Is there a minimum charge for a local move?
Yes. Spartan local moves have a 3-hour minimum: $435 for 2 movers, $525 for 3 movers, $705 for 4 movers, truck included. Then 15-minute billing.
Three hours, truck included
Every local move has a 3-hour minimum. For our standard 3-mover crew that equals $525, and it covers the truck as well as the people. Once three hours have passed, time is billed in 15-minute intervals.
Minimum by crew size
| Crew | Rate | 3-hour minimum |
|---|---|---|
| 2 movers | $145/hr | $435 |
| 3 movers | $175/hr | $525 |
| 4 movers | $235/hr | $705 |
No fuel charge or truck fee sits on top of these numbers.
Why there is a floor at all
Each job carries fixed costs before the first box moves: workers' compensation, insurance and fuel for a 26 ft truck. David describes the 3-hour mark as the lowest minimum we are able to offer once those operating costs are counted. Even a two-hour job means sending a full crew and truck, protecting floors, wrapping furniture and driving across town, so the minimum keeps the price honest for us and predictable for you.
Getting value out of the minimum
If your job is small, use the full three hours. You might add a second stop, such as dropping a few items at a storage unit, or ask the crew to shift heavy furniture around the new home once the truck is empty. Extra stops on a local move carry no fee, only the time they take. Placing a sofa in a different room or taking a bed frame apart for a guest room all fit inside paid time you already have.
- Group single items into one booking instead of several
- Have everything ready at the door when the crew arrives
- List all pieces on your quote request so nothing is a surprise
Special cases
- A job that is only a grand or baby grand piano has a 4-hour minimum and a 4-person crew. Details on our piano movers page.
- A piano moved as part of a full household move falls under that job's normal minimum.
- The minimum can be set per job, and David will note it on your quote if it differs.
For a sense of what a full move adds up to, see the moving cost guide.
We also move people in Moving Cost, Local Moving, Piano movers, Ask How Much Is Each 15 Minutes After the Minimum, Ask Do You Move Just One Item and Ask What Is Your Hourly Rate.
Questions and answers
If my move takes 2 hours, what do I pay?
You pay the 3-hour minimum for your crew size, so $525 with three movers.
Do materials count toward the minimum?
No, the minimum is labor and truck time. Boxes or covers you use are added separately.
Does a 2-person crew have a lower minimum?
Yes, three hours at $145 comes to $435.
