How Much Does It Cost You to Move Cross-Country?

Planning a cross-country move? It can feel like a massive undertaking, especially considering the costs and logistics involved. Moving from one end of the country to another is a different ballgame than a local move. The journey is longer, the timing more critical, and let’s face it—you might not have a whole crew of friends at your new destination ready to help you unload and unpack!

In this article, we’ll break down the typical costs and give you a sense of what to expect when it comes to how much it will cost to move across-country. But here’s some good news: you don’t have to tackle this alone.

Allied Van Lines' long-distance moving solutions can handle the heavy lifting and ensure your belongings get from Point A to Point B smoothly and on time. With a long history of delivering top-notch moving services, we’re the experts with a full range of household moving services that help ensure your big move is as seamless as possible.

Factors Influencing Cross-Country Moving Costs

Before estimating the cost of moving across the country, you must know what factors influence these costs. Here are some of the main factors that will impact your moving costs:

Distance: Moving across the country will take longer than moving within the same state or region. It can take a week or longer for cross-country movers to arrive at the destination. You also have to consider the cost of gas for a longer trip.
Volume and Weight of Belongings: Another factor on the cost is how much your belongings weigh and how much space they take up. A 3-4 room house will take a bigger truck than someone moving from a 2-room apartment but less than a 6-7 room house. The added weight will mean lower gas mileage as well.
Type of Service: Various moving services exist, starting with full service. You also have partial service and DIY moves. The more services the company provides, the higher the cost.
Timing: The prices may be lower if you move in the off-season, usually during the winter. Moving during the busy season is often more expensive, especially with a short deadline.
Additional Services: In addition to the costs of hiring professional movers, you also have other expenses to consider. These costs are linked to packing, moving supplies, and storage. You may pay more for movers to handle antiques or awkward items like a piano.

Cost Breakdown

Understanding the cost to move across the country can greatly help you plan your move and avoid surprises. A detailed cost breakdown can give you a clear picture of what to expect, allowing you to prepare better and make your transition as smooth as possible.

The Base Price

The base price to hire a full-service moving company to move across the country from New York to California can range from over $4,000 to nearly $9,000. This price includes loading and unloading as well as transport, but it doesn’t include fuel costs, which can vary widely from state to state along the route.

Packing Services

If you choose to have professional movers pack your belongings, this service will add to the cost to move across the country. The price will depend on how much stuff you have to pack and if any of it is fragile or awkward to handle. Even for DIY packing, you'll end up buying the materials, such as boxes, bubble wrap, furniture, blankets, and other tools. Materials for a 2-3 bedroom home can cost around $300 or more.

Insurance

You can purchase moving coverage to protect your belongings' replacement or repair value in case they're damaged during transit. The cost will depend on the value of your property and how much coverage you select.

Specialty Items

You may receive additional charges if you move items that need special handling. These items may be bulky or awkward to handle, such as fitness equipment, or delicate, like an antique hutch or desk.

Temporary Storage

You may find yourself having to move out of your current home before your new home is even ready. In these situations, you may pay for temporary storage until your items are ready to be moved into your new home. Portable storage containers are often useful in these scenarios, or you may choose a storage facility.

Miscellaneous Fees

Sometimes, you may encounter extra charges when moving. When loading the truck, these fees may be listed as fuel surcharges or added costs for stairs or elevators. They often encompass fees for extra work beyond the normal scope. You’ll want to ask about these fees upfront to be prepared for the final cost.

Tips to Save Money on Your Move

You can reduce the cost to move across-country by planning ahead. The first step is to declutter and sell, donate, or throw away anything you don’t want to take with you. By reducing the volume of items you’re taking, you can get a smaller truck and have less cost on physical labor for loading and unloading.

Schedule the move during the off-season to save money. If your move is flexible, you can set the time when movers aren’t as busy. Before hiring a moving company, ask for quotes. Compare services provided to ensure you’re getting equal value as you calculate the cost to move across-country.

Do your own packing to save on professional packing fees. As you create your cross-country moving checklist, you can schedule packing to begin earlier. You may even want to rent a portable storage container to pack at your own pace.

Why Choose Allied Van Lines

Allied has over 95 years of experience moving people and households across the country. We also have the largest moving network in the world to help you save time and money. We provide a full range of services that can be customized to fit your budget and needs. Allied offers comprehensive insurance options and uses the latest tracking technology to keep on top of all situations.

Our goal is to provide a low-stress move with personalized service for each customer!

Get a Free Quote

Though you can expect to pay between $4,000 and $9,000 for a full-service move across the country, you want to get your own quote to get a precise estimate. Factor in all the costs associated with a cross-country move and find ways to reduce the potential costs of moving across-country by decluttering and packing yourself.