Cost & Pricing 4 min read
How Much Do Movers Cost in Washington DC?
A local move in Washington DC costs $385 to $3,080 depending on the size of the home and how hard it is to reach. This guide gives the range for each size, what moves you up or down inside it, and the costs that sit outside any mover's quote.
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Price and time by home size
These are our flat-rate ranges for local moves in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, with the usual time for each including the drive.
- Studio: $385 to $660, about 2 to 4 hours
- 1-bedroom: $550 to $990, about 3 to 5 hours
- 2-bedroom: $880 to $1,650, about 5 to 7 hours
- 3-bedroom home: $1,540 to $3,080 and up, a full day
What the flat rate covers
A flat rate is one number, written down before move day. It stays the same if the job runs long.
- 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
- A certificate of insurance for your building, at no charge
What moves the price in DC
Two apartments of the same size can be several hundred dollars apart. In DC the difference usually comes from one of these.
- Walk-ups. Rowhouse apartments on the third and fourth floor are common. Stairs are priced into the quote at about $28 a flight.
- Curb space. With no dock and no reserved parking, the truck parks where it can and everything is carried farther.
- Elevators. A shared or slow elevator keeps the crew waiting.
- Timing. Weekends, the last days of the month, and same-day requests cost more. Midweek and mid-month cost less.
- Volume. More boxes and more furniture mean a bigger truck or a third mover.
- Heavy and fragile pieces, such as pianos, safes, large mirrors, and stone tabletops.
Costs outside the mover's quote
These are real costs of a DC move that no mover's quote includes. Budget for them separately.
- A DDOT permit to reserve curb space, if the truck parks on the street. The current fee shows in TOPS when you apply.
- Building fees. Some buildings charge a move-in fee or hold an elevator deposit. Ask the management office.
- Boxes and packing supplies, if you pack yourself.
- Tips, which are optional. $20 to $40 per mover for a half day is common in the DMV.
- A 4.2% digital transaction fee if you pay us online by card or PayPal.
How an hourly quote compares
An hourly quote prices the crew's time, and the advertised rate is only the start. The example below uses made-up numbers to show how the total gets built. Ask any hourly mover for the same breakdown before you compare.
- Labor: 5.5 hours at $140 an hour comes to $770.
- Travel time: one hour at the same rate, $140.
- Fuel surcharge: 10% of those two, $91.
- Stair fee: $75.
- Total: $1,076, on a job advertised at $140 an hour with a three-hour minimum.
How to land at the low end
The price follows the time the job takes, and you control more of that than you might think.
- Pack everything in boxes before the crew arrives.
- Reserve curb space or the loading dock at both ends.
- Book the freight elevator if there is one.
- Choose a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday in the middle of the month.
- Sell or donate what you do not want before you ask for a quote.
- Send photos of every room and both entrances, so nothing is left off the quote.
Booking and payment
Book two to four weeks ahead for most dates, and four to six weeks ahead for the last weekend of a month or any date from June through August. We often have same-week openings, so it is worth asking on short notice.
- $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.
- To get your price, text us photos of each room with both addresses and your date. We send back one flat number, usually within 15 minutes during business hours.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is a flat rate cheaper than hourly?
Sometimes. On a small job with easy access, hourly can cost less. On anything with stairs, elevators, or street parking, compare the flat rate against the hourly mover's realistic total with travel, fuel, and stair fees included.
Do DC movers charge extra for stairs?
Many hourly movers add a stair fee or simply bill the extra time. We price stairs into the flat rate before move day, at about $28 a flight.
How do I get an accurate quote?
Text us photos of each room, or use the quote form. We price from what we see, so the number reflects your actual things and your actual building.
Is a deposit required?
$100 holds your date and comes off the final bill. It is refunded in full if we cancel and is not refunded if you cancel.
Does the price change if the move runs long?
No. It changes only if the job changes, such as items that were not in your photos or an added stop.
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