Does the package rate apply to the whole move or only packing time?

The package rate is charged on top of your hourly rate for the full completion time of the move, not only the hours spent packing. For example, a move billed at 6 hours with Silver adds 6 x $35, or $210, to the labor total.

These figures sit on top of the crew rate, which for 3 movers is $175 per hour. Drive time between locations is part of the completion time, so the package applies there as well. For a refresher on how the base bill is built, see the moving cost guide.

The package rate was set so that it already pays for the supplies, factoring in how long a typical job runs. Spreading the cost over the entire move keeps the hourly add-on low. If we priced packing as a separate block of labor with its own materials bill, the same work would generally cost more. Think of it as one blended number that covers protection from start to finish rather than a meter that only runs while tape is coming off the roll.

• Long drives between homes increase completion time, and so the package total.
• Quick, compact moves with lots of fragile pieces often favor a package.
• Because you choose after the job, you can see the real hours before deciding.

More on how our team handles boxes and wrap is on the packing services page, and the basics of a local move are covered there too.

• What does the Golden Package include?
• Do I have to choose a packing package before the move?
• Is it cheaper to buy my own boxes than pay for a package?