The short answer
Interstate movers estimate weight from an inventory, not from your floor area. A surveyor lists the articles, applies a weight-per-item or weight-per-cubic-foot conversion from the carrier's own tables, and produces an estimated shipment weight. The final charge is then based on the actual weight, established by weighing the truck empty and loaded.
Our model uses home-size profiles for the same job: 2,050 lbs for a studio, 5,200 lbs for a 2-bedroom, 8,150 lbs for a 3-bedroom, 11,250 lbs for a 4-bedroom. These are planning profiles for pricing pages, not measurements of your household — a densely furnished apartment can outweigh a sparsely furnished house of twice the size.
Moving Cost Advisor model data
Canonical shipment profiles used by our model
Swipe the table sideways to see every column
| Home size | Modeled weight range | Modeled midpoint | Modeled volume | Relative weight index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 1,500–2,600 lbs | 2,050 lbs | 210–370 cu ft | 0.39× |
| 1 Bedroom | 2,400–3,800 lbs | 3,100 lbs | 340–540 cu ft | 0.60× |
| 2 Bedroom | 4,200–6,200 lbs | 5,200 lbs | 600–890 cu ft | 1.00× |
| 3 Bedroom | 6,800–9,500 lbs | 8,150 lbs | 970–1,360 cu ft | 1.57× |
| 4 Bedroom | 9,500–13,000 lbs | 11,250 lbs | 1,360–1,860 cu ft | 2.16× |
| 5+ Bedroom | 13,000–18,000 lbs | 15,500 lbs | 1,860–2,570 cu ft | 2.98× |
MCA model assumption. These are planning profiles, not universal household weights: a sparsely furnished four-bedroom house can weigh less than a dense two-bedroom apartment. Only a survey or a certified weight ticket establishes what your shipment actually weighs. The relative index is expressed against the 2-bedroom midpoint.
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.
From inventory to estimated weight
A survey — in person or by video — produces an article-by-article inventory. Each line carries a conversion figure from the carrier's tables, and the sum is the estimated weight. This is why a survey that misses a garage, a storage unit, or a second property produces an estimate that cannot hold.
Volume-to-weight conversion is the alternative approach: cubic feet of loaded space multiplied by a density factor. It is quicker and less precise, and it is the method behind quotes given over the phone without a survey. Federal consumer guidance specifically warns about estimates produced without a survey.
The gap between an estimate and an invoice on an interstate move is, in most disputes, a weight gap. It is the single most productive thing to scrutinise before signing.
- In-person or video survey: article inventory, converted to weight.
- Cubic-foot method: volume estimated, converted by a density factor.
- Telephone quote without a survey: no documented inventory to price against.
How the actual weight is established
On an interstate move the shipment is weighed. The standard method is to weigh the vehicle before loading and after, with the difference being your shipment; the weight tickets are documentation you are entitled to see. If you dispute the result, you can request a reweigh.
That mechanism is why the estimate type matters so much. A non-binding estimate is priced on actual weight when the shipment is weighed; a binding estimate fixes the price for the inventory described. The rules governing each are covered in the estimate types guide.
Local moves are the exception: hourly pricing means weight is never established at all, which is why an hourly quote and an interstate quote for the same household are not comparable numbers.
What our profiles assume, and why they are only a starting point
The profile table above is the canonical weight and volume assumption behind every price on this site. The relative index column shows the structure clearly: our 3-bedroom profile is about 1.57× the 2-bedroom, and the 4-bedroom about 2.16×.
Those steps are consistent because they are model assumptions, not observations. Real households are not consistent. The categories that break the profile are predictable: home gyms, workshops, book collections, garage storage, and appliances staying with the move.
Use the profile to plan and to compare — it is reliable for ordering, meaning which of two moves costs more. Use a survey to commit. The difference between those two uses is set out in accuracy and limitations.
Getting the weight right before you sign
- 01Insist on a survey, by video if not in person, and make sure it covers every storage location.
- 02Ask for the estimated weight in pounds as an explicit line on the estimate, not just a price.
- 03Compare estimated weights between carriers — a large divergence signals a scope difference, not a discount.
- 04Decide what is being disposed of, sold, or shipped separately before the survey, not after.
- 05Ask how the shipment will be weighed and confirm you will receive the weight tickets.
- 06Know your reweigh rights before load day rather than on delivery day.
Regulatory and external sources
What the rules say
The final charges on a non-binding interstate estimate are based on the actual weight of the shipment and the services performed.
FMCSA — Consumer Rights and ResponsibilitiesFederal rules require carriers to determine shipment weight by weighing, and give the shopper the right to observe the weighing and to request a reweigh.
49 CFR Part 375 — Transportation of Household GoodsFMCSA advises consumers to be cautious of estimates made without a physical or virtual survey of the goods.
FMCSA — Protect Your Move
Limits of this analysis
- Our weight profiles are planning assumptions applied uniformly; they describe no specific household.
- Conversion tables differ between carriers, so two honest surveys can produce different estimated weights.
- Volume figures in the table are model assumptions and do not map to any container provider's unit sizes.
- Nothing on this page describes intrastate rules, which vary by state.
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
Binding vs Non-Binding Moving Estimates
Covers: which interstate estimate type protects the consumer.
3-Bedroom vs 4-Bedroom Moving Cost
Covers: the cost difference between a 3-bedroom and a 4-bedroom move.
How Moving Companies Calculate Costs
Covers: how movers build a price (mechanics of the pricing model).
Federal Moving Rules: What 49 CFR Part 375 Requires
Covers: what federal regulations require of an interstate household goods carrier.
Questions
How many pounds is a typical household move?
There is no single figure, which is why we publish profiles rather than an average. Our planning assumptions run from 2,050 lbs for a studio to 15,500 lbs for a 5-bedroom-plus household.
How is the actual weight of my shipment determined?
By weighing the vehicle empty and loaded, with the difference as your shipment weight. You are entitled to the weight tickets and may request a reweigh.
Why do two movers estimate different weights for the same house?
Because they surveyed different inventories or applied different conversion tables. Ask both for the estimated poundage and compare the inventories line by line rather than the prices.
Does weight matter on a local move?
No. Local moves are priced by crew hours, so the shipment is not weighed. That is why hourly and interstate quotes cannot be compared directly.