Last updated: August 2026
Moving costs in Boston, MA
Boston local moves that stay in Massachusetts are billed hourly under a DPU-filed tariff. This page collects named Boston-area carriers' published totals you can check on their sites, plus a Moving Company HQ Massachusetts planning model from the statewide hub.
Moving Company HQ Massachusetts model (statewide): a local move in Massachusetts typically ranges from $925 to $3,150; a typical 2-bedroom around $2,025 — Moving costs in Massachusetts. As of 2026-08-27 that hub's city pages listed 1 city: Medford. Medford's typical local band is $900–$3,050 (about $1,975). Do not reuse Medford as a Boston price.
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Named Boston published totals
Named Boston-area carriers' published totals you can check on their sites.
| Home size | Boston Best Rate | All My Sons Boston | Move and Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1BR | Studio 2 movers 3 hrs $447; 1BR 3 movers 3–4 hrs $537–$716 | Studio / 1BR apt 4.1–5.6 hrs $1,349–$1,771, 2 movers | Studio $300–$500; 1BR $500–$1,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | 3 movers 4–6 hrs $716–$1,074 | 5.6–7.1 hrs $2,180–$2,861, 2 movers | 3 movers 5–7 hrs $900–$1,500 |
| 3 bedrooms | 3 movers 6–8 hrs $1,074–$1,432 | 4.3–5.8 hrs $1,545–$2,028, 3 movers | 3–4 movers 6–9 hrs $1,500–$2,500 |
| 4 bedrooms | 3 movers 8–10 hrs $1,432–$1,790 | 6.7–8.2 hrs $3,384–$4,442, 3–4 movers | 4 movers 8–10 hrs $2,200–$3,500+ |
| Other | 5+ BR 4 movers 10–14 hrs $2,190–$3,066; 3-hour minimum | Condo $1,533–$2,012; townhouse $1,860–$2,442; storage unit $1,236–$1,622 | Room or less $300–$400; packing example 1BR ~$400 plus materials |
Boston Best Rate labels the table off-peak discount-tier estimates, non-binding, 3-hour minimum including travel from Waltham. All My Sons labels Boston branch averages; actual costs may vary. Move and Care labels its hourly/home-size table as compiled from MoveAdvisor 2026, Poseidon Moving, and Boston Best Rate Movers — not Move and Care's locked tariff.
All My Sons' published 3-bedroom band sits below its published 2-bedroom band on that matrix. Treat those as that page's branch averages, not a ranking of home sizes.
Why 2-bedroom numbers disagree
A 2-bedroom job can sit in several published bands at once:
- • Boston Best Rate off-peak: 2BR $716–$1,074 (3 movers, 4–6 hrs at from $179/hr) (moving-costs). That is this company's off-peak table, not a typical September 1 total.
- • Move and Care compiled typical: 2BR $900–$1,500 (3 movers, 5–7 hrs) (2026 article). Labeled compiled from other publishers.
- • All My Sons Boston branch averages: 2BR $2,180–$2,861 (5.6–7.1 hrs, 2 movers) (Boston page).
- • Moving Company HQ Massachusetts model: 2 bedrooms $925–$3,150, typical around $2,025, assuming 3 movers and about 7 hours (Massachusetts cost hub). Medford's hub typical ~$1,975 is a suburb figure. Do not relabel it as Boston.
Those ranges overlap only at the edges. They are different publishers with different crew-size and hour assumptions. Inventory, stairs, elevator waits, parking-permit distance, travel from the warehouse, packing, and September 1 demand will move a written bill inside — or outside — any of them. Use them to sanity-check estimates, not as a substitute for a job-specific quote under the mover's DPU-filed tariff.
Moving Company HQ Massachusetts model (statewide)
Copy these as Moving Company HQ Massachusetts estimates from movingcompanyhq.com/moving-costs/massachusetts.
- Local typical: $925–$3,150
- Typical 2BR: $2,025
- Long-distance range listed on that page: $3,100+
| Move size | Crew / hours (MCHQ assumption) | Planning range |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2 movers · ~4 hrs | $450–$1,500 |
| 1 Bedroom | 2 movers · ~5 hrs | $625–$2,150 |
| 2 Bedrooms | 3 movers · ~7 hrs | $925–$3,150 |
| 3 Bedrooms | 4 movers · ~9 hrs | $1,425–$4,875 |
| 4 Bedrooms | 4 movers · ~11 hrs | $1,900–$6,450 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | 5 movers · ~13 hrs | $2,550–$8,675 |
Exact quotes depend on inventory, access, date, and services. The same Massachusetts hub states costs vary by metro, travel distance, older streets and tight loading zones, winter weather, and apartment/condo elevator and COI rules.
Hourly menus named Boston companies have published
Massachusetts movers must hold a DPU operating certificate, file a tariff, and may not charge more or less than the rates on file (Moving Within Massachusetts). A written estimate is a safeguard, not a bid. Verbal estimates are non-binding. Examples you can check:
Boston Best Rate Movers (Flat Rate Moving and Storage Inc) (hourly-rates; moving-costs; pages label rates verified August 2026): off-peak 2 movers from $149/hr; 3 movers from $179/hr; 4 movers from $219/hr. 3-hour minimum; 15-minute increments; truck, equipment, blankets, basic liability included; no stair fees. Cash 5% off; cards 5% convenience fee. Travel from Waltham HQ is inside the hourly clock and the 3-hour minimum. Peak and September 1 price higher (described as percents, not a second locked card). Prints USDOT 1718049, MC 630047, MDPU 31391.
Raimond's Movers Inc (pricing): starting-from 2 movers + truck $119/hr; 3 movers $179/hr; 4 movers $239/hr; 5 movers $299/hr. Included equipment listed on that page. 5% cash discount may apply. Starting-from is a floor, not a locked date-tier menu. Prints MDPU 31418 and DOT 1797448.
Two Men and a Truck Boston (AN3 Boston LLC) DPU-hosted tariff PDF (mass.gov; EFFECTIVE DATE: May 1, 2020; Certificate 31742; USDOT 3367542): Schedule A 2 / 3 / 4 movers: Off Peak Discount $139 / $189 / $239; Off Peak Standard $149 / $199 / $249; Peak Discount $159 / $209 / $259; Peak Standard $169 / $219 / $269; Premium $189 / $239 / $289; Peak Premium $209 / $259 / $309. Packing $179/hr for 2 workers and 1 truck (supplies included on that line). 1-hour minimum; portal-to-portal; quarter-hour rounding; permit service charge $200 per truck. Consumer downtown Boston pages did not reprint those dollars. Confirm whether this 2020 PDF is the live tariff.
Move and Care LLC (Boston cost article, updated Aug 06, 2026): own terms are a 3-hour minimum and 15-minute increments. The hourly table on that article is compiled from MoveAdvisor 2026, Poseidon Moving, and Boston Best Rate Movers: 2 movers $100–$200; 3 movers $150–$240; 4 movers $200–$280. Not Move and Care's locked tariff. Prints USDOT 3212621, MC 1018431, MDPU 31854.
All My Sons of Boston LLC publishes totals (table above), not a public hourly rate (Boston page). Labeled Boston branch averages. Boston page does not print USDOT or a DPU number.
Planning arithmetic
Using only Boston Best Rate's published off-peak formula (2 movers from $149 / 3 movers from $179 / 4 movers from $219, 3-hour minimum) from hourly-rates and moving-costs:
| Stated hour assumption | Formula | Planning total |
|---|---|---|
| 2 movers, 3-hour minimum | $149 × 3 | $447 |
| 2 movers, 4 hours | $149 × 4 | $596 |
| 3 movers, 5 hours | $179 × 5 | $895 |
| 3 movers, ~7 hours (MCHQ Massachusetts 2BR hour assumption) | $179 × 7 | $1,253 |
| 4 movers, ~9 hours (MCHQ Massachusetts 3BR hour assumption) | $219 × 9 | $1,971 |
Hour assumptions are planning inputs. The 7-hour and 9-hour rows use the **MCHQ Massachusetts model** hour assumptions from [the Massachusetts hub](/moving-costs/massachusetts/), not Boston Best Rate's own 2BR typical (**$716–$1,074** on the same moving-costs page). These products ignore packing, elevator waits, permit-to-door carry, and peak/September 1 tiers unless those hours are already inside the assumption. A City of Boston one-day moving-truck permit, if the customer buys it, is **$69** (two non-metered spaces) or **$109** (two metered) — not a mover tariff line.
Long-distance: named-company figures only
These are named companies' published numbers:
Move and Care LLC (Boston cost article): Boston→NYC 1BR $1,400–$2,400; 2–3BR $2,400–$4,200, labeled expected ranges and citing 2026 Angi in the intro. Move and Care says it quotes long-distance at a flat binding rate after a virtual inventory. Not a locked Move and Care tariff table.
MCHQ Massachusetts model long-distance range on the statewide hub: $3,100+ (Massachusetts hub).
In-state vs interstate A Boston local move that never leaves Massachusetts is DPU rules. Cambridge or Medford is still Massachusetts. If either address is outside Massachusetts (for example New Hampshire or Rhode Island), FMCSA rules apply (Protect Your Move). DPU storage is not DPU jurisdiction (Office of Public Safety and Inspections).
Confirm the current DPU movers list before hiring.
Massachusetts paperwork, 60 cents/lb, and the estimate-is-not-a-bid rule
Before an intrastate Massachusetts household-goods job, the mover must hold a current DPU operating certificate, file a tariff, and may not charge more or less than the rates on file (Moving Within Massachusetts; DPU movers list, last updated June 16, 2026). A written in-home estimate is a safeguard. Verbal estimates are non-binding. The estimate is not a bid; the final bill is hourly labor plus packing plus extra services under the filed tariff. Travel time is charged in addition, based on distance from origin to destination.
The bill of lading must include the mover's DPU license number. Default cargo liability is 60 cents per pound per article unless you buy more coverage. The claim clock is on the bill of lading. Interstate clocks and Full Value Protection differ.
DPU jurisdiction is in-state only. Interstate jobs use FMCSA (Protect Your Move; helpline (888) 368-7238). Default interstate valuation is Full Value Protection unless waived in writing (49 CFR 375.201). Do not assume Massachusetts's 60 cents/lb default on an interstate job.
Confirm the current DPU movers list before hiring.
Boston scale, congestion, tolls, and access
Boston: 673,822 residents; 48.3 square miles (Census Reporter, ACS 2024). Metro Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH: 5,025,517 people; 3,486.1 square miles (Census Reporter). A Boston-to-suburb clock is not a Back Bay-to-South End clock. Cambridge and Medford have their own mover pages.
Tolls. Mass Pike (I-90), Tobin Bridge, and the Sumner / Callahan / Ted Williams tunnels are no cash. Passenger vs commercial class is in 700 CMR 7.03. Ask whether Pike / Tobin / tunnel miles appear on the proposal. Do not treat a third-party calculator as an official dollar. Official: EZDriveMA.
Storrow Drive. Boston.gov's moving guide: you cannot drive moving trucks on Storrow Drive. Height limit 10 feet (boston.gov/moving, last updated 3/26/26).
Parking permits, snow, September 1, and winter
City of Boston moving-truck parking (not legally required)
A permit is not legally required. A standard one-day permit reserves two spaces, 7 a.m.–5 p.m.: $69 for two non-metered spaces (includes two signs) or +$40 for two metered spaces ($109). Online: 15 days to 8 weeks out. In person: 3 days to 8 weeks; in person up to 5 consecutive days, then a 48-hour break. Post signs at least 48 hours before 7 a.m. (city recommends 3 days). Fliers half-block for ≥2 days (1 day if metered). Moving trucks only, not personal vehicles. Permits do not override snow emergency, construction, accessible parking, or no-stopping/tow zones. Occupied reserved spot: BPD 617-343-4911. Portal: onlinepermitsandlicenses.cityofboston.gov/movingtrucks. City streets only; DCR streets: AccessPermits@mass.gov / 857-393-5412. North End Jul 1–Aug 31: call BTD 617-635-2560 before applying. (permit; FAQs).
Resident Area Parking and snow emergency
A Resident Parking Permit does not cover a moving truck and does not override temporary No Parking for a moving truck, meters, street cleaning, or snow emergency (RPP FAQs). During a snow emergency, no parking on posted snow-emergency arteries; ticket/tow (snow emergency parking).
COI and freight elevators
No city ordinance found requiring a Certificate of Insurance for a household move. Treat COI, freight-elevator windows, and dock rules as building / HOA requirements. Ask that property.
September 1 and college calendars (2026)
Boston.gov: most leases turn over at the beginning of September. BU Housing official: new undergraduates Aug 24–25, 2026; continuing Aug 28–31, 2026 (BU 2026–27 calendar). Northeastern Boston campus: Sep 4–7, 2026 (Labor Day weekend) (Northeastern). Harvard first-year Class of 2030: Aug 18 / 21 / 26 depending on pre-orientation (Harvard DSO). North End 2026 feast windows on the city's Moving Truck Permit FAQs: St. Agrippina Jul 30–Aug 2; Madonna Della Cava Aug 7–9; Fisherman's Feast Aug 13–16; St. Lucia/Anthony Aug 27–30; San Gennaro TBD. Aug 31–Sep 2: some common locations blocked off for drop-offs; no permit required on that FAQ line.
Winter (do not invent snow totals)
NCEI 1991–2020 monthly normals, Boston Logan (USW00014739), generated 08/17/2026: January mean 29.9°F (max 36.8 / min 23.1); July mean 74.1°F (max 82.1 / min 66.0). Ice, snow, and packed streets change carry time and truck positioning.
Neighborhood planning questions
Ask the property; do not treat mover checklists as facts about a specific building.
- Back Bay: Ask brownstone vs elevator building, long-carry if the truck cannot park on the block, and whether the approach uses Storrow Drive (moving trucks are banned; 10-foot clearance).
- Beacon Hill: Ask walk-up floor count, street width, and how far the truck can legally park from the door. Long carry is a quote input, not a surprise.
- North End: Ask feast-week street closures (2026 dates on the city's Moving Truck Permit FAQs). Jul 1–Aug 31: call BTD 617-635-2560 before applying for a moving-truck permit.
- South End: Ask brownstone stairs vs freight elevator, permit-zone curb, and whether a one-day 7 a.m.–5 p.m. reservation is enough for the job.
- Seaport: Ask dock vs curb, COI additional-insured wording, and freight-elevator window. Seaport high-rises are building rules, not a city COI ordinance.
- Allston / Brighton: Ask September 1 lease-turnover timing, college move-in calendars (BU, BC walkshed, Northeastern), and whether the building already reserved the elevator.
- Cambridge / Medford: Ask how travel time is billed. Cambridge and Medford have their own mover pages. Medford prices are suburb prices, not Boston prices. Do not treat Somerville, Quincy, Brookline, or Newton as Boston prices.
Compare these numbers with a written estimate
A Massachusetts in-state mover owes you a written estimate. That estimate is not a bid. Final charges follow the filed DPU tariff. Verify the performing carrier on the DPU movers list or FMCSA.
See also: Moving costs in Massachusetts, movers in Massachusetts, movers in Boston, best movers in Boston, movers in Cambridge, and movers in Medford. Medford's cost page is suburb pricing, not Boston.
Sources
- Moving Company HQ: Moving costs in Massachusetts
- Boston Best Rate hourly rates
- Boston Best Rate moving costs
- All My Sons Boston
- Raimond's Movers pricing
- Move and Care Boston cost article
- Two Men and a Truck DPU tariff PDF
- DPU regulated moving companies
- Moving Within Massachusetts (DPU)
- FMCSA Protect Your Move
- 49 CFR 375.201
- Census Reporter Boston
- Census Reporter Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro
- Boston moving-truck parking permit
- Boston Moving Truck Permit FAQs
- Boston.gov moving guide
- Boston Resident Parking Permit FAQs
- Boston snow emergency parking
- City of Boston moving-truck permit portal
- EZDriveMA
- BU Housing 2026-27 calendar
- Northeastern Boston move-in 2026
- Harvard first-year pre-orientation
- SAFER USDOT 1718049
- SAFER USDOT 3059631
- SAFER USDOT 1797448
- SAFER USDOT 3367542
- SAFER USDOT 3212621
- SAFER USDOT 1696867
- NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020
- FMCSA Search by State (MA)
Popular routes from Boston
Use route-level estimates when your move crosses into another priority market.
Nearby city cost comparisons
Compare Boston with nearby Massachusetts markets before choosing your move date and mover.
Compare movers in Boston
Cost ranges are a starting point. Compare licensed local and long-distance movers before you book.