How Much Do Movers Cost in Columbus?

Moving locally in Columbus: The cost of a local move within Columbus, Ohio, can range from $700 (for a small apartment) to over $3,000 (for a larger home). The price is based on the time needed to complete the job, though the required services and the time period of the move will also affect the final bill.

Moving out of state to or from Columbus, OH: Out-of-state moves to or from the Arch City can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $12,000, depending on the weight of the shipment and the relocation distance. The time of the week, month, and year when the relocation takes place, as well as the specific services provided by the movers also influence long distance moving costs.

When planning a house move, you want no surprises – especially when it comes to the costs. So, if you’re about to relocate within Columbus or out of state from the capital city, one of the most crucial questions you will need an answer to is “How much does it cost to hire movers in Columbus?”

Hiring professional moving services in the Arch City is not cheap but it’s worth it – the pros will ensure your safe, smooth, and successful relocation experience and will reduce the notorious moving stress to a minimum. In order to feel financially comfortable with your move, though, you need to know how much you can expect to pay for moving help in Columbus. 

Here is a complete breakdown of Columbus movers’ costs to help you handle the financial aspect of your forthcoming relocation with confidence and ease.

How much does it cost to hire local movers in Columbus, OH?

Whether you’re relocating from the bustling Short North Arts District to the serene suburbs of Dublin or Hillard, or from the family-friendly community of Upper Arlington to the hipster heaven of Clintonville, local moving companies in Columbus will charge you at an hourly rate – generally, between $80 and $96 per hour per mover.

So, when moving within Ohio’s capital city, you can expect to pay about $650 – $750 for a small apartment(assuming that two professional Columbus movers can complete the job in 4 hours). When moving a 4-bedroom home or larger (you will need a team of four movers for about 9 hours or so), your local moving costs can soar up to $2,900 – $3,450.

Keep in mind that most local movers in Columbus bill additional time in 15 or 30-minute increments – so, if your move took 5 hours and 20 minutes, you’ll likely be charged for 5.5 hours.

To give you a better idea of your final moving bill when relocating within the Arch City, here are the average costs to hire local movers in Columbus for different home sizes:

• Studio or one-bedroom apartment – Moving a studio in Columbus will cost you as little as $550. For a standard 1-bedroom apartment, though, you will have to pay about $750;
• Two-bedroom home – Hiring moving help in Columbus for a 2-bedroom apartment or house will cost you about $1,050 – $1,200;
• Three-bedroom home – When moving out of a 3-bedroom apartment or house, you will have to dig deeper into your pocket for professional relocation assistance – expect a  moving bill of $2,150 – $2,650;
• Four-bedroom house – Relocating a spacious home in Arch City will cost you a pretty penny – up to $3,100 or more.

Needless to say, these figures are average values only – they can give you an approximate idea of how much you can expect to pay for professional moving services in Columbus, but the actual cost of your local move will be determined by the specific circumstances in your case. (Not only the size of your home, but also the complexity of the job, the time of the move, and even the part of the city where you’re moving from and to – if you’re relocating to one of Columbus’s lovely suburbs (Powell, Bexley, Gahanna, Granville, New Albany, etc.) your local moving costs will be higher than when moving within the city core, of course.)

In order to learn the true cost of your relocation, you’re advised to request in-house surveys of your belongings from several reputable Columbus movers and discuss the specifics of your move with them. When the pros see exactly how many and what kind of items you have for moving, assess any possible difficulties and complications, and hear your requirements and preferences, they will be able to give you an accurate price estimate.

When choosing a Columbus mover to work with, be sure to confirm that the company is properly licensed by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (all household carriers in the state must be registered with the PUCO) – so you have peace of mind that your chosen movers are qualified and trustworthy professionals.

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

When moving long distance to or from Columbus, OH, the numbers on your moving bill will be much higher than when moving locally within the Arch City, so you need to plan your finances much more carefully.

Here are the average costs to hire a long-distance moving company in Columbus to give you an idea of how much you need to budget for your cross-country move to or from Ohio’s capital city:

	1-bedroom apartment	2-bedroom home	3-bedroom home	4-bedroom house
250 miles	$1,275 – $3,160	$1,650 – $4,350	$2,000 – $4,875	$2,400 – $5,300
500 miles	$1,670 – $3,560	$2,180 – $4,750	$3,200 – $5,650	$4,050 – $6,850
1,000 miles	$2,480 – $5,050	$2,850 – $6,060	$3,650 – $6,500	$4,400 – $7,250
2,000 miles	$2,950 – $5,600	$3,800 – $6,700	$5,150 – $8,000	$7,050 – $11,500

See also: The average cost of moving

Now, let’s explore the costs of moving along some of the busiest moving routes from Columbus, Ohio, to other big cities in the USA:

• Moving from Columbus, OH to Chicago, IL
  • $1,300 – $3,100 (1-bedroom)
  • $1,750 – $4,050 (2-bedroom)
  • $2,150 – $4,700 (3-bedroom)
  • $2,500 – $5,350 (4-bedroom)
• Moving from Columbus, OH to Boston, MA
  • $2,450 – $5,150 (1-bedroom)
  • $2,850 – $6,000 (2-bedroom)
  • $3,700 – $6,550 (3-bedroom)
  • $4,400 – $7,200 (4-bedroom)
• Moving from Columbus, OH to Miami, FL
  • $2,500 – $5,200 (1-bedroom)
  • $2,900 – $6,050 (2-bedroom)
  • $3,750 – $6,600 (3-bedroom)
  • $4,450 – $7,250 (4-bedroom)
• Moving from Columbus, OH to Los Angeles, CA
  • $2,800 – $5,500 (1-bedroom)
  • $3,750 – $6,700 (2-bedroom)
  • $5,100 – $8,000 (3-bedroom)
  • $7,000 – $11,450 (4-bedroom)
• Moving from Columbus, OH to Dallas, TX
  • $2,450 – $5,100 (1-bedroom)
  • $2,900 – $6,050 (2-bedroom)
  • $3,700 – $6,650 (3-bedroom)
  • $4,500 – $7,300 (4-bedroom)
• Moving from Columbus, OH to Denver, CO
  • $2,650 – $5,200 (1-bedroom)
  • $3,200 – $6,250 (2-bedroom)
  • $4,250 – $7,100 (3-bedroom)
  • $5,650 – $9,150 (4-bedroom)
• Moving from Columbus, OH to Seattle, WA
  • $2,700 – $5,400 (1-bedroom)
  • $3,650 – $6,600 (2-bedroom)
  • $5,050 – $7,950 (3-bedroom)
  • $6,950 – $11,400 (4-bedroom)

Remember that these figures are sample prices – they can give you an idea of how much you can expect to pay for your relocation, but in order to learn the actual cost of your move you need to get a personalized price estimate from a reputable Columbus cross-country moving company.

Fill out our moving quote form to get in touch with several top-rated Columbus movers and request in-home estimates from three or four of them – compare the offers (rates, services, timeframes, conditions, etc.) and pick the one that best suits your requirements and your budget.

Before hiring your chosen movers, however, be sure to research them carefully – verify their USDOT number, explore their online presence, check their track record and their complaint history, look for referrals and testimonials, etc. If you notice any red flags of fraud or incompetence, reconsider your choice and pick another – more reliable – moving company to work with. (See also: How to avoid moving scams)

What factors affect the cost of hiring movers in Columbus, OH?

When wondering “How much do movers cost in Columbus?”, you’ll quickly realize that the answer depends on several important factors:

1. Distance of the move – Depending on the distance between the pickup and delivery locations, moving costs are calculated in a different way:

• Local moves (under 50 miles) – Columbus local movers charge by the hour. The cost ranges from $160 to $180 per hour for two movers and a truck;
• Long-distance moves – Long distance moving companies usually have a fixed rate based on weight and distance. For a distance of 1,000 miles, prices can range from $2,500 (2,000-3,000 pounds) to over $8,000 (9,000-10,000 pounds).

2. Size of the move – The fewer items there are for moving, the less time the move takes (so local moving costs are lower) and the weight of the load is smaller (so long-distance moving costs are lower). Vice versa – more items mean heavier shipment and more time to complete the job, so the moving costs are higher.

3. Complexity of the job – Quite naturally, obstacles and difficulties increase the cost of the move:

• Bulky items are more difficult to move – so, they may incur extra fees;
• Specialty items (pianos, safes, pool tables, antique furniture, artwork, etc.) require special packing and handling care – so, even one specialty item can add several hundred dollars to the final cost of the move;
• Stairs make the moving job much more tiring, time-consuming, and riskier – so, prices increase by $50-$100 per each flight of stairs the movers need to navigate;
• Small doors, narrow hallways, and other tight spaces make it very difficult to maneuver large boxes and items out of – or into – the home – so, additional fees may apply. If a piece of furniture (or another bulky item) doesn’t fit through the doors or down the stairs, it may have to be hoisted through a window – and hoisting services can cost up to $1,000;
• Long distance between the entrance of the home and the moving truck results in longer loading (or unloading) time and requires greater effort – so, if the movers need to carry the goods more than 50 feet when loading or unloading the truck, they will charge a long carry fee;
• Physical restraints or local regulations that do not allow large moving trucks in the area may necessitate shuttle services – and they come at an extra cost, of course.

4. Add-ons – Movers offer a variety of extra services for an extra price – packing and unpacking ($60-$75 per hour per packer), furniture disassembly and reassembly ($35-$80 per hour per pro), appliance servicing ($25-$35 per appliance), storage ($100- $200 per month), etc.

5. Insurance – All professional movers offer basic liability coverage (60 cents per pound per item) for free but full value protection comes at an extra cost (1%-2% of the total estimated value of the goods).

6. Time of the move -Moving costs are highest when the demand for moving services is highest -during peak moving season (April to September), on weekends, and on national holidays. During less busy periods, movers tend to lower their rates and offer discounts in order to attract more customers.

Must-read: How much does it cost to hire movers?

How to save money when using professional moving services in Columbus?

Understanding how Columbus movers estimate costs is only half the battle. The other half? Knowing how to bring those costs down.

Here are some efficient cost-saving strategies to help you win the campaign:

• Move during the off-peak season – If possible, schedule your move for the fall or winter – so you can take advantage of seasonal discounts;
• Move on a weekday in the middle of a month – Most people move over the weekend, at the beginning or in the end of a month – so you’ll likely be able to get a better deal for a mid-week, mid-month move;
• Declutter before the move – The less stuff you decide to relocate, the less you’ll pay. Sell, donate, or trash items you don’t need and items that don’t have any special meaning for you – so you keep more money in your pocket and don’t bring unnecessary clutter to your new life;
• Get multiple quotes – Do not just settle for the first quote you receive. Having several estimates gives you a choice and lets you negotiate more effectively;
• Do your own packing – Pack and unpack your items yourself – so you don’t need to pay for professional packing and unpacking services;
• Use free packing supplies – Check websites, social media groups, or local stores for free boxes and other packing supplies and use alternative packing materials you already have at home (bags, baskets, and buckets instead of boxes, old clothes and linens instead of bubble wrap, etc.) – so you can save on packing expenses;
• Reserve a parking place for the moving truck as close to the entrance of your home as possible – so you avoid paying a long carry fee;
• Reserve an elevator for the time of your move – so you avoid paying an elevator fee;
• Make sure your new home is ready in time – so you can receive your items when scheduled and don’t have to pay for storage and re-delivery;  
• Share moving truck space with other people moving along the same route (consolidation) – so you can share the moving costs.

See also: How to cut down moving costs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)