40 routes priced · 3 modes · typical bands
Know the price before the quote.
Moving quotes are a fog of teaser rates and surprise charges. RouteCosted publishes the typical cost band — low, typical, high — for full-service movers, containers, and DIY truck rental on the routes Americans actually move. Walk into every quote call already knowing the range.
The route index
Popular routes, priced
Three ways to move the same boxes
Full service vs container vs truck rental
They do everything
Full-service movers
A crew loads, drives, and unloads. You point.
+ Least effort, insured handling, predictable timeline windows
− Highest typical band; quality varies — vet the carrier
You pack, they drive
Moving container
They drop a container. You load it. They drive it.
+ Flexible loading window, built-in storage, no driving
− You supply the labor; street/HOA permits can complicate drop-off
You do everything
Truck rental (DIY)
You pack, you load, you drive. Cheapest band by far.
+ Lowest typical band, total schedule control
− Days of driving a big truck; fuel, lodging, and labor are on you
Calibration class: a 1-bedroom at ≈1,000 mi runs $1,500–$3,500 full-service (typical published band) — see the full cost model.
Pack smart
Supplies worth buying before the truck
A bundled kit of small/medium/large boxes sized for one room to a full apartment.
Shoulder or forearm lifting straps that shift the load off your back for heavy furniture.
Heavy-duty 2.7-mil tape in bulk — a typical 2-bedroom move burns through 6–10 rolls.
A thick poly bag that seals a mattress against dirt, moisture, and truck-floor grime.
Guides
Latest from the desk
Jul 2, 2026 · 4 min
Storage in Transit: Bridging the Gap Between Homes
Move-out and move-in dates rarely align. Mover-held storage-in-transit vs self-storage vs containers — costs, coverage, and the double-handling trap.
Jul 1, 2026 · 4 min
Decluttering Before Moving: The Cost-Per-Pound Logic
Junk removal, donation, and resale compared with actual numbers — and the cost-per-pound rule that tells you what to leave behind.
Jun 29, 2026 · 4 min
Moving Insurance Explained: Released Value vs Full-Value
The 60-cents-per-pound trap, what full-value protection actually costs, and when third-party moving insurance earns its premium.
Jun 28, 2026 · 4 min
Car Shipping When Moving: Open vs Enclosed, Costs & Timing
Auto transport basics for a household move — open vs enclosed carriers, published cost bands by distance, and the timing windows that matter.
Jun 26, 2026 · 4 min
Storage Unit Costs: Published Price Bands by Size
What storage actually costs per month by unit size, what climate control adds, and the teaser-rate mechanics that inflate month six.
Jun 25, 2026 · 4 min
Storage Unit Size Guide: What Actually Fits in Each Unit
Unit-by-unit sizing from 5x5 to 10x30 — matched to home sizes, with the packing tricks that buy you a smaller (cheaper) unit.
Jun 24, 2026 · 4 min
Moving Day Checklist: Walkthrough, Payment, Tips & Damage Notes
The day-of protocol: what to do before the crew arrives, during loading, at payment, and the final walkthrough that protects your claim rights.
The Load Report
Seasonal rate shifts, flagged first
When peak-season pricing kicks in, fuel assumptions move, or a route's typical band shifts, every affected page on this site updates — and you get one email about it. No filler.