How To Cut Moving Costs Without Begging for Free Favors From Friends

Moving ranks right next to a root canal on the list of things nobody wants to do.

While the thought of nesting in a new home is exciting, the act of getting there is often stressful, exhausting, and perhaps above all, expensive.

The average cost to move locally in 2026 is $800–$2,500, while a long-distance move typically runs $2,500–$7,500 or more, according to OpenDoor.

And while bribing your poor friends to help is always an option, you can make other choices that will help with the moving bill, too. 

Timing is everything

A winter move may entail inclement weather and icy sidewalks—but it'll also save you a bundle. 

The industry’s “dead season is the perfect time to get a deal on your moving quote,” says Lior Rachmany, CEO of New York’s Dumbo Moving + Storage.

While winter jobs may be generated at a better rate, Rachmany advises that during negotiation customers mention they're aware it's the slow season and that prices should be lower.

Another cash-saving tip? Avoid an end-of-month move, which “is like taking a taxi at rush hour—the moving companies are overwhelmed. Moving on off-peak days is cheaper.” Choose wisely!

Avoid guesstimates

Moving company estimates are just that, meaning your final bill could be way over your budget.

“A simple local move should be a guaranteed price,” says Rachmany—or, at most with a maximum cap if the hours go over so you know the most it could cost. “Avoid hourly estimates and even flat prices that seem too low. Lowballing is common in the moving industry.”

What about tipping, which can run from $10 to $50 per mover? “Tipping isn't mandatory," he says. When in doubt, ask the company beforehand about its policy.

Lighten your load

Moving is a time of reckoning. That fringed leather jacket you wore once? Yard sale! Or donate it to the Salvation Army. Besides the emotional capital of doing good, charitable giving is tax-deductible—a working refrigerator could net you $250! You can find more savings in this donation value guide.

Bonus: You'll save on your moving costs by having less to move. According to real estate professional Bill Golden, moving too much unnecessary stuff is a common lament of home buyers.

“They don't do enough weeding out beforehand and end up jettisoning things they paid to move,” he says. Since it costs $3 to $5 per box to move locally, according to Rachmany, six boxes of old clothes that ultimately get tossed just cost you upward of $50.

Find free boxes

New boxes cost anywhere from $1 to $2 each, so look on Boxcycle, where a used box can run as little as 15 cents. If even that's too much, go to Freecycle to find a recent mover looking to get rid of boxes.

You could also save money and the environment by “going green with renting a box.” These plastic bins with lids run “half the cost of buying cardboard boxes. You don’t need to tape—simply pack, stack, and move,” says founder Spencer T. Brown. 

Most companies drop off these bins and pick them up at the new location for free.

Break out your toolbox

“Take beds, tables, and wall units apart yourself and put them back together" after the move, says Rachmany. 

“Because fewer services are required of the movers, you'll save on your rate or duration of the move. If you're taking your bed and furniture apart to reassemble them upon delivery, it should take off about 10% to 15% of the total price."