How much does it cost to move a two-bedroom house?

Key points

• With DIY packing, full-service movers generally cost $3,350 to $7,500.

• With packing included, full-service movers cost around $4,060 to $8,750.

• Moving truck rental prices start around $30 per day and $1.39 per mile for local moves.

The cost to move a two-bedroom house primarily depends on whether you hire professional movers or handle the move independently. If you hire movers for a local relocation, expect to pay an hourly rate of $172 to $296. If your two-bedroom move is long-distance, professional movers start at around $3,350 if you handle the packing yourself or $5,500 if you add on packing services. 

Moving truck or container rentals are staples of any DIY move. Moves of this size typically require a 15- or 20-foot truck, which costs around $30 to $40 per day plus $1.39 per mile for local moves. Relocations around 250 miles cost around $325 to $359 for a moving truck rental and $2,155 to $3,232 for a 1,500-mile move.

How much do professional moving services cost?

Long-distance moves are typically quoted at binding rates based on move distance and inventory weight. Local moves are charged hourly, depending on the number of trucks and movers you hire. 

Long-distance move cost 

If you’re hiring professional movers, a two-bedroom move ranges from around $3,350 to more than $8,750. Your final price depends on your move distance, inventory size and add-on services such as packing. 

If you plan to pack your own goods, your move could cost between $3,350 and $7,500. If you’re adding on packing services, expect to pay around $4,060 to $8,750 or more. 

The table below shows what you can expect to pay for your two-bedroom move based on distance and packing services. 

Two-bedroom professional moving service costs by distance 

Distance (Miles)	Less Than 1,000	1,000–1,500	More Than 1,500
Cost (Self-Pack)	$3,350–$5,900	$4,800–$7,500	$5,300–$7,500
Cost (Full-Pack)	$4,060–$7,150	$5,500–$8,750	$6,000–$8,750

Cross-country and long-distance moves cost more primarily because of increased transportation and labor expenses, said Stan Dzhishkaryani, founder and CEO of DZ Moving in Louisville, Kentucky.

The company’s reputation and location may also drive up your final invoice. “An established mover will likely charge more owing to their expertise and name. Similarly, regional differences dictate the price of labor and living expenses,” Dzhishkaryani said.

Then, there’s the accessibility of your home — narrow hallways, spiral staircases or small elevators may necessitate special equipment such as a shuttle. This is likely to increase your overall cost.

“Plus, if you have special requirements like moving artwork or bulky items like piano or furniture assembly and disassembly, the mover will charge extra,” Dzhishkaryani said.

Local move cost 

Local moves are charged by the hour. The more movers assigned to your job, the higher your hourly rate will be. Some local movers charge additional fees for truck rental and a fuel surcharge. Rates can also increase on weekends compared to weekdays.

We’ve gathered moving quotes from local moving companies across the U.S., from Maine to Hawaii. Our proprietary data shows $130 to $216 per hour for two movers, $145 to $309 for three movers and $190 to $402 for four movers.

Most moves will have two, three or four movers assigned. Two to three movers are likely the best fit for your two-bedroom move, but speak to your moving company’s move coordinator to confirm. The job can be done more quickly with more labor, so consider that factor before making a final decision.

The state you live in or move to can influence local move costs. For example, our quotes for Hawaii moving companies range from $289 to 309 an hour for three movers, while the same number of movers costs around $195 to $225 an hour among our North Carolina movers. 

Keep those points in mind while reviewing the table below, which breaks down the average hourly rate you can expect to pay for local movers. 

Average cost per hour for local moves

Number of Movers	Average Cost per Hour
2	$172
3	$217
4	$296

How much do DIY moves cost?

DIY moves can be appealing if you want to save on moving expenses by not hiring professional movers. However, you’ll still have expenses such as truck or moving container rentals and packing supplies. Handling the heavy lifting yourself can also be more time-consuming and prolong the moving process. 

Average cost of truck rental

Renting a moving truck can be a cost-effective way to handle your move. We recommend using a 15- or 20-foot truck for most two-bedroom moves.

The tables below show moving truck rental prices from U-Haul for a local move, a 250-mile move and a 1,500-mile move.

Local move

Truck Size	Number of Bedrooms	Cost
15-foot	1–2	$29.95 (plus $1.39 per mile)
20-foot	2–3	$39.95 (plus $1.39 per mile)

250-mile move

Truck Size	Number of Bedrooms	Cost
15-foot	1–2	$325
20-foot	2–3	$359

1,500-mile move

Truck Size	Number of Bedrooms	Cost
15-foot	1–2	$2,155
20-foot	2–3	$3,232

Average cost of moving container rentals 

Moving containers can be an efficient way to handle your move. The moving company will pick up the containers you packed with your household goods and ship the cargo to your new home. U-Haul recommends at least three containers for a two-bedroom home move. The tables below break down the cost for containers around that amount. 

Local move

Number of Containers	Number of Bedrooms	Cost
2	1	$219.90
3	2	$329.85
4	3	$439.80
5	3–4	$549.75

250-mile move 

Number of Containers	Number of Bedrooms	Cost
2	1	$1,253.90 ($1,054 shipping plus $199.90 per month)
3	2	$1,568.85 ($1,269 shipping plus $299.85 per month)
4	3	$1,943.80 ($1,544 shipping plus $399.80 per month)
5	3–4	$2,284.75 ($1,785 shipping plus $499.75 per month)

1,500-mile move

Number of Containers	Number of Bedrooms	Cost
2	1	$3,317.90 ($3,198 shipping plus $119.90 per month)
3	2	$4,784.85 ($4,605 shipping plus $179.85 per month)
4	3	$5,579.80 ($5,340 shipping plus $239.80 per month)
5	3–4	$6,119.75 ($5,820 shipping plus $299.75 per month)

Packing supplies cost 

Packing materials including boxes, packing tape and Bubble Wrap are necessary if you handle the packing and unpacking without professional help. Note that you can sometimes get moving boxes for free at places such as your local recycling center, grocery stores and big-box retailers. 

Here are the starting prices for common packing supplies at popular retailers — Lowe’s and Home Depot.

Lowe’s:

• Small moving box: $1.38
• Medium moving box: $1.98
• Large moving box: $2.48
• Packing tape: $3.48
• Bubble Wrap: $11.98 

Home Depot:

• Small moving box: $1.38
• Medium moving box: $1.98
• Large moving box: $2.48
• Packing tape: $3.48
• Bubble Wrap: $9.02

Final take: Customize your two-bedroom move based on your needs and budget 

How you handle your two-bedroom move is based on your unique needs and budget. 

You could save money by handling the packing, loading and unloading yourself. However, this route will take longer than hiring a professional moving company. So, if you’re on a tighter schedule with a strict moving date, consider outsourcing some parts of the moving process. 

Hiring professional movers takes care of the labor, truck, loading and unloading services for you. Additional services such as packing and insurance coverage will increase the cost of your move. Reach out to at least three professional movers for a free quote before making a final booking decision.