Should You Hire Professional Movers or DIY When Moving to a New Home?

DYI or Professional Movers?

The best choice depends on your moving distance, home size, budget, timeline, and ability to handle heavy lifting. Professional movers offer convenience and efficiency, while DIY moving can cost less but requires more time and physical effort. For many moves, a hybrid approach—packing yourself and hiring movers for loading and transportation—offers a practical middle ground.

Key Takeaways

• Professional movers are best for large homes, long-distance moves, tight schedules, and heavy or fragile belongings.
• DIY moving can reduce costs and gives you complete control over your schedule and belongings.
• Local professional moves commonly cost about $1,000–$2,500, while long-distance moves can cost $2,000–$5,000 or more, depending on distance, home size, services, and timing.
• DIY truck rentals may cost roughly $150–$500, before fuel, mileage, packing supplies, insurance, tolls, and other expenses.
• A hybrid move can reduce labor costs while still providing professional help with the most physically demanding parts of the move.
• Temporary storage can make moving easier when there’s a gap between moving out and moving into your new home.

Professional Movers vs. DIY: Which Is Better?

When Should You Hire Professional Movers?

Professional movers can be worth the additional cost if you have a large household, heavy furniture, or limited time. Experienced crews can handle packing, loading, transportation, and unloading, reducing the amount of physical work you need to do.

Professional movers may be a good choice if you:

• Have a large home or multiple floors of furniture
• Are moving long distances
• Have a short moving timeline
• Need help with packing or unpacking
• Have heavy, fragile, or specialty items
• Want to minimize physical lifting
• Can afford the additional moving expenses

How Much Do Professional Movers Cost?

A local professional move may cost approximately $1,000–$2,500, while a long-distance move can cost $2,000–$5,000 or more. Actual prices vary based on factors such as the distance, number of belongings, labor required, moving date, packing services, and other services or fees.

Get multiple estimates and compare what each quote includes before choosing a moving company.

When Does a DIY Move Make Sense?

A DIY move can be a cost-effective option if you’re moving a small amount of furniture, staying relatively close to home, and having friends or family available to help.

DIY moving may be a better choice if you:

• Have a limited moving budget
• Are moving to a studio or small apartment
• Are staying within the same city
• Have flexible time to pack and move
• Have reliable people available to help
• Prefer to handle your belongings yourself

How Much Does a DIY Move Cost?

A DIY move may start with approximately $150–$500 for a rental truck, but the total cost can be higher after adding fuel, mileage, packing materials, moving equipment, insurance, tolls, and food for helpers.

Before choosing DIY, calculate the total estimated cost, not just the truck rental price.

Professional Movers vs. DIY: Quick Decision Guide

Choose professional movers if:
You have a large or long-distance move, a tight schedule, heavy furniture, valuable belongings, or limited ability to handle the physical work.

Choose DIY if:
You’re moving to a small household locally, have plenty of time, want maximum control, and have enough help to safely move your belongings.

Choose a hybrid move if:
You want to save money by packing yourself but need help with loading, transportation, unloading, or particularly heavy items.

Consider a Hybrid Move

You don’t necessarily have to choose between doing everything yourself and hiring a full-service moving company. A hybrid move lets you handle some tasks while paying professionals for others.

For example, you could:

1. Pack and label your boxes yourself.
2. Rent a moving truck or hire a moving company for transportation.
3. Have professional movers load and unload heavy furniture.
4. Move smaller boxes and personal items yourself.
5. Use temporary storage if your new home isn’t ready when you move out.

This approach can help reduce labor costs while making the most physically demanding parts of the move easier.

Should You Use Storage When Moving?

A storage unit can provide temporary space when you’re downsizing, renovating, staging your home, or dealing with different move-out and move-in dates. Store items you don’t immediately need while keeping essential belongings accessible at your new home.

Public Storage offers self-storage at more than 2,800 locations nationwide, with unit sizes and features that vary by facility. You can use the Public Storage Size Guide to help determine how much space you need.

FAQs

Is it cheaper to move yourself or hire movers?

DIY moving is usually less expensive upfront, but the total cost depends on truck rental, fuel, supplies, equipment, labor, and other expenses. Professional movers cost more but save time and physical effort.

Is hiring professional movers worth it?

Professional movers can be worth the cost for large, long-distance, or time-sensitive moves. They can handle much of the lifting, loading, transportation, and unloading for you.

How much does it cost to hire professional movers?

Local moves commonly cost about $1,000–$2,500, while long-distance moves can cost $2,000–$5,000 or more. Prices vary based on distance, home size, services, timing, and other factors.

How much does a DIY move cost?

A DIY move may cost about $150–$500 for a rental truck before additional expenses. Fuel, mileage, packing supplies, equipment, insurance, tolls, and other costs can increase the final price.