Home › Methodology
Methodology and sources
Every estimate on this site comes from one formula that runs the same way in your browser and in our page generator. Data last pulled 2026-11-04.
Data sources
| Input | Source | Value used | Refresh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mover wages, 50 metros | BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 53-7062 (Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand), median hourly wage by MSA, via the public BLS API | National median $19.35/h (mean $20.32), May 2025 | Yearly |
| Industry check | BLS OEWS, same occupation within NAICS 484000 Truck Transportation (the sector that contains 484210 Used Household and Office Goods Moving; OEWS does not publish 484210 separately) | $22.01/h median | Yearly |
| Diesel price | EIA weekly retail on-highway diesel, U.S. and PADD regions (+ California) | U.S. $6.29/gal, week of 2026-11-02 | Weekly |
| Gasoline price (DIY trucks) | EIA weekly U.S. regular gasoline | $4.15/gal | Weekly |
| Metro population and migration | Census Bureau Population Estimates, CBSA totals (Vintage 2024) | July 2024 population, 2024 net domestic migration | Yearly |
| Which routes get pages | Census ACS 2023 state-to-state migration flows | Flow × origin share × destination share of state population | Yearly |
| Mover legitimacy | FMCSA Protect Your Move | Linked, not modeled | — |
The formula
- Distance: great-circle distance between metro centers × 1.2 road factor.
- Home size → weight and crew: Studio ≈ 2,000 lb, 2 movers, 3–4 h; 1-bedroom ≈ 3,000 lb, 2 movers, 4–6 h; 2-bedroom ≈ 5,000 lb, 3 movers, 5–7 h; 3-bedroom ≈ 8,000 lb, 4 movers, 7–9 h; 4+ bedroom ≈ 11,000 lb, 4 movers, 9–12 h. These follow commonly published industry rules of thumb (~1,000 lb per furnished room).
- Billed labor = local BLS median wage × 2.6–3.4. The multiplier covers payroll taxes, workers' comp, insurance, truck, dispatch and margin; it puts a typical metro at roughly $50–$75 per mover-hour, the band most published local quotes fall in.
- Local moves (≤ 100 mi): crew × (job hours + drive time at 35 mph) × billed rate + $100–200 truck fee.
- Long distance: linehaul = weight × ($0.1–0.16 + miles × $0.00035–0.00055) per lb; fuel = miles ÷ 6.5 mpg × regional diesel × (weight ÷ 18,000 lb shared trailer); loading at origin wages, unloading at destination wages.
- DIY truck: local $40–80/day + $0.99–1.59/mi; one-way $0.9–1.6/mi (min $600–900); gasoline at 10 mpg; equipment and coverage.
- Packing: $250–450 per room with materials.
- Season: Jan ×0.93, Feb ×0.93, Mar ×0.97, Apr ×1, May ×1.06, Jun ×1.12, Jul ×1.15, Aug ×1.12, Sep ×1.06, Oct ×1, Nov ×0.95, Dec ×0.95.
Limits
This is a model, not a quote. It leaves out tips, stairs and long carries, shuttle trucks, storage, bulky items (pianos, safes) and valuation coverage beyond the basic legal minimum. The tariff constants are calibrated to published price ranges and will be re-checked each quarter against public sample quotes. Data that would need an API key and isn't used yet: BEA Regional Price Parities (BEA API key) and higher-volume BLS/EIA pulls (free keys).