Moving Pricing Methodology: How We Gather Cost Data
By MGM Editorial Team
Last updated
The moving costs on My Good Movers, including our Moving Cost Calculator and cost-by-state pages, help you plan a budget. This page explains where the numbers come from, how we keep them current, and what they can’t tell you.
What Our Cost Figures Cover
We gather prices for three kinds of moving service:
- Full-service movers, for local and long-distance moves, from both binding and non-binding estimates;
- container and self-service moves, where you pack and the company drives;
- truck rentals, one-way and round-trip.
We sort prices by service type, move size, distance and location.
Where the Data Comes From
Source | What it gives us |
|---|---|
Movers listed on My Good Movers | Rates and price ranges movers share with us |
Quote requests through our tools | The move details people enter, such as route, size and date |
Our Moving Cost Calculator | Anonymous move details and estimates people enter |
Reviews | The price paid, when a reviewer chooses to include it |
We use calculator and quote data only in combined, anonymous form. We never publish one person’s details or price. See our Privacy Policy.
Payment doesn’t change our cost figures. Movers that pay us for subscriptions, ads or leads have no say in the averages we publish.
How We Keep the Numbers Accurate
- We use the middle value (the median) as well as averages, so a few very high or very low quotes don’t skew the figure.
- We flag unusual entries and check them before they count.
- We group like with like: prices are compared only with the same service type, move size, distance and area.
- We say what each figure includes, such as packing or not, and binding or non-binding.
How Often We Update
We refresh our cost data every month, so the figures reflect current demand, fuel costs and seasonal changes.
What Makes Prices Change From Month to Month
- truck and crew availability;
- fuel and running costs;
- labor demand in your area;
- local conditions in each city;
- busy seasons, such as summer and the end of the month;
- weather and other unexpected events.
What Our Figures Can’t Tell You
Our cost figures are estimates for planning, not quotes. Your real price depends on your belongings, access at both homes, the date and the services you choose. Only a written estimate from a mover tells you what you will pay. For interstate moves, a non-binding estimate can’t require you to pay more than 110% of it at delivery; any remaining charges are billed later.
Get a Real Estimate
Use our Moving Cost Calculator to plan a budget, then request quotes and compare movers side by side.
Related pages: How We Maintain Data Accuracy · Transparency Standards for Moving Companies
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