Your long distance moving cost relies more on one particular measurement than any other, and that number is the weight of your shipment. Our booked-move data at National Van Lines shows how much shipments tend to weigh for different home sizes. You can use this information to help make more informed decisions about what to move, what to leave behind, and how to bring the final price down.
This is based on internal sales data from National Van Lines between January 1, 2026 and June 30, 2026. Costs covered in this article are for planning purposes only. Your actual moving costs may vary based on your shipment’s weight and any other services you choose.
How Shipment Weight Determines Your Moving Costs
While multiple factors go into determining the price of a long distance move, including the distance you travel, the single biggest factor is weight. This means the total weight of all your furniture and possessions that will be loaded on a truck. Essentially, the heavier the shipment, the more it costs to move.
For many people, sheer weight (also known in the moving industry as tonnage) might be hard to grasp when thinking about their move. For instance, how much does your fridge weigh, your large TV, your sectional sofa? It’s probably more helpful to think about this in terms of house size. Here’s a table to see typical home sizes versus our 2026 averages.
| Home Size | Weight | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-BR | Under 3,000 lbs | $3,164 |
| 2-BR | 3,000–5,000 lbs | $4,564 |
| 3-BR | 5,000–8,000 lbs | $6,762 |
| 4-BR | 8,000–11,000 lbs | $9,912 |
| 5+ BR | Over 11,000 lbs | $16,743 |
As you can see, four- and five-bedroom homes tend to jump up in price quite a bit, as their shipments weigh over three times what a studio does (on average). Knowing this before you start planning your move can change how you manage your furniture and other possessions. Keep reading for practical tips and insights on how to confidently take charge of your shipment for the best price possible.
Keep in mind that adding additional services will also increase the cost of your move. This can include the need for professional packing help, storage during or after your move, and specialty moving support like custom crating.
How Smaller Homes Can Reduce Moving Costs
Studio and one-bedroom households and apartments make up roughly 20% of National Van Lines moves and average under 3,000 pounds.
Even at a smaller shipment size every pound still counts towards your quote. Look at your heaviest individual pieces first – a dense hardwood dresser, bookshelves, anything with a solid frame – and ask whether selling an item before moving day makes sense. Because the total shipment is smaller, cutting out even one or two heavy items can have a positive effect on your final cost. You could replace the item with a lighter alternative piece for the move, or purchase a replacement at your new location.
Where 2-Bedroom Moves Can Usually Cut Weight
Two-bedroom households make up another 20% of National Van Lines moves, and average between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds.
A second bedroom often means a second set of everything – furniture, boxes, clothing, and items you haven’t used in a while. Before you pack, make a room-by-room pass and ask what’s genuinely coming with you, versus what you’ve carried around out of habit. Duplicate items and pieces you have outgrown are the easiest weight to cut without giving up anything you actually need.
Why Furniture Materials Matter in 3-Bedroom Moves
Three-bedroom households account for nearly 30% of National Van Lines moves, and average from 5,000 to 8,000 pounds per move.
This is the size of home we tend to see and move the most here at National Van Lines. At this size, it’s worth examining what your furniture is actually made of. The heavier hardwoods, metal frames, and older upholstered pieces of furniture and mattress sets usually weigh more than their lighter modern equivalents. If you are planning to replace any of these pieces soon anyway, selling or donating such items before the move can help lower your shipment weight.
What Larger Homes Should Focus on Before Moving
Four-bedroom and larger homes make up 35% of moves booked through National Van Lines. A five-bedroom-plus shipment averages over 11,000 pounds.
More rooms tend to mean more room types. Perhaps you converted a spare bedroom into a home gym, or you house a workshop in your garage or basement. While “specialty rooms” are not exclusive to larger homes, we tend to see them more frequently at this size. When your move includes one or more of these spaces, talk to your MovePro coordinator about the following two factors.
- During your moving survey (which we most often conduct virtually, through your phone or tablet), be as clear as possible about any large or unique items you have. This can include workbenches, fitness equipment and works of art. If you’re choosing National Van Lines, your MovePro coordinator will make note of how much these items will affect your weight. These conversations can help you decide whether you’re going to downsize before you move.
- If you’re not going to downsize, ask about additional services like packing or professional specialty crating. You can work with your MovePro coordinator to put a plan together that makes the most sense for you and your situation.
Three Practical Ways to Reduce Your Move Shipment Weight
Now you know how to manage your shipment weight based on your home’s size. However, three factors will keep showing up in shipment weight, no matter the size of your home.
- Heavy individual items can quickly affect your shipment weight. Understanding which heavy items to plan for during a long distance move can help you decide what needs special handling, what may be worth moving, and what may be better to replace after you arrive.
- Also, the number of items you own will be revealed by your shipment’s weight. Duplicates, outgrown furniture, and anything you haven’t used in the past year add weight without adding value at your new home.
- Know what kind of materials your furniture is made of. Dense solid wood, metal and older upholstered pieces generally weigh more than modern, lighter-weight equivalents.
“We hear the same important question from customers – ‘How much is this actually going to cost me?’ Once we walk them through their shipment weight by home size, it clicks. Weight is something you can actually do something about, and that’s the part people don’t expect.”
—Danielle Perri, Director of Contact Center Sales Development
Turn Shipment Weight Into Savings Before Your Move
Knowing your home size is a helpful starting point, but understanding your likely shipment weight gives you a better way to plan. From there you can decide what to keep, sell, donate or replace before moving day.
The households that save the most treat their moving quote as something they can influence, not as a fixed number. And no matter how large your home is the same principle applies – less weight equals less cost.
Ready to see what your own home’s weight means for your moving costs? Call 800-323-1962 or request a free, no-obligation moving quote from National Van Lines today.