A long-distance moving quote that looks like a single dollar figure ($8,500) is actually six or seven separate charges stacked together. Understanding the breakdown is the difference between recognising a fair quote and being overcharged.
| Charge component | Typical share of total | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Line-haul (cwt × distance) | 55-70% | The actual transportation of household goods from origin to destination |
| Packing services | 10-20% | Mover-provided packing materials and labor (often $0.50-$0.90/lb) |
| Fuel surcharge | 8-18% of line-haul | Diesel cost pass-through, adjusted monthly to EIA national average |
| Valuation (FVP) | 1-3% of declared value | Full Value Protection insurance above the default 60¢/lb Released Value |
| Accessorial charges | 5-15% | Long carry, stairs, shuttle, piano surcharge, crating, waiting time |
| Storage-in-transit (if needed) | 2-8% | Temporary warehouse storage between pickup and delivery |
| Taxes (if applicable) | 0-7% | State sales tax on certain mover services in some states |
Interstate household goods movers are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and must publish tariffs that govern long-distance pricing. The standard pricing method is cwt (hundredweight) pricing — cost per 100 pounds of shipment weight at the published rate for the move distance.
Per FMCSA 49 CFR §375.503, the mover must weigh the loaded truck before and after the shipment. The difference equals the shipment weight in pounds. The actual weight scale used must be a "certified" public scale (state-licensed weights and measures inspected). The customer has the right to be present at the weighing and to request a re-weigh if the weight seems incorrect (the mover may charge a fee for a re-weigh if the second weight is within 100 lbs of the first).
The in-home estimator visits the customer's home and produces an Inventory Sheet listing every item plus an Estimated Weight (computed from industry standard cube charts — typically 7 lbs per cubic foot of household goods). The Estimated Weight × tariff rate produces the Estimate.
At delivery, the Actual Weight (from the certified scale) determines the final charge. If the move is a Binding Estimate, the customer pays the Estimate regardless of Actual Weight (within FMCSA tolerance rules). If Non-Binding, the customer pays a final invoice based on Actual Weight × rate.
| Distance band | Typical 2026 cwt rate | Cost per pound |
|---|---|---|
| Under 250 miles | $60-$85 per cwt | $0.60-$0.85 per pound |
| 250-500 miles | $70-$95 per cwt | $0.70-$0.95 per pound |
| 500-1,000 miles | $85-$115 per cwt | $0.85-$1.15 per pound |
| 1,000-1,500 miles | $95-$125 per cwt | $0.95-$1.25 per pound |
| 1,500-2,500 miles | $105-$135 per cwt | $1.05-$1.35 per pound |
| 2,500-4,000 miles | $115-$145 per cwt | $1.15-$1.45 per pound |
| 4,000+ miles (Alaska/Hawaii) | $200-$400+ per cwt | Substantially higher due to overseas shipping |
Note that mover rates vary substantially across companies. The "tariff" published by each mover differs — some carriers list lower headline cwt rates but charge higher fuel surcharges or accessorials. The total cost is what matters; line-haul alone can be misleading.
Scenario. 2-bedroom apartment, Atlanta GA to Dallas TX. Distance: approximately 800 miles. Shipment weight: 4,500 lbs estimated. Full-service mover, May 2026.
Line-haul: 4,500 lbs × $0.95/lb (mid-range for 500-1,000 mile band) = $4,275
Packing services (mover packs): 4,500 lbs × $0.65/lb = $2,925
Fuel surcharge: 13% of line-haul = $556
Full Value Protection (FVP) at $40,000 declared value: 1.5% = $600
Accessorial: stairs (3 flights origin): $245
Accessorial: long carry (origin, 95 feet beyond 75-foot mark, 20 feet excess): $35
Total estimated cost: $8,636
Customer-pack alternative (no packing service): subtract $2,925 = $5,711 total. PPM via PODS or U-Pack alternative: typically $3,800-$5,200. Self-driven U-Haul: typically $1,800-$2,800 plus customer's time and effort.
Scenario. 3-bedroom house, Chicago IL to Phoenix AZ. Distance: approximately 1,750 miles. Shipment weight: 8,000 lbs estimated. Full-service mover with packing, May 2026.
Line-haul: 8,000 lbs × $1.20/lb (mid-range for 1,500-2,500 mile band) = $9,600
Packing services: 8,000 lbs × $0.70/lb = $5,600
Fuel surcharge: 14% of line-haul = $1,344
FVP at $80,000 declared value: 1.5% = $1,200
Accessorial: piano (upright): $185
Accessorial: large crating (3 mirrors, 2 paintings): $350
Total estimated cost: $18,279
If customer packs: subtract $5,600 = $12,679 total. PPM (PODS 16-ft container × 2): typically $7,800-$10,500. Self-driven 26-ft U-Haul plus help: $3,500-$5,000 plus customer's time.
Scenario. 4-bedroom house, Boston MA to San Francisco CA. Distance: approximately 3,100 miles. Shipment weight: 12,000 lbs estimated. Full-service mover with packing and crating, May 2026.
Line-haul: 12,000 lbs × $1.30/lb (mid-range for 2,500-4,000 mile band) = $15,600
Packing services: 12,000 lbs × $0.80/lb = $9,600
Fuel surcharge: 15% of line-haul = $2,340
FVP at $150,000 declared value: 1.5% = $2,250
Accessorial: shuttle service (Boston narrow street access): $550
Accessorial: stairs (2 flights origin, 1 flight destination): $325
Accessorial: storage-in-transit (10 days due to schedule mismatch): $1,650
Accessorial: appliance disconnection (washer, dryer, fridge): $185
Total estimated cost: $32,500
If customer packs and uses PPM: subtract $9,600 packing, replace line-haul with PODS 16-ft × 3 containers + transport = roughly $14,500. Plus customer's labor for packing and loading. Total ~$16,500-$19,000 with PPM. Self-drive cross-country with rental truck: $4,800-$6,500 plus labor (typically 7-10 days for cross-country drive).
For rough budget planning, a useful rule of thumb is total cost per pound including packing and accessorials:
For a 6,000-lb 1,200-mile move, that estimates: full-service $12,000-$15,000; PPM $7,000-$10,000; self-drive $3,000-$5,000.
Per FMCSA 49 CFR §375.701, every interstate mover must offer two distinct liability options. The choice is yours and is made before pickup.
Included at no additional cost. Caps the mover's maximum liability at $0.60 per pound per item regardless of actual value. A 70-pound antique credenza valued at $4,000 receives only $42 in compensation if damaged or destroyed. A 8-pound laptop valued at $2,200 receives only $4.80.
Released Value is appropriate ONLY when the entire shipment consists of low-value items that the customer would not miss if damaged. For any household with significant electronics, art, or furniture, Released Value is woefully inadequate.
Costs typically 1-2% of the customer's declared shipment value. Requires the mover to either repair the damaged item, replace it with a similar new item, or pay the current market value (less any agreed deductible). FVP includes the entire shipment, not specific items.
Cost example: $100,000 declared value × 1.5% = $1,500 valuation charge. Standard deductible: $0, $250, or $500 — higher deductibles reduce the valuation cost.
Common exclusions even under FVP: high-value items (jewelry, cash, securities, photos) above a per-item or per-shipment cap unless specifically declared on a separate Inventory and Declaration Sheet; items the customer packed themselves in unlabeled boxes (Packed By Owner / PBO boxes) — the mover typically limits liability on PBO contents.
| Accessorial | Typical 2026 charge | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Long carry fee | $1.50-$3.50 per 10 ft beyond 75 ft from truck | Apartment buildings, long driveways |
| Stairs fee | $65-$110 per flight beyond first floor | Apartments and townhouses |
| Elevator wait fee | $45-$90 per hour after first hour | Apartment buildings with single elevator |
| Shuttle service | $350-$700 flat | Narrow streets where large truck can't access |
| Piano surcharge — upright | $150-$250 | Upright piano |
| Piano surcharge — grand | $350-$500 | Grand or baby grand piano |
| Hot tub/pool table | $300-$600 | Disassembly required |
| Crating per item | $75-$300 | Mirrors, marble, large art |
| Appliance disconnection/reconnection | $45-$95 per appliance | Washer, dryer, dishwasher, fridge with water line |
| Waiting time | $85-$135 per hour after first hour | Customer not ready for pickup |
| Re-weigh fee | $60-$120 | Only if customer requests and second weight is within tolerance |
| Auto transport | $1.00-$1.30 per mile | Vehicle on transport trailer; varies by distance and vehicle size |
The mover guarantees the total price will not exceed the quoted amount, provided the actual inventory matches the estimated inventory. If the customer adds items at pickup or the actual weight exceeds the estimate by more than 10%, the mover may charge based on actual weight under the Non-Binding fallback. Binding Estimates require an in-home survey by the mover's estimator.
The mover's best guess at the price. Final charge based on actual weight × rate at delivery. Per FMCSA 49 CFR §375.401, the mover cannot charge more than 110% of the Non-Binding Estimate at delivery — but the customer must pay the difference within 30 days. The 10% cap protects against gross underestimation but doesn't eliminate surprise.
Some movers offer a Not-To-Exceed price — the customer pays the lesser of the estimate or the actual-weight charge. Most consumer-friendly option but harder to find.
Before booking any interstate move, verify the mover at protectyourmove.gov:
Per FMCSA data, the largest source of consumer complaints is unlicensed movers and shady brokers. Hostage-goods scams (where the mover refuses to release goods until extra fees are paid) almost always involve unlicensed or barely-licensed operators.
Cwt (hundredweight) pricing is cost per 100 pounds × shipment weight × distance tariff. 2026 rates range from $60/cwt (under 250 miles) to $145/cwt (2,500+ miles).
Released Value: free but caps at $0.60/lb per item. Full Value Protection: 1-2% of declared value, mover replaces or pays market value. FVP almost always worth it for households with significant value.
Long carry $1.50-3.50/10ft beyond 75ft; stairs $65-110/flight; shuttle $350-700; piano $150-500; crating $75-300; waiting $85-135/hr.
Binding guarantees the price. Non-Binding is mover's guess; capped at 110% of estimate per FMCSA 49 CFR §375.401. Always insist on Binding after in-home survey.
8-18% of line-haul cost, adjusted monthly to EIA national diesel average. At $3.50/gal diesel: 10-12%; $4.00/gal: 14-16%; $5.00/gal: 18-22%.
Full-service with packing: $9,000-$13,000. PPM/PODS: $5,000-$8,000. Self-drive U-Haul: $2,500-$4,000 plus labor.
Yes — at least 3 from FMCSA-licensed movers. Online and phone-only quotes are unreliable. Verify USDOT number at protectyourmove.gov.
None or small refundable (under $100) to hold a date. Large deposits = red flag for broker scams. Reputable movers charge upon delivery.