How much does it cost to move a 2-bedroom apartment? (local vs long distance)
$680 to $2,000 for local movers with a 2-bedroom apartment in the US: 4-8 h for a crew of 3 at $170 to $250 an hour, about $1,340 with no stairs and an off-peak date; $3,284 to $6,486 long distance (over 100 mi). In the UK a removal firm averages £603 locally and £800 to £1,200 over 100 mi. A rental truck for the same apartment starts at about $94 for a 20 mi local move, before boxes. Below: what stairs, peak season and packing add, the hourly rates by crew, the long-distance bands and the rental truck at each distance.
Open the moving cost calculator
How much do local movers cost for a 2-bedroom apartment?
US: the published hours for the home times the crew’s hourly rate, low times low and high times high (Bellhop, Average Cost of Local Movers in 2026, read 2026-09-20). The expected figure sits in the middle of that range; stairs without a lift and a peak-season date each move it 25% of the way towards the top (Declared rule, read 2026-09-20). Packing is a separate line, read off a straight line between the published one- and five-bedroom figures (This Old House, How Much Do Professional Packers Cost?, read 2026-09-20). The moving cost calculator does the same for your own distance and flags.
| Scenario | Hours | Crew | Range | Expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local, ground floor or lift, off-peak | 4-8 h | 3 | $680 to $2,000 | $1,340 |
| Stairs without a lift | 4-8 h | 3 | $680 to $2,000 | $1,670 |
| Peak season (summer weekend, month end) | 4-8 h | 3 | $680 to $2,000 | $1,670 |
| Stairs and peak season | 4-8 h | 3 | $680 to $2,000 | $2,000 |
| With professional packing | 4-8 h | 3 | $1,390 to $2,710 | $2,050 |
| Long distance (over 100 mi) | — | — | $3,284 to $6,486 | $4,885 |
How much do movers cost per hour?
The rate is per crew with the truck, not per mover, and it rises with the crew size the home takes (Declared assumption, read 2026-09-20).
| Home | Crew | Rate per hour | Hours | Local total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2 movers + truck | $120 to $180 | 2-4 h | $240 to $720 |
| 1 bedroom | 2 movers + truck | $120 to $180 | 3-6 h | $360 to $1,080 |
| 2 bedrooms | 3 movers + truck | $170 to $250 | 4-8 h | $680 to $2,000 |
| 3 bedrooms | 3 movers + truck | $170 to $250 | 6-10 h | $1,020 to $2,500 |
| 4 bedrooms | 4 movers + truck | $220 to $350 | 8-12 h | $1,760 to $4,200 |
| 5 bedrooms | 4 movers + truck | $220 to $350 | 10-14 h | $2,200 to $4,900 |
Crews of 2 (Studio, 1 bedroom), 3 (2 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms), 4 (4 bedrooms, 5 bedrooms).
How much does a long-distance move cost?
Beyond 100 mi (161 km) the movers’ figure is the published long-distance range for the home size, priced by weight (mygoodmovers, Long-Distance Moving Cost in 2026, read 2026-09-20). The same guide gives the range by distance for a 2- to 3-bedroom home:
| Distance, miles | Range |
|---|---|
| 250-499 | $2,486 to $5,384 |
| 500-999 | $3,187 to $6,286 |
| 1,000-1,499 | $3,284 to $7,791 |
| 1,500-2,499 | $3,884 to $10,894 |
| 2,500+ | $4,486 to $13,986 |
What does it cost to move a 2-bedroom apartment yourself?
A rental truck is the day rate plus a mileage charge and fuel; locally the miles are charged there and back, one way on a long-distance rental with a day per 400 mi started (moveBuddha, U-Haul Truck Rental Sizes and Prices, read 2026-09-20; U.S. Energy Information Administration, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, read 2026-09-20). Boxes and helpers are not priced here, so the rental column is a floor; the 2-bedroom box guide lists what to buy, and the truck size calculator checks the class.
| Distance | Move | Truck | Rental | Fuel | Rental total | Movers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mi | Local | 20 ft truck | $80 | $14 | $94 | $680 to $2,000 |
| 100 mi | Local | 20 ft truck | $238 | $72 | $310 | $680 to $2,000 |
| 250 mi | Long distance | 20 ft truck | $287 | $90 | $377 | $3,284 to $6,486 |
| 500 mi | Long distance | 20 ft truck | $575 | $180 | $755 | $3,284 to $6,486 |
| 1,000 mi | Long distance | 20 ft truck | $1,110 | $360 | $1,470 | $3,284 to $6,486 |
| 1,500 mi | Long distance | 20 ft truck | $1,645 | $540 | $2,185 | $3,284 to $6,486 |
| 2,500 mi | Long distance | 20 ft truck | $2,755 | $900 | $3,654 | $3,284 to $6,486 |
UK: how much do removals cost for a 2-bed flat?
A removal firm averages £603 for a 2-bedroom house inc VAT (HomeOwners Alliance, How Much Do Removals Cost?, read 2026-09-20), one published figure rather than a range, so stairs and the date do not move it here; packing adds £267 to £333 (HomeOwners Alliance, How Much Do Removals Cost?, read 2026-09-20). Over 100 mi the figure is £800 to £1,200 (HomeOwners Alliance, How Much Do Removals Cost?, long-distance moves, read 2026-09-20). A self-drive Luton van returns to the depot, so a long trip is charged both ways and needs a day per round trip:
| Distance | Move | Van | Hire | Diesel | Hire total | Removal firm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 km | Local | 3.5 t Luton van x 2 | £70 | £32 | £102 | £603 |
| 161 km | Local | 3.5 t Luton van x 2 | £111 | £173 | £285 | £603 |
| 402 km | Long distance | 3.5 t Luton van x 2 | £355 | £433 | £788 | £800 to £1,200 |
| 805 km | Long distance | 3.5 t Luton van x 2 | £607 | £867 | £1,475 | £800 to £1,200 |
Sources: Bellhop, Average Cost of Local Movers in 2026, read 2026-09-20; mygoodmovers, Long-Distance Moving Cost in 2026, read 2026-09-20; This Old House, How Much Do Professional Packers Cost?, read 2026-09-20; HomeOwners Alliance, How Much Do Removals Cost?, read 2026-09-20; moveBuddha, U-Haul Truck Rental Sizes and Prices, read 2026-09-20; U.S. Energy Information Administration, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, read 2026-09-20; CVS Van Hire, How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Luton Van?, read 2026-09-20. The movers’ figures are published guide ranges, not quotes; the rental figures use the top of the published mileage rate.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to move a 2-bedroom apartment locally?
- $680 to $2,000 with US movers: 4-8 h for 3 movers and a truck at $170 to $250 an hour (Bellhop, Average Cost of Local Movers in 2026, read 2026-09-20). The same guide prints $800 to $2,000 as its own local total for the apartment. Expect about $1,340 in the middle; stairs or a peak date push it towards the top.
- How much do movers cost per hour?
- $120 to $180 for 2 movers and a truck, $170 to $250 for 3 movers and a truck, $220 to $350 for 4 movers and a truck (Bellhop, Average Cost of Local Movers in 2026, read 2026-09-20). A 2-bedroom apartment takes a crew of 3 for 4-8 h; most companies bill a minimum of two to four hours.
- How much does it cost to move a 2-bedroom apartment cross country?
- $3,284 to $6,486 for a 2-bedroom home by weight (mygoodmovers, Long-Distance Moving Cost in 2026, read 2026-09-20). By distance the same guide prints $2,486 to $5,384 for 250-499 miles up to $4,486 to $13,986 beyond 2,500 miles for a 2- to 3-bedroom home.
- How much does it cost to move a 2-bedroom apartment yourself?
- About $94 for the truck and fuel on a 20 mi local move: a 20 ft truck at $39.95 a day plus $0.99 a mile there and back, fuel at $4.319 a gallon (moveBuddha, U-Haul Truck Rental Sizes and Prices, read 2026-09-20; U.S. Energy Information Administration, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, read 2026-09-20). One way over 1,000 mi it comes to about $1,470. Boxes, helpers and your own time are on top.
- How much does professional packing add?
- $710 for a 2-bedroom home in the US, a straight line between the published one- and five-bedroom figures (This Old House, How Much Do Professional Packers Cost?, read 2026-09-20), and £267 to £333 in the UK, £133 to £167 per bedroom (HomeOwners Alliance, How Much Do Removals Cost?, read 2026-09-20). Tick "packing help" in the calculator to add it.
- How much does it cost to move a 2-bed flat in the UK?
- £603 on average with a removal firm, inc VAT (HomeOwners Alliance, How Much Do Removals Cost?, read 2026-09-20), and £800 to £1,200 over 100 mi (HomeOwners Alliance, How Much Do Removals Cost?, long-distance moves, read 2026-09-20). A Luton van hire starts at £70 a day, about £102 with fuel for a 30 km move in 2 loads.
More guides
- What size moving truck do I need for a 3-bedroom house? (cubic feet)
The cubic feet and m³ a 3-bedroom house takes, which U-Haul, Penske or UK lorry class moves it in one trip, and a truck size chart from a studio to 5 bedrooms.
- How many boxes do I need to move a 3-bedroom house?
Boxes by size for a 3-bedroom house at minimal, average and heavy packing, what people and extra rooms change, the tape, paper and bubble wrap, and the truck it takes.
- How many boxes for a 2-bedroom apartment? (by room)
Boxes by size for a studio to a 5-bedroom home, the truck each one takes in cubic feet and m³, and what local movers charge, from published guides with their sources.
Last updated 2026-09-21. Estimates from published moving guides and rate pages, each with its source and date: quotes from movers and rental companies replace them.