The worked example
Inputs: 1,400 miles, 3-bedroom home (6,800–9,500 lbs, assumed midpoint 8,150 lbs), origin labor index 1.16, destination index 1.00, no packing, no storage, month unspecified.
| Component | Estimated |
|---|---|
| Line haul (weight × distance)8,150 lbs assumed at $0.43 per 1,000 lbs per mile for this distance band. | $4,900 |
| Origin and destination serviceCrew time for loading, unloading, protection, and basic assembly. | $1,200 |
| Transport and fuelEquipment, fuel surcharge, and en-route handling. | $550 |
Those components sum to a midpoint of $6,650. The published range applies −13% and +16% around that midpoint, giving $5,800–$7,700.
Why the midpoint is not the answer
Two households with identical inputs will still receive different quotes. The most common reasons, in order of financial impact: actual shipment weight differing from the assumed profile, access conditions requiring a shuttle or long carry, a move date inside peak season, and packing added late in the process.
Step order
- Resolve the route and derive the estimated driving distance.
- Select the home-size profile and its assumed shipment weight.
- Apply the line-haul rate band for that distance.
- Price origin and destination crew service against local market indices.
- Add transport and fuel.
- Apply the seasonal multiplier if a month is known.
- Add any optional services.
- Apply the minimum charge floor, then the range bounds.
What we will not do
We do not publish figures we cannot derive or source. Where a number would require data we do not hold — a named carrier's tariff, a specific building's shuttle requirement, a measured average weight for a metro — the page omits it rather than estimating it silently.
Full input documentation lives in the pricing methodology. Known weak spots are listed under accuracy and limitations.