500-mile move, 6,000 lbs, 12 labor hours @ $75/hr, $1.50/mi, 8% fuel, $500 packing, $300 truck, $250 insurance
- Travel = $750
- Linehaul ≈ $90
- Labor = $900
- Fuel ≈ $67.20
- Packing + truck + insurance = $1,050
- Total ≈ $2,857
everyday calculator
Moving Cost Calculator
Estimate moving costs with distance, weight, labor hours/rate, fuel surcharge, packing, truck fee, and insurance.
Results
- Travel cost (per mile)
- $0
- Weight/linehaul cost
- $90
- Labor cost
- $900
- Fuel surcharge
- $67
- Packing/materials
- $500
- Truck/base fee
- $0
- Insurance/valuation
- $250
- Estimated total cost
- $2,857
How to use this calculator
- Enter move distance and estimated weight.
- Enter labor hours and labor rate.
- Enter per-mile rate and fuel surcharge percent.
- Add packing/materials, truck/base fee, and insurance/valuation.
- See line-item costs and total moving estimate.
Inputs explained
- Distance
- Mileage for the move.
- Weight
- Estimated shipment weight in pounds.
- Labor hours/rate
- Crew time and hourly rate.
- Per-mile rate
- Base travel rate per mile.
- Fuel surcharge (%)
- Percentage applied to travel + linehaul.
- Packing/materials
- Boxes, wrap, packing services.
- Truck/base fee
- Minimum/dispatch or truck rental fee.
- Insurance/valuation
- Coverage for belongings during move.
How it works
Travel cost = distance × per-mile rate. Linehaul adds a weight-based component (simplified).
Labor = hours × rate. Fuel surcharge applies to travel + linehaul. Total sums all line items.
Formula
Travel = Distance × Per-mile rate Linehaul (simplified) = (Weight ÷ 100) × Per-mile rate Labor = Hours × Rate Fuel surcharge = (Travel + Linehaul) × Fuel % Total = Travel + Linehaul + Labor + Fuel surcharge + Packing + Truck fee + Insurance
When to use it
- Budgeting a local or long-distance move before booking movers.
- Comparing DIY truck + labor vs full-service mover by adjusting line items.
- Testing fuel surcharges and per-mile rates to see impact on total.
Tips & cautions
- Weight and per-mile rates vary by mover—use your quotes for accuracy.
- Fuel surcharges fluctuate; update the percentage if fuel spikes.
- Add stairs/elevator/long-carry charges separately if your mover applies them.
- Simplified weight component; actual tariffs may price by weight and distance differently.
- Does not include accessorials (stairs, shuttles, storage) unless you add them into line items.
- Local moves may price hourly only; set per-mile/weight low and focus on labor hours in that case.
Worked examples
50-mile local move, 4,000 lbs, 8 hours @ $60/hr, $1.20/mi, 5% fuel, $300 packing, $200 truck, $150 insurance
- Travel = $60
- Linehaul ≈ $48
- Labor = $480
- Fuel ≈ $5.40
- Packing + truck + insurance = $650
- Total ≈ $1,243
Deep dive
This moving cost calculator estimates travel, weight/linehaul, labor, fuel surcharge, packing, truck/base fee, and insurance to show a clear total moving cost.
Use it to compare mover quotes or DIY scenarios and adjust for fuel surcharges or packing choices.
FAQs
- Does this include stairs, elevator, or long-carry fees?
- No. Add those as extra line items manually to your budget.
- Local vs interstate pricing?
- Local moves often rely on hourly labor; interstate uses weight/distance tariffs. Adjust per-mile/weight to fit your quote style.
- Fuel surcharge changes?
- Update fuel % to match your mover’s current surcharge; it can change with fuel prices.
- Need storage or shuttles?
- Not included. Add those costs to packing or truck fees as needed.
- DIY truck?
- Set labor to 0 if you handle labor yourself, and set truck/base fee to your rental cost.
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Budget estimate only. Actual mover tariffs, accessorials, and surcharges vary. Confirm with your mover for accurate pricing.