What local movers cost by the hour
The sample rates in this calculator are typical for a small licensed mover in a mid-size US city:
- Two movers and a truck: $140 an hour, two-hour minimum ($280). Three hours is $420, four is $560, six is $840
- Labor only, two movers, your truck or container: $110 an hour, two-hour minimum ($220). Four hours is $440, eight is $880
Most companies in the US charge somewhere between $100 and $200 an hour for two movers and a truck, and add about $40 to $60 an hour for each extra mover. Big metros and summer weekends sit at the top.
What counts as billable time
Ask before you book. Many movers start the clock when the crew arrives and stop it when the last item is placed; others add a flat travel charge or bill the drive from their yard. Some round to the nearest quarter or half hour. None of these is wrong, but they change the bill.
How many hours will it take?
- Studio or small storage unit: 2 to 3 hours with two movers
- One bedroom: 3 to 4 hours with two movers
- Two bedrooms: about 5 hours with three movers, or 6 to 7 with two
Stairs, long hallways and a long walk from the door to the truck add time on both ends, which is why the calculator has them as add-ons. Read moving company hourly rates by crew size for how movers set these numbers.
Local moves only
These are hourly prices for local moves. Interstate moves follow federal rules and are priced differently, so ask the mover for a written estimate.