What does a move in NYC actually cost?
The useful answer depends on your move, not the average apartment in a search result. A studio beside an elevator and a studio above four flights are both studios. They are not the same job. We price the belongings, access and trip you describe, then send a guaranteed flat price in writing.
If the move is easier to show than list, we can arrange a free video or in-person survey.
What sets the price
What changes the price of a NYC move
“One bedroom” is a useful starting point, but it does not say how full the closets are, whether the sofa clears the landing or how far everything has to travel from the door to the truck. A useful quote describes the move you have.
- What is coming with you
- the furniture, box count and larger or specialty pieces tell us more than the number of bedrooms alone.
- The way in and out
- stairs, elevators, long hallways, service entrances and the distance to where a truck can park all change the work at each address.
- The distance between addresses
- a local move and an interstate move have different journeys, and every known stop needs to be included before we price it.
- Packing help
- packing selected rooms or a whole home adds work that should be included from the start. See packing services.
- Storage between dates
- when one lease ends before the next begins, we can arrange storage and quote the pickup and return as part of the job.
- Anything unusual or uncertain
- an awkward piano, a second pickup or access that is hard to describe should be on the page before the price is prepared.
No sample price
Why there is no dollar amount on this page
A sample price only helps when the sample looks like your move. Without the belongings and access, it is an attractive amount attached to somebody else’s apartment.
Send the belongings, addresses and access instead. We can use the form, a free video survey or a free in-person survey to gather the detail, then we send the price in writing before you book.
Guaranteed pricing
The clock does not raise the price
The guaranteed flat price applies to the move agreed in writing. Traffic, weather, stairs or a day that takes longer than expected do not turn it into an hourly bill.
If the move itself changes, tell us before the date. An added stop or substantially more belongings changes the job, so tell us before moving day and we will update the quote.
NYC moving cost FAQs
Do you charge by the hour?
No. Keepsake sends a guaranteed flat price for the move you describe. Duration does not change it.
Will stairs change the quote?
Stairs affect the job, so include them for both addresses. Once they are part of the agreed scope, a slow carry or a longer day does not add hourly charges.
What if I do not know how many boxes I will have?
Give your best estimate and say that it is an estimate. Update us before moving day if the final amount is materially different.
Is packing included?
Wrapping, padding and labelling the items being moved are part of the move. Packing the contents of rooms is a separate service, so include it when you ask for the quote.
Can storage be included?
Yes. Keepsake can arrange storage and include the pickup and return in the quote.
Is the survey free?
Yes. A video or in-person survey is free and can be arranged when the move is easier to show than describe.
What can change a guaranteed price?
A change to the agreed move can change the price, such as adding another stop or substantially more belongings. Traffic, weather, stairs or a day that runs longer than expected do not change it.
Can I get a price for only a few items?
Yes. List the pieces, both addresses and the access at each one. A small move still gets a written, guaranteed price before you book.