Washington Moving Costs
Moving costs in Washington: local movers average $1,211 – $1,520 for a 2BR home (1,909 sq ft median). 26ft truck rental averages $3,587. Mover prices from the Move-Price pricing engine, truck prices from U-Haul rates, home sizes from Realtor.com, and migration from Census ACS and IRS data.
Professional Movers
Local 2BR Move
$1,211
– $1,520
Truck Rental — DIY
26ft U-Haul (one-way)
Best Months
July, August
lowest prices
Inbound rank and net migration rate: IRS SOI U.S. Population Migration Data, 2022–2023
How We Calculate Washington Moving Costs
Every number on this page is derived from public government datasets and our real-world pricing engine — not surveys or guesses. Here is exactly where each figure comes from.
Where Washington Movers Go
Census ACS 2016–2020 County-to-County FlowsHome Size & Move Volume
Realtor.com Inventory Data · March 2026All-home median size
Active listings, all property types
2BR estimated size
1,909 × 0.62 ratio
2BR move volume
1,184 sqft × 0.652 CF/sqft (AMSA density)
Avg move distance
Weighted by Census county-to-county moves
AMSA standard: 5,000 lbs ÷ 7 lbs/ft³ = 700 ft³ national anchor, scaled by state home size. A 772 ft³ load fits in a 20ft truck (~1,015 ft³ capacity).
Truck Price Methodology
Move-Price Pricing Engine
Rates from sampled U-Haul quotes (2024–2025), by distance and truck size
Under 50 miles: U-Haul in-town rate (base fee + per-mile charge)
50 miles and over: one-way rate, interpolated between quoted distances
Fuel, tolls, and seasonal or route-demand swings are not included — actual quotes vary by date and route
Washington demand level: High Demand (IRS net rate: +0.00%)
Cost at Derived Average Move Distance (296 miles)
Weighted average of the three kinds of move: 62.7% within the same county × 21 mi + 20.0% to another county × 95 mi + 17.3% to another state × 1523 mi. How this is calculated
Truck Rental — DIY
10ft
$417
Studio
15ft
$470
1–2 Bedrooms
26ft
$704
3–4 Bedrooms
Professional Movers
2BR Local Move
$1,211
– $1,520
Full-service, labor included
Popular Routes from Seattle, WA
Routes ranked by ACS 2022 out-migration volume. Prices from our pricing engine.
| Destination | Miles | 10ft (Studio) | 15ft (1–2BR) | 26ft (2–4BR) | Save vs. Movers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles, CA | 1,140 | $1,225 | $1,290 | $2,153 | Save $5,521 |
Austin, TX | 2,100 | $1,516 | $1,596 | $2,235 | Save $5,439 |
New York, NY | 2,850 | $2,100 | $2,210 | $3,100 | Save $3,935 |
Best ValuePortland, OR | 175 | $271 | $338 | $507 | Save $1,210 |
Movers vs. DIY Truck — Which Is Cheaper?
Prices below are for the first popular route from Seattle. Use our calculator below for your specific ZIP codes.
DIY Truck Rental
You drive, you save
* Prices: Seattle → Los Angeles (1,140 mi)
Professional Movers
They handle everything
Get Your Washington Moving Quote
Enter your ZIP codes for a real-time estimate — truck rental, movers, fuel, and tolls.
Moving Cost Calculator (Real Prices)
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How much does moving cost in the US?
The average moving cost in the US ranges from $800 to $5,000 depending on distance, home size, and services. For very small or minimal moves, costs can start as low as around $300 for local short-distance relocations or basic labor-only help.
Compare moving costs across cities nationwide
How Consolidated Moving Costs Are Calculated
Long-distance consolidated moving costs are typically based on the total cubic feet (ft³) your items occupy in the truck, not weight. Each item is assigned an average volume using standard moving inventory estimates, then multiplied by a per cubic foot rate.
Consolidated Moving Cost Table (Long Distance)
| Item | Cubic Feet (ft³) | Avg Rate ($/ft³) | Total Cost ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Box | 1.5 | $5.50 | $8.25 |
| Medium Box | 3.0 | $5.50 | $16.50 |
| Large Box | 5.0 | $5.50 | $27.50 |
| Wardrobe Box | 15.0 | $5.50 | $82.50 |
| Dresser | 30.0 | $5.50 | $165.00 |
| Queen Mattress | 60.0 | $5.50 | $330.00 |
| Sofa (3-seat) | 60.0 | $5.50 | $330.00 |
| Loveseat | 35.0 | $5.50 | $192.50 |
| Coffee Table | 10.0 | $5.50 | $55.00 |
| Dining Table | 30.0 | $5.50 | $165.00 |
| Bookshelf | 20.0 | $5.50 | $110.00 |
| Desk | 25.0 | $5.50 | $137.50 |
| Office Chair | 10.0 | $5.50 | $55.00 |
| Washing Machine | 30.0 | $5.50 | $165.00 |
| Refrigerator | 60.0 | $5.50 | $330.00 |
| Bicycle | 10.0 | $5.50 | $55.00 |
Moving Costs by City in Washington
Truck prices: U-Haul in-town rates for a local move (~25 mi). Mover range is the Move-Price pricing engine estimate for a 2BR local move.
| City | Truck 10ft (Studio) | Truck 15ft (1–2BR) | Truck 26ft (3–4BR) | Movers (2BR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SeattleLargest City | $65 | $75 | $100 | $1,211 – $1,520 |
Spokane | $65 | $75 | $100 | $1,211 – $1,520 |
Tacoma | $65 | $75 | $100 | $1,211 – $1,520 |
Bellevue | $65 | $75 | $100 | $1,211 – $1,520 |
Truck prices: U-Haul 26ft one-way. Intrastate: 95 mi avg within Washington. Weighted avg: 296 mi (all move types). Interstate: 1523 mi avg to another state.
Get your exact quoteWashington Moving Tips
WA→NY 26ft is $6,866 — one of the priciest cross-country truck routes
Seattle mover market is very competitive — get quotes from 4+ companies
WA has no state income tax — strong inbound migration from CA
Best & Worst Times to Move in Washington
Best months (lowest prices)
Avoid these months (peak prices)
How Much Does It Cost to Move to or from Washington? (2025)
Moving costs in Washington depend on home size, distance, and whether you hire professional movers or rent a truck yourself. For a typical 2-bedroom home in Seattle, local professional movers charge between $1,211 – $1,520. Long-distance moves from Washington average $6,485 – $8,646. A 26ft U-Haul one-way rental averages $3,587 (1523-mile avg distance).
The median listed home size in Washington is 1,909 square feet according to Realtor.com inventory data (March 2026). A 2-bedroom home is typically 62% of the all-home median — approximately 1,184 square feet in Washington. Move volume is calculated using the AMSA (American Moving & Storage Association) industry standard: a 2-bedroom home averages 5,000 lbs of household goods, which at 7 lbs per cubic foot of truck space equals 700 ft³ nationally. This is scaled proportionally by Washington's home size relative to the national median, giving approximately 772 cubic feet — fitting comfortably in a 20ft truck (~1,015 ft³ capacity) for most 2BR loads.
According to Census ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county migration flows, 62.7% of Washington movers stay within the same county, 20.0% move to a different county within the state, and 17.3% move out of state. Weighting these shares by the average distance of each kind of move — measured between county population centers — gives a derived average move distance of 296 miles for Washington residents.
IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) migration data for 2022–23 ranks Washington #27 of 50 states for net inbound migration, with a net rate of +0.00%. The most common out-of-state destinations from Washington are CA, TX, NY (ACS flow data).
For long-distance moves from Washington, truck prices for the most popular routes range from $507 to $3,100 for a 26ft U-Haul. Professional movers for the same routes range from $1,717 to $9,593.
The best months to move in Washington are July, August, September, when demand is lower and you can save 20–35% compared to peak summer rates. Avoid November and December — this is when mover availability is lowest and both truck and labor prices peak.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do movers cost in Washington?
How much is a moving truck rental in Washington?
What is the cheapest time to move in Washington?
What is the average home size in Washington?
Data Sources & Methodology
Migration mobility %
Census ACS 2016–2020 County-to-County Migration Flows (movers within county / to another county / to another state)
View sourceInbound rank & net rate
IRS Statistics of Income — U.S. Population Migration Data 2022–2023 (net domestic migration ÷ filing population)
View sourceAvg move distance
Census county-to-county flows weighted by distance between 2020 county population centers (× 1.2 road factor); same-county moves use √(avg county land area) ÷ 2
View sourceCubic feet estimate
AMSA household weights (5,000 lbs for a 2BR ÷ 7 lbs/ft³ = 700 ft³), scaled by the state’s median home size
View sourceTruck rental prices
U-Haul rates — sampled 2024–2025 quotes, in-town rate under 50 miles and one-way table (interpolated by distance) above
View sourceMover cost ranges
Move-Price pricing engine — estimated volume × per-cubic-foot rate (plus mileage under 500 miles)
View source