How Much Does It Cost To Hire Movers for a 1-Bedroom Apartment? [2024 Data]

Cost Breakdown of Movers for a 1-Bedroom Apartment

If you’re searching for how much movers cost, our guide breaks down the various pricing that will impact your final bill. These variables include type, access, labor, weight, prep, location, and season. Read on to find out how much you can expect to pay to move a one-bedroom apartment:

Types

The type of move you’re making—local or long-distance—significantly impacts your budget.

Local

Moving companies consider anything under 100 miles a local move, and you can expect to pay $400 to $1,600, on average, to move a one-bedroom apartment. However, your overall price depends on the accessibility of your apartment and whether you need professional packing. You can tack on an additional $200 to $400 for packing services. 

Long Distance

On average, you can expect to pay $700 to $3,000 when moving a one-bedroom apartment long-distance. Your long-distance move price will also depend on the mileage traveled, insurance, and whether you need professional packing. You can add an additional $1,000 for carton packing for a long-distance move. 

Access

Depending on your apartment’s location, you may incur additional charges, such as a long hallway or stairs fee, if your building doesn’t have an elevator. Or you may have a high-rise elevator charge if you live in a tall building. Parking is another accessibility issue, especially for apartments in metropolitan cities. In some busy cities like New York, you may need to acquire a parking permit for your moving truck.  

Labor

When hiring long-distance movers, you can expect to pay between $25 and $50 per mover per hour for labor, which covers one to two moving professionals. Moving a one-bedroom apartment takes three to five hours, so you can expect to spend a minimum of $200 to $400 on labor. Also, some moving companies have a three-hour, $300 minimum for two professional movers. Labor is typically charged for local moves, whereas movers calculate long-distance moves via mileage and weight. 

Weight

You can expect to pay an average of $700 to $3,700, depending on the total weight of the moving truck. The average weight for a one-bedroom apartment runs between 1,800 and 3,500 pounds. So, the more belongings you have, the higher you can expect your total bill. 

Prep

You can expect to pay between $600 and $1,600 for a one-bedroom move if you need the movers to pack your belongings in cartons. Or, you can expect to spend around $150 on cardboard boxes, tape, and packing paper if you purchase packing supplies yourself.

Location

You can expect to pay between $700 and $4,200 to move a one-bedroom apartment long distance. It goes without saying that the further away you move, the higher the cost. 

Season

Peak moving season is from April to September, with weekends having the highest demand. So, if you move during the summer rush, you’ll likely incur higher moving charges. Instead, try to plan your one-bedroom apartment move during the off-season or during the week. 

Additional Costs to Consider

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Insurance 

You’ll want to consider getting moving insurance to protect your belongings. You can choose full-value protection, which costs 1% of the total estimated value of your belongings. Full value protection offers repair, replacement, or money to replace lost or damaged items. 

You can also choose released value protection, which is cost-free and comes standard with many moving companies. Released value protection means the moving company is responsible for no more than $0.60 per pound per item for lost or damaged items. Lastly, you can purchase third-party insurance through your homeowners’ insurance or a private lender. 

Tipping

Tipping is an excellent way to show your gratitude for a moving job well done. It’s not required, but if you want to know how much to tip movers, a good rule is to tip between $4 and $10 per hour. For long-distance moves, it’s customary to tip a flat rate or 10% to 20% of your total bill in gratuity. 

Cost to Move a 1-Bedroom Apartment Yourself

If you move out of a one-bedroom apartment yourself, you’ll need to rent a moving truck. If you’re moving less than 50 miles, you can expect to pay around $130 to rent a moving van, plus the cost to refill the tank. However, if you’re moving long distance, you’ll pay between $1 and $2 per mile—and the costs can add up quickly. Moving a one-bedroom apartment yourself is a good idea for homeowners on tight budgets, especially if you can wrangle friends and family to help you load and unload your belongings. 

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

If you DIY moving a one-bedroom apartment yourself, you’ll have to take care of every detail, including packing supplies, which run $100 to $150, as well as moving equipment, gas, and tolls. You’ll also need to cover hotels and food for long-distance moves. If you hire a moving company near you, you’ll pay an average price of $1,850, but you’ll know that your belongings are in good hands by experienced movers with the proper equipment.

Cost of Common Add-Ons for Moving a 1-Bedroom Apartment

If you want to make your one-bedroom move as smooth as possible, it’s a good idea to purchase add-ons. These add-ons are time and stress savers, but they will also cost you extra:

• Furniture assembly and disassembly: $90–$150 per piece

• Piano moving cost: $260–$580

• Artwork moving cost:  $1,000

• Hot tub moving cost: $200–$1,000

• Grandfather clock moving cost: $400–$4,000

• Car moving cost: $700–$1,200

• Professional packing and unpacking: $1,000

• Shipping container cost: $3,000

• Portable storage container: $160–$240

Tips to Reduce Cost While Moving a 1-Bedroom Apartment

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Although moving a one-bedroom apartment may seem daunting and cost-prohibitive, there are ways you can save money. Here are tips to reduce your cost before embarking on your one-bedroom move:

• Declutter: The fewer things you have, the less time movers will take to load and unload. Start by donating, selling, or removing unwanted items. 

• Look for deals: Check local stores or online neighborhood markets for free cardboard boxes and packing supplies.

• Pack early: Packing all your belongings in advance will save you $200 to $1,000 in packing fees from professional movers. 

• Solicit quotes: Get at least 3 quotes from local and long-distance moving companies to ensure you get the best deal for your needs.

• Handle the furniture: Disassemble and reassemble your furniture yourself to save costs.