Long Distance Moving Cost Calculator

Most moving cost calculators on the internet give you a number pulled from thin air — an industry average, a rough estimate, or worse, a low-ball figure designed to get you to call. This guide explains how long-distance moving prices are actually calculated, and why the method matters more than the number.

The Two Ways Movers Price a Move

Weight-based pricing

The majority of large moving companies use weight-based pricing. Here's how it works: they give you an estimate before the move, load your truck, drive it to a weigh station, and then charge you based on what it weighs. The problem is obvious — once your belongings are on the truck, you have no leverage. The weight can (and often does) come in higher than the estimate, and you have no way to verify it. This is the mechanism behind most moving scams.

Volume-based pricing (cubic footage)

AEY Moving prices by cubic footage. Volume is calculated before the truck is loaded — either through an in-person survey or, more accurately, through an item-by-item digital inventory. Because the volume is known before pickup, the price is fixed. It doesn't change based on a weigh-station reading.

How the AEY Moving Price Formula Works

Here's exactly how our pricing engine calculates a binding estimate:

Volume (cu ft) — determined by your item-by-item inventory, with a minimum shipment size. Every item you add increases your cubic footage and your price.

Rate per cu ft — pulled from a rate table based on distance and shipment size. Shorter moves carry a higher rate per CF; longer moves get a lower rate. A 2-bedroom move at 1,200 miles carries a meaningfully different rate than the same move at 400 miles.

Subtotal — volume × rate. This is the base move cost before any adjustments.

Fuel surcharge — a fixed percentage of the subtotal, applied to every move to cover variable fuel costs.

Binding fee — calculated based on your total shipment volume. This is what makes the estimate binding — it contractually locks your price so it cannot increase at delivery.

Reserve discount — when you book your move date, a portion of the binding fee is discounted. This rewards early commitment and lowers your total.

Total — subtotal + fuel + binding fee − reserve discount. For a typical 2-bedroom move at 1,200 miles, the all-in price lands in the $2,500–$4,500 range depending on volume and season.

What Drives the Price Up

More volume — the single biggest factor. Every item you add increases the price
Peak season — peak season pricing applies May through Labor Day
Weekend and holiday rates — may apply for Friday, Saturday, Sunday moves and major holidays
Packing service — adds roughly $1.00–$1.50 per cu ft depending on volume

Why Inventory Accuracy Matters So Much

A volume-based binding estimate is only as accurate as the inventory that generates it. If you leave out 40 boxes, your actual volume will be higher than estimated — and a reputable mover will need to adjust. The way to get a truly binding estimate that holds at delivery is to be thorough when you build your inventory. Don't guess. Don't leave rooms out. Include the garage, the attic, the storage unit.

Our inventory calculator walks you through every room and item type. The estimate it produces is binding because it's based on your actual household — not an average, not a guess.

Key takeaway

Price = volume × rate + fuel surcharge + binding fee − reserve discount. The rate per cubic foot is set by a rate table based on both distance and shipment size — it's not a flat number. The only variable entirely in your control is how much you're moving. A thorough inventory is the single best thing you can do to get an accurate binding estimate.