This is an estimate, not a quote. Every assumption below — crew size, hours, rates, fees — is editable, so change them to match real quotes and the total updates.
Estimate only — actual quotes depend on inventory, access, season and the firm. For a self-drive move, set the labour hours to 0 and use the truck fee for the rental.
This estimator builds the total from the same line items a moving firm uses: crew labour (movers times hours times hourly rate), a truck or trip fee, a distance charge, packing materials and packing service, access extras such as stairs or very heavy items, optional added insurance, and a tip on the labour. It also shows a range 15% either side of the total, because day-of costs routinely land off the first figure. Long-distance moves are usually priced by weight and distance rather than by the hour, so this estimator fits local and same-city moves best.
Is this a quote for a move? No — it is an estimate built from the assumptions entered, and every assumption is editable. Only a moving firm that has seen the inventory and access can quote, and written quotes should be compared line by line.
What most often makes a move cost more than estimated? Underestimated hours: more belongings than listed, long carries from door to truck, stairs, and packing left until moving day. Padding the hours assumption is the simplest correction.