About PlainMove

Our Mission

PlainMove exists because getting an honest moving cost estimate should not require sharing your phone number with a lead-generation platform. Most moving cost tools online are designed to collect your contact information and sell it to moving companies, you fill out a form, and within minutes your phone rings with aggressive sales calls from movers who paid for your lead.

We believe moving cost information should be free, instant, and based on real data, not on affiliate relationships. PlainMove uses federal labor data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and carrier data from the FMCSA to generate moving cost estimates for every combination of 50 major US metro areas, from studio apartments to 4-bedroom houses. There is no form to fill out, no phone number to share, and no moving company referral fee involved.

PlainMove is not a moving company and does not recommend specific movers. We provide the data so you can make informed decisions on your own terms.

Data Sources

All estimates are built from federal data sources:

  • BLS OES 2023 (SOC 53-7062) - National median hourly wage of $17.88 for laborers and material movers, with regional adjustments based on BLS geographic profiles (Northeast +15%, West +20%, South -10%, Midwest -5%).
  • FMCSA Carrier Registry - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records covering operating authority, safety ratings, complaint history, and insurance data for interstate household goods carriers.
  • Haversine Distance Formula - Great-circle distances between city coordinates for the 50-city route matrix, providing accurate distance measurements for all 2,450 routes.

Methodology

Each route estimate uses the formula: (hourly_rate x crew x total_hours) + (distance x $0.50) + materials. Loading hours are assigned by home size: studio 2 hours, 1BR 3 hours, 2BR 5 hours, 3BR 7 hours, 4BR 9 hours. Crew sizes scale with home size: 2 workers for studio/1BR, 3 for 2BR/3BR, 4 for 4BR and larger. Driving time uses 50 mph average. Unloading time is estimated at 75 percent of loading time.

Regional wage adjustments reflect BLS data showing that moving labor costs more in coastal and metropolitan areas than in the South and Midwest. These adjustments are applied to the base hourly rate for both the origin and destination cities.

Estimates represent mid-market pricing for professional moves. They do not include packing services, specialty item handling, storage, insurance upgrades, or tips, these additional costs can add 20-40 percent to the base estimate depending on the service level you choose.

Data Currency

PlainMove uses BLS OES data from the 2023 release, the most recent available at the time of our last update. BLS publishes updated OES data annually, typically in the spring for the prior year. FMCSA carrier data is current as of our most recent database build. We update PlainMove when new BLS wage data or FMCSA registry updates become available.

Moving costs are subject to market forces that change more rapidly than annual BLS releases - seasonal demand, fuel prices, and local market conditions all affect actual prices. Our estimates provide a federal-data baseline for comparison, not real-time market pricing.

Editorial Independence

Content on PlainMove is compiled by our editorial team. Raw data from HUD, Census, BLS, and related housing/demographic agencies is transformed into readable profiles, validated against the source before publication. The PlainMove editorial team, is responsible for editorial standards, methodology, and corrections.

We do not accept payment, sponsorship, or promoted placement from landlords, cities, governments, or any covered entity. Our only revenue source is contextual display advertising served by Google AdSense, advertisers do not influence which entities we cover or how we present data, and they do not receive preferential placement.

Limitations

Estimates are for informational purposes only. Actual moving costs vary significantly by mover, season, access conditions, specialty items, and negotiation. Our estimates reflect mid-market pricing and may not reflect premium or budget carrier pricing.

  • Estimates cover 50 major metro areas, smaller cities and rural areas are not included.
  • Costs do not include packing, specialty items, storage, or insurance upgrades.
  • Regional wage adjustments are approximate, actual wages vary within regions.
  • The model assumes standard residential conditions, unusual access requirements (long carries, multiple flights of stairs) would increase actual costs.

Always obtain at least 3 binding quotes from FMCSA-registered carriers before booking an interstate move.

Not Affiliated

PlainMove is not affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, FMCSA, or any moving company. We are an independent portal making federal public data more accessible. We do not earn referral fees, we do not sell leads, and we do not recommend specific movers.

Who This Is For

PlainMove serves anyone planning an interstate or local move who wants a data-based cost estimate without surrendering their contact information to lead-generation platforms. It serves consumers who want to calibrate their expectations before requesting quotes from movers. It serves journalists and researchers analyzing the moving industry or labor costs. And it serves anyone curious about the relative cost of living and moving between major U.S. cities.

Our guides section provides practical advice on choosing a mover, understanding cost factors, FMCSA verification, and planning both local and long-distance moves.

Contact

For questions or feedback, email hello@plainmove.com. We welcome suggestions for additional cities to cover and feedback on estimate accuracy.