How Much Do NYC Movers Cost? (Local & Long Distance)
To say that NYC is vibrant, chaotic, and unlike any other city would be an understatement. Moving within the Big Apple can be crazy because of the infrastructure, population, and tricky streets. It can also be expensive in many cases. So, how much do movers cost in NYC?
Movers in NYC charge an average of $1,200, but short-distance moves cost as little as $400-$500. Long-distance NYC moves cost up to $7,000 when you move to a different state. Moving from a studio apartment in NYC costs $400-$600, whereas a 3-bedroom apartment costs an average of $1,950 on the low end.
How many bedrooms, how much furniture, and how far the movers must travel affect the cost of the move. Follow along as we explore how much movers cost in NYC so you can budget for your big move.
Average Cost to Move in NYC?
It costs an average of $1,200 to move within NYC. Movers in NYC charge an average of $85 per hour. The total cost depends on how long the move takes and how many movers are on the team. Other factors, such as the services you choose, also affect the cost.
For example, special packages, like White Glove Service, can add hundreds of dollars to the cost. On the low end, your NYC move may cost as little as $400-$500. That said, your NYC move can exceed $5,000-$6,000 depending on how many bedrooms are in your house or apartment as well as the distance.
NYC Movers Cost Factors
Whether it be the number of rooms or the movers’ labor rates, several factors affect the cost of moving within NYC. The location is another important factor, whether you’re moving within the city itself or one of the boroughs. Let’s look at the factors that affect the cost of NYC movers.
Number of Bedrooms
How many bedrooms your home has is the most important cost factor when it comes to NYC movers. The more bedrooms you have, the more furniture you have. That means the move will take longer in most cases and may require more movers.
| Bedrooms | Average Cost |
| Studio | $600 |
| 1 | $850 |
| 2 | $1,150 |
| 3 | $1,950 |
| 4 | $3,100 |
| 5+ | $5,000+ |
Studio apartments are the cheapest, and movers charge an average of $600 before add-on costs. On the high end, moving from a studio apartment in NYC costs $750. However, it can cost as little as $400-$500 if you don’t have much furniture or are moving a short distance.
Moving out of a 1-2-bedroom apartment in NYC rarely costs more than $1,150 unless you’re moving far or request additional services. NYC movers become expensive when you get into 3-4 bedroom homes. That can cost anywhere between $1,600 and $4,500 or more on the low end. Homes with 5 or more bedrooms are the most expensive and moving may cost $5,000 or more.
Special Services
Most movers offer additional services that come with extra costs. This includes everything from packing and unpacking to moving insurance. Full packing is one of the most popular moving services, and it adds roughly $300-$1,500 to the cost.
This is a popular service because the movers pack and unpack for you which saves you plenty of time. However, this service also adds to how long the move takes, and that’s part of why it’s more expensive.
Another popular service is dismounting and re-mounting TVs. This adds an average of $240 to the cost, but it can cost as little as $110. Furniture disposal is a common moving service for people looking to declutter. This costs $140, on average, but it can cost $80 or less per piece of furniture depending on its size.
Large Items
Moving with large items is difficult, especially in NYC. That’s why most moving companies charge a premium for large items, such as pianos. This costs an average of $450, but it can cost over $1,000.
The wide price range is because of two major factors: the distance of the move, and the size of the piano. Moving a small piano a short distance will cost roughly $150-$450. However, a grand piano ways up to 1,200 pounds and costs $300-$2,000 to move.
Accessibility is also a big cost factor as many buildings in NYC aren’t ideal for moving pianos. In some cases, the moving crew may need to use a crane to hoist your piano, and that costs thousands of dollars.
Distance
Moving companies charge their customers based on the amount of furniture, the size of the crew, and the distance of the move. Of course, short-distance NYC moves are cheaper than long-distance moves. For example, moving from Manhattan to Queens may only cost $500.
However, moving from Manhattan to Florida may cost $7,000 or more. Not only is the cost of mileage more expensive, but you’re also paying the movers for more time. Each company is different, but you can expect to pay an average of 75 cents per mile for NYC movers. If you want to find out about New York To LA Move.
Labor
Labor is one of the biggest cost factors for NYC movers, and they charge between $60 and $120 per hour. Keep in mind that the hourly rate refers to each person’s rate on the moving crew. On the low end, you could pay up to $180 per hour for a crew of 3 movers. That said, in NYC, movers typically charge at least $100 per hour per person.
In some cases, the cost of labor is built into a flat rate. That’s not usually the case for local moves, however, so every hour counts. Because of that, it’s typically better to have more movers than less so the job goes by faster. Sure, you’ll pay more movers, but it will take less time and likely be more cost-effective than a smaller crew.
Supplies
While moving supplies are typically cheap, they can affect the overall cost of NYC movers. Some moving companies simply include the price of supplies in the cost of the move. Others will provide an itemized bill that includes the cost of boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and whatever else is needed.
You can expect to spend up to $220-$250 for moving supplies. However, you may be able to knock that price down if you provide moving supplies. For example, you can visit local recycling centers and stores to ask for cardboard boxes.
Insurance
Moving comes with several risks as your prized belongings are loaded onto a truck and driven around the city. NYC movers are quite careful, but there’s no guarantee that your favorite dresser won’t get damaged. That’s why moving companies offer insurance to cover the damage, and it costs roughly $300 to $3,000.
The cost varies between companies as well as how much coverage you want. You can typically expect to spend 1%-2% of the value of the items being moved. The more belongings you have, especially high-value items, the more you’ll spend on insurance.
We did not include gratitudes, so if you want to know how much to tip NYC movers read our post about it.
So, How Much Do NYC Movers Cost?
NYC movers cost an average of $1,200. Short-distance moves within NYC cost roughly $500, whereas long-distance moves cost up to $5,00-$7,000 when moving across states.
NYC movers typically carry an hourly minimum of $100-$120, but they may charge as little as $60 per hour per person. It’s worth the extra cost for moving insurance which costs 1%-2% of the value of your belongings and or property.