What movers should charge in New York.
Fair billed labor here runs about $37–$59/hour, about 10% above the median US state. Every number below comes from what movers and freight laborers actually earn in New York; the math is on this page, in the open.
How much should movers charge in New York?
In New York, movers and freight laborers earn $18.49–$23.65 per hour (median $21.46, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), about 10% above the median US state for this trade. A legitimate business bills 2–2.5× wages to cover payroll taxes, insurance, equipment, overhead and profit, so fair billed labor in New York runs about $37–$59 per hour. For example, local move, 1-bedroom is about $150–$475 in fair labor, before materials.
Fair price by job
Local move, 1-bedroom
That assumes two movers and a truck, ground-floor to ground-floor, in-town.
Plus materials: truck fee and materials (boxes, wrap) usually appear as separate lines.
Typical labor: 4–8 hours at $37–$59/hr billed.
Local move, 3-bedroom
That assumes three movers most of a day; stairs, elevators and long carries add hours.
Typical labor: 12–24 hours at $37–$59/hr billed.
Before you hire in New York
Licensing is local — NYC's Dept. of Consumer & Worker Protection, and county offices elsewhere (Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester all license). Check where the job is.
How to verify a New York license · how to get comparable bids · track your quotes side by side (free, no account).
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Other fair price checks in New York
Compare movers rates across all states · all fair price checks