Touch first, read second: switch the home size and watch each step change. Every number here is a stored engine result, not a guess written into the page.
Home size
1. Volume comes from a regulator's cube sheet
Each item has a standard volume from the Washington UTC Table of Measurements — the same sheet movers use. A list of items gives an exact sum; a home size gives a range.
Without a list, the engine uses the home size. For a 2-bedroom home that is 714–857 cu ft — a wider range, because homes differ.
Engine examplemovegen.moving_volume/1Data under review
Your list adds up to 330 cu ft and about 2,310 lb.
Item
Qty
cu ft each
cu ft
Sofa, 3 cushions
1
50
50
Bed, queen incl. spring and mattress
1
65
65
Bureau, dresser, chest of drawers
1
25
25
Carton, medium (3 cu ft)
40
3
120
Piano, baby grand or upright
1
70
70
Total
330
Assumptions, warnings and sources
Warnings
MediumUse a mover that lists piano handling; stairs add per-flight charges (WA tariff Item 170).
LowSome figures come from secondary pages or movegen assumptions and are marked for verification: moveblueprint_cube_2026, movegen_assumption.
Assumptions
Inventory volumes per piece follow the regulator's cube sheet (WA UTC Table of Measurements); items it lacks are estimated from nominal dimensions.
Weight = 7 lb per cu ft of cube-sheet volume (tariff constructive weight); real weight is known only after weighing.
DIY loading fills about 85% of a truck's nominal cu ft; packed volume = volume / 0.85.
movegen — engineering assumption (documented in docs/SOURCES.md)as of Oct 3, 2026Data under review
2. Weight: the tariff's 7 lb per cubic foot
Movers bill long-distance moves by weight. Before anything is weighed, the tariff's constructive weight converts space into pounds.
Item list
330 cu ftvolume
×
7lb per cu ft
=
2,310 lbweight
Home size
1,500–2,000 lbtypical weight range
→
1,750 lbmiddle of the range
÷ 7 →
250 cu ftvolume at 7 lb per cu ft
2,000–3,500 lbtypical weight range
→
2,750 lbmiddle of the range
÷ 7 →
393 cu ftvolume at 7 lb per cu ft
5,000–6,000 lbtypical weight range
→
5,500 lbmiddle of the range
÷ 7 →
786 cu ftvolume at 7 lb per cu ft
8,000–10,000 lbtypical weight range
→
9,000 lbmiddle of the range
÷ 7 →
1,286 cu ftvolume at 7 lb per cu ft
10,000–14,000 lbtypical weight range
→
12,000 lbmiddle of the range
÷ 7 →
1,714 cu ftvolume at 7 lb per cu ft
3. Truck: space and weight limits, every size
People load less tightly than professional crews, so the engine assumes a truck fills to 85% of its nominal space. Then it checks space and the published maximum load for every size, at every company.
Space needed in a truck294 cu ft
Budget
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van fits in one load
323
3,550
1
91%91%
12 ft
380
3,610
1
77%77%
16 ft
658
4,460
1
45%45%
26 ft
1,698
9,180
1
17%17%
Penske
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van fits in one load
404
3,500
1
73%73%
12 ft
450
3,100
1
65%65%
16 ft
800
4,300
1
37%37%
22 ft
1,200
10,000
1
25%25%
26 ft
1,700
10,000
1
17%17%
U-Haul
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van
246
4,030
2
60%60%
10 ft fits in one load
402
2,850
1
73%73%
15 ft
764
6,385
1
38%38%
20 ft
1,016
5,700
1
29%29%
26 ft
1,682
12,859
1
17%17%
Space needed in a truck462 cu ft
Budget
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van
323
3,550
2
72%72%
12 ft
380
3,610
2
61%61%
16 ft fits in one load
658
4,460
1
70%70%
26 ft
1,698
9,180
1
27%27%
Penske
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van
404
3,500
2
57%57%
12 ft
450
3,100
2
51%51%
16 ft fits in one load
800
4,300
1
58%58%
22 ft
1,200
10,000
1
39%39%
26 ft
1,700
10,000
1
27%27%
U-Haul
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van
246
4,030
2
94%94%
10 ft
402
2,850
2
57%57%
15 ft fits in one load
764
6,385
1
60%60%
20 ft
1,016
5,700
1
45%45%
26 ft
1,682
12,859
1
27%27%
Space needed in a truck924 cu ft
Budget
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van over max load
323
3,550
3
95%95%
12 ft over max load
380
3,610
3
81%81%
16 ft over max load
658
4,460
2
70%70%
26 ft fits in one load
1,698
9,180
1
54%54%
Penske
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van over max load
404
3,500
3
76%76%
12 ft over max load
450
3,100
3
68%68%
16 ft over max load
800
4,300
2
58%58%
22 ft fits in one load
1,200
10,000
1
77%77%
26 ft
1,700
10,000
1
54%54%
U-Haul
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van over max load
246
4,030
4
94%94%
10 ft over max load
402
2,850
3
77%77%
15 ft
764
6,385
2
60%60%
20 ft fits in one load
1,016
5,700
1
91%91%
26 ft
1,682
12,859
1
55%55%
Space needed in a truck1,513 cu ft
Budget
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van over max load
323
3,550
5
94%94%
12 ft over max load
380
3,610
4
100%100%
16 ft over max load
658
4,460
3
77%77%
26 ft fits in one load
1,698
9,180
1
89%89%
Penske
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van over max load
404
3,500
4
94%94%
12 ft over max load
450
3,100
4
84%84%
16 ft over max load
800
4,300
3
63%63%
22 ft
1,200
10,000
2
63%63%
26 ft fits in one load
1,700
10,000
1
89%89%
U-Haul
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van over max load
246
4,030
7
88%88%
10 ft over max load
402
2,850
4
94%94%
15 ft over max load
764
6,385
2
99%99%
20 ft over max load
1,016
5,700
2
74%74%
26 ft fits in one load
1,682
12,859
1
90%90%
Space needed in a truck2,017 cu ft
Budget
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van over max load
323
3,550
7
89%89%
12 ft over max load
380
3,610
6
88%88%
16 ft over max load
658
4,460
4
77%77%
26 ft over max load
1,698
9,180
2
59%59%
Penske
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van over max load
404
3,500
5
100%100%
12 ft over max load
450
3,100
5
90%90%
16 ft over max load
800
4,300
3
84%84%
22 ft over max load
1,200
10,000
2
84%84%
26 ft over max load
1,700
10,000
2
59%59%
U-Haul
Size
cu ft
max lb
loads
fill
cargo van over max load
246
4,030
9
91%91%
10 ft over max load
402
2,850
6
84%84%
15 ft over max load
764
6,385
3
88%88%
20 ft over max load
1,016
5,700
3
66%66%
26 ft
1,682
12,859
2
60%60%
4. Price: published rates, three ways to move
Across town, movers bill by the hour; long distance, by weight and miles. The engine prices three ways to move and keeps every range wide on purpose.
Engine examplemovegen.moving_cost_estimate/1Data under review
Studio · Across town
Input: 15 mi within IL
From $90 to $1,450 depending on how you move. Planning ranges, not a quote.
Rent a truck, drive it yourself
$90–$240
How it is counted:U-Haul 10 ft truck in-town: $19.95 x 1 day(s) + 40 mi mileage + fuel
Moving container
$320–$810
How it is counted:1 x 16 ft-class container, local published range
Full-service movers
$400–$930
How it is counted:crew hourly rate x estimated hours · 2 movers, 3.4–5.2 billed hours at $120–$180 per hour
Assumptions, warnings and sources
Warnings
NoteVolume estimated from home size, not from an inventory; an item list (or a mover's survey) narrows the range.
NoteThese are planning ranges from published rates, not a quote. Get written estimates from at least three movers; an in-home or video survey makes them reliable.
NoteIntrastate move in IL: rules, licensing and rate caps are set by the state (some, like Washington, publish a tariff with maximum hourly rates).
LowSome figures come from secondary pages or movegen assumptions and are marked for verification: bellhop_local_2026, home_weight_benchmarks, movegen_assumption, per_mover_rates_unconfirmed, pods_cost_2026, uhaul_pricing_2026.
Assumptions
Weight = 7 lb per cu ft of cube-sheet volume (tariff constructive weight); real weight is known only after weighing.
Studio: household goods 1,500-2,000 lb by published rule of thumb; furnishing 'typical' takes the midpoint of that range.
Boxes: 15-25 medium-box equivalents for this home size (movegen estimate); they are part of the weight benchmark, not added on top.
Local (hourly) pricing applies to moves within one state up to 100 miles; beyond that or across state lines, long-distance pricing by weight and distance (Washington, for example, draws the line at 55 miles).
DIY loading fills about 85% of a truck's nominal cu ft; packed volume = volume / 0.85.
Container price is for 16 ft-class units incl. one month of storage; several containers scale linearly (movegen assumption).
Full-service local: 2 movers, 3.4-5.2 billed hours (35-55 cu ft per mover-hour for load and unload, plus travel and drive).
Engine examplemovegen.moving_cost_estimate/1Data under review
Studio · Long distance
Input: 1,200 mi, TX → CO
From $910 to $8,090 depending on how you move. Planning ranges, not a quote.
ImportantInterstate move: hire only a mover registered with FMCSA (USDOT number, checkable at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move); the mover must give you 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move'.
Rent a truck, drive it yourself
$1,380–$2,760
How it is counted:1 x U-Haul 10 ft truck one-way: 1200 mi at published per-mile bracket + fuel
Moving container
$910–$7,450
How it is counted:1 x 16 ft-class container, long-distance published range
Full-service movers
$1,050–$1,680
How it is counted:weight x distance · $0.50–$0.80 per lb per 1,000 mi
Assumptions, warnings and sources
Warnings
NoteVolume estimated from home size, not from an inventory; an item list (or a mover's survey) narrows the range.
LowOne-way truck rates depend heavily on the lane, the season and fleet balance; the bracket is wide on purpose.
NoteThese are planning ranges from published rates, not a quote. Get written estimates from at least three movers; an in-home or video survey makes them reliable.
ImportantInterstate move: hire only a mover registered with FMCSA (USDOT number, checkable at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move); the mover must give you 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move'.
MediumA binding estimate fixes the price; under a non-binding estimate the mover may collect at most 110% of the estimate at delivery (49 CFR 375.407), the rest is billed later. A binding not-to-exceed estimate caps the price and can go down.
LowBasic 'released value' liability is only 60 cents per pound per article; Full Value Protection costs extra.
LowSome figures come from secondary pages or movegen assumptions and are marked for verification: consumeraffairs_movers_2026, home_weight_benchmarks, movegen_assumption, per_mover_rates_unconfirmed, pods_cost_2026, uhaul_cross_country.
Assumptions
Weight = 7 lb per cu ft of cube-sheet volume (tariff constructive weight); real weight is known only after weighing.
Studio: household goods 1,500-2,000 lb by published rule of thumb; furnishing 'typical' takes the midpoint of that range.
Boxes: 15-25 medium-box equivalents for this home size (movegen estimate); they are part of the weight benchmark, not added on top.
Local (hourly) pricing applies to moves within one state up to 100 miles; beyond that or across state lines, long-distance pricing by weight and distance (Washington, for example, draws the line at 55 miles).
DIY loading fills about 85% of a truck's nominal cu ft; packed volume = volume / 0.85.
Container price is for 16 ft-class units incl. one month of storage; several containers scale linearly (movegen assumption).
Full-service long distance: 1,750 lb x $0.50-0.80 per lb per 1,000 miles; the mover's bill uses the actual weighed weight.
Engine examplemovegen.moving_cost_estimate/1Data under review
1 BR · Across town
Input: 15 mi within IL
From $100 to $1,710 depending on how you move. Planning ranges, not a quote.
Rent a truck, drive it yourself
$100–$250
How it is counted:U-Haul 15 ft truck in-town: $29.95 x 1 day(s) + 40 mi mileage + fuel
Moving container
$320–$810
How it is counted:1 x 16 ft-class container, local published range
Full-service movers
$560–$1,300
How it is counted:crew hourly rate x estimated hours · 2 movers, 4.7–7.2 billed hours at $120–$180 per hour
Assumptions, warnings and sources
Warnings
NoteVolume estimated from home size, not from an inventory; an item list (or a mover's survey) narrows the range.
NoteThese are planning ranges from published rates, not a quote. Get written estimates from at least three movers; an in-home or video survey makes them reliable.
NoteIntrastate move in IL: rules, licensing and rate caps are set by the state (some, like Washington, publish a tariff with maximum hourly rates).
LowSome figures come from secondary pages or movegen assumptions and are marked for verification: bellhop_local_2026, home_weight_benchmarks, movegen_assumption, per_mover_rates_unconfirmed, pods_cost_2026, uhaul_pricing_2026.
Assumptions
Weight = 7 lb per cu ft of cube-sheet volume (tariff constructive weight); real weight is known only after weighing.
1 bedroom: household goods 2,000-3,500 lb by published rule of thumb; furnishing 'typical' takes the midpoint of that range.
Boxes: 25-40 medium-box equivalents for this home size (movegen estimate); they are part of the weight benchmark, not added on top.
Local (hourly) pricing applies to moves within one state up to 100 miles; beyond that or across state lines, long-distance pricing by weight and distance (Washington, for example, draws the line at 55 miles).
DIY loading fills about 85% of a truck's nominal cu ft; packed volume = volume / 0.85.
Container price is for 16 ft-class units incl. one month of storage; several containers scale linearly (movegen assumption).
Full-service local: 2 movers, 4.7-7.2 billed hours (35-55 cu ft per mover-hour for load and unload, plus travel and drive).
Engine examplemovegen.moving_cost_estimate/1Data under review
1 BR · Long distance
Input: 1,200 mi, TX → CO
From $910 to $8,350 depending on how you move. Planning ranges, not a quote.
ImportantInterstate move: hire only a mover registered with FMCSA (USDOT number, checkable at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move); the mover must give you 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move'.
Rent a truck, drive it yourself
$1,460–$2,880
How it is counted:1 x U-Haul 15 ft truck one-way: 1200 mi at published per-mile bracket + fuel
Moving container
$910–$7,450
How it is counted:1 x 16 ft-class container, long-distance published range
Full-service movers
$1,650–$2,640
How it is counted:weight x distance · $0.50–$0.80 per lb per 1,000 mi
Assumptions, warnings and sources
Warnings
NoteVolume estimated from home size, not from an inventory; an item list (or a mover's survey) narrows the range.
LowOne-way truck rates depend heavily on the lane, the season and fleet balance; the bracket is wide on purpose.
NoteThese are planning ranges from published rates, not a quote. Get written estimates from at least three movers; an in-home or video survey makes them reliable.
ImportantInterstate move: hire only a mover registered with FMCSA (USDOT number, checkable at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move); the mover must give you 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move'.
MediumA binding estimate fixes the price; under a non-binding estimate the mover may collect at most 110% of the estimate at delivery (49 CFR 375.407), the rest is billed later. A binding not-to-exceed estimate caps the price and can go down.
LowBasic 'released value' liability is only 60 cents per pound per article; Full Value Protection costs extra.
LowSome figures come from secondary pages or movegen assumptions and are marked for verification: consumeraffairs_movers_2026, home_weight_benchmarks, movegen_assumption, per_mover_rates_unconfirmed, pods_cost_2026, uhaul_cross_country.
Assumptions
Weight = 7 lb per cu ft of cube-sheet volume (tariff constructive weight); real weight is known only after weighing.
1 bedroom: household goods 2,000-3,500 lb by published rule of thumb; furnishing 'typical' takes the midpoint of that range.
Boxes: 25-40 medium-box equivalents for this home size (movegen estimate); they are part of the weight benchmark, not added on top.
Local (hourly) pricing applies to moves within one state up to 100 miles; beyond that or across state lines, long-distance pricing by weight and distance (Washington, for example, draws the line at 55 miles).
DIY loading fills about 85% of a truck's nominal cu ft; packed volume = volume / 0.85.
Container price is for 16 ft-class units incl. one month of storage; several containers scale linearly (movegen assumption).
Full-service long distance: 2,750 lb x $0.50-0.80 per lb per 1,000 miles; the mover's bill uses the actual weighed weight.
Engine examplemovegen.moving_cost_estimate/1Data under review
2 BR · Across town
Input: 15 mi within IL
From $110 to $3,430 depending on how you move. Planning ranges, not a quote.
Rent a truck, drive it yourself
$110–$260
How it is counted:U-Haul 20 ft truck in-town: $39.95 x 1 day(s) + 40 mi mileage + fuel
Moving container
$650–$1,630
How it is counted:2 x 16 ft-class container, local published range
Full-service movers
$1,000–$2,270
How it is counted:crew hourly rate x estimated hours · 3 movers, 5.9–9.1 billed hours at $170–$250 per hour
Assumptions, warnings and sources
Warnings
NoteVolume estimated from home size, not from an inventory; an item list (or a mover's survey) narrows the range.
NoteThese are planning ranges from published rates, not a quote. Get written estimates from at least three movers; an in-home or video survey makes them reliable.
NoteIntrastate move in IL: rules, licensing and rate caps are set by the state (some, like Washington, publish a tariff with maximum hourly rates).
LowSome figures come from secondary pages or movegen assumptions and are marked for verification: bellhop_local_2026, home_weight_benchmarks, movegen_assumption, per_mover_rates_unconfirmed, pods_cost_2026, uhaul_pricing_2026.
Assumptions
Weight = 7 lb per cu ft of cube-sheet volume (tariff constructive weight); real weight is known only after weighing.
2 bedrooms: household goods 5,000-6,000 lb by published rule of thumb; furnishing 'typical' takes the midpoint of that range.
Boxes: 40-60 medium-box equivalents for this home size (movegen estimate); they are part of the weight benchmark, not added on top.
Local (hourly) pricing applies to moves within one state up to 100 miles; beyond that or across state lines, long-distance pricing by weight and distance (Washington, for example, draws the line at 55 miles).
DIY loading fills about 85% of a truck's nominal cu ft; packed volume = volume / 0.85.
Container price is for 16 ft-class units incl. one month of storage; several containers scale linearly (movegen assumption).
Full-service local: 3 movers, 5.9-9.1 billed hours (35-55 cu ft per mover-hour for load and unload, plus travel and drive).
Engine examplemovegen.moving_cost_estimate/1Data under review
2 BR · Long distance
Input: 1,200 mi, TX → CO
From $1,460 to $16,700 depending on how you move. Planning ranges, not a quote.
ImportantInterstate move: hire only a mover registered with FMCSA (USDOT number, checkable at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move); the mover must give you 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move'.
Rent a truck, drive it yourself
$1,460–$2,880
How it is counted:1 x U-Haul 20 ft truck one-way: 1200 mi at published per-mile bracket + fuel
Moving container
$1,820–$14,900
How it is counted:2 x 16 ft-class container, long-distance published range
Full-service movers
$3,300–$5,280
How it is counted:weight x distance · $0.50–$0.80 per lb per 1,000 mi
Assumptions, warnings and sources
Warnings
NoteVolume estimated from home size, not from an inventory; an item list (or a mover's survey) narrows the range.
LowOne-way truck rates depend heavily on the lane, the season and fleet balance; the bracket is wide on purpose.
NoteThese are planning ranges from published rates, not a quote. Get written estimates from at least three movers; an in-home or video survey makes them reliable.
ImportantInterstate move: hire only a mover registered with FMCSA (USDOT number, checkable at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move); the mover must give you 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move'.
MediumA binding estimate fixes the price; under a non-binding estimate the mover may collect at most 110% of the estimate at delivery (49 CFR 375.407), the rest is billed later. A binding not-to-exceed estimate caps the price and can go down.
LowBasic 'released value' liability is only 60 cents per pound per article; Full Value Protection costs extra.
LowSome figures come from secondary pages or movegen assumptions and are marked for verification: consumeraffairs_movers_2026, home_weight_benchmarks, movegen_assumption, per_mover_rates_unconfirmed, pods_cost_2026, uhaul_cross_country.
Assumptions
Weight = 7 lb per cu ft of cube-sheet volume (tariff constructive weight); real weight is known only after weighing.
2 bedrooms: household goods 5,000-6,000 lb by published rule of thumb; furnishing 'typical' takes the midpoint of that range.
Boxes: 40-60 medium-box equivalents for this home size (movegen estimate); they are part of the weight benchmark, not added on top.
Local (hourly) pricing applies to moves within one state up to 100 miles; beyond that or across state lines, long-distance pricing by weight and distance (Washington, for example, draws the line at 55 miles).
DIY loading fills about 85% of a truck's nominal cu ft; packed volume = volume / 0.85.
Container price is for 16 ft-class units incl. one month of storage; several containers scale linearly (movegen assumption).
Full-service long distance: 5,500 lb x $0.50-0.80 per lb per 1,000 miles; the mover's bill uses the actual weighed weight.
Engine examplemovegen.moving_cost_estimate/1Data under review
3 BR · Across town
Input: 15 mi within IL
From $120 to $4,570 depending on how you move. Planning ranges, not a quote.
Rent a truck, drive it yourself
$120–$270
How it is counted:U-Haul 26 ft truck in-town: $49.95 x 1 day(s) + 40 mi mileage + fuel
Moving container
$650–$1,630
How it is counted:2 x 16 ft-class container, local published range
Full-service movers
$1,530–$3,770
How it is counted:crew hourly rate x estimated hours · 4 movers, 6.9–10.8 billed hours at $220–$350 per hour
Assumptions, warnings and sources
Warnings
NoteVolume estimated from home size, not from an inventory; an item list (or a mover's survey) narrows the range.
NoteThese are planning ranges from published rates, not a quote. Get written estimates from at least three movers; an in-home or video survey makes them reliable.
NoteIntrastate move in IL: rules, licensing and rate caps are set by the state (some, like Washington, publish a tariff with maximum hourly rates).
LowSome figures come from secondary pages or movegen assumptions and are marked for verification: bellhop_local_2026, home_weight_benchmarks, movegen_assumption, per_mover_rates_unconfirmed, pods_cost_2026, uhaul_pricing_2026.
Assumptions
Weight = 7 lb per cu ft of cube-sheet volume (tariff constructive weight); real weight is known only after weighing.
3 bedrooms: household goods 8,000-10,000 lb by published rule of thumb; furnishing 'typical' takes the midpoint of that range.
Boxes: 60-90 medium-box equivalents for this home size (movegen estimate); they are part of the weight benchmark, not added on top.
Local (hourly) pricing applies to moves within one state up to 100 miles; beyond that or across state lines, long-distance pricing by weight and distance (Washington, for example, draws the line at 55 miles).
DIY loading fills about 85% of a truck's nominal cu ft; packed volume = volume / 0.85.
Container price is for 16 ft-class units incl. one month of storage; several containers scale linearly (movegen assumption).
Full-service local: 4 movers, 6.9-10.8 billed hours (35-55 cu ft per mover-hour for load and unload, plus travel and drive).
Engine examplemovegen.moving_cost_estimate/1Data under review
3 BR · Long distance
Input: 1,200 mi, TX → CO
From $1,460 to $17,840 depending on how you move. Planning ranges, not a quote.
ImportantInterstate move: hire only a mover registered with FMCSA (USDOT number, checkable at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move); the mover must give you 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move'.
Rent a truck, drive it yourself
$1,460–$2,880
How it is counted:1 x U-Haul 26 ft truck one-way: 1200 mi at published per-mile bracket + fuel
Moving container
$1,820–$14,900
How it is counted:2 x 16 ft-class container, long-distance published range
Full-service movers
$5,400–$8,640
How it is counted:weight x distance · $0.50–$0.80 per lb per 1,000 mi
Assumptions, warnings and sources
Warnings
NoteVolume estimated from home size, not from an inventory; an item list (or a mover's survey) narrows the range.
LowOne-way truck rates depend heavily on the lane, the season and fleet balance; the bracket is wide on purpose.
NoteThese are planning ranges from published rates, not a quote. Get written estimates from at least three movers; an in-home or video survey makes them reliable.
ImportantInterstate move: hire only a mover registered with FMCSA (USDOT number, checkable at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move); the mover must give you 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move'.
MediumA binding estimate fixes the price; under a non-binding estimate the mover may collect at most 110% of the estimate at delivery (49 CFR 375.407), the rest is billed later. A binding not-to-exceed estimate caps the price and can go down.
LowBasic 'released value' liability is only 60 cents per pound per article; Full Value Protection costs extra.
LowSome figures come from secondary pages or movegen assumptions and are marked for verification: consumeraffairs_movers_2026, home_weight_benchmarks, movegen_assumption, per_mover_rates_unconfirmed, pods_cost_2026, uhaul_cross_country.
Assumptions
Weight = 7 lb per cu ft of cube-sheet volume (tariff constructive weight); real weight is known only after weighing.
3 bedrooms: household goods 8,000-10,000 lb by published rule of thumb; furnishing 'typical' takes the midpoint of that range.
Boxes: 60-90 medium-box equivalents for this home size (movegen estimate); they are part of the weight benchmark, not added on top.
Local (hourly) pricing applies to moves within one state up to 100 miles; beyond that or across state lines, long-distance pricing by weight and distance (Washington, for example, draws the line at 55 miles).
DIY loading fills about 85% of a truck's nominal cu ft; packed volume = volume / 0.85.
Container price is for 16 ft-class units incl. one month of storage; several containers scale linearly (movegen assumption).
Full-service long distance: 9,000 lb x $0.50-0.80 per lb per 1,000 miles; the mover's bill uses the actual weighed weight.
Engine examplemovegen.moving_cost_estimate/1Data under review
4 BR · Across town
Input: 15 mi within IL
From $150 to $6,360 depending on how you move. Planning ranges, not a quote.
Rent a truck, drive it yourself
$150–$320
How it is counted:U-Haul 26 ft truck in-town: $49.95 x 1 day(s) + 70 mi mileage + fuel
Moving container
$970–$2,440
How it is counted:3 x 16 ft-class container, local published range
Full-service movers
$1,960–$4,850
How it is counted:crew hourly rate x estimated hours · 4 movers, 8.9–13.8 billed hours at $220–$350 per hour
Assumptions, warnings and sources
Warnings
NoteVolume estimated from home size, not from an inventory; an item list (or a mover's survey) narrows the range.
NoteThese are planning ranges from published rates, not a quote. Get written estimates from at least three movers; an in-home or video survey makes them reliable.
NoteIntrastate move in IL: rules, licensing and rate caps are set by the state (some, like Washington, publish a tariff with maximum hourly rates).
LowSome figures come from secondary pages or movegen assumptions and are marked for verification: bellhop_local_2026, home_weight_benchmarks, movegen_assumption, per_mover_rates_unconfirmed, pods_cost_2026, uhaul_pricing_2026.
Assumptions
Weight = 7 lb per cu ft of cube-sheet volume (tariff constructive weight); real weight is known only after weighing.
4 bedrooms: household goods 10,000-14,000 lb by published rule of thumb; furnishing 'typical' takes the midpoint of that range.
Boxes: 90-120 medium-box equivalents for this home size (movegen estimate); they are part of the weight benchmark, not added on top.
Local (hourly) pricing applies to moves within one state up to 100 miles; beyond that or across state lines, long-distance pricing by weight and distance (Washington, for example, draws the line at 55 miles).
DIY loading fills about 85% of a truck's nominal cu ft; packed volume = volume / 0.85.
Container price is for 16 ft-class units incl. one month of storage; several containers scale linearly (movegen assumption).
Full-service local: 4 movers, 8.9-13.8 billed hours (35-55 cu ft per mover-hour for load and unload, plus travel and drive).
Engine examplemovegen.moving_cost_estimate/1Data under review
4 BR · Long distance
Input: 1,200 mi, TX → CO
From $2,730 to $26,260 depending on how you move. Planning ranges, not a quote.
ImportantInterstate move: hire only a mover registered with FMCSA (USDOT number, checkable at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move); the mover must give you 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move'.
Rent a truck, drive it yourself
$2,920–$5,750
How it is counted:2 x U-Haul 26 ft truck one-way: 1200 mi at published per-mile bracket + fuel
Moving container
$2,730–$22,340
How it is counted:3 x 16 ft-class container, long-distance published range
Full-service movers
$7,200–$11,520
How it is counted:weight x distance · $0.50–$0.80 per lb per 1,000 mi
Assumptions, warnings and sources
Warnings
NoteVolume estimated from home size, not from an inventory; an item list (or a mover's survey) narrows the range.
LowOne-way truck rates depend heavily on the lane, the season and fleet balance; the bracket is wide on purpose.
NoteThese are planning ranges from published rates, not a quote. Get written estimates from at least three movers; an in-home or video survey makes them reliable.
ImportantInterstate move: hire only a mover registered with FMCSA (USDOT number, checkable at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move); the mover must give you 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move'.
MediumA binding estimate fixes the price; under a non-binding estimate the mover may collect at most 110% of the estimate at delivery (49 CFR 375.407), the rest is billed later. A binding not-to-exceed estimate caps the price and can go down.
LowBasic 'released value' liability is only 60 cents per pound per article; Full Value Protection costs extra.
LowSome figures come from secondary pages or movegen assumptions and are marked for verification: consumeraffairs_movers_2026, home_weight_benchmarks, movegen_assumption, per_mover_rates_unconfirmed, pods_cost_2026, uhaul_cross_country.
Assumptions
Weight = 7 lb per cu ft of cube-sheet volume (tariff constructive weight); real weight is known only after weighing.
4 bedrooms: household goods 10,000-14,000 lb by published rule of thumb; furnishing 'typical' takes the midpoint of that range.
Boxes: 90-120 medium-box equivalents for this home size (movegen estimate); they are part of the weight benchmark, not added on top.
Local (hourly) pricing applies to moves within one state up to 100 miles; beyond that or across state lines, long-distance pricing by weight and distance (Washington, for example, draws the line at 55 miles).
DIY loading fills about 85% of a truck's nominal cu ft; packed volume = volume / 0.85.
Container price is for 16 ft-class units incl. one month of storage; several containers scale linearly (movegen assumption).
Full-service long distance: 12,000 lb x $0.50-0.80 per lb per 1,000 miles; the mover's bill uses the actual weighed weight.
Interstate move: hire only a mover registered with FMCSA (USDOT number, checkable at fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move); the mover must give you 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move'.
A binding estimate fixes the price; under a non-binding estimate the mover may collect at most 110% of the estimate at delivery (49 CFR 375.407), the rest is billed later. A binding not-to-exceed estimate caps the price and can go down.
Basic 'released value' liability is only 60 cents per pound per article; Full Value Protection costs extra.
Every source, with its date
Sources used by the examples on this site. Figures from secondary pages or engineering assumptions are flagged until they are checked.
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