Moving Connections

What is the average cost to hire a professional moving company like Moving Connections?


On average, hiring professional movers for a local move will cost between $300 and $1,000 depending upon the size of the move, the packing required and what floor the move is on with and without an elevator. Long distance movers throughout the Western United States will cost on average $2,400 – $5,000 depending on the size of the move and the distance.

Estimating moving cost is a tricky affair. The principle elements effecting the cost of a move are 1.) Full service packing or is the job a customer pack 2.) Weight and size of the move job 3.) Distance between origin and desination of the move 4.) Time of year and urgency of your job 5.) Specialty items like safes and pianos. Moving connection has spent a great deal of time developing our instant moving estimate cost calculator. Also, in the table below you’ll find ballpark ranges for your move.

Moving Estimate Cost Calculator


  1 bedroom 2 – 3 bedrooms 4 – 5 bedrooms
Local Moves < 50 miles $330 – $596 $600 – $950 call (801) 532-6683
Utah Moves < 300 miles $1,800 – $2,300 $2,300 – $3,500 call (801) 532-6683
Western United States < 1200 miles $3,000 – $3,600 $3,600 – $5,800 call (801) 532-6683
Nationwide Van Lines 2000 miles+ $1,800 – $3,800 $3,400 – $7,900 call (801) 532-6683

To get more accurate moving estimates call Moving Connections or use our free moving estimate calculator to have your moving quotes emailed directly to you.

Car shipping will also add to your moving budget. For example shipping a car 200-300 miles will cost anywhere from $150 to $600 while nationwide shipping will cost between $900 and $1,500 depending on the distance and type of vehicle. For more detailed vehicle shipping quotes call us: 801-532-6683

The ins and outs of saving money on your next move and getting estimates that are useful


What factors will affect my moving estimate?
Our moving estimate cost calculator considers the following factors:

  • Move size – larger moves are more expensive
  • Distance – the longer the distance the more the move will cost
  • Do-it-yourself vs Pro Mover – DIY is usually cheaper
  • Time of year – summer pricing is higher because it’s peak season
  • Moving date – moving prices tend to be more affordable middle of the week and middle of the month
  • Specialty items – piano, pool tables, hot tubs, motorcycles, safes, etc. are expensive to move
  • Additional costs – packing supplies, long carry charges, full packing, unpacking, shuttle truck fees, travel fees
  • Other fees like shuttle trucks, specialty packing, bulky items (pool table), and more can add significant amounts to a moving quote. Moving in or out of less populated areas like Montana or the Dakotas will typically cost more since fewer movers travel to these areas.

Can I hagle with my moving sales rep for a better price?
Moving companies often have discounts and options available to lower your moving price. You may show your moving estimates from competitors to one another and ask if they’ll outbid the other moving companies. Also ask your sales rep for advice on how to further reduce your costs, such as being flexible with your move date.

Do moving estimates use weight or volume in their calculations?
Both. Most moving companies will price your move by weight. This has the advantage of having your move weight verified by third party. Namely have your moving company weigh their truck before loading your items and again after your items are loaded. This is easily done at any DOT certified weigh station. The differnce between this loaded and unloaded weight is your total move weight. Some smaller moving companies will bypass weight altogether and just give a cost to move all of your belongings regardless of the weight.

Is there any way to assure I get the best deal on my upcoming move?
Yes, get at least 2 or 3 estimates from licensed moving companies. Moving company pricing can vary drastically from company to company and prices continually change. And by the way these estimates should alway be free.

In order to compare estimates fairly, you’ll also want to make sure every company lists the same details. The item list, weight, volume, packing requirements, and any other details should be listed on every quote so you can be sure you’re making an apples-to-apples comparison.

Cheapest is not always the best. How to find the best value in a moving company is what matters.
Moving companies are expensive. If budget is your primary concern then you’ll want to consider some alternative options to full-service movers. Luckily, we have a ton of cheap ways to save you money on your next long distance move whether it's to St George UT, California, Texas, Oregon or throughout the Western United States. Call 801-532-6683. Also, to give you a few ideas:

  • Moving containers
  • Rental trucks like Uhaul and Penske
  • PODs
  • Ship by bus or train
  • Tow a trailer behind your car
  • Students returning home
  • Use Facebook or Craigslist to see if you can share your moving cost