The cost to move a home in Houston depends more on how many rooms you have than almost any other single factor. Bedroom count determines crew size, truck size, hours on the clock, and ultimately what you pay. This guide breaks down the real 2026 moving costs for 1, 2, and 3-bedroom homes in Houston – with specific crew and hour estimates for each – plus practical ways to reduce your total without cutting corners on quality.
For a broader overview of Houston moving costs including hourly rates and long-distance pricing, our guide on how much movers cost in Houston covers the full cost landscape. This guide goes deeper on what each home size specifically costs and why.
How Houston Movers Price by Home Size
Local Houston movers price residential moves by the hour, with your crew size determined by your home’s volume and complexity. According to data from moveBuddha’s 2026 Houston moving cost data, the local average hourly rate in Houston runs approximately $75 per hour, with total costs ranging from $280 to $2,480 across studio to large home moves. Most Houston moving companies require a two-hour minimum booking regardless of home size.
What that hourly rate translates to in real dollars depends entirely on how many hours your specific move takes – and home size, floor level, access conditions, and item volume are the primary variables that determine that number. Here is how those variables play out across each home size.
Cost to Move a 1-Bedroom Home or Apartment in Houston
A 1-bedroom apartment or home is the most common move type for Houston’s large renter population and one of the most straightforward to estimate. Most 1-bedroom moves in Houston require a 2-mover crew and a standard moving truck, with the job completed in 2 to 4 hours depending on floor level, elevator access, and how much furniture and volume the home contains.
1-Bedroom Moving Cost Breakdown
Crew size: 2 movers standard. A minimally furnished 1-bedroom can often be handled by 2 movers efficiently. Heavily furnished units or those with multiple flights of stairs may benefit from a 3rd mover to control total hours.
Truck size: A 16-foot truck is typically sufficient for a 1-bedroom move, accommodating standard furniture, a queen or king bed, living room items, and personal belongings without overflow.
Estimated hours: 2 to 4 hours for a ground-floor or elevator-accessible move. Add 30 to 60 minutes per staircase flight above the ground floor at both origin and destination.
Total cost range: $675 to $1,500 for a local move under 50 miles. The lower end reflects a lightly furnished ground-floor unit with good truck access. The upper end reflects a furnished 1-bedroom on an upper floor with limited elevator access or a long carry from the truck to the unit.
The cost to move a 1-bedroom apartment in Houston sits at the most accessible end of the residential moving market, making it the move type where DIY is most tempting – but also the one where professional movers deliver the clearest time-and-stress value for busy working households.
Cost to Move a 2-Bedroom Home or Apartment in Houston
The 2-bedroom move is the most common residential moving scenario in the Houston Bay Area corridor, covering everything from apartment upgrades to first home purchases in communities like League City, Webster, and Pearland. It is also the move type where crew size decisions have the most meaningful impact on total cost.
2-Bedroom Moving Cost Breakdown
Crew size: 2 to 3 movers. A 2-mover crew can handle a lightly furnished 2-bedroom but will take longer. A 3-mover crew moves faster and typically produces a lower or comparable total bill despite the higher hourly rate, because the additional mover reduces total hours meaningfully. For most 2-bedroom moves in Houston, a 3-mover crew is the most cost-efficient choice.
Truck size: A 20-foot truck is typically appropriate for a 2-bedroom move, accommodating two full bedroom sets, living room furniture, dining room pieces, and standard kitchen appliances without requiring a second trip.
Estimated hours: 4 to 6 hours for a standard 2-bedroom move with ground-floor or elevator access at both locations. Upper-floor units, long carries, or homes with significant item volume push toward 6 to 8 hours.
Total cost range: $870 to $1,790 for a local move. A 2-bedroom apartment move with 3 movers at $130 per hour completing the job in 5 hours lands at approximately $750 in labor plus a trip fee, placing most 2-bedroom moves solidly in the $900 to $1,400 range for straightforward local jobs.
Moving cost for a 2-bedroom apartment is where packing services become a meaningful decision point. If you have not packed before moving day, adding professional packing to a 2-bedroom move adds $400 to $900 to your total. Our full service packing and unpacking handles every box so your crew arrives to a move-ready home.
Cost to Move a 3-Bedroom Home in Houston
A 3-bedroom home move is where Houston moving costs shift meaningfully upward and where professional planning matters most. Three-bedroom homes contain significantly more furniture volume, more rooms requiring systematic loading, and often more specialty items – bedroom sets, dining tables, sectional sofas, home office equipment – that require careful handling and strategic truck loading.
3-Bedroom Moving Cost Breakdown
Crew size: 3 to 4 movers. A 3-mover crew is standard for most 3-bedroom moves. Homes with heavy furniture, stairs at both locations, or above-average item volume benefit from a 4-mover crew that reduces total hours and protects against crew fatigue on longer jobs.
Truck size: A 26-foot truck – the largest standard moving truck – is appropriate for most 3-bedroom homes. Homes with full garages, attic contents, or large outdoor furniture may require a second trip or a larger vehicle arrangement depending on your moving company’s fleet.
Estimated hours: 6 to 8 hours for a standard 3-bedroom move with accessible loading and unloading. Homes with stairs, long driveways, gated communities requiring access coordination, or significant specialty item volume regularly run 8 to 10 hours.
Total cost range: $1,200 to $3,050 for a local move. How much it costs to move a 3-bedroom house depends heavily on access conditions and item volume – a single-story ranch-style home with direct driveway access moves substantially faster than a two-story home with stairs and a long carry to the truck. Most straightforward 3-bedroom moves in Houston land in the $1,400 to $2,000 range with a 3-mover crew.
What Affects Your Final Moving Bill at Each Home Size
Beyond the baseline estimates above, several variables push your total cost up or down regardless of home size:
Stairs and elevator access: Each staircase flight adds $50 to $150 and meaningful time to any move. Elevator scheduling in high-rise buildings adds logistics that extend job hours. Always disclose floor level and access conditions when requesting a quote.
Packing services: Professional packing adds $250 to $500 for a 1-bedroom, $400 to $900 for a 2-bedroom, and $600 to $1,800 for a 3-bedroom move, based on 2026 data from moveBuddha’s Houston moving cost calculator. If you need full packing support, factoring this in upfront ensures an accurate quote rather than a moving-day surprise.
Peak season timing: Moving May through September costs more than moving October through March. Weekends cost more than weekdays. Moving mid-month – roughly the 8th through 20th – avoids the end-of-month lease rush that drives up demand and reduces crew availability.
Specialty items: Pianos, gun safes, aquariums, and large gym equipment require additional crew, equipment, or crating beyond the standard hourly scope. Always disclose specialty items when requesting a quote.
Ways to Save on Your Houston Move
Reducing your moving cost in Houston does not require sacrificing quality – it requires making smarter decisions about timing, preparation, and service scope:
Pack yourself before moving day. A move-ready home where everything is boxed, labeled, and staged near the door reduces crew hours meaningfully on any home size. Moving during off-peak season – October through March, weekdays, mid-month – can save 15% to 25% compared to peak summer weekend moves. Declutter before you move. Every item you do not bring is weight and volume the crew does not handle, which translates directly into reduced hours and cost. Get three itemized quotes before booking. Comparing quotes that separate hourly rate, trip fee, and add-ons gives you a clear picture of true costs and prevents surprise charges on moving day.
Ready to Get an Accurate Quote for Your Houston Move?
Moving by Design provides transparent, no-surprise quotes for every home size across the Greater Houston area. Our residential moving services in Houston cover 1, 2, and 3-bedroom homes with experienced crews who know how to move efficiently without cutting corners. And if you are moving with items that need extra attention, our guide on whether movers are worth it and how much to tip gives you the full picture before you book.
Conclusion
The cost to move a 1-bedroom home in Houston runs $675 to $1,500 with a 2-mover crew in 2 to 4 hours. A 2-bedroom move costs $870 to $1,790 with a 2 to 3-mover crew in 4 to 6 hours. A 3-bedroom home move costs $1,200 to $3,050 with a 3 to 4-mover crew in 6 to 8 hours. Access conditions, packing services, timing, and specialty items are the primary variables that move your final bill up or down within those ranges. Getting an itemized quote from an experienced Houston moving company – and preparing your home thoroughly before moving day – are the two most effective steps you can take to control your cost at any home size.
Get your free moving quote today and know exactly what your Houston move will cost before moving day arrives.
FAQs About Moving Costs by Home Size in Houston
A 1-bedroom apartment move in Houston costs $675 to $1,500 for a local move under 50 miles. A 2-mover crew typically completes the job in 2 to 4 hours. Ground-floor units with good truck access land at the lower end of that range. Upper-floor units or homes with stairs push toward the higher end.
A 2-bedroom home move in Houston costs $870 to $1,790 for a local move. A 3-mover crew is the most cost-efficient configuration for most 2-bedroom moves, completing the job in 4 to 6 hours. Moving cost for a 2-bedroom apartment rises if the unit is on an upper floor, has limited elevator access, or requires professional packing services.
A 3-bedroom home move in Houston costs $1,200 to $3,050 for a local move. A 3 to 4-mover crew takes 6 to 8 hours on average. Homes with stairs, specialty items, or above-average furniture volume push toward the higher end of that range. Most straightforward 3-bedroom moves in the Houston Bay Area land in the $1,400 to $2,000 range.
Yes. Professional packing adds $250 to $500 for a 1-bedroom, $400 to $900 for a 2-bedroom, and $600 to $1,800 for a 3-bedroom move. However, professionally packed homes also move faster on moving day because the crew can load immediately without waiting for boxing to be completed, which partially offsets the added packing cost through reduced labor hours.
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