What a moving estimate is for
Moving customers fear the hourly bill that doubles on the day. An estimate that sets the crew size, the truck, how the clock runs, travel time, stairs and specialty items, and an hour range from a walkthrough, gives them a real expectation. It also explains damage coverage before anything is wrapped.
What to put on a moving estimate
- Crew size, truck size and hourly rate.
- Estimated hours, as a range.
- Travel time and how it is billed.
- Packing and materials.
- Stairs, elevators and long carries at both ends.
- Specialty items like pianos.
- Damage coverage options.
A worked example
A three-bedroom house moving across town. Three movers and one truck, two flights at the new place, a piano, and the customer packs everything except the kitchen.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three movers and truck | 7 | hour | Your price |
| Travel time | 1 | each | Your price |
| Packing labor, kitchen | 3 | hour | Your price |
| Boxes and packing materials, kitchen | 1 | set | Your price |
| Piano move | 1 | each | Your price |
| Stairs at new home | 2 | each | Your price |
The hours line is your best estimate; say in the notes it is a range and the final bill is actual time. Customers who know that do not feel tricked at the end.
Line items moving companies use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Movers and truck | hour | Crew size and truck size; say when the clock starts. |
| Travel time or trip fee | each | Time from your yard to the first stop and back. |
| Packing labor | hour | Full or partial packing. |
| Boxes and packing materials | each | By box size or as a bundle. |
| Furniture disassembly and reassembly | each | Beds, tables, cribs. |
| Piano or safe move | each | Specialty items with their own price. |
| Stairs or long carry | each | Walk-ups and long walks from truck to door. |
| Mattress bags and furniture pads | each | Protection for the move. |
| Storage, per month | month | If you hold items between homes. |
| Junk haul-away | load | Items left behind or not wanted. |
| Valuation coverage | each | The level of liability you accept for damaged items; explain the options. |
| Unpacking | hour | At the new home. |
Terms and deposit language for moving
- Deposit. A booking deposit holds the date and crew, especially on weekends and month ends.
- Payment. Balance due at the end of the move, before the truck leaves the new home.
- Warranty. State the liability coverage you provide for damage, how claims are made and by when. Explain the options plainly before the move.
- Hourly moves bill from the time stated to the time stated; say whether travel and breaks count.
- Valuables, cash, jewelry, medicine and hazardous items are moved by the customer.
- Interstate moves are governed by federal rules and need different paperwork; this template is for local moves.
How to fill it in
- Put in your business details once; this browser keeps them for every template.
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Change the line items to fit this job and add your prices.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print to PDF, download Word or CSV, or send it from Koira.
Free tools for moving
The same estimate for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.