Moving Calculator — Compare Move Budgets Across Four Service Options
Every move is different. Pick the type of move you are doing below; each card takes you to a budget estimate so you can compare costs before you decide. New to Box-n-Go? See how it works.
Pick your move type
There are four ways to move with Box-n-Go. Pick the one that matches what you need — the budget estimator for it is further down this page.
What’s included with each service
Each budget covers what’s marked with a green check below. Items with a red X are either handled separately or are something you take care of yourself.
| Item | Self-move | Full service |
|---|---|---|
| Container delivery to your address | ✓ | ✗ |
| Loading labor | ✗ | ✓ |
| Furniture wrapping, padding, disassembly | ✗ | ✓ |
| Transport to destination | ✓ Local: SoCal LD: major metros |
✓ Local: SoCal LD: anywhere in US |
| Storage between pickup and final delivery | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unloading labor at destination | ✗ | ✓ |
| Boxes, tape, packing paper, padding materials | ✗ see Supplies+ |
✗ see Supplies+ |
Self-move, local — budget estimator
The self-move local budget covers container delivery, the rental period while the container sits at your home or in our warehouse, and final transport to your new address within our Southern California service area (LA County, Orange County, and parts of Ventura, San Bernardino, and Riverside). Pick your home size and how long you need the container; the estimator returns a budget range. For container sizing detail, see the Storage Calculator and Containers page. If you want a crew to handle the loading on one or several containers, the Loading Help page covers SimplyLoad, ProLoad, and Hourly Load.
Why customers choose self-move
For self-move, Box-n-Go provides four container sizes. Our 8’×5′ unit — which we call Flex — is modular in nature, fits one room to one-and-a-half rooms’ worth of furniture and belongings, and is the most popular size for local self-moves. One reason: with Flex you don’t pay for space you don’t need. If you don’t use a unit, we don’t charge you. You order the sizes and quantity that fit your home, load them on your own time, and we handle delivery, transport, and final drop-off.
- Sort and downsize as you go. Items that don’t make the cut never have to be packed or moved.
- No moving-day crush. Load after work, on weekends, in stages — at your own pace, on your timeline.
- No strangers handling your belongings. You’re the only person loading your stuff. Boxes, furniture, fragile items — your hands only.
- Ground-level loading. Container sits on the driveway at ground level — no ramps, no lifting up to a truck deck.
- Segregate by container. Bedroom set in one. Garage in another. Kitchen in its own. Items travel separately rather than mixed together.
Full service, local — budget estimator
With a full-service local move, a licensed crew handles everything — loading at your old address, driving to your new one within our Southern California service area, and unloading. It’s billed by the hour. Pick your home size and clutter level below for a planning range. For more on full-service moves, see Box-n-Go Moving Services and Box-n-Go for Movers.
How local full service is priced
Local moves are billed by the hour, so what you’re paying for is the crew’s time on the clock. Two things set the total: the crew size we match to your home, and the hours the job takes. Anything that adds time adds cost, and anything that saves it saves money — which is what the two lists below are about.
What’s included in the budget
Free wardrobe boxes during the move, free packing tape, and free moving blankets for padding and wrapping. Disassembling and reassembling furniture that needs it is part of the service, not an extra.
What you handle before the crew arrives
TVs need to be unmounted and disconnected, and appliances — refrigerator, washer, dryer, and the like — need to be disconnected. The crew can’t make electrical or plumbing connections.
What adds time — and cost
This estimate covers a typical job. These are the things that put more time on the clock:
- Stairs, multiple floors, or a slow or shared elevator — every trip up and down takes longer.
- A long carry, when the truck can’t park close to the door.
- Packing, if you’d like the crew to box your belongings instead of loading boxes you’ve already packed.
- Bulky or specialty items that need extra disassembly or careful handling.
- A second pickup or drop-off stop on the same job.
- Double drive time. On a local move, California requires the travel time between your old and new home to be billed twice — once for the drive there, once for the drive back. This isn’t only a state rule; it’s basic fair-labor practice: just as anyone sent to a job site has to be brought back, the crew has to drive back after your move, and because they’re starting from your new home that return is often the longer drive. Every licensed California mover bills it this way, so it’s the same on any quote you compare.
- Floor protection a building requires you to lay down.
- Idle time — a crew waiting on decisions or blocked access is still on the clock.
How to keep your hourly bill down
Because you’re paying for time, a little prep pays for itself:
- Declutter first. Fewer items means fewer trips and fewer hours — a move is the perfect moment to set aside what you no longer need.
- Pack your own boxes and have them taped and stacked before the crew arrives.
- Pre-disassemble what’s easy — bed frames, table legs, anything that comes apart quickly.
- Clear the path and lock down close parking; if there’s an elevator, reserve it for your window.
- Be there and be decisive. Answering questions on the spot keeps the crew moving instead of waiting.
- Right-size the crew. Too small a crew works overtime, gets tired, and the total often lands about the same as the larger crew would have — but with more risk to your belongings. The crew size in your estimate is the size we’d recommend for a home like yours.
Bottom line
These four numbers are planning ranges, not firm quotes. Call (877) 269-6461 and we’ll walk your address, building, and packing needs into a real price.
Self-move, long-distance — budget estimator
The self-move long-distance budget covers Flex container delivery at your old address, your loading period, long-haul transport through our partner carrier network, and delivery to your new address. Long-distance container service runs to major metro areas in the continental US — if your destination is rural or outside a metro, we will say so on the call. Available on the 8-foot Flex container only, and each Flex is limited to 2,000 pounds of belongings. Pick your home size and route; the estimator returns a budget range. For container sizing detail, see the Storage Calculator and Containers page.
Why customers choose long-distance self-move
For long-distance self-move, Box-n-Go ships our 8’×5′ Flex container — modular in nature, fits one room to one-and-a-half rooms’ worth of furniture and belongings. You order as many as your home needs, load them on your own time, we ship them across the country, and you unload at the destination on your own time. Customers choose this style for the privacy of doing all the loading themselves, and for the freedom to sort and downsize before anything gets shipped.
- Sort and downsize as you go. Items that don’t make the cut never have to be packed or moved.
- No moving-day crush. Load after work, on weekends, in stages — at your own pace, on your timeline.
- No strangers handling your belongings. You’re the only person loading your stuff. Boxes, furniture, fragile items — your hands only.
- Ground-level loading. Container sits on the driveway at ground level — no ramps, no lifting up to a truck deck.
- Segregate by container. Bedroom set in one. Garage in another. Kitchen in its own. Items travel separately rather than mixed together.
Honest considerations
Long-distance moves are priced by the weight shipped. Since your belongings ship inside the container, the container’s own weight adds a significant premium to the freight cost. In many cases, a full-service long-distance move can be the cheaper option. Long-distance self-move destinations are also limited to major metropolitan areas — outside those, we may not be able to ship.
Full service, long-distance — budget estimator
The full-service long-distance budget covers a licensed crew handling the entire move from your old address to your new one, including over-the-road transport. Priced by quote — based on the volume of your household goods and the route, so you know the price at booking with no clock running on move day. For deeper context on long-distance moving, see Box-n-Go Moving Services.
Notes on long-distance full-service moves
This is a straight move. Storage at either end is not included and is quoted separately.
Delivery typically takes 3 to 4 weeks. Long-distance loads are consolidated with other shipments before going on the road. The window covers pickup, consolidation, transit, and final delivery.
Included: moving blankets for furniture protection.
Not in this estimate:
- Packing service, if you want the crew to pack your boxes
- Stairs at either address may add a charge
- Shuttle service, if the truck can’t reach your home directly (narrow streets, hillsides, tight driveways) — a smaller shuttle vehicle is quoted separately
Pare down before you ship. Long-distance moves are priced by volume — everything you ship adds to the cost. Before you pack a piece of furniture, an appliance, or boxes of books, ask whether buying it new at your destination is cheaper than shipping it. For bulky items it often is.
Ask about discounts. The budgets above are typical list prices. Many carriers offer discounts for AAA members, military, and seniors. Ask — you should be rewarded.
Season matters. Long-distance moves are much more expensive in summer (peak season) and less expensive in winter. If your move date is flexible, off-peak timing can save significantly.
Long-distance moves go better with a quick call before booking — every route is different, the quote is based on the volume of your household goods, and five minutes on the phone gets you a real price for your specific move.
Box-n-Go Storage & Moving - as Easy as 1-2-3
We Deliver
We Pick Up
We Store or Move
Store on your driveway or inside our secure facility. Load/unload only once. Ground level access.
How long does it take?
Every Box-n-Go move is scheduled in advance. Same-day and last-minute moves are sometimes possible for small local loads when we have the capacity — call and we will tell you honestly whether your timeline works. How far ahead you need to book depends on the service and the season. Peak season runs roughly late May through early September — the months when most households move, when school is out, and when student and military moves cluster. Off-peak is the rest of the year, when the schedule has more give.
Local moves happen on one day. Long-distance moves happen in three stages: pickup, time on the road, and delivery.
Local moves
| Service | Off-peak lead time | Peak season lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Self-move, local | 3 to 5 business days | 7 to 10 business days |
| Full service, local | 3 to 5 business days | 7 to 10 business days |
Long-distance moves
Long-distance moves happen in three stages. Add the stages together to plan your timeline.
| Stage | Self-move, long-distance | Full service, long-distance |
|---|---|---|
| Picking up your stuff | 3 to 5 business days off-peak / 7 to 10 in peak season | 5 to 10 business days |
| Time on the road | 10 to 14 business days transit | 2 to 3 weeks consolidation |
| Delivery to your new place | 10 to 14 business days | 10 to 14 business days |
For same-day or last-minute requests, call (877) 269-6461 — we will tell you honestly whether the timeline works.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are these estimates?
The four calculators give planning estimates, not firm quotes. Self-move estimates depend on storage period and container count; full-service estimates depend on access (stairs, elevators, long carries), how much furniture needs disassembly, and how packed your boxes are when the crew arrives. For a firm quote on any of the four services, call (877) 269-6461 and we will price your specific move.
Why hourly for full-service local, by-quote for full-service long-distance?
Local full-service is billed by the hour because the work is the variable — the crew shows up, loads, drives a short distance, unloads, and the bill reflects how long that took. Long-distance full-service is priced by quote — usually flat-rate by route, volume, and distance — because those variables are known before the truck leaves. You get the price before booking, and that’s the price you pay.
Do these budgets include packing materials?
No. The budgets cover the move service itself. Boxes, tape, paper, and other packing materials are purchased separately through the Supplies+ page. For full-service moves, if you would like the crew to pack your boxes for you (rather than just load already-packed boxes), packing labor is added.
What if my move is unusual — large items, tight access, multiple stops?
Custom situations get custom quotes. Oversized antiques, tight or restricted access (narrow stairwells, no elevator, long carries), multiple pickup or drop-off addresses on the same job, and other non-standard cases all benefit from a direct conversation with our team. We don’t handle pianos or pool tables ourselves — for those we refer to specialty movers. Restoration, contractor, and business moves are covered on the Box-n-Go for Business page. Call (877) 269-6461 and the agent will work the details into a real quote.
How do current specials apply?
Current promotional offers apply at booking when you mention the special by name. Specials cannot be combined; one offer per order. See the current Specials for full terms and current offer amounts.
I am not sure which kind of move I need. How do I decide?
Run the budget estimate for each option that might fit, and compare the four numbers side by side. The cards at the top of this page link down to each estimator. If you want a person to talk it through with, call (877) 269-6461. The agent will ask about your home, timeline, and budget and recommend a service.
Finding the right service
Not sure how many containers you’ll need? The Storage Calculator helps you figure that out. Need boxes, tape, or a dolly? The Supplies+ page has those. Want a crew to help you load? The Loading Help page covers your options. Looking for a deal? See current Specials. Want more detail on how Box-n-Go handles moves? See Box-n-Go Moving Services.
Box-n-Go serves Los Angeles County, Orange County, and parts of Ventura, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties for local moves. Long-distance container moves run to major metro areas in the continental US; full-service long-distance moves go anywhere in the continental US through our traditional moving partners.
Got a move that doesn’t fit the four options above? Big multi-container moves, restoration jobs, business relocations — request a custom quote below.
