Moving Labor Pricing, Made Simple.
Before comparing rates, it helps to understand what you're actually paying for. Here's how moving labor works, why prices vary so much across the industry, and how we keep it straightforward.
What Is Moving Labor?
Moving labor is hourly help with the physical work of moving — loading, unloading, carrying furniture, and protecting your belongings along the way. You hire the people, and you provide the truck, trailer, POD, or storage unit.
It's different from a full-service van line. Van lines bundle the truck, driver, packing, and labor into one large quote. Moving labor is just the crew, priced by the hour, so you only pay for what you actually need.
Most customers use moving labor when they've already rented a U-Haul, Penske, or Budget truck, ordered a POD, or need help loading a storage unit.
- • Load and unload your truck or POD
- • Carry and stage furniture and boxes
- • Protect items with pads, straps, and wrap
- • Disassemble and reassemble furniture
- • The truck or trailer
- • Driving between addresses
- • Packing supplies (boxes, tape)
- • Long-distance transportation
Why Does Moving Labor Pricing Vary So Much?
Get three quotes from three moving companies and you'll get three very different numbers. It's not random — pricing changes based on what's actually included. Here's what drives the difference.
A crew with hundreds of moves under their belt works faster and handles fragile items more carefully than a first-week hire.
Dollies, straps, and hand tools speed up every move. Crews that bring their own usually charge more per hour but finish sooner.
Shrink wrap, moving pads, and floor runners protect your furniture and floors. Some crews include them, others charge extra.
Pianos, safes, gun cabinets, and antiques take training and specialty gear. That expertise costs more but prevents damage.
Hourly rates in Atlanta look different from rates in a rural county. Local demand and cost of living move the market.
Fuel surcharges, travel time, minimum trip fees, and equipment add-ons often appear only on the final invoice — not the quote.
The result: most customers can't fairly compare quotes because every company prices differently. That's the problem we set out to fix.
How Move Gigs Board Makes Pricing Simpler.
Vague quotes and surprise charges
- Different pricing structures at every company
- Fuel, travel, and equipment fees added later
- Rate negotiations on move day
- Final invoice rarely matches the quote
Four standardized rates, one flat fee
- Four clear service levels: $35, $45, $55, $75 per hour, per mover
- One flat $49 booking fee — no percentage markup
- Every cost itemized before you reserve
- No negotiation on move day — the rate is the rate
How booking works
Every move starts the same way: you post what you need, then movers request to join your crew.
Tell us what you need
Share your addresses, inventory, and move date. It takes a few minutes and there's no commitment.
Choose a service level
Select one of the four standardized hourly rates. That rate applies to every mover on your crew.
Review and confirm
Compare mover profiles, read reviews, and invite the people you want. You only pay the flat $49 booking fee once you reserve your team.
Choose the Service Level That's Right for Your Move.
Think of these as service levels, not just price tiers. Each rate reflects the equipment, protection, and expertise the crew brings — so you can match the level to what your move actually needs.
- • Loading trucks
- • Unloading trucks
- • Carrying furniture
- • Storage units
- • Basic residential moves
- • Furniture assembly
- • Heavy furniture
- • Appliance moving
- • Dolly
- • Moving straps
- • Basic hand tools
- • Full-home moves
- • Long-distance loading
- • Furniture protection
- • Dolly
- • Moving straps
- • Basic hand tools
- • Shrink wrap
- • Piano moving
- • Safe moving
- • Antiques
- • High-value furniture
- • Specialty projects
How to choose the right level
Studio or 1-bedroom moves, storage unit loads, dependable extra hands.
Most household moves with furniture that needs a dolly, straps, or light assembly.
Full-home moves, long-distance loading, and anything you want shrink-wrapped and padded.
Pianos, safes, antiques, and high-value items that require specialty equipment and experience.
Additional Costs and What's Included.
- • All hands-on moving labor
- • Crew coordination and communication
- • Standard care and handling of your items
- • The equipment listed for your chosen service level
- • Flat $49 booking fee — the only platform charge
- • Fuel reimbursement when travel exceeds 10 miles
- • Optional tips (100% goes to your crew)
- • Two-hour minimum per mover
What a typical invoice looks like
Every charge shows up on one clear invoice — no line items appear after your move ends.
| Labor: 2 movers × 4 hours × $45/hr (Equipped) | $360.00 |
| Fuel reimbursement (if applicable) | $20.00 |
| Platform booking fee (flat) | $49.00 |
| Tip (optional, 100% to crew) | $50.00 |
| Total | $479.00 |
Illustrative example. Your final price depends on the rate you choose when you post your move, your crew size, and the hours worked.
When you pay, and how
Payments are structured so nothing moves until you're satisfied.
Pay the flat $49 booking fee to reserve your move.
Twenty-four hours before your move, the remaining labor balance is securely held so everything is ready when your movers arrive.
Check your movers in with your unique Move PIN. Verify your team when the move is complete, then tap Pay My Movers to release payment.
Post Your Move to Get Started.
One path. No back-and-forth quotes.
Share your addresses, inventory, and move date. You'll see an itemized total before you reserve, and you only pay the $49 booking fee once you confirm your crew.
Cancellation Policy
- • Cancel more than 24 hours before your move and you'll get a full refund minus the $49 booking fee.
- • Cancel within 24 hours and the balance charge stands, minus any labor not performed.
- • Reschedule instead of cancel and there's no penalty, subject to your crew's availability.