Moving & storage
Moving Estimate Calculator
Builds a moving estimate, where the type of estimate matters as much as the number.
Result
A planning estimate, not a quote. Access, the age of the equipment, what is found once it is opened up and local labour rates all move the real figure, sometimes a long way.
Get a Free Business AuditHow the calculation works
Hours times crew times rate, plus materials and the call-out. What makes a moving estimate different from other trades is that the estimate type is itself a contractual term with federal rules behind it on interstate work. A binding estimate fixes the price for the listed goods and services. A non-binding estimate is an approximation and the final charge is based on actual weight and services, subject to limits on how much more can be demanded at delivery. A binding not-to-exceed estimate caps the price while allowing it to fall if the shipment is lighter.
What moves the number
- Which estimate type is being given, since each allocates risk differently.
- Whether the inventory is complete, as added items change a binding estimate.
- Accessorial services identified in advance rather than discovered on the day.
- Whether the estimate is from a survey or from a phone description.
Where this one goes wrong
Non-binding estimates are where interstate moves go wrong, and the protections are worth knowing: there are federal limits on how much above a non-binding estimate a carrier may require before releasing the shipment, with the balance billed later. An operator demanding a far higher payment at delivery before unloading is outside those rules, and that pattern is the classic hostage-load complaint. Get a written estimate, keep it, and ensure the inventory is complete, because items added after the estimate legitimately change the price on any estimate type. A survey beats a phone description for exactly this reason.
Before you quote
- Establish and record which estimate type is being given.
- Get the inventory complete before the estimate is finalised.
- Identify accessorial services in advance rather than on moving day.
- Keep the written estimate, which is required on interstate work.
Where the rules come from
Questions
About this calculator
What is the difference between a binding and non-binding estimate?
A binding estimate fixes the price for the listed goods and services. A non-binding one is an approximation, with the final charge based on actual weight and services performed. A binding not-to-exceed estimate caps the price but allows it to drop if the shipment weighs less. They allocate the risk differently.
Can a mover demand more money at delivery?
On an interstate non-binding estimate there are federal limits on how much above the estimate can be required before the shipment is released, with the remainder billed afterwards. An operator refusing to unload until a far higher sum is paid is outside those rules, and it is the classic warning sign of a rogue carrier.
Should I get an in-person survey?
For anything beyond a small local move, yes. A survey produces an accurate inventory, identifies access problems at both ends, and spots items needing special handling. A phone estimate misses all three, and every one of them changes the price on moving day.
The formula
total = hours x people x rate + parts + call-out, then sales tax
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How to use this calculator
- Hours on site (h). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 6 h.
- People needed. Enter your own figure; the page starts at 1.
- Labour rate charged ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $165.
- Parts and materials ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $90.
- Call-out or diagnostic fee ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $95.
- Sales tax (%). Leave at zero if you are quoting before tax.
The result updates as you type, so you can try a figure, see what it does to estimated total, and change it back. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere or saved.
A worked example
These are the figures the calculator opens with. Every number in the results column below is produced by the same calculation the page runs, so you can follow it through before putting your own figures in.
What goes in
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Hours on site | 6 h |
| People needed | 1 |
| Labour rate charged | $165 |
| Parts and materials | $90 |
| Call-out or diagnostic fee | $95 |
| Sales tax | 0% |
What comes out
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated total main result | $1,175 |
| Labour | $990 |
| Before tax | $1,175 |
| Sales tax | $0 |
About $1,175: $990 of labour, $90 of parts and a $95 call-out.
How sensitive the answer is
Holding everything else steady and changing only labour rate charged, this is what happens to estimated total. It is worth knowing which of your inputs the answer actually hinges on, and which barely move it.
| Labour rate charged ($) | Estimated total |
|---|---|
| $83 | $683 |
| $124 | $929 |
| $165 example above | $1,175 |
| $248 | $1,673 |
| $330 | $2,165 |
Every other input is held at the example value while this one changes, which is not how a real job behaves. Treat it as a guide to which number matters most, not as five separate quotes.
What each figure means
- Hours on site (h)
- Measured in h, between 0 and 400, starting at 6 h.
- People needed
- A number, between 0 and 40, starting at 1.
- Labour rate charged ($)
- A money amount, starting at $165.
- Parts and materials ($)
- A money amount, starting at $90.
- Call-out or diagnostic fee ($)
- A money amount, starting at $95.
- Sales tax (%)
- Leave at zero if you are quoting before tax.
What the results tell you
| Result | What it is |
|---|---|
| Estimated total | The headline result. A money figure. |
| Labour | A money figure. |
| Before tax | A money figure. |
| Sales tax | A money figure. |
Estimating is the easy part
The jobs you never hear about cost more than the ones you mis-measure. BDEVY builds the marketing, systems and automation that bring them in.