How our calculators work

Every MoveDayPlan tool is an open formula with a set of typical values and test cases. Below we explain where the numbers come from and what an estimate does not account for.

Ranges, not a single number

Moving prices are set by each company for each job, so we never show one price. Cost tools give a low and a high end from typical crew sizes and working hours multiplied by the hourly rate you enter from your own quotes. Cost guides explain how a kind of move is priced and what pushes a quote up or down.

Volumes and sizes

Truck and storage tools add up volume in cubic feet: a typical furniture volume for the home size plus your boxes at about 3 cu ft each (a medium 18 × 18 × 16 in box). Truck cargo space comes from the specifications rental companies publish for their trucks; they differ between companies and models, so we use conservative round values and call them approximate. Storage units are the standard US sizes from 5 × 5 to 10 × 30 ft with about 7 ft of usable stacking height.

Rounding

1. Whole items Boxes, tape rolls, trucks and storage units are rounded up — you cannot rent half a truck.
2. Sizes The tools identify a size to investigate and a volume-based lower bound on units. Actual fit, weight, door openings and safe stacking require separate checks.
3. Money Shown in whole dollars; nothing is rounded inside the formula.

Testing

Each calculator has test cases with answers worked out by hand in advance. Before publishing and after every change to a formula, those cases are recalculated automatically; a calculator with a mismatch is not published. Formulas are versioned, so every change can be traced.

What an estimate does not include

Costs are estimates; quotes vary by company and season. Our ranges do not include stairs and long-carry fees, specialty items such as pianos, valuation coverage, storage, tips, tolls or fuel. For interstate moves, check that the mover is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and get 3+ quotes to compare.