500 miles, 4,000 lbs, 8 hours labor @ $150, $0 truck, $0.75/mi, $300 packing
- Linehaul ≈ $2,000
- Distance ≈ $375
- Labor = $1,200
- Packing = $300
- Total ≈ $3,875
finance calculator
Moving Cost Calculator
Estimate moving cost from distance, weight, labor hours, truck rate, and packing costs.
Results
- Linehaul (weight-based)
- $2,000
- Distance cost
- $375
- Labor cost
- $1,200
- Packing/materials
- $300
- Estimated total cost
- $3,875
How to use this calculator
- Enter distance and shipment weight.
- Enter labor hours/rate, per-mile rate, and any truck/base fee.
- Add packing/materials cost.
- Review component costs and total estimate.
Inputs explained
- Weight
- Estimated shipment weight in pounds.
- Per-mile rate
- Adjust based on mover quote or DIY truck rate.
- Labor
- Hours × rate for movers/loading/unloading.
How it works
Linehaul = Weight × $0.50/lb (heuristic). Distance cost = Miles × per-mile rate. Labor = Hours × rate. Total = sum with truck/base + packing.
Formula
Linehaul ≈ Weight × $0.50/lb Distance = Miles × Per-mile rate Labor = Hours × Rate Total = Linehaul + Distance + Labor + Truck/Base + Packing
When to use it
- Budgeting a move before getting formal quotes.
- Comparing DIY vs full-service movers (adjust labor/truck rates).
- Estimating cost impact of distance and shipment weight.
Tips & cautions
- Actual rates vary; update per-mile and labor rates to match quotes.
- DIY moves may have lower labor but add truck/base fees; full-service may bundle packing.
- Reduce weight to cut linehaul costs if discarding items before moving.
- Simplified; real mover pricing uses tariffs, minimums, accessorials, and insurance.
- Does not include insurance/valuation, fuel surcharges, or access fees.
- Heuristic $0.50/lb linehaul may differ from current market rates.
Worked examples
100 miles, 2,500 lbs, 5 hours @ $120, $200 truck, $0.60/mi, $200 packing
- Linehaul ≈ $1,250
- Distance ≈ $60
- Labor = $600
- Truck = $200
- Packing = $200
- Total ≈ $2,310
Deep dive
Estimate moving cost by entering distance, weight, labor, per-mile rate, truck fee, and packing cost to see component and total cost.
Use it to budget DIY vs full-service moves and adjust based on mover quotes.
FAQs
- Is this a quote?
- No. It’s a rough estimate. Actual mover quotes vary by market and services.
- Does this include insurance/valuation?
- No. Add separately if needed.
- What if labor is bundled?
- Set labor hours/rate to reflect bundled cost or set to zero and adjust per-mile/truck fees accordingly.
- Can I change the linehaul $/lb?
- Not as an input here; adjust weight or rates (or update the logic) to reflect your quotes.
- Does this include accessorial fees?
- No. Stairs, shuttles, long carries, and fuel surcharges are not included—add to packing or adjust totals manually.
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Rough estimate only. Actual moving quotes depend on tariffs, surcharges, accessorials, insurance, and market rates. Get formal quotes for accuracy.