Estimate my move

How Much Does It Cost to Move a 1-Bedroom Apartment?

Two movers, billed hours and the packing-service step for a one-bedroom move, and why the typical load outgrows a 10 ft truck.

MoveDayPlan Editorial Updated

Example

$450 – $650

one-bedroom apartment, 15 miles between homes, two movers at a placeholder $50 per mover-hour, self-packed — output of our moving cost calculator; $600 – $900 if the movers pack

A one-bedroom apartment is usually still a two-person job, but it is the size where the load outgrows the smallest truck. The price question therefore has two parts: how many hours two movers will bill, and which truck the load needs. Both depend on how much furniture and how many boxes you actually have, so the example below states every input.

Cost with two movers

Billed hours = 3–5 h of handling (our assumption, × 1.5 with packing) + drive time at 30 mph + 1 h depot travel
ScenarioCrewBilled hoursExample at $50/mover-hour
Self-packed, 15 miles 2 movers 4.5–6.5 h $450 – $650
Movers pack, 15 miles 2 movers 6–9 h $600 – $900
Self-packed, 30 miles 2 movers 5–7 h $500 – $700

Packing service is the largest single lever at this size. In our model it adds half again to the handling hours, which turns a $450 – $650 job into $600 – $900 at the same rate, before any packing materials. Partial packing — the kitchen and fragile items only — sits between the two; ask each company to price the same scope so the quotes compare.

Why a one-bedroom usually needs a 15 ft truck

Provider specifications checked October 26, 2026; other companies rent 12 ft and 16 ft trucks instead
CheckU-Haul 10 ftU-Haul 15 ftOur one-bedroom estimate
Cargo space 402 cu ft 764 cu ft about 440–460 cu ft loaded
Published max load 2,850 lb 6,385 lb about 3,070 lb constructive weight
Loading ramp none yes, 2 ft 2 in wide —

Our planning load for a one-bedroom — 300 cu ft of furniture and 33 boxes with a 10% allowance for gaps — is about 440 cu ft, slightly more than the 402 cu ft of a 10 ft U-Haul truck. The estimated weight, about 3,070 lb at 7 lb per cu ft, is also above that truck’s published 2,850 lb maximum load. Penske’s 12 ft truck is listed at 450 cu ft and 3,100 lb, which is borderline for the same load. A minimal one-bedroom may fit the smallest class; a typical one is safer in a 15 or 16 ft truck.

Before you request quotes

  1. Count boxes by type Our box calculator suggests about 33 for an average one-bedroom: 10 small, 16 medium and 7 large, with five rolls of tape.
  2. List the large pieces Bed frame, sofa, dresser, desk and any appliance you own; these set the crew’s handling time more than the boxes.
  3. Describe access honestly Floors, stairs, elevators and the walk from the truck to the door all add time; say so in every quote request.
  4. Compare like with like Ask each company for crew size, minimum hours, travel charge and whether packing materials are included.

If the move crosses a state line, ask for a written estimate based on the inventory and read how the weight will be determined. A one-bedroom shipment of around 3,000 lb is small for an interstate carrier, and small shipments can travel on a shared truck with a wider delivery window.

Plan a one-bedroom move

How much does it cost to move a one-bedroom apartment?

Our calculator gives $450 – $650 for two movers at a placeholder $50 per mover-hour, homes 15 miles apart and self-packing. Enter your own quoted rate; stairs, long carries and packing service raise the total.

Will a one-bedroom fit in a 10 ft truck?

A minimal one may. Our typical one-bedroom load is about 440–460 cu ft and 3,070 lb, above U-Haul’s published 402 cu ft and 2,850 lb for its 10 ft truck, so a 15 ft class is the usual choice.

Sources checked October 26, 2026. Provider specifications apply only to the equipment described. Crew sizes, hours, furniture volumes, box counts and the $50 rate are our planning assumptions, not measured inventory or market prices.

  • U-Haul — 10 ft truck specifications — Published volume 402 cu ft. Assigned equipment may differ. Bedroom-based marketing is not a physical fit guarantee. (Checked 2026-10-22.)
  • U-Haul — 15 ft truck specifications — Published approximate volume 764 cu ft, door 7 ft 3 in by 6 ft 5 in and maximum load 6,385 lb; assigned equipment may differ. (Checked 2026-10-22.)
  • Penske Truck Rental — Moving truck sizes and features — Cargo van 404 cu ft / 3,500 lb; 12 ft 450 cu ft / 3,100 lb; 16 ft 800 cu ft / 4,300 lb; 22 ft 1,200 cu ft / 10,000 lb; 26 ft 1,700 cu ft / 10,000 lb ("load capacity"); sized in rooms; specs vary by make, model and year. (Checked 2026-10-26.)
  • eCFR — 41 CFR 302-7.8, Methods of shipping HHG and how the weight is determined — Federal Travel Regulation, paragraph (d): when adequate scales are not available, a constructive weight based on 7 pounds per cubic foot of properly loaded van space may be used. Applies to federal-employee relocation entitlement, not to what a commercial mover may bill. (Checked 2026-10-26.)

Related tools & guides