Two movers can quote very different numbers for the same household. The gap usually comes from what kind of estimate each is offering rather than from the underlying cost of the work.
Interstate moves are priced by weight and distance
A long-distance household move is generally charged on the weight of the shipment and the mileage between origin and destination.
Weight is established by weighing the truck empty and loaded, so the figure on the final bill comes from scale tickets rather than from the estimator's guess.
Local moves are more often billed hourly for a crew and truck, which is why the two quotes are not directly comparable.
The survey determines accuracy
Estimators inventory the home in person or by video, listing items and estimating their weight from standard tables.
A quote produced from a phone conversation without a survey is a guess, and it is where most disputes about a final price originate.
Items in attics, garages, sheds and crawl spaces are the ones customers most often forget to mention, and they change the total materially.
Access charges are separate from the move itself
If a tractor-trailer cannot reach the residence, goods must be transferred to a smaller vehicle, and that shuttle service is charged separately.
Long carries, stairs, elevators and parking permits all add labor time that a base quote assumed would not be needed.
Because these conditions are properties of the address rather than of the shipment, they can be identified in advance and should appear in a written estimate.
Binding and nonbinding estimates allocate risk
A nonbinding estimate is a prediction, and the final charge is based on actual weight and services, with rules limiting how much can be collected at delivery.
A binding estimate fixes the price for the listed inventory and services, and it changes only if the customer adds items or services.
A binding not-to-exceed estimate caps the price while allowing a lower charge if the shipment weighs less, which is the most protective of the three.
Valuation is not insurance
Interstate movers must offer a basic liability level calculated per pound, which is low relative to the value of most household goods.
Full value protection is an upgrade under which the mover repairs, replaces or pays for damaged items, subject to declared value and deductibles.
Because the terms and claim windows differ, the coverage a household relies on should be settled before loading day rather than after damage appears.