Interstate Moving Cost: What You'll Actually Pay

Interstate carriers price by weight and miles. A studio or 1-bedroom under 800 miles usually lands between $2,500 and $4,800. A 2-bedroom from the Northeast to Florida (about 1,200 miles) generally runs $5,500–$8,500. A 3-bedroom cross-country move (2,500+ miles) commonly hits $9,000–$14,000, and a 4+ bedroom home with packing services can reach $15,000–$22,000. These ranges assume standard access (no long carries, no shuttle, no flights of stairs without an elevator).

Federal tariffs require interstate carriers to price linehaul as weight × distance, not as an hourly rate. Your inventory is converted into a weight estimate (typical multiplier: 1,000 lb per furnished room), multiplied by a published per-100-lb rate for the mileage band, then layered with origin and destination labor, fuel surcharge, valuation, and any accessorials. A binding estimate locks that math in writing; a non-binding estimate leaves room for a re-weigh at origin that can shift the price 10–25%.

The biggest unexpected charges are long carries (more than ~75 feet from truck to door), shuttle service (when a 53-ft trailer can't reach the address), flights of stairs beyond the first, elevator fees, bulky-item charges (pianos, safes, large workout equipment), extra-stop pickups, and storage-in-transit if the carrier has to hold your goods. Ask each estimator to disclose every accessorial up front and put zero-charge confirmations in writing where it applies.

Self-pack with the mover loading is the cheapest path — you provide and pack all boxes. Partial-pack (kitchen + fragile only) typically adds $400–$1,200. Full-service packing with materials usually adds $1,500–$4,500 to a 2–3 bedroom move. Custom crating for art and stone tops is billed per crate. White-glove unpacking at destination is the priciest tier and usually only worth it for high-value households or executive relocations.

A binding estimate is the price, period — your shipment doesn't get re-weighed unless you add inventory. A binding not-to-exceed caps the maximum: if the actual weight comes in lower at the scale, you pay less. A non-binding estimate is the carrier's good-faith guess, and federal rules let them collect up to 110% of the estimate at delivery, with the balance due within 30 days. For interstate moves, binding or binding-not-to-exceed is almost always the safer choice.

The single biggest cause of quote spread is inconsistent inventory. Build one written or video inventory and give every estimator the same list — boxes counted, oversize items flagged, plus a note on access (stairs, parking, elevator reservation, HOA rules). On Moving Ranger you can choose 1 vetted match by default, or opt in to compare up to 3 nationwide moving companies. Your info is never blasted to a dozen brokers.