If you run a moving company, you are competing in one of the most fragmented, seasonal, and relationship-driven service industries in America. The best decisions come from data, but moving industry statistics are scattered across the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, federal transportation agencies, and trade groups. This 2026 report pulls the key numbers into one place and tells you where to verify each one.
A quick note on method: we do not invent precision. Where a figure changes every year or varies by source, we give a range or the latest published year and point you to the official source. Every hard number below comes from a federal source, with the survey year attached.
What Are the Key Moving Industry Statistics for 2026?
The short answer: the industry serves tens of millions of Americans a year, is dominated by small local operators, and is highly seasonal. The table below summarizes the headline figures, with ranges where exact numbers vary by source and year.
| Metric | What the data says (as of 2026) | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Share of Americans who move each year | 7.8% in 2023, the lowest rate since the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey series began in 1948 (when it was 20.2%) | Census CPS historical mobility tables |
| People who moved in a year | 25.6 million (2023) | Census CPS historical mobility tables |
| Moves that stay in the same county | 54.1% of all movers (2023) | Census CPS historical mobility tables |
| Moves that cross state lines | 17.5% of all movers, about 4.5 million people (2023) | Census CPS historical mobility tables |
| Typical peak season | Late spring through summer, with May–September the busiest stretch | Trade groups such as the ATA Moving & Storage Conference |
| Typical industry structure | Many small, locally owned companies; a handful of large national van lines | FMCSA registration data, Census business data |
| Local move pricing | Usually hourly, depending on crew size and market | Local quotes; state regulators |
| Long-distance pricing | Based on weight and distance (or binding/flat estimates) | FMCSA Protect Your Move |
| Mover labor | Median pay for hand laborers and material movers: $38,220 a year, or $18.38 an hour (May 2025), across about 6.9 million jobs | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
Pro tip: Bookmark the primary sources in the last column. Third-party "industry statistics" pages often repeat stale numbers from several years ago. Citing the Census Bureau or BLS directly protects your credibility.
How Big Is the U.S. Moving Industry?
The U.S. moving industry is a multi-billion-dollar market, but no single authoritative number exists because "moving" cuts across several categories. Government classification systems group movers under household and office goods trucking, while trade groups, market researchers, and the federal economic census each measure the industry a little differently.
That is why you will see widely different market-size estimates online. Before quoting one, ask three questions:
- What is included? Local moving only, or local plus long-distance, storage, packing, and relocation services?
- Who is counted? Only licensed carriers, or also unlicensed brokers and labor-only helpers?
- What year is it from? Pricing and volumes have shifted noticeably since 2020.
For the most defensible figure, use the Census Bureau's economic data for the relevant trucking category and cite the release year. Market-research reports can be useful for direction, but treat their dollar figures as estimates and verify before publishing them.
Why the Industry Is Hard to Size
Because most movers are small private companies, they do not report revenue publicly. A national van line may report figures, but a two-truck local company with excellent reviews and a full calendar does not. This is also why the industry stays competitive: barriers to entry exist, but many owner-operators clear them. For the cost side of entry, see our breakdown of what it costs to start a moving company.
How Many Moving Companies Are There in the U.S.?
There are thousands of federally registered household goods carriers and many more state-regulated local movers, and most are small. The exact count depends on whether you include interstate carriers registered with FMCSA, intrastate movers licensed only by their states, and unregistered operators.
| Category | Regulated by | What this means for counts |
|---|---|---|
| Interstate household goods carriers | FMCSA (USDOT number and operating authority) | Searchable in FMCSA's public databases |
| Intrastate (local) movers | State agencies; rules vary by state | Counted state by state; some states do not license movers at all |
| Moving brokers | FMCSA for interstate brokers | Often confused with carriers by consumers |
| Unregistered or unlicensed operators | No one | Cannot be counted reliably |
If you are doing interstate work, our DOT and FMCSA compliance guide for moving companies explains the registration requirements. To get a current count, query FMCSA's public carrier data directly rather than relying on a blog number.
Pro tip: The practical takeaway is not the exact count. It is that customers have many choices, so differentiation through reviews, speed of response, and clear pricing matters far more than being "a moving company."
How Many Americans Move Each Year?
About 25.6 million Americans, or 7.8% of the population, moved in 2023, according to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey. That is the lowest rate since the series began in 1948, when 20.2% of Americans moved in a year. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey uses a different method and reports a higher rate, so always say which survey you are citing.
The Census Bureau's Current Population Survey is the standard source. A few trends worth knowing:
- Mobility has trended down for decades. Fewer Americans change addresses in a typical year than a generation ago.
- Most moves are local. In 2023, 54.1% of movers stayed in the same county and another 23.4% moved to a different county in the same state. Only 17.5% crossed state lines.
- Renters move far more often than homeowners. That matters if your marketing targets apartment moves.
- Younger adults move most. Moves peak in the 20s and early 30s.
Even at a low mobility rate, a country of this size produces tens of millions of moves a year. Only a share of those use a professional mover, since many people rent a truck or enlist friends. The opportunity for professional movers is converting self-movers into customers by making quotes easy and trustworthy.
Why Do Americans Move? Top Reasons
The most commonly reported reasons for moving are housing-related, followed by family and employment. Census Bureau survey data consistently groups reasons into these categories rather than ranking one dominant cause.
- Housing: wanting a new or better home, a larger home, cheaper housing, or a change from renting to owning.
- Family: changes in marital status, household formation, or moving to be near relatives.
- Employment: new jobs, job transfers, or looking for work.
- Other: education, climate, retirement, health, and lifestyle.
For movers, this matters because each reason produces a different customer. A first-time buyer wants budget transparency. A corporate transfer wants speed and reliability. A retiree wants careful handling and patience. Tailor your messaging and your quoting scripts to match, and see how to turn website visitors into booked jobs.
Where Are Americans Moving? Interstate Migration Trends
Over the past several years, net domestic migration has generally flowed from higher-cost coastal states toward the South and Mountain West, though patterns shift year to year. Which states gain or lose residents in any given year is published by the Census Bureau, and you should check the latest release before making business decisions.
| Region | General pattern (recent years) | What it means for movers |
|---|---|---|
| South (e.g., Florida, Texas, the Carolinas) | Net domestic inflows in many recent years | Strong inbound demand and growing local markets |
| Mountain West | Mixed, with several fast-growing states | Fast growth but cooling in some metros |
| Northeast and Midwest | Net domestic outflows in many recent years | Long-distance outbound work; local competition remains tough |
| West Coast | Net outflows from high-cost metros in many years | Outbound interstate demand; high local pricing |
Remote work has been a factor, because workers who no longer need to live near an office can choose where to live. We explored that in how remote work is reshaping relocation choices. The Census Bureau publishes state-to-state migration flows and population estimates that let you see which corridors are growing.
Pro tip: Do not chase last year's headline. Pull the current Census population estimates and look at county-level growth in your own service area. Local growth beats national narrative.
What Does an Average Move Cost in 2026?
Local moves are typically priced by the hour and long-distance moves by weight, distance, or a flat estimate, and costs vary widely by region, season, and home size. Because published averages depend on survey methodology, treat any single number you read, including ours, as a starting point and verify it against current local quotes.
| Move type | Typical pricing model | What drives the price |
|---|---|---|
| Local (same metro) | Hourly rate per crew, often with a minimum | Crew size, stairs, distance between homes, truck fees |
| Intrastate long distance | Hourly or weight-based, varies by state | State tariff rules, distance, shuttle needs |
| Interstate | Weight and mileage, or binding/non-binding estimate | Shipment weight, distance, date, access |
| Add-ons | Flat or per-item fees | Packing, piano or heavy-item handling, storage, long carries |
For consumers and movers alike, the federal "Protect Your Move" resource explains how estimates, binding quotes, and valuation coverage work. Sharing it with customers can reduce disputes. The more transparent your quoting, the less price-shopping pressure you face.
Quote carefully: Under federal rules, interstate movers must follow estimate and documentation requirements. Verify specifics with the FMCSA before publishing pricing policies.
When Is Peak Moving Season?
Peak moving season runs from late spring through summer, typically May through September, with the busiest days clustered around month-end and weekends. Demand drops in winter, so most movers face a cash-flow squeeze between roughly November and February.
| Period | Typical demand | What movers commonly do |
|---|---|---|
| January–March | Low | Training, marketing, equipment maintenance, booking spring work early |
| April–May | Rising | Hiring seasonal crews, confirming insurance and trucks |
| June–August | Peak | Maximum bookings; premium pricing common |
| September | Tapering from peak | Late-summer moves, college and school-related moves |
| October–December | Softening | Holiday-season and relocation-driven moves |
Why summer? School calendars, better weather, lease cycles, and job transfers all push moves into the same window. Month-end spikes come from lease expirations and closing dates.
Smart operators smooth the cycle rather than just surviving it. Our guides on preparing for the quiet season and off-season tactics for leads and sales cover practical ways to keep the pipeline full.
What Do Labor Statistics Say About Movers?
Moving is labor-intensive, and the work is physically demanding, hourly, and seasonal. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks movers under occupations such as hand laborers and material movers. According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, that group earned a median $38,220 a year ($18.38 an hour) in May 2025 and held about 6.9 million jobs. BLS projects 4% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 904,200 openings a year, mostly from workers leaving the field. That turnover is the labor pressure movers feel every spring.
Here is what to check, and where:
- Wages in your market. Use BLS OEWS for the latest median and percentile wages in your metro area.
- Employment levels. BLS publishes national and state employment estimates for the relevant occupations.
- Injury rates. BLS and OSHA publish safety data. Back injuries and strains are persistent risks for movers.
- Turnover. Not tracked precisely by any single source, but widely cited by operators as a major cost.
Hiring and keeping crew members is consistently one of the biggest operational challenges for movers. We cover tactics in our guide to reducing crew turnover year-round and preparing staff for the busy season.
Why Labor Data Matters for Pricing
If crew wages rise in your market, your hourly rate must follow or your margin shrinks. Tracking BLS wage data each year helps you justify price changes with facts instead of guesswork. For margin math, our profit margin guide is a good place to start.
How Are Moving Companies Using Technology?
Technology adoption in moving has grown steadily, with movers adopting CRMs, online quoting, digital estimates, route and dispatch tools, and automated customer communication. There is no single authoritative adoption percentage, so be cautious about any article that quotes one without a named survey.
What we can say with confidence from the way the industry operates:
- Speed of response decides many jobs. Customers usually request several quotes at once, so the first mover to call back often wins the conversation.
- Online presence is table stakes. Customers search on mobile, compare reviews, and expect to request a quote online.
- Virtual surveys are common. Video walkthroughs let estimators quote without driving to the home.
- Data-driven operations separate leaders from the pack. Tracking lead source, close rate, and revenue per job shows where to invest.
| Technology | What it does | Impact on the business |
|---|---|---|
| CRM and quoting software | Tracks leads, quotes, jobs, and billing in one place | Fewer missed follow-ups, faster quotes |
| Online booking and quote forms | Capture customer details around the clock | More inbound inquiries |
| Dispatch and scheduling tools | Assign crews and trucks efficiently | Better utilization, fewer scheduling errors |
| Phone, SMS and call tracking | Connect conversations to lead sources | Clearer ROI by marketing channel |
If you want to see what a purpose-built system looks like, explore moving company software or book a free demo. For a wider view of where tools are heading, read the future of moving: embracing technology and innovation.
How Much Do Online Reviews Matter for Movers?
Reviews are among the most important trust signals for a moving company, because customers are handing strangers their belongings. Surveys across local-service industries repeatedly show that most consumers read reviews before choosing a provider, but exact percentages vary by survey and year, so verify before quoting one.
What matters most in a mover's reviews:
- Volume and recency both matter. A steady flow of recent reviews looks healthier than a burst from years ago.
- Responses matter. Replying professionally to negative reviews shows prospects how you treat problems.
- Platform mix matters. Google, Yelp, the Better Business Bureau, and Facebook all influence decisions.
- Complaint data is public. The Better Business Bureau and the FMCSA complaint system make problems visible to shoppers.
See why online reviews matter for your moving business, our guide on boosting customer reviews, and the playbook for handling negative Google reviews.
What Are the Lead Generation and Digital Marketing Trends?
Movers increasingly depend on digital channels, and competition for the same customers has pushed up the cost of paid search and made lead quality and response speed more important. Exact cost-per-click and cost-per-lead figures vary by market, season, and platform, so benchmark against your own account rather than a generic stat.
The main channels in use today:
| Channel | Strength | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Organic search (SEO) | Compounding, lower long-run cost | Slow to build; competitive in big metros |
| Paid search and local service ads | Fast, high intent | Rising costs in peak season |
| Social media | Brand building and local reach | Lower direct intent |
| Referrals and partners | High trust and close rates | Hard to scale |
| Purchased leads | Predictable volume, fast ramp-up | Quality varies by provider; verify how leads are screened |
The key metrics to track are cost per lead, close rate, cost per booked job, and average revenue per job. A lead is only cheap if you can convert it. For a deeper dive, see our guides on leads for moving companies, moving company marketing strategies, and navigating the digital marketing landscape.
Pro tip: If you are buying leads, ask any provider how each lead is verified. Network Leads verifies leads by SMS, phone in some cases, and data checks. You can see how it works on our moving leads page.
Where Is the Moving Industry Headed? Forecast for 2027–2030
Expect more of the business to go to companies that respond quickly, show strong reviews, and run tight operations. We do not publish numeric forecasts because they would be guesses, but several directional trends are well supported by what we see across the industry.
- Housing affordability will keep shaping mobility. Mortgage rates and rents influence whether people move or stay put.
- Demographics will keep reshaping demand. Aging, household formation, and generational shifts change who is moving. Our article on demographic shifts in the moving industry goes deeper.
- Flexible work will keep widening location choices. Even partial remote work expands where people can live.
- Automation will reach more of the back office. Quoting, follow-up, and dispatch are the first places owners will feel it.
- Consumer protection scrutiny is likely to stay high. Regulators continue to focus on household goods fraud; keep your compliance in order.
- Labor will remain a bottleneck. Companies that treat crew well will keep winning the quality race.
No forecast replaces your own numbers. Track your leads, bookings, and margins monthly, and adjust before the season, not during it.
Sources and Methodology
This report relies on primary public sources, and we encourage you to check each one for the latest release before citing a figure.
| Topic | Primary source |
|---|---|
| Geographic mobility rates and type of move | Census Bureau, CPS historical mobility tables (Table A-1) |
| Migration flows and population estimates | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Wages, employment and outlook for movers | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and BLS OEWS |
| Carrier registration, household goods rules, consumer guidance | FMCSA Protect Your Move |
| Workplace safety | OSHA |
| Industry trade information | ATA Moving & Storage Conference (formerly the American Moving & Storage Association) |
Methodology and limits: We used ranges and directional language where figures change by year or by source. This report does not include proprietary survey data. Statistics were not independently re-measured; confirm against the linked sources before using them in publications or investor materials. This article is reviewed periodically and should be treated as accurate as of 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of Americans move each year?
7.8% in 2023 (about 25.6 million people), according to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, the lowest rate since 1948. The American Community Survey reports a higher rate because it measures moves differently. Check the Census Bureau's geographic mobility tables for the latest year.
What is the busiest month for movers?
Summer months are busiest, with demand typically running from May through September. Month-end and weekend dates book first.
Are most moves local or long distance?
Most moves are local. In 2023, 54.1% of movers stayed in the same county and only 17.5% moved to a different state. Interstate moves are a smaller share by count but generate higher revenue per job.
How many moving companies are in the United States?
Thousands of interstate carriers are registered with FMCSA, plus many more state-licensed local movers. Search FMCSA's public data for a current count.
Where can I find reliable moving industry data?
Start with the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and FMCSA. The American Trucking Associations' Moving & Storage Conference, which absorbed the former AMSA in 2020, also publishes industry information.
The Bottom Line
The numbers tell a consistent story: moves are seasonal, mostly local, and increasingly won by the company that responds fastest and earns the best reviews. Mobility is lower than it used to be, so every customer matters more. The best use of this data is not to memorize it but to make decisions with it, such as staffing before summer, marketing where your region is growing, and investing in tools that speed up every quote.
Want help turning more of those moves into your jobs? Network Leads helps moving companies grow with verified leads and purpose-built software. Book a free demo and see how it fits your operation.
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Network Leads
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