B2 Moving Licensed & insured · Family owned

Pricing

The whole rate card, before you call.

Hourly, portal to portal, three-hour minimum. Mileage, fuel, tape, blankets and shrink wrap inside the service area are included.

2 movers + 26' truck Studios and 1-bedroom apartments

$149 / hour

3 movers + 26' truck 2-bedroom homes and apartments

$199 / hour

4 movers + 26' truck 3-bedroom homes

$249 / hour

5 movers + 2 trucks Large homes and offices

$319 / hour

Packing crew Day before the move, plus materials

Same hourly rate

Depot travel & mileage Double drive time only — no depot legs, ever

Included in
every hour.

The rate is the rate. These aren't add-ons; they're how we work.

Professional, background-checked movers

Fully equipped truck — no truck or mileage fee

Furniture disassembly and reassembly

Moving blankets, shrink wrap and tape

Dollies, straps and floor protection

Wardrobe boxes on loan for moving day

Basic cargo protection (60¢ / lb per article)

No fuel surcharges, no stair fees, no extras

Estimate
your move.

Home size

Distance

Add-ons

Estimate

$1,000 – $1,220

3 movers · about 5.5 hours on site

Turn this into a quote

Ballpark only. A ten-minute video walkthrough turns it into a binding written quote, same day. Pianos, safes and other specialty items are quoted separately.

Moving Company Cost

How much do movers cost?

Local rates are hourly. Long distance moves shift to per-pound pricing. Here's the full breakdown so you can plan accurately.

Local moves — hourly rate

For local moves in the Bay Area, local movers charge an hourly rate that covers the crew, the truck, and all standard equipment. B2 Moving bills portal to portal — you pay only for time on site, not for drive time back to our depot.

Crew

Per hour

2 movers · 26′ truck Studio or 1-bedroom apartment

$149 / hr

3 movers · 26′ truck 2-bedroom home or apartment

$199 / hr

4 movers · 26′ truck 3-bedroom home

$249 / hr

5 movers · 2 trucks Large homes and offices

$319 / hr

2-hour minimum. Billed in 15-minute increments after that. No fuel surcharges, no stair fees, no truck fees.

Average cost by home size

These cost examples assume a single-floor origin and destination within 20 miles. Access issues (stairs, long carries) may add 20–40 minutes.

Studio apartment

$450 – $550

2 movers · ~3 hrs

1-bedroom apartment

$600 – $730

2 movers · ~4 hrs

2-bedroom home

$1,090 – $1,330

3 movers · ~5.5 hrs

3-bedroom home

$1,870 – $2,280

4 movers · ~7.5 hrs

Long distance moving cost

Long distance moves (over 100 miles) shift to weight-based pricing. Most interstate movers charge $0.70–$0.95 per pound, plus a base transportation fee. A typical 2-bedroom household weighs 5,000–7,500 lbs.

Full service interstate

$0.70–$0.95/lb

+ base transportation fee

Moving containers

$1,000–$3,500

Cross-country, varies by load

California law requires a binding "Not-to-Exceed" estimate for interstate moves. Your final bill cannot exceed the written quote.

Cargo protection: released value vs. full value

Released value protection

60¢/lb

Basic liability — included at no extra charge. A 50-lb TV is covered for $30 if damaged.

Full value protection

Market value

Movers repair, replace, or pay current market value. Recommended for high-value items. Additional premium applies.

Planning your move

What affects your moving cost

Moving cost varies widely. These are the biggest factors — and the levers you can pull to save money.

Get a free estimate

Home size & volume

The biggest factor. More belongings = more hours = higher total cost. Crew size scales automatically with home size.

Distance & travel time

Local moves bill hourly including drive time between locations. Long distance relocations switch to per-pound pricing.

Access issues

Stairs, long carries, and elevator-only buildings slow movers down. No extra fees at B2 — access issues simply extend job time.

Move date & demand

Weekends and month-end are peak demand. Mid week and mid month dates have more availability and no price premium at B2.

Packing services

Full service packing adds hours at the same hourly rate. Packing yourself the week before is the fastest way to cut labor time.

Specialty items

Pianos, safes, and heavy furniture require special equipment and are quoted separately. Always disclose these when booking.

Money saving tips

1. Declutter before packing — fewer items means fewer hours

2. Book mid week (Tue/Wed) — lowest demand days

3. Choose mid month dates — avoid 1st and last days

4. Move in off season (Oct–Apr) for more availability

5. Pack boxes yourself — reduces labor hours significantly

6. Disassemble furniture before movers arrive to save time

7. Reserve close parking — avoids long-carry delays

8. Get multiple quotes and compare total cost, not hourly rate

Common questions

Moving cost FAQ

How much do local movers typically cost in the Bay Area?

Local movers in the Bay Area charge $110–$200 per hour for two movers and a truck at most companies. B2 Moving's 2-mover crew starts at $149/hr with the 26′ truck, blankets, fuel, and all equipment included — no add-ons. A typical 2-bedroom move runs $1,000–$1,300 total.

What is the cheapest day to hire movers?

Tuesday and Wednesday are consistently the cheapest days to hire movers, with the least demand. Mid month dates (avoiding the 1st and last 3 days) also reduce competition for crews. Off-season months — October through April — offer the most flexibility and sometimes discounted rates at other companies. B2 Moving pricing doesn't fluctuate by date, but availability is easier mid week.

How do long distance movers charge?

Long distance movers charge by shipment weight, not by the hour. The standard industry rate is $0.70–$0.95 per pound, plus a base transportation fee that factors in distance. A 2-bedroom household typically weighs 5,000–7,500 lbs. California law requires interstate movers to provide a binding "Not-to-Exceed" estimate — your final bill cannot exceed the written quote.

Is it cheaper to DIY or hire movers?

For moves larger than a 1-bedroom, hiring professional movers often costs less than it looks once you add truck rental ($200–$600/day), fuel, packing materials ($150–$400), and your own time. DIY moving makes sense for small moves over short distances with helpers available. For a 2-bedroom or larger, full service movers are typically within 20–30% of total DIY cost — and significantly less physical risk.

How much should I budget for a move?

For local Bay Area moves: $450–$730 for a studio or 1-bedroom, $1,000–$1,500 for a 2-bedroom, and $1,800–$2,500 for a 3-bedroom home. Add 20% as a buffer for access delays or extra packing time. For long distance relocations, budget $3,500–$8,000 for a 2-bedroom move depending on distance and total weight.

What are the cheapest movers in the Bay Area?

"Cheapest hourly rate" is rarely the right measure. Many companies with low advertised rates add fuel surcharges (5–15%), stair fees ($50–$150/flight), truck fees, and packing material markups that raise the final bill significantly. Compare total cost from a binding written quote. B2 Moving's transparent pricing and no-surcharge policy means our estimate is your bill — no surprises.

Is $100 enough to tip movers?

For a crew of 3 movers on a full-day job, $100 total is on the low end. The standard for tipping movers is $20–$40 per mover per day. On a $1,200 job with a 3-person crew, $60–$120 total (paid in cash directly to each mover at the end of the job) is appropriate and appreciated.

How far in advance should I book a moving company?

Book 2–4 weeks ahead during summer (June–August) and around month-end, when demand peaks. Off-season moves can typically be booked 1–2 weeks out. Last-minute moves (under a week) are possible but limit your crew options and may mean less flexibility on timing. A 10-minute video walkthrough with B2 Moving locks in a binding written quote on the same call.

How much does it cost to move 50 miles away?

A 50-mile move is typically treated as a local move billed hourly. Expect 1–1.5 hours of travel time added to on-site labor. For a 2-bedroom at 50 miles with 3 movers at $199/hr, budget $1,200–$1,600 total including travel.

What's the cheapest way to move long distance?

Moving containers (portable storage units like PODS) are generally the cheapest long distance option after a self-drive truck rental. They average $1,000–$3,500 for cross-country shipments. Full service interstate movers run $3,500–$8,000 for a 2-bedroom move coast-to-coast. To cut costs on any long distance move: declutter aggressively (weight drives price), choose an off-peak date, and get multiple quotes.