Calculate cross country moving costs for any distance. Compare full service, POD, and DIY options. Free moving cost calculator. No signup.
Cross-country moving costs range from $1,500 for a DIY truck rental to $15,000+ for full-service movers on a 3-bedroom house. The right option depends on how much stuff you have, your timeline, and your willingness to do physical work. Our calculator compares total cost for all three major moving methods for your specific situation.
Full-service movers: they pack, load, drive, unload. Cost: $4,000-$15,000+ for cross-country move depending on weight. Least stress, highest cost. Portable containers (PODS): container delivered, you load, they drive, you unload. Cost: $2,000-$6,000. Middle option in cost and effort. Truck rental DIY: you do everything. Cost: $1,200-$3,000 including fuel and equipment. Lowest cost, highest physical effort.
Often overlooked moving expenses: Packing supplies: $200-$500 for boxes, tape, and bubble wrap. Tips for movers: $20-50 per mover for local, more for long distance. Moving insurance: standard coverage is $0.60 per pound — $100 laptop covered for $0.60. Get full-value protection. Utility deposits at new home. Hotel nights during multi-day drive. Storage if there is a gap between move-out and move-in. Pet transport if not driving yourself.
Cross-country moving costs by option: DIY truck rental (New York to LA): $1,500-$3,000 plus fuel. POD container same route: $3,000-$5,500. Full-service movers same route: $5,000-$12,000 for 2-3 bedroom home. Main cost driver is weight — heavier shipments cost more with full-service movers. Declutter aggressively before getting quotes to reduce weight.
Absolute cheapest: ship boxes via USPS, UPS, or FedEx for small amounts of stuff and sell or donate everything else. Next cheapest: rent a cargo van or small truck and drive yourself. Cheapest for full household: DIY moving truck rental — Penske typically cheapest, then U-Haul, then Budget. Book early for best rates and avoid summer peak season June-August.
Full-service movers: 4-8 weeks for summer moves (June-August peak). 2-4 weeks for off-peak (fall and winter). Last-minute is possible but limits options and raises prices. POD containers: 2-4 weeks ahead. Truck rentals: 2-4 weeks for summer, 1-2 weeks off-peak. Moving in winter January-February gets best prices and most availability from all providers.
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