What does a move actually cost in NYC? Five things decide it.
We don't publish a price list, because two identical-sounding one-bedrooms can differ by half a truck. What we do instead is show you exactly what moves the number — and then let you build your own itemised list and see your real flat price on screen, without handing over your phone number first.
What actually changes your price
Distance between addresses. A move within the same neighborhood costs less than Washington Heights to Bed-Stuy. Crossing boroughs typically adds 10–20% to the base range; moves in or out of the city add more.
Building access. Walk-up flights are the big one — carrying a couch down four flights takes real time. We include the first flight free at each address and price additional flights into your flat quote up front. Elevator buildings and ground-floor homes sit at the low end of every range.
Packing services. Full packing typically adds about 20–25% (with a small minimum) but saves you days of work. TVs, mirrors and electronics are packed free on every Leo's move regardless.
Timing. Weekends and the first/last few days of the month are peak — leases turn over and every truck in the city is booked. The 1st of the month is the extreme — it can run close to double a quiet mid-month weekday. Weekends and the last days of the month sit in between. Moving mid-month, mid-week is the single biggest lever you have.
How to pay less for your move
- Move mid-week, mid-month. A mid-month weekday can cost roughly half what the same move costs on the 1st.
- Declutter before you quote. Less volume, smaller crew, lower flat fee. Sell it, donate it, or let us haul it away.
- Book 2–4 weeks ahead. Early bookings get first pick of off-peak slots — last-minute peak dates are where prices climb.
- Pack yourself, smartly. Boxes packed and labeled by room load faster — and loading time is baked into every mover's price.
Why flat fee beats hourly in NYC
Hourly movers profit from every delay: the double-parked truck, the slow freight elevator, the surprise walk-up. With a guaranteed flat fee, delays are our problem, not your bill. The price we quote before booking is the price you pay — that's the whole point.
NYC moving cost FAQ
Including the question we get asked most: why there is no price list.
Because it would be a fiction. Two one-bedrooms on the same street can differ by half a truck, and the same apartment costs different amounts on the 1st of the month and the 12th. A published table would either be so wide it tells you nothing, or so specific it would be wrong for most people. Building your own itemised list takes about a minute and gives you a real number instead.
Build your item list at our quote page. The flat price appears on screen as you go — no phone number, no callback, no sales visit. If the number works for you, you lock it in writing before anything is loaded.
Five things: what you are actually moving, how many flights of stairs are at each end, how far it is going, what date you pick, and whether you want packing. Every one of those is visible to you while you build the quote.
Yes, and we would rather say so than hide it. The first and last days of the month are the busiest in the city and they cost more. Moving mid-month is the single easiest way to pay less.
It depends on the volume and the access, but as a rough guide for a local move:
| Move size | Crew | Typical duration | Your price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Few items / small move | 1–2 movers | 1–3 hours | Build your list → |
| Studio | 2 movers | 3–4 hours | Build your list → |
| 1 bedroom | 2–3 movers | 3–5 hours | Build your list → |
| 2 bedroom | 3 movers | 5–7 hours | Build your list → |
| 3 bedroom | 3–4 movers | 6–8 hours | Build your list → |
| 4+ bedroom | 4+ movers | Full day | Build your list → |
These are typical crew sizes and durations, not prices — your flat fee comes from your own item list.
Yes. It is agreed in writing before we load, and it does not change because the job ran long, because the traffic was bad, or because the stairs were harder than expected. That risk is ours, which is the point of a flat fee.
Those are priced by square footage and scope rather than an item list — request a bid here.
Stop estimating. Get your number.
The calculator factors in your size, boroughs, stairs and date — and gives you a guaranteed all-inclusive flat price in about a minute.
Calculate My Exact Price →