Thinking of relocating within the Sunshine State (or heading out of it) this year?
Here’s the quick math up front for those still wondering, “How much do movers cost?”. Florida movers in 2025 charge about $116 per hour for a two-person crew and truck. That means a small, no-frills local move can run as little as $200, while larger homes or interstate relocations can climb from roughly $4,000 to $7,000 once distance, packing, and extra services are factored in.
Stick around for the detailed cost breakdown, so you know exactly where every dollar goes (and where you can save).
Florida movers bill local jobs by the hour. The sticker price you see combines crew wages, the truck, fuel, dollies, and basic insurance, but it widens (sometimes fast) once you add hands or miles.
Florida’s 2025 benchmarks to consider:
So, how much do movers cost in Florida? Use the tables below to see how the numbers shake out.
Think of crew size as a multiplier. The more rooms you have, the more hands and hours it takes to wrap furniture, load the truck, and carry big pieces through the doorways. Movers price this in tiers, so a studio can finish in a morning with two pros, while a four-bedroom job might need a four-person team on site all day.
Home Size | Crew Size | Typical Hours | Avg Hourly Rate | Estimated labor Total |
Studio | 2 movers | 3 hours | $163 | $438 |
1 Bedroom | 2 movers | 4 hours | $163 | $601 |
2 Bedrooms | 3 movers | 5 hours | $228 | $960 |
3 Bedrooms | 4 movers | 8 hours | $319 | $2,192 |
4 Bedrooms | 4 movers | 9 hours | $319 | $2,511 |
5+ Beds | 5 movers | 10 hours | $447 | $3,851 |
Quick save tip: If that subtotal feels high, declutter first or line up a weekend yard sale and use the profits to make extra money before moving day.
When asking yourself, “How much do moving services cost?”, consider that local rates only tell half the story. Once your trip stretches past about 100 miles, most carriers flip to mileage-and-weight pricing (a flat quote rather than an hourly meter).
Move type & distance | How it’s billed | Typical rate ranges | Example cost |
Local < 50 mi | Hourly | $90 – $163/hr (2-person crew) | $600 – $1,200 |
Short intrastate 50–100 mi | Hourly + travel fee | ~ $125 – $190/hr (larger crew) | $920 – $2,500 |
Interstate (~500 mi, FL→GA/NC) | Flat quote | – | $2,100 – $4,300 |
Interstate (~1,100 mi, FL→NY) | Flat quote | – | $2,789 – $5,798 |
Cross-country (FL→CA, ~2,500 mi) | Flat quote | – | $4,023 – $7,020 |
Mileage surcharges, driver lodging, tolls, and higher insurance all pile on once you leave state lines. Weight also matters, so every box you purge now is one less pound you’ll pay to haul across the country.
Before you lock in a contract, compare at least three written estimates, check each carrier’s USDOT record, and decide which extras are things to spend money on, like full-value protection or professional packing, versus tasks you can DIY to keep that final invoice lean. Some agencies offer a relocation assistance program, which can help cover part of these moving costs.
The hourly rate you got from the mover covers the truck, basic labor, and standard cargo valuation, but not everything. Special items, extra protection, or tricky installs can add $50 to $1,000+ apiece and quickly nudge a $900 quote past the $2,000 mark. Before signing, scan the fine print for the three most common upcharges below and decide whether they’re things to spend money on or services you can safely skip.
Grand pianos, heirloom china cabinets, and framed canvases need padding, hoisting straps, and sometimes a dedicated crew. For pianos alone, expect $259 to $590 on a local move and up to $2,000 for interstate shipping, depending on size and stairs.
Many Florida companies quote similar surcharges for large glass aquariums, grandfather clocks, or high-value art can cost from $150 to $400 each, once custom crates or climate-controlled trucks enter the picture.
Federal rules give you “released value” protection at 60 cents per pound, which may be enough to cover a dented toaster, not your 75-inch OLED. Upgrading to full-value protection runs roughly 1% – 5% of your declared shipment value (about $100 to $500 for a typical three-bedroom haul) and lets you repair, replace, or receive cash for damaged goods at today’s market price. Third-party policies can cost more but often cover high-ticket items that the mover’s plan excludes.
Washers, refrigerators, gun safes, and sectional sofas bring weight and extra fees. Most Florida movers tack on $75 – $150 per appliance for local jobs, which covers disconnection, dollies, and re-installation on arrival. Long-distance rates jump to $300 – $1,000 per appliance, and relocating water or gas hookups can add another $500 – $1,800.
Understanding these line items upfront keeps your budget honest and spares you from the surprise of the moving service prices on the due date.
For a local studio-to-one-bedroom move, renting a truck and rounding up friends can cost $300 – $600 in rental and gas, often a few hundred dollars less than a basic two-mover crew. Once you cross state lines or fill a three-bedroom truck, the math flips: full-service movers’ cost can vary from $1,500 to $3,000, but a comparable DIY haul (truck, fuel, lodging, mileage fees) can land within the same range while demanding two long days behind the wheel.
A 2,000-square-foot home (roughly a three-bedroom) needs a four-person crew for seven to eight hours. Expect about $2,200 for an in-town move and $4,000 – $7,000 for a 500- to 1,000-mile relocation, depending on weight, season, and add-ons such as packing.
Industry etiquette is $5 – $10 per mover per hour for local jobs, or 15% – 20% of the total bill on multi-day interstate moves, handed to each crew member in cash at drop-off. If gratuity is already on the invoice, an extra $20 – $30 each (or lunch and bottled water) still shows appreciation for heavy lifting in Florida heat.
Declutter first: Every lamp you donate is one less pound you pay to haul. Pack yourself: Boxes, tape, and a long weekend can shave hundreds off labor. Shop timing: Mid-month weekdays outside peak spring and summer see lower hourly minimums. Compare options: For 100-mile moves, hybrid solutions, like loading your own belongings into a portable container, often beat full-service quotes by 25% or more. Combine two or three of these tactics and you can cut a typical Florida move by 30% without sacrificing peace of mind.