How to Save on Hiring Movers

Are you looking to save money by hiring affordable movers? With more than 80 years in the DIY moving industry, U-Haul knows the best way to stretch your dollar the furthest when it comes to affordability.

The main factors that can increase or decrease your cost when hiring movers are the number of items you’re moving, the distance you're moving, the services you choose, and the time you’re moving.

What Determines the Cost of Hiring Movers?

Full-Service Movers vs. Labor-Only Movers: Full-service movers usually cost more because they handle everything, including packing, loading, driving, unloading, and unpacking. Labor-only movers, by comparison, focus on specific tasks like loading and unloading and don’t provide transportation or equipment unless selected.

One of the best ways to save is to rent your own moving truck or use a portable storage container, then hire labor-only help at your starting point and destination.

Local vs. Long Distance: If you’re moving locally, the cost is going to be much lower than long distance. If you’re thinking about using a full-service moving company for your long-distance move, be prepared to pay between $2,000 and $10,000.

Size: The size of your move will also increase or decrease the overall cost. The more belongings you own, the longer it’ll take for the moving company to drive, load, and unload, costing you more.

Timing: Whether you decide to move in the summer vs. winter and/or weekday vs. weekend also changes the price. Moving during the summer on a weekend will cost you the most, while moving in the winter on a weekday will cost you the least.

Access: If your home/apartment is only accessible by stairs, expect to pay more because full-service movers might charge a stair fee, and while labor-only movers might not charge a stair fee, it’ll take them longer to move your belongings in or out of your home. If you have larger items that need to be transported over a farther distance (washer and dryer, gun safe, pool table), this can also increase the cost.

Hiring cheap moving services, however, doesn’t always mean the best service available. Be sure to read reviews, check prices, and see whether the cheap moving company you want serves your area.

Book Movers the Smart Way to Save Money

Don’t just get one singular quote; look around and check the price of every local and long-distance moving company you can. While this can be a long process, it’s a good idea to see what fits your budget.

It’s also important to understand what coverage options are offered. While movers do their best, accidents can happen. Knowing what protection is available helps you decide what level of coverage makes sense for your move.

Choose Labor-Only Help Instead of Full Service

Labor-only movers are one of the best ways to save money when moving. The reason is they don’t drive, and they don’t pack (unless the service is selected). The basic service is loading or unloading.

This option is an affordable and more flexible moving alternative to a full-service mover. These moving labor providers are paid by the hour and per person, so you’ll always know what you’re paying up front.

Combining labor-only movers with a moving truck rental or a portable storage unit is the best way to save money on a local or long-distance move. Portable storage units can be loaded, shipped, and unloaded without touching anything, getting a complete white-glove service move for a fraction of the cost.

Learn more about How to Get a Full-Service Move for Half the Cost.

Pack and Load What You Can Yourself

Hiring Professional Packers vs. Packing Yourself: Which Is Right for You?

Packing and loading your belongings on your own time is another great money-saving strategy, but it’s extremely time-consuming, and sometimes spending the money is worth it to save all the stress. Packing everything yourself and getting everything ready to be loaded by movers is a great way to save on the time that you’re paying for them.

Some movers may also charge furniture disassembly, so be sure to remove all furniture components that you can, while also being safe in the process.

Move Affordably With Moving Help®

Moving Help is a great way to access more than 7,500 Service Providers across all 50 U.S. states and the 10 Canadian provinces and specifically pick the services you need. Whether it’s packing all your belongings, loading and unloading all your moving boxes and furniture, or cleaning your apartment after moving out, Moving Help can do it all!

Get affordable Moving Help today.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring Affordable Movers

What is the cheapest way to hire movers?
The most affordable option is usually renting your own moving truck or a portable storage container and hiring labor-only movers for loading and unloading.

Are labor-only movers reliable?
Labor-only movers can be reliable when you check reviews, confirm services offered, and clearly communicate your expectations ahead of time.

Is it cheaper to move during the week?
Yes. Weekday moves and off-season moves are often less expensive than weekend or peak-season moves.

Can I save money by packing myself?
Packing yourself can reduce labor time and costs, especially when everything is ready before movers arrive.

Do full-service movers include packing and unpacking?
Many full-service movers offer packing and unpacking, but these services usually come at an additional cost.