How Much Do Movers Cost in Austin?

Moving locally in Austin: A local move within the capital city of Texas can cost you from about $400 (for a small apartment) to over $2,000 (for a large home).

Moving long distance to or from Austin, TX: Moving out of state to or from Austin can range between $3,000 and $12,000, based on the move size and the distance between the origin and delivery locations.

Austin, Texas is nicknamed the “Live Music Capital of the World” for a reason – it boasts countless live music venues across the city, ensuring music reverberates through its streets all the time. If you’re faced with an imminent relocation within or out of the city, though, there will likely be a very specific – and quite overwhelming – tune playing in your head: “How much does it cost to hire movers in Austin?”

As excited as you may be to start a new chapter of your life in a new location, the cost of your move is certain to cause you worries and stress. You need to know how much your relocation is going to cost you so you can plan your finances and ensure your peace of mind.

While the only way to learn the actual price of your move is to get a personalized quote from a trustworthy Austin moving company, this comprehensive guide will give you a good idea of the average Austin movers’ costs and will help you understand the factors that will determine your final moving bill.

How much does it cost to hire local movers in Austin?

Austin is an ensemble of diverse neighborhoods and suburbs, each with its unique rhythm and charm. From South Lamar’s bohemian vibe to Hyde Park’s historic charm, wherever within the city’s vibrant borders you’re moving to, your relocation costs will depend on the time needed to complete the job.

As is usually the case with local movers, local moving companies in Austin charge by the hour – about $80-$90 per mover per hour. So, if you’re moving a smaller home and the pros can complete the job in a few hours, you can expect a bill of about $450. When moving a 4-bedroom house or larger, though, your relocation may take 8 to 10 hours. In such a case, your moving costs may soar up to $2,000 or more.

The larger your home, the more items you’ll have for moving, so loading and unloading will take longer and your moving costs will increase. You can find the average costs to hire Austin local movers for different home sizes below:

• Studio/One-bedroom apartment – Moving a studio apartment in Austin can cost you as little as $330. For a minimalistic 1-bedroom apartment, you can expect to pay about $420-$450. The price, however, can soar up to $600 if you have a lot of things to move and require some specialized moving services.
• Two-bedroom home – The average cost to hire Austin movers for a 2-bedroom apartment is about $700-$900.
• Three-bedroom home – When moving a standard 3-bedroom home, you should budget between $1,100 and $1,650 for local moving help in Austin.
• Four-bedroom house – Larger moves in the Live Music Capital of the World can cost anywhere between $1,400 and $2,000 or more.

Local moving costs, however, depend not only on the size of the move, but also on the complexity of the job and the actual distance between the pickup and drop-off locations. So, if you have specialty items or there are access issues or obstacles at your old home or your new one (stairs, narrow doors, lack of convenient parking space for the moving truck, etc.), your final bill will rise. And if you’re moving to one of Austin’s charming suburbs – Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Lakeway, Brushy Creek, Shady Hollow, Georgetown, etc. – your moving costs will be significantly higher than when moving within the city core, of course.

To find out the actual cost of your relocation, you need to request in-home estimates from several reputable Austin moving companies and discuss the details of your move with them.

Good to know: Texas law requires that all household movers operating within the state be licensed by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Therefore, it’s highly advisable to check whether the Austin local movers you’re considering hiring for your relocation are properly registered with the TxDMV before signing a contract with them.

How much does it cost to hire Austin movers for a long distance move?

When moving long distance to or from Austin, TX, you will have to dig deeper into your pocket – cross country relocations are quite expensive, so you should be prepared to budget several thousand dollars for your out-of-state move.

Here are the average costs to hire a long distance moving company in Austin at a glance:

	1-bedroom apartment	2-bedroom home	3-bedroom home	4-bedroom house
250 miles	$1,250 – $3,150	$1,650 – $4,100	$2,050 – $4,850	$2,450 – $5,400
500 miles	$1,600 – $3,350	$2,150 – $4,700	$3,100 – $5,450	$3,800 – $6,850
1,000 miles	$2,350 – $4,950	$2,850 – $5,800	$3,650 – $6,300	$4,300 – $7,150
1,500 miles	$2,650 – $5,200	$3,500 – $6,350	$4,600 – $7,450	$6,100 – $9,800
2,000 miles	$3,050 – $5,650	$3,800 – $6,650	$4,950 – $7,900	$6,850 – $11,050

See also: The average cost of moving

If your relocation takes you along one of the most popular moving routes from Austin, Texas to other major cities in the US, the figures below will give you quite a good idea of how much you can expect to pay for your move:

• Moving from Austin, TX to Boston, MA
  • $2,600 – $5,000 (1-bedroom)
  • $3,450 – $6,200 (2-bedroom)
  • $4,600 – $7,450 (3-bedroom)
  • $6,400 – $10,600 (4-bedroom)
• Moving from Austin, TX to Chicago, IL
  • $2,350 – $4,850 (1-bedroom)
  • $2,650 – $5,700 (2-bedroom)
  • $3,550 – $6,150 (3-bedroom)
  • $4,150 – $6,900 (4-bedroom)
• Moving from Austin, TX to Denver, CO
  • $2,350 – $4,850 (1-bedroom)
  • $2,700 – $5,800 (2-bedroom)
  • $3,600 – $6,250 (3-bedroom)
  • $4,200 – $6,950 (4-bedroom)
• Moving from Austin, TX to Los Angeles, CA
  • $3,050 – $5,000 (1-bedroom)
  • $3,500 – $5,900 (2-bedroom)
  • $4,100 – $6,800 (3-bedroom)
  • $5,350 – $8,750 (4-bedroom)
• Moving from Austin, TX to Nashville, TN
  • $2,300 – $4,750 (1-bedroom)
  • $2,625 – $5,650 (2-bedroom)
  • $3,500 – $6,100 (3-bedroom)
  • $4,200 – $6,850 (4-bedroom)
• Moving from Austin, TX to New York, NY
  • $3,050 – $5,000 (1-bedroom)
  • $3,550 – $6,050 (2-bedroom)
  • $4,200 – $6,900 (3-bedroom)
  • $5,400 – $8,850 (4-bedroom)
• Moving from Austin, TX to Seattle, WA
  • $2,850 – $5,300 (1-bedroom)
  • $3,600 – $6,550 (2-bedroom)
  • $4,900 – $7,750 (3-bedroom)
  • $6,750 – $11,000 (4-bedroom)

These figures are only sample prices, of course – for an accurate number you’ll need a binding estimate from a reputable cross-country moving company. You can fill in our moving quote form to get free estimates from several top-rated Austin movers, short-list three or four of them that seem to best suit your moving needs and available budget, and ask them for an in-house survey of your items, so you can discuss the details of your move with them and get an accurate price quote.

When you choose a company to work with, be sure to check their USDOT number – not only to confirm that you’re dealing with licensed and insured movers, but also to get some more information about them (number of moving vehicles and drivers, inspections and crash reports, safety ratings and track record, etc.)

Good to know: How do Austin moving costs compare to other major cities in Texas?

Austin movers’ costs are competitive, but they might be slightly higher than moving costs in San Antonio or El Paso, for example. However, they’re generally on par with Houston and Dallas – and can even be lower at times. You can find some more specific information at the links below:

How much do movers cost in Houston?

How much do movers cost in Dallas?

How much do movers cost in San Antonio?

Factors that affect moving costs

While it is the number of items to be moved (the heavier the load and the greater the volume, the higher the costs) and the relocation distance (moves under 50 miles are charged by the hour while long distance moving costs are calculated per mile per pound) that play the biggest role in determining the cost of a move, there are other factors that affect the final price as well:

• Specialty items – Works of art, antique furniture, pianos, pool tables, safes, and other extremely fragile, extremely sensitive, extremely large, and/or extremely valuable items are very difficult to move – they require specialized packing materials, specialized moving equipment, and special care. A single specialty item can increase the final cost of the move by several hundred dollars;
• Location challenges – Stairs, elevators, small doors, tight spaces, lack of convenient parking space for the moving truck, and other challenges at the pickup or delivery locations make the job more difficult and more time-consuming. This inevitably results in higher moving costs;
• Required extra services – Accessorial services like packing and unpacking, furniture disassembly and reassembly, etc. are very convenient but come at an extra cost;
• Time of the move – Costs are driven by demand, so moving rates tend to be higher during busy times (the summer months, weekends, national holidays, etc.) and lower during slow times (fall and winter, weekdays, etc.).

See also: How much does it cost to hire movers?

Knowing how much movers charge and what factors will impact your moving bill will allow you to come up with efficient strategies to reduce the costs, so you spend as little on your relocation as possible.

How to reduce your moving costs in Austin

Moving may not be cheap but you can successfully waltz through your relocation within the Live Music Capital of the World – with the best Austin movers as your partners – without breaking the bank. Here is how to keep more money in your wallet when moving in – or out of state from – Austin, TX:

• Pare down your possessions – The fewer items you decide to relocate, the cheaper and easier your Austin move will be. So, be sure to declutter your home before the relocation and get rid of everything you don’t really need or love (sell pricier items online, organize a garage sale, donate to local charities, give away to family and friends any of your unneeded things they would like to have, recycle damaged items, etc.);
• Move during the off-peak season – If you can, schedule your move for a less busy period (mid-week, mid-month, between October and March) when rates are typically lower and the choice of available movers is greater. Even some of the best Austin movers are likely to offer discounts and special deals in order to secure more jobs during the off-peak season;
• Research and compare – When you start hunting for Austin movers, ask around for recommendations, read online moving reviews, and check moving companies’ ratings. Look for good, affordable movers who offer quality services at reasonable prices. Get multiple quotes, interview the movers, and carefully compare the offers – there is a good chance that you will find cheap movers in Austin who will do a great job with your move;
• Negotiate – When hiring professional services, there is always room to negotiate. Ask the movers you like the most to beat the best price you have received while gathering cost estimates, inquire about discounts or special offers, be flexible and persistent… You may be able to save a lot of money on your move with a good negotiation strategy;
• Do some of the work yourself – Do your own packing, make sure all your items are ready for moving by the time the movers arrive, clear the way of obstacles, etc. – the less the movers have to do, the less you’ll have to pay in the end.

Prepare well for moving day, so things go as smoothly and efficiently as possible – and you up your chances of a safe, successful, and cost-effective relocation.

Must-read: 15 ways to cut moving costs

Whether you’re choreographing a simple move across town or staging a grand relocation ballet across states, knowing how much you can expect to pay and how to keep your moving costs under control will set the stage for a smoother transition.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)