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Moving Cost Calculator

Get an instant 2026 moving estimate, no signup, no spam, no obligation.

Powered by Blue Dolly's real flat-fee pricing across Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the entire Twin Cities metro.

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How Much Does It Cost to Move in 2026?

The honest answer: it depends on home size, distance, date, and how much packing help you want. Use this as a quick comparison against typical pricing.

Home size Local (Twin Cities) Long distance Crew Time
Studio / 1-bedroom apartment $390-$850 $1,800-$3,500 2 movers 3-5 hrs
2-bedroom apartment or home $850-$1,400 $3,200-$5,500 2-3 movers 4-6 hrs
3-bedroom home $1,400-$2,400 $5,000-$8,500 3 movers 6-9 hrs
4-bedroom home $2,400-$3,800 $7,500-$13,000 3-4 movers 8-11 hrs
5+ bedroom estate $3,800-$6,500+ $12,000-$22,000+ 4-5 movers 10-14 hrs

Local rates assume a mid-size move with standard stairs. Long-distance rates assume a 2-bedroom benchmark, delayed truck, and door-to-door delivery.

6 Things That Change Your Moving Cost

Home size & volume

More rooms = more boxes, more furniture, longer load time. This is the single biggest cost driver for any move.

Distance

Local moves (under 100 miles) are priced by hours or flat fee. Long-distance moves are priced by weight + mileage.

Date & timing

Weekends, end-of-month, and May-September are peak.
Mid-week, mid-month, October-April are 15-30% cheaper.

Stairs, elevator, long carry

Hourly movers add fees for every flight. Blue Dolly's flat fee includes stairs and long carries, no surprises.

Packing & specialty items

Full-pack service adds $300-$1,200 depending on home size. Pianos, safes, and fine art are quoted as add-ons.

Insurance / valuation

Basic carrier coverage is included. Full-value protection adds 1-2% of the declared shipment value.

Hourly Movers vs. Flat-Fee Movers: Which Is Cheaper?

Hourly pricing

Most Twin Cities movers quote $160-$220/hr for a 3-person crew. Sounds cheap, until move day.

  • ✕ Traffic delays add hours
  • ✕ Stairs & long carries billed extra
  • ✕ Elevator wait time on the meter
  • ✕ Final price unknown until end of day

Blue Dolly flat-fee pricing

One locked price for the entire move, set before the truck rolls.

  • Stairs & long carries included
  • Fuel & metro mileage included
  • Wrap, pads, shrink wrap, floor protection
  • Price locked, no end-of-day surprise

Moving Cost FAQs

How accurate is an online moving cost calculator?
An online calculator gives you a ballpark estimate, usually within 15-25% of the final quote, based on home size, distance, and add-on services. To lock in an exact, all-inclusive price, you need a quote from a real mover that includes your home inventory, stairs, and timing. Blue Dolly's quote is a flat fee, not an hourly estimate, so the price you see is the price you pay.
How much does it cost to move locally in Minnesota?
Most local Twin Cities moves with Blue Dolly run $390-$850 for a studio/1-bed, $850-$1,400 for a 2-bed, and $1,400-$2,400 for a 3-bed, all-inclusive flat fee. That includes the crew, truck, wrap pads, fuel, mileage, and stairs. Hourly Minnesota movers typically charge $160-$220/hr for a 3-person crew, but on an hourly rate any delay costs extra. Our flat fee absorbs that risk.
How much does a long-distance move cost?
Long-distance moves (over 100 miles) are priced by weight + mileage. A 2-bedroom long-distance move from Minneapolis runs $3,200-$5,500 to Chicago, $5,000-$8,000 to Denver, $7,500-$11,000 to the West Coast, and $8,000-$13,000 to the East Coast. We dedicate a single truck and crew end-to-end, no shared loads, no transfer warehouses.
What's included in a Blue Dolly moving quote?
Every quote includes the moving crew, an insured truck, wrap pads, shrink wrap, floor and door protection, fuel, mileage inside the metro, basic carrier insurance, and stairs/long carries. Packing materials and full-pack service are optional add-ons. There are no hourly surprises, the flat fee is locked before move day.
How can I lower my moving cost?
Move mid-week and mid-month (the 8th-22nd) to avoid peak surcharges. Move October through April when demand drops 15-30%. Pack your own boxes (or do partial-pack) to skip the packing add-on. Declutter before the move, every box you don't move saves time and labor. Get a flat-fee quote so you don't pay hourly for delays.
Do you charge for stairs, elevators, or long carries?
No. With Blue Dolly's flat-fee model, stairs, elevator wait time, and long carries are included. Hourly movers typically add $25-$75 per flight of stairs and $1/foot beyond a 75-foot carry. Our flat fee absorbs all of that.
What's the cheapest way to hire movers?
Hire a flat-fee local mover for a mid-week, mid-month move in October-April, pack your own boxes, and declutter aggressively before move day. Avoid 'cheap movers' priced 30%+ below market, that's almost always a broker that reassigns your move to a low-bidder. Blue Dolly publishes our flat-fee pricing upfront so you can compare apples to apples.
How far in advance should I book to get the best price?
For peak season (May-September) book 4-6 weeks out. For off-peak (October-April) 1-2 weeks is usually enough. Same-day and next-day availability is possible but you'll pay a small premium for the slot.
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