Setting a budget for your move is one of the first steps to take for a successful transition to your new home. To help you determine your budget, we’ve outlined the average cost of cross-country and local moves for five-bedroom homes. We’ve included a guide to planning and budgeting to break down how moving rates are calculated. Learn more about what to expect when you get your moving quotes and ensure you hire the best moving company for the job.
Average Cost of Moving a Five-Bedroom Home
We assembled cost data from multiple providers by pulling quotes for an 80-mile local move and a 1,200-mile long-distance move. The following pricing quotes are rough estimates and should not be considered a viable substitute for customized free quotes. All quotes are current as of May 2023.
Local Moving Costs
You’ll pay an hourly rate for local movers. Your cost will depend on market rates in your area and the number of movers you need. Additional service charges will affect the cost of your move by adding more hours to the time your move takes to complete.
| Move Method | Company | Cost* |
|---|---|---|
| Moving truck rental | Penske | $999** |
| Moving container | 1-800-PACK-RAT | $1,287–$1,930 |
| Full-service | Moving APT | $3,015–$8,755 |
| Full-service | Interstate Moving & Relocation Group | $8,500+ |
*For moves between Austin, Texas, and San Antonio (80 miles)
**Quote includes unlimited miles but not fuel costs
What Our Survey Found
- In the This Old House Q1 2025 Moving Survey of 1,000 recent movers, 72.20% reported making a local move — within their state or completed in a single day. For those local moves, crew size is a major cost driver: 37.50% of respondents had a three-person crew, while 18.40% needed four movers and 9.20% required five or more. A five-bedroom home will almost certainly fall into that larger-crew category, which directly increases your hourly bill.
Long-Distance Moving Costs
Long-distance or cross-country moves are typically assigned a price range determined by the estimated total weight of your goods and the total distance of your move. Additional costs for packing services or crating typically lead to a higher bottom-line cost.
| Move Method | Company | Cost* |
|---|---|---|
| Moving truck rental | Penske | $1,230** |
| Moving container | 1-800-PACK-RAT | $8,100 |
| Full-service | Moving APT | $8,240–$16,640 |
| Full-service | Interstate Moving & Relocation Group | $8,500+ |
*For moves between Austin, Texas, and Chicago (1,200 miles)
**Quote includes unlimited miles but not fuel costs
What the Data Shows
- According to the TOH Q1 2025 Moving Survey of 1,000 recent movers, the most common total move cost fell between $1,000 and $5,000, but long-distance and full-service moves pushed costs significantly higher — with some respondents reporting spending $10,000 or more. Luxury and cross-country relocations with full-service packages were the primary drivers of those higher price tags.
Significant Cost Factors
Consider several cost factors when you set your moving budget. The following will have the greatest impact on your total cost.
Home Size, Shipment Weight, and Move Distance
A five-bedroom house is costly to move. This is true for both DIY moves and full-service relocations. Long-distance and local move costs are largely determined by the size of your home. Some long-distance movers bill by volume, while others charge by total weight. Local moving companies charge by the hour—your final cost is determined by how many hours your move takes to finish. Similarly, the total distance between your old and new homes has a great impact on pricing.
Pro Tip
- When getting estimates for a five-bedroom move, ask whether your mover offers a binding estimate—a guaranteed fixed cost based on the estimated weight of your belongings. In the TOH 2025 Moving Survey, about 44% of movers received a binding estimate, and among all respondents, roughly 89% said their final total aligned with their quoted rate. For a home this size, locking in a binding estimate can protect you from unexpected overages on moving day.
Crew size and truck count are two of the biggest cost drivers for a large home. In the This Old House 2025 Moving Survey, 37.5% of movers used a three-person crew, while 18.4% needed four movers and 9.2% required five or more—numbers that climb quickly for five-bedroom homes with heavier shipment weights. Most respondents (77.1%) needed just one truck, but over 20% required two, and among those who needed extra trucks, about 46% were charged an added fee for each additional vehicle.
Add-On Service Requirements
Don’t Overlook Valuation Coverage
- The TOH 2025 Moving Survey found that only 33.30% of movers purchased valuation coverage (also called full-value protection) for their belongings, meaning two-thirds of respondents moved without it. Among those who did buy coverage, the most frequently reported cost was $500, though prices ranged widely based on provider and coverage level. For a five-bedroom home with more items at risk, this is an add-on worth factoring into your budget alongside packing and storage.
Add-ons such as unpacking or packing services can inflate your costs. Full-service packing for a five-bedroom home can add $2,000 or more to your total, and packing fragile items or antiques will cost even more.
Storage service preceding or following your move can add to your cost. The average storage unit costs between $175 and $200 per month. Many long-distance movers offer a month of free storage; however, we still recommend factoring storage costs into your budget.
Custom crating for antiques costs $150—$200 per item at a minimum, while vehicle shipping can cost as much as $2 per mile. Make a list of any moving services you may require before you get a quote.
What Real Movers Spent
- According to the TOH 2025 Moving Survey, packing was the most popular add-on, purchased by 34.30% of respondents, followed by packing supplies (29.80%), unpacking (21.20%), and vehicle shipping. Costs for packing services varied widely — from under $100 to several thousand dollars — depending on the size of the move and whether specialty items were involved. Vehicle shipping costs showed similar variation, with long-distance and premium transport pushing costs significantly higher.
Season
Many moving companies charge higher rates during the peak season between May and September. Try to book your move at least one month in advance if you’re moving during this time of year. Doing this can help ensure you book with your top choice.
Last-Minute Booking
Last-minute bookings can prevent you from scheduling your move with your top choice. Moving companies’ schedules fill up quickly during the busy season. We recommend scheduling your move ahead of time even if you plan to move during the winter.
Common Added Fees
Many moving companies charge added fees for defined circumstances or tasks. You may incur added fees for late cancellations, long carries, and additional flights of stairs. You can mitigate the risk of unforeseen added fees by getting an in-person moving quote.
TOH Survey Insight
- According to the TOH 2025 Moving Survey, nearly 23% of movers required two or more trucks for their move, and among those who needed extra trucks, 46.29% were charged an added fee for the additional vehicle. With a five-bedroom house, you’re more likely to fall into the multi-truck category, so be sure to ask about extra truck fees when comparing quotes.
What the Data Shows
- The TOH 2025 Moving Survey found that 11.30% of respondents ended up paying more than their original quote, with the most common overage amounts clustering around a few hundred to a thousand dollars above the estimate. To protect yourself, ask whether your mover offers a binding estimate — a guaranteed fixed cost based on estimated weight. Our survey found that only 43.10% of movers received one, meaning the majority were left vulnerable to price increases on moving day.
How To Plan a Five-Bedroom Move
This general planning timeline outlines the steps to take in advance of your upcoming move.
Eight Weeks
Eight weeks before your move date, go through your home and write an inventory list of the goods you plan to take with you. Write a separate inventory list of items you want to get rid of. List out all major items room by room.
Estimate how much packing material you’ll need, and look into different options for obtaining packing supplies. The Home Depot and U-Haul are great choices for retail moving supplies, while Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are viable options for free or discounted supplies.
Six Weeks
Have moving quotes scheduled around this time. Aim to get at least three quotes from professionals if you know you won’t be going the DIY moving route. At this time, begin packing. Pack one to three boxes per day, depending on how densely furnished your home is.
Four Weeks
Book your move with your top moving company. Get a hard copy of your moving contract and estimate to reference throughout the moving process. Continue packing your goods. Arrange for your utility services to be switched on at your new home on your move date, and schedule switch-off dates with your current utility providers.
Two Weeks
All nonessential items should be packed by this point. Begin packing clothing and unneeded kitchen items. Plan out your meals for moving week—packing up your kitchen will limit your food options for a few days. Next, file a change of addressform at your local post office.
Moving Week
Most of your household goods should be packed by moving week. Prepare a bag for moving day. This should include the following items:
- Financial and bank documents
- Forms of identification
- Laptop
- Move contract
- Move estimate
- Snacks
- Water
Change your address for any subscriptions and with your banking or financial institutions.
The Best Moving Companies for Five-Bedroom Moves
Get free quotes from the companies listed below to see which is the best fit for your five-bedroom move.
- International Van Lines: Best Service Offerings
- Interstate Moving & Relocation Group: Most Efficient
- Safeway Moving Inc.: Most Reliable Pricing
- American Van Lines: Best Overall Moving Labor
- Moving APT: Best Customer Service
- JK Moving Services: Best Specialized Packing
- Allied Van Lines: Best for Vehicle Relocation
Our Conclusion
We recommend starting the planning process no less than two months in advance of a five-bedroom move. Shop around for local, long-distance, or interstate movers by getting quotes from at least three moving companies. International Van Lines is an excellent option if you’re looking for a provider with numerous specialty services. Interstate Moving & Relocation Group offers quality service for complicated urban moves. Consider American Van Lines if you’re moving antiques or specialty items.
Five-Bedroom Moving FAQ
What are binding estimates?
Binding estimates are cost figures that do not shift between quote day and moving day unless your inventory or moving needs change. A binding estimate is effectively “bottom-line” pricing and should be outlined as such in the wording of your move contract.
What won’t movers take?
Movers typically won’t take the following:
- Batteries
- Explosives
- Fuel sources of any kind
- Hazardous chemicals
- Harsh cleaners
- Live plants or animals
- Oil
- Perishable food
Should I get a visual estimate?
You should get a visual inspection of your goods before any five-bedroom move. Many moving companies that provide quick quotes or a cost calculator won’t offer instant pricing for homes larger than three bedrooms. This is because larger homes come with far more variables that could influence your move cost.
Our Rating Methodology
We back up our moving company ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each company. We conduct research by reading through the company websites, analyzing customer reviews, conducting consumer surveys, requesting quotes, and speaking with customer representatives. We then score each moving company against our review standards for services, contents coverage, scheduling, trailer and container options, additional benefits, and reputation to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.
