What Moving Labor Costs in 2026
Every rate on this page is the rate you actually pay. Movers cost $35 to $75 per hour each, there is one flat $49 booking fee, and fuel reimbursement is $10 to $15 per mover. No quote form, no sales call, no surprise line items.
Moving labor cost at a glance
Four standardized rates. You choose the tier when you post your move, and every mover on your crew is paid that same rate. Two-hour minimum per mover.
Charged once per move when you reserve your crew. It does not scale with crew size, hours, or the size of your home.
Travel reimbursement based on distance, split evenly across the crew and shown as its own line on your invoice.
That is the entire pricing model. There is no charge for stairs, no charge for heavy items beyond the Specialty rate you chose up front, and no weekend or holiday premium. If the crew finishes faster than you booked, the invoice bills the hours actually worked and the difference comes back to you.
Moving labor cost by home size
These totals assume the $45 Equipped rate, which fits most household moves, and a single-level home with parking near the door. Add roughly 30 minutes per flight of stairs and 30 to 45 minutes when the truck has to park more than 75 feet away.
| Home size | Crew | Hours | Labor at $45/hr | Fuel | Booking fee | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / small 1-bed | 2 movers | 2–3 | $180 – $270 | $24 | $49 | $253 – $343 |
| Large 1-bed | 2 movers | 3–4 | $270 – $360 | $24 | $49 | $343 – $433 |
| 2-bed apartment | 3 movers | 4–5 | $540 – $675 | $36 | $49 | $625 – $760 |
| 2-bed house | 3 movers | 5–6 | $675 – $810 | $36 | $49 | $760 – $895 |
| 3-bed house | 3–4 movers | 5–7 | $675 – $1,260 | $36 – $48 | $49 | $760 – $1,357 |
| 4-bed or larger | 4–5 movers | 7–9 | $1,260 – $2,025 | $48 – $60 | $49 | $1,357 – $2,134 |
What each rate tier costs on a real job
The tier you pick should match what the job needs, not what looks cheapest. Booking the Standard rate and then discovering nobody brought a dolly costs more in hours than the Equipped rate would have cost in dollars.
| Rate | Tier | What it includes | 2 movers / 4 hrs | 3 movers / 5 hrs | 4 movers / 6 hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35/hr | Standard | Experienced hands, you supply equipment | $280 | $525 | $840 |
| $45/hr | Equipped | Dolly, straps, basic hand tools | $360 | $675 | $1,080 |
| $55/hr | Protected | Adds shrink wrap and moving blankets | $440 | $825 | $1,320 |
| $75/hr | Specialty | Specialists and item-specific equipment | $600 | $1,125 | $1,800 |
Moving labor cost by job
| Job | Typical crew and hours | Labor cost |
|---|---|---|
| Load a 16-ft U-Haul | 2 movers, 2–3 hours | $180 – $270 |
| Load a 26-ft U-Haul | 3 movers, 4–5 hours | $540 – $675 |
| Load or unload a POD | 2 movers, 2–4 hours | $180 – $360 |
| Clear a 10x10 storage unit | 2 movers, 2 hours | $180 |
| Move one piano | 3 movers, 2 hours at $75/hr | $450 |
| Move a gun safe | 3 movers, 2 hours at $75/hr | $450 |
| Rearrange furniture in one home | 2 movers, 2 hours | $180 |
| Unload and place a 3-bed house | 3 movers, 3–4 hours | $405 – $540 |
A full invoice, line by line
A two-bedroom apartment on the second floor, moving four miles across town, with a 20-foot rental truck already reserved. Three movers booked at the $45 Equipped rate for five hours.
The crew arrives, you give them your Move PIN, and the time clock starts. They finish in four and a half hours. The invoice bills four and a half hours, not five, and the overpayment is flagged for refund rather than kept.
You review the hours, note any damage, sign, and press Pay My Movers. Each mover receives their hours at the booked rate minus the 10 percent platform fee, plus their share of the fuel reimbursement.
- Labor — 3 movers x 4.5 hrs x $45$607.50
- Fuel reimbursement — 3 x $12$36.00
- Booking fee — flat, once$49.00
- Total$692.50
Hourly labor versus a full-service quote
A full-service local mover quotes a flat number that covers the truck, the fuel, the driver, the dispatcher, insurance, and margin. For a two-bedroom local move that number commonly lands between $1,200 and $2,200. Hourly labor for the same move, with a rental truck you booked for $60 to $130, lands between $625 and $760 in labor plus that rental.
The gap is not a trick. You are taking on the logistics: reserving the right truck size, driving it, and handling parking. If that is work you were going to do anyway, hourly labor is the cheaper buy nearly every time. If you need a crew to pack, transport, and unload across several states, price a full-service move instead — that is what it is for.
Seven things that change your final number
- •Crew size — adding a mover raises the hourly total but usually shortens the day enough to cost less overall.
- •Stairs — budget about 30 extra minutes per flight at each address.
- •Carry distance — a truck parked more than 75 feet from the door adds 30 to 45 minutes.
- •Packing readiness — open boxes are the single most expensive thing a crew can find on arrival.
- •Disassembly — beds and table legs are included; custom built-ins take real time.
- •Elevator access — a reserved freight elevator saves an hour over a shared one.
- •Decisions — deciding what stays and what goes before the clock starts saves more money than any discount.
When each charge actually happens
- 1You post your move
Free. You describe the job, pick the rate tier, crew size, and hours.
- 2You build your crew
Free. Movers request to join, you review profiles and invite the ones you want.
- 3You reserve the crew
The flat $49 booking fee is charged. This is the only charge before move day.
- 4The day before your move
The labor balance is secured on your card. It is held, not released.
- 5Move day
You give the crew your Move PIN. That is what starts the time clock — no PIN, no billable time.
- 6Pay My Movers
You review actual hours, note any damage, sign, and release payment. Tips are optional and per mover.