How we price a move
Local moves are billed by the hour for the whole team and truck. Here is every line that can appear on your bill, and everything that will not.
Hourly rates by crew size
| Team | Hourly rate | Minimum (3 hours) | Each 15 minutes after | When we use it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 movers + truck | $145 | $435 | $36.25 | Very small moves, or when you ask for it |
| 3 movers + truck | $175 | $525 | $43.75 | Standard for most homes, including 3 bedrooms under 1,800 sq ft |
| 4 movers + truck | $235 | $705 | $58.75 | 3 bedrooms over 1,800 sq ft, and 4 bedrooms and up |
There is no separate truck fee. Why 3 movers instead of 2: the hourly rate is lower with 2, but the rate per mover is higher and the job takes longer, so most moves end up costing more. More on crew size: how many movers do I need.
What the rate includes, and what is never charged
| Included in the hourly rate | Never a separate charge on a local move |
|---|---|
| A team of movers and the truck, door to door | Tax |
| Furniture disassembly and reassembly (beds, sectionals, dining tables) | Mileage and fuel |
| Moving blankets and tape for all furniture | Stairs and long carries |
| About 8 wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes, collected at the end | Elevators |
| Floor protection: carpet runners and blankets, shoe covers on request | Extra stops (only the time they add) |
Stairs, elevators and long carries are not fees, but they take time, and time is what you pay for.
Drive time
We do not charge for driving to your pickup address or back from your drop-off. If the pickup and drop-off are more than 10 minutes apart, the drive between them is billed twice. That is California's double drive time rule (Max Rate Tariff 4). Example with 3 movers: a 30-minute drive is billed as 1 hour, which adds $175. If the whole job is at one address, such as packing only, there is no drive time at all. Full guide: double drive time explained.
Packing materials and packages
Boxes, mattress covers, bubble wrap, dish packs and other supplies are charged as used. A few common prices: mattress cover $15, TV box up to $50. Wardrobe boxes are free during the move; $25 applies only if you keep one.
| Option | Added to the hourly rate | 3 movers, per hour | 4 movers, per hour | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | none | $175 | $235 | Furniture wrapped in blankets; supplies charged as used |
| Silver Package | +$35 | $210 | $270 | Mattress covers, TV boxes, and the wrapping and packing materials for bulky fragile items like TVs, mirrors and large frames |
| Golden Package | +$70 | $245 | $305 | Everything in Silver plus full packing of all loose items, all supplies and labor |
The package rate applies to the whole completion time. You do not have to choose up front: start at the standard rate, compare at the end of the move, and switch to a package if it costs less. Details: packing services.
Things that can add to the bill
| Item | How it is billed |
|---|---|
| Waiting for an elevator | Counted as job time |
| Double-parking citation | Added to the bill. It is in the quote and our company policy, so plan legal parking: about 40 ft of curb for the truck and ramp. |
| Shuttle on a tight street | If access is tight, David checks it before move day and tells you whether a shuttle is needed. A shuttle adds truck rental and labor. |
| Card payment | 3% processing fee, debit and credit the same |
| Tips | Not included and not mandatory; they go to the movers |
Discounts
| Discount | Amount | What we need |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat customer | 7% off the final price | A past move with us |
| Referred by a friend or past customer | 5% | The friend's name or phone number |
| Referred by a real estate agent | 7% | The agent's name or phone number |
A referral needs proof, the referrer's name or phone number, when you ask for the quote. Storage is never discounted. Agents can read more on our real estate agent page.
How you pay
| Accepted | Not accepted |
|---|---|
| Cash | Personal checks |
| Money order | Zelle |
| Visa (3% fee) | Venmo to the company |
| Mastercard (3% fee) |
There is no deposit on a local move. You pay at the end, on the foreman's phone, and you can split the total between methods. We do not give a cash discount, but paying cash or by money order avoids the 3% card fee. Long-distance moves are paid 50% at pickup and 50% at delivery.
Tips go straight to the movers, in cash, by Venmo to a mover, or added to your card. 10 to 20% of the total is customary, never required. More: tipping movers.
What a typical local move adds up to
These are the time ranges David gives customers, multiplied by our rates. Your own time depends on how much you have, how well it is packed, access at both ends and the drive. Add materials and, if it applies, double drive time.
| Home | Team | Typical hours | Labor at our rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 3 movers, $175/hr | 3 to 4 | $525 to $700 |
| 1 bedroom | 3 movers, $175/hr | 3 to 5 | $525 to $875 |
| About 1,200 sq ft, including double drive time | 3 movers, $175/hr | 5 to 6 | $875 to $1,050 |
| 4 bedrooms, about 2,200 sq ft | 4 movers, $235/hr | 7 to 9 | $1,645 to $2,115 |
Want a fixed ceiling? Book a free on-site inspection and you get a not-to-exceed price in writing. We do not do video estimates, and a phone estimate is not binding. Local moves are not flat-priced. More numbers: Bay Area moving cost by home size.
The basics
A local Spartan move costs the hourly rate x the hours worked, plus any packing materials you use. The rate covers the whole team and the 26 ft truck: $175 an hour for 3 movers, our standard crew. There is a 3-hour minimum, then time is billed in 15-minute increments. Rates are the same every day, weekdays and weekends.
Long distance and storage
Long distance is priced by weight with a minimum space reservation, not by the hour. If you reserve the whole truck, you get a binding flat price. See long-distance pricing.
Storage is a flat monthly fee billed in 30-day periods and never discounted. David sends the storage price for your move. See storage.
Questions and answers
- Is the hourly rate per mover or for the whole team?
For the whole team and the truck. 3 movers are $175 an hour together, and there is no separate truck fee.
- What is the minimum charge?
3 hours, then 15-minute increments. With 3 movers the minimum is $525, and each 15 minutes after that is $43.75.
- Are weekends more expensive?
No. The rate is the same every day of the week.
- Do you charge for stairs or a long walk to the truck?
No separate fee. They take more time, and the time is billed at the hourly rate.
- Do you take checks, Zelle or Venmo?
No. We accept cash, money order, Visa and Mastercard, with a 3% fee on cards. Venmo is only an option for a tip paid directly to a mover.
- Do I pay a deposit to book a local move?
No. There is no deposit and nothing to pay before the move. You pay at the end of the job.
- Can I get a flat price for a local move?
Local moves are billed by time, so we do not give flat or binding local prices. A free on-site inspection gives you a not-to-exceed price, so you know your maximum.
- Do discounts apply to storage?
No. Storage is a flat monthly fee and is never discounted.