Key Moments
Cost Range and Factors
Interstate moves vary widely in price, driven mainly by home size and distance.Hidden Extra Costs
Car shipping, storage, and travel expenses often catch movers off guard.Choosing Moving Methods
Different methods—DIY trucks, containers, full-service—impact cost and convenience.Planning and Preparation
Booking early, handling paperwork, and budgeting first-month costs are essential.Moving to another state is rarely just a moving-truck bill. Once you add shipping a car, storing your things between homes, and getting yourself there, the total can be thousands more than a local move. The calculator below builds the full picture — transport, extras, and travel — so there are no surprises. Enter your home size and distance, choose how you’ll move, and add any extras that apply.
Cost to Move Out of State
Long-distance moves add up fast. Estimate the full picture — transport, your car, and getting there.
Estimated total move cost
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Long-distance quotes vary widely by season, access, and how much you own. Get 3 binding quotes before you commit.
What an out-of-state move really costs
Interstate moves average around $4,900, but the honest range is wide: a light studio moving a few hundred miles can come in under $1,500, while a full four-bedroom crossing the country with a full-service crew can top $8,500. The two biggest levers are the same as any move — how much you own and how far you’re going — but out of state, the distance multiplier is far more punishing, and the extras below stack on top.
Because long-distance movers price by weight and mileage, decluttering pays off more here than anywhere. Every box you don’t ship is weight you don’t pay to haul across the country. For the moving portion alone, our long-distance moving cost guide covers how the per-pound math works.
The extras that catch people off guard
Shipping your car is the big one. If you’re flying to your new state or don’t want to add thousands of miles to your vehicle, auto transport typically runs around $700 on the low end and climbs with distance — often near a dollar a mile for a cross-country haul. Storage between homes is common when your move-out and move-in dates don’t line up, and it’s billed monthly by unit size. Getting yourself there matters too: if you’re not driving the truck, one-way flights for the household are a real line item, and multi-day drives add fuel, hotels, and meals. The calculator lets you switch on each of these so the total reflects your actual plan.
Choosing how to move across state lines
Your method sets the baseline. DIY truck rental is cheapest but means driving a loaded truck for days. Moving containers let you pack on your own schedule while someone else drives — often the best value for long distances. Full-service movers cost the most but handle everything door to door, which many people find worth it when relocating a whole household far away. If you’re weighing options, our overview of how much it costs to move compares them side by side.
Don’t forget the paperwork and setup
An out-of-state move comes with a to-do list beyond the truck. You’ll need to update your address, transfer or start utilities, and handle new-state registrations. Work through our moving out of state checklist and change of address checklist so nothing slips through the cracks on either end of the move.
When to book — and other costs to plan for
For a long-distance move, book your mover or container as early as you can, ideally four to eight weeks out. Long-haul capacity fills up, and prices rise sharply in summer and at month-end. Beyond the move itself, budget for the landing costs in your new state: first and last month’s rent, a new security deposit, utility hookups, and vehicle registration and license updates, which most states require within a set window of establishing residency. Those first-month costs can rival the moving bill itself, so it’s worth setting the money aside before you go.
If your move is for a job
Relocating for work? Ask whether your employer offers a relocation package — many cover part or all of a long-distance move, and the details are often negotiable. Keep every receipt regardless, and confirm the current tax treatment of any moving reimbursement, since the rules have shifted in recent years and depend on your situation. Even a partial package can turn an expensive interstate move into a manageable one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to move out of state?
Interstate moves average around $4,900 and commonly range from about $1,500 for a small studio to $8,500 or more for a large home moving cross-country. Distance, weight, and extras like car shipping drive the total.
Is it cheaper to use a moving container for a long-distance move?
Often yes. Containers usually cost less than full-service movers because you do the loading, while still avoiding a multi-day truck drive. For small homes, a DIY rental truck can be cheaper still.
How much does it cost to ship a car to another state?
Auto transport commonly starts around $700 for shorter distances and rises with mileage, often approaching a dollar per mile for cross-country routes.
How can I lower the cost of an out-of-state move?
Declutter aggressively, move in the off-season (October through April), get multiple binding quotes, and consider a container instead of full-service movers. Every pound you don’t ship saves money.
