The short answer
Federal rules recognise three interstate estimate types. A non-binding estimate is a projection: the final invoice follows the actual weight, so it can move up or down. A binding estimate fixes the price for the listed inventory and services, in both directions. A binding not-to-exceed estimate sets a ceiling: you pay the lower of the estimate or the weight-based charge.
For most households the not-to-exceed form is the strongest position, because it removes the penalty for an overestimated inventory while capping the risk of an underestimated one. Whichever you sign, the estimate type must be written on the paperwork alongside the inventory it covers.
Moving Cost Advisor model data
Median modeled cost by home size, across our full corridor inventory
Swipe the table sideways to see every column
| Home size | Assumed shipment weight | Median modeled midpoint | Weight-normalised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 1,500–2,600 lbs | $2,450 | $1,200 per 1,000 lbs |
| 1 Bedroom | 2,400–3,800 lbs | $3,200 | $1,025 per 1,000 lbs |
| 2 Bedroom | 4,200–6,200 lbs | $4,800 | $925 per 1,000 lbs |
| 3 Bedroom | 6,800–9,500 lbs | $7,050 | $875 per 1,000 lbs |
| 4 Bedroom | 9,500–13,000 lbs | $9,400 | $825 per 1,000 lbs |
| 5+ Bedroom | 13,000–18,000 lbs | $12,600 | $825 per 1,000 lbs |
MCA model output. Every one of the 2,300 published corridors repriced at each profile (median corridor: 1,530 miles), then summarised on midpoints. Not a market survey.
Non-binding estimate
A good-faith projection of what the move will cost based on the mover's survey. The final invoice follows actual weight and services, so it can be higher or lower. This is the type frequently quoted over the phone, and the type most likely to surprise you on delivery day.
Binding estimate
A fixed price for the inventory and services listed. If the shipment weighs more than expected, the price holds — but if it weighs less, you do not get a refund. Adding items not on the inventory voids the binding price or triggers a revised estimate.
Binding not-to-exceed estimate
A ceiling rather than a fixed price. You pay the lower of the estimate or the actual weight-based charge. For most households this is the strongest position, because it removes the downside of an overestimated inventory while protecting against an underestimated one.
How to read the paperwork
The estimate type must be stated on the document, along with the inventory it covers and the services included. Check that accessorials you know you will need — shuttle, long carry, stairs, storage — are listed rather than left off, because an estimate that omits them is not cheaper, only less complete.
How to choose and verify the estimate type
- 01Insist on a survey — video is enough — before asking for any number in writing.
- 02Ask explicitly for a binding not-to-exceed estimate and check that the phrase appears on the document.
- 03Read the inventory attached to the estimate: the price only binds the items listed.
- 04List the accessorials you already know you need. An estimate that omits a shuttle or a long carry is not cheaper, only incomplete.
- 05Verify the carrier's USDOT number before signing anything.
Regulatory and external sources
What the rules say
The estimate must be in writing and must clearly state whether it is binding or non-binding, and it must describe the shipment and all services provided.
49 CFR Part 375 — Transportation of Household GoodsWith a non-binding estimate, a carrier may collect no more than 110% of the estimated charges at delivery; the balance is billed afterwards.
FMCSA — Consumer Rights and ResponsibilitiesFMCSA advises shippers to verify a mover's USDOT registration and complaint history before booking an interstate move.
FMCSA — Protect Your Move
Limits of this analysis
- This guide covers interstate household-goods moves. Intrastate moves are governed by state rules that vary.
- We describe estimate mechanics; we do not review or rank carriers.
Put this into a number
Use the moving cost calculator to see how these mechanics change your own estimate, or read the pricing methodology for the exact inputs we apply.
Related, and deliberately separate
How Moving Companies Calculate Costs
Covers: how movers build a price (mechanics of the pricing model).
Hidden Moving Fees
Covers: accessorial and add-on charges that appear after the headline quote.
Federal Moving Rules: What 49 CFR Part 375 Requires
Covers: what federal regulations require of an interstate household goods carrier.
Questions
Which estimate type should I ask for?
A binding not-to-exceed estimate after a video or in-home survey. It caps your exposure while still allowing the price to drop if your shipment weighs less than surveyed.
Does a binding estimate cover added items?
No. Items not on the inventory are handled as a revised estimate or an addendum, and can be priced less favourably than the original quote.