How many people move, what it costs, when they move, and how much work it really is. Compiled from public data and MovePlan's own cost models. Free to cite with a link back.
~28M — Americans move each year: Roughly 8% of the U.S. population changes address in a typical year, per Census mover data.
~60% — of moves are local: About 3 in 5 moves are under 50 miles — same city or metro. The rest are long-distance or out-of-state.
45%+ — of moves happen in summer: Peak moving season runs May through September, when leases turn over and school is out. Rates and truck availability get worse.
Jul–Aug — the busiest moving months: Late July and August are the single busiest weeks. Booking movers 4–6 weeks ahead matters most then.
~$1,250 — average local move (2BR): A local 2-bedroom move typically runs about $800–$2,000 all-in, including truck or movers, fuel, and supplies.
~$4,900 — average long-distance move (2BR): A 2-bedroom move of 1,000+ miles typically runs about $3,000–$7,000 depending on distance and method.
10–15% — typical budget overrun: Deposits, hidden fees, first-week groceries, and damage push most moves 10–15% over the original quote.
~65% — move themselves: Roughly two-thirds of movers go DIY — rental truck or a container like PODS — rather than hiring full-service movers.
~48 — boxes for a 2BR home: An average 2-bedroom household packs roughly 48 boxes across small, medium, large, and wardrobe sizes.
15+ — places to change your address: Between government, financial, work, subscriptions, and home services, a typical mover must update 15+ organizations.
~7 — utilities to transfer: Electric, gas, water, internet, trash, security, and HOA/landlord — most households juggle about seven service transfers.
Top 5 — most stressful life events: Moving consistently ranks among the most stressful life events people report, alongside job change and major loss.
~1,000mi — average long-distance move: Cross-state and cross-country moves average roughly a thousand miles, often with an overnight stop.
8 weeks — ideal planning runway: Starting about eight weeks out is enough to book movers, sort belongings, and transfer services without a last-minute scramble.
Methodology: Figures are estimates for 2026, compiled from public data (including U.S. Census Bureau mover data and industry moving-cost ranges) and MovePlan’s own cost and packing models. Treat them as approximate, directional benchmarks, not precise survey results.
To cite this page, credit "Moving Statistics 2026 — MovePlan" and link to https://getmoveplan.com/moving-statistics. A free embeddable stats widget is available at https://getmoveplan.com/embed.