Cost to Move a 1-Bedroom Apartment in the DMV

The price range

Most local one-bedroom moves in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia cost $550 to $990 as a flat rate, with a truck and a two-person crew. Flat means the number is set in writing before move day and does not change if the job runs long. The price covers the following.

• The truck, fuel, and travel time to and from your place
• Furniture wrapping and pads
• Floor and doorway protection
• Taking apart and putting back standard furniture
• TV and mirror protection
• Stairs, long carries, and elevator time that we knew about when we quoted

Three example moves

The same size apartment lands at different prices depending on what is in it and how hard it is to reach. These examples are illustrations. Your quote comes from your own photos and addresses.

Lower end. A lightly furnished one-bedroom with 20 packed boxes, a bed, a sofa, and a small table. Both buildings have an elevator and a loading dock, and the move is on a Tuesday in the middle of the month. Two movers finish in about three hours.

Middle. A full one-bedroom with 35 to 40 boxes, a queen bed, a sofa, a dresser, a desk, and a TV. There is an elevator at one end and a second-floor walk-up with street parking at the other. Two movers take about four hours.

Upper end. A full one-bedroom with 45 boxes and a lot of fragile pieces, such as two TVs, several large mirrors, and framed art, all of it wrapped by the crew. Both buildings are high-rises and the move is on a Saturday. A third mover is added so the job fits the elevator window, and it takes four to five hours.

What raises the price

The size of the apartment matters less than these seven things.

• Stairs. Each flight adds time, and we price them into the quote at about $28 a flight.
• A long walk from the truck. With no dock and no reserved curb space, every item travels farther.
• Shared or slow elevators, which leave the crew waiting.
• Fragile and heavy pieces, such as large mirrors, glass or marble tabletops, big TVs, a Peloton, or a sleeper sofa.
• Loose items. Anything that is not in a box gets carried by hand, one piece at a time.
• Timing. Weekends, the last days of the month, and same-day requests cost more than midweek, mid-month dates.
• Items we did not see. Anything missing from your photos or list changes the quote.

How to keep it at the low end

Each item on this list takes time off the job, and time is what the price is built on.

• Box everything, including the closet and the bathroom, so nothing is loose.
• Use small boxes for books and other heavy things, so one person can carry each box.
• Finish packing two days before, and stack boxes near the door.
• Take apart the bed and the desk yourself, and bag the hardware.
• Reserve the freight elevator or curb space at both ends.
• Pick a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday in the middle of the month if your lease allows it.
• Sell or donate furniture you do not want before you ask for the quote.
• Send photos of every room, the closets, and both building entrances, so the quote is right the first time.

Boxes, truck size, and time

A typical one-bedroom is 30 to 45 boxes plus furniture, which comes to about 400 to 500 cubic feet. A lightly furnished one-bedroom fits a 10 foot truck. A full one needs a 15 foot truck.

Plan on three to five hours including the drive. Wrapping and loading take the most time, usually around two hours. Unloading is faster, at an hour to an hour and a half.

What you pay and when

The payment terms are the same on every move.

• $100 holds your date and comes off your final bill.
• If we have to cancel, you get the $100 back in full. If you cancel, it is not refunded.
• The balance is due on move day.
• Card and PayPal payments made online carry a 4.2% digital transaction fee.
• Tips are optional. If you add one when you pay online, all of it goes to your crew.

Getting an exact number

Text us photos of each room, or use the quote form, along with both addresses and your date. We send back one flat price, usually within 15 minutes during business hours.