unique set of challenges. As a result, moving companies may charge additional fees for certain services or situations to account for the extra time, equipment, or personnel required.

Here’s a list of some common additional charges you might encounter when working with NYC moving companies:

• Travel Fee. This fee covers the time it takes the movers to travel from their facility to your old home and then to their facility from your new home.
• Long Carry Fee. If your NYC movers have to carry your items a long distance from your residence to the moving truck, or vice versa, they may charge an additional fee.
• Elevator Fee. In buildings without an elevator or with an out-of-service elevator, if movers have to carry your items up or down multiple flights of stairs, you may be charged an additional fee.
• Parking Fee. If the moving truck has to park in a paid parking spot, or if the moving company needs to obtain a parking permit, the cost might be passed on to you.
• Heavy Item Fee. For particularly heavy items like pianos, safes, or large pieces of furniture, there could be an additional charge due to the extra effort and equipment required.
• Special Packing Materials. While many moving companies include basic packing materials in their fee, special items such as custom crates, mattress bags, or heavy-duty boxes may come with an additional cost.
• Furniture Disassembly/Reassembly Fee. If movers need to disassemble furniture to move it and then reassemble it at the destination, this is most likely to incur an additional fee.
• Hoisting Fee. If items can’t be moved through a door or hallway and need to be hoisted or lowered through a window, an additional fee might be charged.
• Toll Charges. If the moving route requires the truck to pass through tolls, this charge is likely to be passed on to you.
• Fuel Surcharge. Some NYC moving companies might have a fuel surcharge, especially if fuel prices are particularly high.
• Extra Stops. If the New York City movers need to make additional stops, for example, to pick up or drop off items at multiple locations, there might be an additional charge.

It’s essential to discuss all possible charges with the moving company when getting a quote. Read the contract thoroughly and ensure you understand what’s included in the base price and what might result in additional charges.

How to Create a Moving Budget: Moving Budget Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)