Office & Commercial Moving Cost Calculator
An office move costs $2,000–$15,000 on average in 2026, depending on size. Commercial movers price by employee/workstation ($150–$500 each) or by square footage ($1–$3 per sq ft), plus IT disconnect/reconnect, furniture system reassembly, and after-hours premiums.
Office Move Cost = (Workstations × Per-Station Rate) OR (Square Footage × Rate/sq ft) + IT Services + Furniture Systems + After-Hours Premium + COI
Moving an office is fundamentally different — and far more expensive — than a household move. Commercial relocations involve workstations, server rooms, modular furniture systems, and tight timelines to minimize business downtime. Rather than charging by household weight, commercial movers typically price by the number of employees or workstations, or by the square footage of the space, under carrier rules administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
According to U.S. Census business data, firms relocate for growth, lease changes, and consolidation every year, and a single office move can range from a few thousand dollars for a small suite to well over $15,000 for a large floor. This calculator estimates your 2026 commercial move based on workstation count or square footage, plus the specialized services — IT, furniture systems, and after-hours labor — that drive office relocation budgets.
What This Means
Your estimate covers core relocation labor plus the specialized services most office moves require: IT disconnect/reconnect, modular furniture teardown and rebuild, and after-hours or weekend scheduling to avoid business interruption. The range reflects the gap between a basic suite move and a full-floor relocation with extensive IT and furniture systems. Always confirm the mover carries adequate insurance and can provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) for your building, and verify their USDOT number at FMCSA.gov before booking.
How Office Moving Costs Are Priced
Commercial movers use two main pricing models, and many quote both to compare:
- Per employee / per workstation. The most common method for office suites. Movers charge $150–$500 per workstation, covering the desk, chair, files, monitors, and a moving crate or two of personal items per person. Denser, equipment-heavy workstations sit at the high end.
- Per square foot. Used for larger or open-plan spaces. Rates run $1–$3 per square foot of office space, with build-out complexity (private offices, labs, server rooms) pushing toward the top.
On top of the base move, commercial relocations carry specialized line items that household moves do not:
- IT disconnect and reconnect — unplugging and reinstalling computers, servers, phones, and network gear.
- Furniture systems — disassembling and rebuilding modular cubicle ("systems furniture") panels and workstations.
- After-hours / weekend premiums — scheduling outside business hours to avoid downtime, often a 25–50% labor surcharge.
- Certificate of Insurance (COI) — required by most commercial buildings before crews can use loading docks and elevators.
Average Office Moving Costs by Office Size (2026)
The table below shows typical 2026 all-in office move costs by company size, assuming a local move with standard IT and furniture services. Long-distance or interstate office moves cost considerably more.
| Office Size | Approx. Square Footage | Typical Services | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 employees | 1,000–1,500 sq ft | Basic IT, light furniture | $2,000–$3,500 |
| 10 employees | 2,000–2,500 sq ft | IT disconnect/reconnect, cubicles | $3,500–$5,500 |
| 25 employees | 4,000–6,000 sq ft | Server move, systems furniture | $6,000–$9,000 |
| 50 employees | 8,000–12,000 sq ft | Full IT, after-hours, COI | $9,000–$13,000 |
| 100 employees | 15,000–22,000 sq ft | Phased move, server room, project mgmt | $13,000–$25,000+ |
The chart below shows how average office move cost scales with headcount on a local move in 2026:
IT, Furniture Systems, and the Cost of Downtime
The single most underestimated part of an office move is technology and furniture. These are not optional extras — they are what makes the new space usable on day one:
- IT disconnect/reconnect: $50–$150 per workstation for unplugging and reinstalling computers and phones. Server and network rack moves are quoted separately, often $500–$2,500 depending on rack count and downtime sensitivity.
- Systems furniture: Modular cubicles must be disassembled, transported, and rebuilt — typically $150–$400 per workstation, more for complex panel configurations.
- Decommissioning: Disposing of or liquidating old furniture and e-waste can add $1–$3 per square foot if not handled in-house.
The hidden cost is downtime. Every hour the office is offline costs payroll plus lost productivity. This is why most firms pay the 25–50% after-hours premium to move evenings or weekends — the premium is almost always cheaper than a day of stalled operations. Plan IT cutover carefully so phones and network come back up before staff return.
How to Plan and Control Your Office Move Budget
Commercial moves reward planning more than any other move type. To keep costs predictable:
- Get on-site surveys. Never accept a phone quote for an office move. Reputable commercial movers walk both spaces before quoting.
- Collect at least three bids and compare per-workstation versus per-square-foot pricing for your situation.
- Confirm the COI early. Both your current and new building will require a Certificate of Insurance naming them as additional insured — request it weeks ahead to avoid dock delays.
- Purge before you pack. Decommissioning old furniture and shredding records before the move cuts billable volume and labor.
- Assign an internal move coordinator to manage IT cutover, employee crate labeling, and vendor scheduling.
- Stagger or phase large moves so critical departments stay operational throughout.
For an interstate headquarters relocation, the per-pound long-haul rules apply on top of office services — see our long-distance moving cost calculator for the transportation portion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to move an office?
An office move costs $2,000–$15,000 on average in 2026, with larger relocations exceeding $25,000. A 5-person office runs $2,000–$3,500, a 25-person office $6,000–$9,000, and a 100-person office $13,000–$25,000+. Costs depend on workstation count, square footage, IT and furniture services, after-hours scheduling, and whether the move is local or interstate.
Do commercial movers charge per employee or per square foot?
Both. Many commercial movers quote per employee/workstation ($150–$500 each) for office suites, and per square foot ($1–$3/sq ft) for larger or open-plan spaces. It is worth requesting both pricing models so you can compare — dense, equipment-heavy offices often come out cheaper per square foot, while sparse suites may price better per workstation.
What is a COI and why do I need one for an office move?
A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is proof that your moving company carries liability and workers' compensation coverage, naming your building as an additional insured. Most commercial buildings require a COI before crews can use loading docks and freight elevators. Request it from your mover weeks in advance — a missing COI can stop a move at the door.
How much does it cost to move office IT and servers?
IT disconnect/reconnect typically runs $50–$150 per workstation for computers and phones. Server and network rack relocations are quoted separately, often $500–$2,500 depending on rack count and how sensitive the systems are to downtime. Because downtime is so costly, most firms schedule IT cutover after hours so the network is live before staff return.
How can I reduce office moving costs?
Get three on-site bids, decommission old furniture and shred records before the move to cut billable volume, and assign an internal coordinator to manage IT cutover and crate labeling. Compare per-workstation versus per-square-foot pricing. While after-hours premiums add 25–50% to labor, they are usually cheaper than a full day of business downtime, so weigh them against your true cost of being offline.