By Joe Schwartz, CEO and Co-Owner of AAA Movers Getting an accurate long distance moving quote isn't a formality you can rush. It's the single biggest factor in whether your interstate move lands on budget. Here's exactly what makes a quote accurate, and how to get one. Quick answer: a professionally managed interstate move for a 2–3BR home typically runs $3,300–$8,000, but the number that actually matters most is whether your estimate is binding or non-binding. A non-binding estimate can still legally increase by up to 10% at delivery, while a binding estimate, built from a real survey, locks in your total in advance. Get at least three survey-based quotes of the same type before you decide, and request yours 4–6 weeks before your move date. A professionally managed interstate move for a 2–3BR home typically runs $3,300–$8,000, AAA's own published range for long-distance moves. A long distance moving company can give you a personalized number based on your own inventory. Local cross-check: according to Angi's 2026 Minneapolis data, long-distance moves (over 100 miles) run roughly $1,700–$6,300 overall, and cost scales with home size and shipment weight: Source: Angi, Minneapolis moving costs, 2026 (angi.com). For the full DIY-versus-hiring cost breakdown, see The Ultimate Guide to Long-Distance Moving from Minnesota. What a long-distance quote typically includes: A binding quote is guaranteed not to exceed this total unless the scope of the job changes. More on that distinction below. The more useful question is why two quotes for the same move can come back so far apart. Two movers looking at the same inventory can land $2,000 or more apart, and the gap rarely comes down to one company being greedier than the other. It comes down to three things: That's what the rest of this guide answers. Movers calculate your quote from the estimated weight of your shipment, measured by a survey rather than guessed over the phone. Interstate movers are federally required to tell you upfront whether your estimate is binding or non-binding (see below), and for a non-binding estimate, your final bill must be settled against your shipment's actual weight, not a rough guess from a phone call. The survey step: movers estimate that weight either through a physical survey (in-person or virtual walkthrough) or, less reliably, a phone-based inventory list. As a general benchmark, weight scales with home size. Angi's 2026 data puts a 1-bedroom shipment at roughly 2,000 lbs, a 2-bedroom at roughly 5,000 lbs, and a 3-bedroom at roughly 9,000 lbs, which is exactly why a real survey beats a flat guess. Weight vs. cubic feet: some movers estimate weight from cubic footage using a rough industry-standard conversion of about 7 lbs per cubic foot, then convert that volume figure to a weight-based rate. It's a reasonable shortcut, but it's still a shortcut, less precise than a physical survey, and if your mover uses it, federal rules require them to explain the conversion formula to you in writing. Final weight verification: after loading, the truck is weighed empty and full at a certified scale to determine your shipment's actual weight, the number your final bill is based on. This isn't the mover's discretion; it's a federal requirement. Why this matters beyond pricing: a survey-based estimate also catches problems a phone call can't. A couch that won't fit through a stairwell, a piano that needs a second crew, a storage unit you forgot to mention. Those are the things that turn into surprise charges at delivery, not just weight discrepancies. Choose a binding estimate when budget certainty matters, because it locks your total in advance; a non-binding estimate can legally rise to 110% of the quote at delivery. Here's how each one works. Binding estimate: a written, guaranteed total agreed to in advance, based on the quantities and services in your survey. You pay 100% of that amount at delivery, no more, unless you add services after signing (per FMCSA / protectyourmove.gov). Non-binding estimate: the mover's best guess based on estimated weight. Your final charges are based on actual weight, and federal rules cap what the mover can charge you at delivery to 110% of the original non-binding estimate, but they can legally charge that extra 10%. Why this distinction is the real accuracy question: a “low” non-binding estimate can still legally balloon by 10% at delivery, while a binding estimate, built from a real survey, is the only way to lock in a number in advance. Recommendation: if budget certainty matters more to you than a possibly-lower initial number, a binding estimate is the more “accurate” choice, by definition. If your inventory is simple and unlikely to change, no last-minute furniture purchases, no undecided storage items, a non-binding estimate from a thorough survey can still land close to accurate, but you're accepting some risk in exchange for a potentially lower starting number. You need a full room-by-room inventory, any special items flagged up front, both addresses, and your move dates. Movers can't price what they can't see. Full inventory, not a rough guess. Every room, including the basement, garage, and any storage areas. Special items flagged up front: pianos, safes, artwork, hot tubs, gym equipment. These change both weight and handling requirements, and they're a common source of quote drift when disclosed late. Move dates and both addresses. Needed to price mileage and flag access issues (stairs-only buildings, elevator reservations, tight parking in Minneapolis or Chicago) before moving day, not on it. Choosing in-person vs. virtual survey: virtual surveys are faster to schedule, but they require you to walk the estimator through every room and storage area on camera. Skipping a closet or the garage is the single most common cause of an inaccurate virtual quote. In Minneapolis and Chicago specifically, flag building-access details early: third-floor walk-ups without elevators, reserved loading-dock windows at downtown high-rises, and permit-only street parking all affect labor time and crew size. A mover who knows about a walk-up in advance can staff for it; one who finds out on moving day has to adjust on the spot, and that's exactly the kind of surprise a good survey is supposed to prevent. Compare only quotes of the same type and the same included services, then treat any quote far below the others as a red flag. That apples-to-apples discipline is what keeps a comparison honest. Apples-to-apples rule: only compare quotes of the same type, binding vs. binding, not binding vs. non-binding, and confirm each one includes the same services (packing, disassembly, storage-in-transit) before comparing the bottom-line number. A quote that's dramatically lower than the others for the same inventory and services is the single biggest accuracy red flag. For the full scam-specific checklist, the red flags to watch for and the 10 questions to ask any mover, see AAA's guide to spotting moving scams. Get at least three quotes, all based on an actual survey, not a phone guess, before deciding. If one company is willing to quote you over the phone with no survey at all, treat that as information about how they operate, not just about price. Request your quote 4–6 weeks before your move date, and earlier during peak season. That lead time protects both the accuracy of your number and your spot on the schedule. Earlier is better in two specific windows: peak season (May–September) and end-of-month, when both pricing and truck/crew availability tightens. In the Twin Cities and Chicago, a winter move adds its own wrinkle: snow-packed driveways, salted walkways, and frozen loading docks slow crews down, so a December or January survey should account for shoveling access and a longer load window that a summer quote wouldn't. Why last-minute quotes are less accurate, not just less available: a rushed survey, or skipping the survey altogether for a phone estimate, is the most common cause of a quote that doesn't hold up at delivery. Booking early doesn't just protect your moving date, it protects the accuracy of the number you're planning your budget around. A professionally managed 2–3BR interstate move typically runs $3,300–$8,000. Angi's 2026 Minneapolis data puts moves over 100 miles at $1,700–$6,300 in long distance moving cost. Reliable long distance movers can give you a personalized number based on your own inventory. Movers calculate moving costs from the weight of your shipment, estimated by an in-person or virtual survey and then verified on a certified scale after loading. Some movers estimate weight from cubic footage using a roughly 7-lbs-per-cubic-foot conversion, which federal rules require them to explain in writing. Yes. An interstate moving estimate and a long-distance moving quote refer to the same thing: a mover's priced offer for a move that crosses state lines, which federal rules require to be labeled binding or non-binding. A binding estimate guarantees your total cost in advance; a non-binding estimate is the mover's best guess, and federal rules cap what you can be charged at delivery to 110% of that estimate. Yes, federal rules require a physical survey, in-person or virtual, for an accurate estimate, unless you sign a written waiver. Different movers may estimate weight differently (a real survey vs. a cubic-feet shortcut), offer binding vs. non-binding pricing, or include different services. Always confirm you're comparing the same type of quote with the same inclusions. With a binding estimate, no, unless the scope changes. With a non-binding estimate, they legally cannot exceed 110% of the original number at delivery. 4–6 weeks is standard, earlier during peak season (May–September) or end-of-month. Reach out to long distance movers early to protect your dates. A quote dramatically lower than others for the same inventory is the biggest warning sign. See AAA's guide to spotting moving scams for the full verification checklist. An accurate long distance moving quote starts with a real survey, not a phone guess: insist on one before you compare a single number, and choose a binding estimate if budget certainty matters more to you than a possibly-lower non-binding number, since non-binding estimates can still legally grow by 10% at delivery. Get at least three quotes from long distance movers, all built from the same type of estimate and the same included services, and start the process 4–6 weeks before your move date, earlier during peak season. Contact a long distance moving company to start the process now. About the author Joe Schwartz is CEO and co-owner of AAA Movers, a second-generation family moving company founded in Minneapolis in 1964 and now operating from four locations including Minneapolis, Des Moines, and Chicago. He has spent his career helping Minnesota and Illinois families plan local and interstate moves, and under his leadership AAA Movers was named Move for Hunger's Agent of the Year in 2020.Key takeaways:
What Does a Long-Distance Move Actually Cost?
Home size
Estimated shipment weight
Long-distance move (100+ miles)
1 bedroom
2,000 lbs
$450–$1,900
2 bedroom
5,000 lbs
$650–$3,800
3 bedroom
9,000 lbs
$900–$5,000
4 bedroom
12,000 lbs
$1,100–$6,300
5 bedroom
15,000 lbs
$1,900–$7,600
6 bedroom
18,000 lbs
$2,500–$9,500
How Do Movers Calculate Your Long-Distance Moving Quote?
Binding vs. Non-Binding Estimate: Which Should You Choose?
What Do You Need to Provide for an Accurate Estimate?
How Do You Compare Moving Company Quotes Without Getting Burned?
When Should You Get Your Long-Distance Moving Quote?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost of a long-distance move?
How do movers calculate moving costs?
Is an interstate moving estimate the same as a long-distance moving quote?
What's the difference between a binding and non-binding moving estimate?
Do movers have to survey my home before giving a quote?
Why do moving quotes vary so much between companies?
Can a moving company charge more than my quote?
How far in advance should I request a long-distance moving quote?
How do I know if a quote is too good to be true?
The Bottom Line
