When planning a move, the first question most people ask is: “Should I do this myself or hire professional movers?”
On the surface, DIY moving seems like an obvious money-saver. Rent a truck, recruit some friends, and save hundreds or even thousands of dollars, right? But once you factor in all the hidden costs, physical demands, time investment, and potential risks, the math becomes much less clear.
Here’s an honest breakdown of what each option actually costs so you can make the best decision for your situation.
The Perceived Savings of DIY Moving
Most people estimate DIY moving costs based only on truck rental, creating a false sense of savings.
What People Think DIY Costs:
- Truck rental: $150
- Gas: $50
- Pizza for helpers: $50
- Total estimated: $250
Reality Check: The actual cost of a DIY move for a typical 3-bedroom home in Orlando ranges from $800-$2,500 when you include everything.
True DIY Moving Costs: The Complete Picture
Truck Rental
Local Moves (Within Orlando):
- 15-foot truck: $29.95-$39.95 plus $0.79-$0.99 per mile
- 26-foot truck: $39.95-$49.95 plus mileage
- Most moves require multiple trips
- Need the truck for 8-12 hours minimum
Realistic local truck rental cost: $150-$300
Long-Distance Moves:
- Truck rental: $500-$2,000
- One-way fee: $200-$500
- Gas for truck getting 6-10 mpg: $200-$800+
Realistic long-distance truck rental cost: $900-$3,500
Equipment and Supplies
Moving Equipment:
- Dollies and hand trucks: $30-$60 rental
- Furniture straps and tie-downs: $20-$40
- Moving blankets: $60-$120 to buy
Packing Supplies:
- Boxes (30-50 needed): $75-$200
- Bubble wrap and packing paper: $55-$110
- Tape, markers, labels: $30-$50
- Specialty boxes: $55-$110
Total equipment and supplies: $325-$690
The Hidden Cost: Your Time
Time Investment for DIY Move:
- Gathering supplies: 4-6 hours
- Packing entire home: 20-40 hours
- Loading truck: 4-8 hours
- Driving: 2-4 hours
- Unloading truck: 4-8 hours
- Returning truck: 2-3 hours
- Unpacking: 20-30 hours
Total time investment: 56-99 hours
If you value your time at even $20/hour, that’s $1,120-$1,980 worth of your time. If you need to take time off work, you’re losing actual income.
Professional movers complete the same move in 8-16 hours total.
Food and Compensation for Helpers
Typical Costs:
- Breakfast and lunch for helpers: $50-$100
- Pizza and drinks after: $40-$80
- Thank-you gift cards or cash: $100-$300
- Beer and snacks: $30-$50
Total: $220-$530
Insurance and Liability
This is the scariest hidden cost of DIY moving.
Personal Injury: Common moving injuries include:
- Back strain or herniated discs: $500-$5,000 in medical bills
- Sprained ankles or knees: $300-$2,000
- Broken bones: $1,000-$10,000
- Emergency room visits: $500-$3,000 minimum
Property Damage:
- Dropped TV or appliances: $500-$3,000
- Scratched floors: $200-$1,000
- Damaged walls or doorframes: $100-$500
- Broken furniture: $200-$2,000
- Damage to rental truck: $500-$5,000 deductible
Truck Rental Insurance:
- Damage waiver: $15-$30 per day
- Liability coverage: $10-$15 per day
- Cargo coverage: $10-$15 per day
Most people skip this to save money, leaving themselves exposed to thousands in potential liability.
Realistic insurance/risk cost: $35-$60 for rental coverage, plus potential damage costs of $500-$10,000+
Physical Toll
Post-Move Reality:
- 2-3 days of soreness and fatigue
- Reduced productivity at work
- Chiropractor or massage therapy: $75-$200
- Pain medication: $20-$40
Total physical recovery cost: $95-$240
Complete DIY Moving Cost Breakdown
Local Move (3-bedroom home, within Orlando):
- Truck rental: $150-$300
- Equipment and supplies: $325-$690
- Food and helper compensation: $220-$530
- Insurance: $35-$60
- Physical recovery: $95-$240
- Total out-of-pocket: $825-$1,820
- Plus time cost (at $20/hr): $1,120-$1,980
- True total cost: $1,945-$3,800
Long-Distance Move (3-bedroom home, 500+ miles):
- Truck rental and gas: $900-$3,500
- Equipment and supplies: $325-$690
- Food and compensation: $220-$530
- Insurance: $35-$60
- Hotel stays: $150-$300
- Physical recovery: $95-$240
- Total out-of-pocket: $1,725-$5,320
- Plus time cost: $1,680-$2,640
- True total cost: $3,405-$7,960
These numbers don’t include potential damage or injury costs.
Professional Moving Costs: What You Actually Get
Local Moves (Within Orlando Area)
Pricing Structure:
- 2 movers + truck: $100-$150 per hour
- 3 movers + truck: $150-$200 per hour
- 4 movers + truck: $200-$250 per hour
Average Local Move Costs:
- 1-bedroom: $400-$800
- 2-bedroom: $600-$1,200
- 3-bedroom: $900-$1,800
- 4-bedroom: $1,400-$2,500
Long-Distance Moves
Average Long-Distance Costs:
- 1-bedroom apartment: $1,500-$3,000
- 2-bedroom home: $2,500-$5,000
- 3-bedroom home: $4,000-$8,000
- 4-bedroom home: $6,000-$12,000
What’s Included
Standard Services:
- All labor (loading and unloading)
- Transportation
- Basic moving equipment (dollies, straps, blankets)
- Basic liability coverage ($0.60 per pound)
- Fuel charges
What Costs Extra:
- Packing services: $25-$40 per hour per packer
- Packing materials: $150-$400
- Long carry fees: $50-$150
- Stair fees: $25-$50 per flight
- Full value protection insurance: 1-2% of shipment value
- Specialty items: $200-$800
Side-by-Side Comparison
3-Bedroom House, Local Orlando Move:
Category | DIY | Professional |
Out-of-pocket costs | $825-$1,820 | $900-$1,800 |
Time investment | 56-99 hours | 6-8 hours |
Physical effort | Extreme | Minimal |
Injury risk | High | None |
Damage risk | High | Low (insured) |
Stress level | Very high | Low |
The reality: Professional movers often cost about the same as DIY when you include all costs, and they complete the move in a fraction of the time with much less stress.
When DIY Makes Financial Sense
Good Candidates for DIY:
- Studio or small 1-bedroom with minimal furniture
- Moving less than 10 miles
- You’re young, healthy, and physically capable
- You have reliable friends who genuinely want to help
- You have flexible time
- You own very little of value
- You’re on an extremely tight budget with more time than money
Example: A 25-year-old moving a studio apartment five miles with just a bedroom set and 20 boxes might reasonably do this for $200-$400.
When Professional Movers Are Worth It
You Should Hire Professionals If:
- You have a 2+ bedroom home
- You own valuable or heavy furniture
- You have limited time or physical ability
- You’re moving during hot Florida summer months
- You’re moving more than 50 miles
- You have stairs at either location
- You lack reliable help
- You’re over 40 or have physical limitations
The Hidden Value of Professional Movers
Speed and Efficiency: Professionals move 2-3 times faster than DIY.
Expertise: They know how to pack trucks efficiently, protect furniture, and handle stairs safely.
Insurance: If something breaks, they’re responsible. With DIY, you’re eating that cost.
No Friendship Strain: Moving is one of the most common ways people damage friendships. Hiring movers preserves relationships.
Safety: Professional movers know how to lift safely and avoid injury.
Reduced Stress: Moving is consistently rated as one of life’s most stressful events. Professionals handle the hardest parts.
Orlando-Specific Considerations
Weather Factors:
- Summer heat (June-September) makes DIY moving dangerous
- Afternoon thunderstorms are common
- High humidity makes physical work exhausting
Local Challenges:
- Many Orlando homes have stairs
- Gated communities often have access restrictions
- Traffic can be unpredictable
- Parking limitations in some neighborhoods
How to Decide
Answer these questions honestly:
- Do you value your time at more than $15/hour? If yes, professionals likely make sense.
- Is your household larger than 1 bedroom? If yes, lean toward professionals.
- Do you have furniture worth more than $2,000? If yes, professional insurance is valuable.
- Are you over 35 or have physical limitations? If yes, avoid DIY injury risk.
- Is your move during May-September? If yes, Florida heat makes DIY dangerous.
- Do you have reliable friends for 8+ hours? If no, DIY becomes very difficult.
If you answered yes to 4 or more questions, hire professional movers.
The Bottom Line
For most Orlando residents moving a 2+ bedroom home, professional movers cost roughly the same as true DIY moving when you factor in all costs. The difference is that professionals complete the move in hours instead of days, with no physical toll, minimal stress, and insurance protection.
DIY makes financial sense only for very small apartments with minimal belongings and short distances. Everything else benefits from professional help.
Get an Honest Quote from Orlando Express Movers
At Orlando Express Movers, we provide transparent pricing with no hidden fees. We’ll give you an honest assessment of your moving needs and a detailed quote so you can make an informed decision.
Contact Orlando Express Movers today for a free, no-obligation quote. We’ll discuss your specific situation and help you understand exactly what professional moving would cost compared to doing it yourself.
Call us to get a detailed moving estimate and make the best decision for your budget and sanity.