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Key takeaways
- A 2–3 bedroom local move in the Denver area totals about $1,200 to $1,600 with a budget mover, according to Corey Oliver. Bailey's Moving & Storage typically totals more in every row of the price table. The lowest quote isn't always the lowest cost, so ask what's in each total.
- Compare the total, not the hourly rate. Ask each company for an estimated total, then ask what's in it: crew size, hours, how travel time is charged, and what happens if the move runs long.
- Six things drive the total: access, packing, big items, timing, storage, and protection.
- At Bailey's Moving & Storage, month-end is the worst time to move; check the first of the month or mid-month. In summer, book 45 days or more ahead for any move.
- If you don't choose a protection level with Bailey's Moving & Storage, you're opted in to Full Value Protection, which has a cost. Released value, the basic level, applies only if you choose it and pays $0.60 per pound per article.
How much do movers cost in Denver? In 2026, a local move for a 2–3 bedroom home totals about $1,200 to $1,600 with a budget mover in the Denver area, according to Corey Oliver at Bailey's Moving & Storage. A full-service mover like Bailey's Moving & Storage typically costs more. A lower quote can leave out things that change your final total, like crew size, hours, travel time, and protection.
If you're asking, you're probably early in the process: a lease is ending, or you just got keys to a new place in Aurora or Arvada. You want a fair number you can trust.
We're Bailey's Moving & Storage, and we've been moving Colorado families since 1952. In more than 70 years, we've learned that people don't need a sales pitch. They need someone to explain how moving prices work.
How much do movers cost in Denver?
With a budget mover, Denver-area local moves typically total about $1,200 to $1,600 for a 2–3 bedroom home. That's Corey Oliver's estimate of what people can get from budget movers, not a Bailey's Moving & Storage price. Volume, access, stairs, and distance move it up or down.
| Home size | Budget-mover total, Denver area | Bailey's Moving & Storage typical total |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1BR | $800–$1,200 | $900–$1,300 |
| 2BR | $1,000–$1,300 | $1,100–$1,500 |
| 3BR | $1,400–$1,600 | $1,500–$1,800 |
| 4BR+ | $1,700–$2,000+ | $1,800–$2,200+ |
Our typical totals run higher than the budget-mover range in every row. Corey Oliver puts it plainly:
We aren't always going to be the cheapest estimate, but we try to be realistic about the actual time and labor the move will require.
Why isn't the lowest quote always the lowest cost?
The number to compare is the total cost of your move. Most local moves in Colorado are billed by the hour for a crew and a truck, so it's tempting to pick the lowest hourly rate.
Quotes also differ because each mover sees a different inventory. If one mover forgets the basement, that quote comes in lower even though your move hasn't changed. So ask each company for an estimated total and what's in it: the inventory, crew size, truck, hours, how travel time is charged, packing materials, which protection level is included, and what happens if the move runs long.
Questions to ask every mover
A budget mover can still be the right call when the quote spells that out. Corey Oliver says it this way: “I would rather give someone a realistic price up front than a low number that looks great initially.”
What does the cost of a local move depend on?
The cost of a Denver local move depends on six things: access, packing, big items, timing, storage, and protection.
Getting in and out of your home
Stairs, elevators, parking, and the walk from your door to the truck all add time.
How much you pack yourself
If the crew packs your whole home, you pay for those hours plus materials. Pack most of it yourself, and the bill drops.
Big, heavy, or one-of-a-kind items
Pianos, gun safes, pool tables, and home gym gear need extra people, special tools, or more time. Mention them when you ask for a quote.
When you move
Summer is peak season in Denver. So are the last few days of any month, when leases turn over.
Corey Oliver advises moving during the week, since weekends bring higher demand and higher rates, and avoiding the end of the month.
Storage when dates don't line up
Storage adds to the total, but it beats a last-minute scramble when closings slip or leases end early.
Protection for your belongings
Valuation is the coverage that decides what happens if something gets damaged. Movers offer different levels, each priced differently.
Text version of this infographic
What drives the total cost of a Denver local move. Six things move your total. Access: stairs, elevators, parking, and the walk to the truck add time. Packing: if the crew packs, you pay for those hours plus materials. Big items: pianos, gun safes, pool tables, and home gym gear need extra people, special tools, or more time. Timing: summer and the last few days of any month are the busiest. Storage: adds to the total, but beats a last-minute scramble. Protection: valuation decides what happens if something is damaged, and levels are priced differently.
Four costs have gone up since 2019. Fuel: diesel in the Rocky Mountain region averaged about $4.69 a gallon from January through August 2026, compared with $3.04 in 2019, roughly 54% more. Crew wages: median pay for hand movers in the Denver metro went from $16.39 an hour in 2019 to $22.25 in 2025, roughly a third more; heavy truck drivers went from $24.32 to $30.72, roughly a quarter more. Trucks: running a truck cost a record $2.336 a mile in 2025 (trucking in general, not movers specifically). Insurance: costs rose another 6.4% in early 2026 (trucking in general, not movers specifically). Nationally, the government's price index for household and office moving rose about 36% from April 2019 to April 2026.
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Denver metro, May 2019 and May 2025; Producer Price Index for household and office moving, April 2019 and April 2026); American Transportation Research Institute, July 2026 report. Figures as of October 2026. Compiled by Bailey's Moving & Storage.
How do you know what a move should cost in 2026?
Moving prices have climbed since 2019 because four costs went up: fuel, crew wages, trucks, and insurance.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration doesn't track Denver alone, but in the Rocky Mountain region diesel averaged about $4.69 a gallon from January through August 2026, compared with $3.04 in 2019. That's roughly 54% more. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage surveys show median pay for hand movers in the Denver metro went from $16.39 an hour in 2019 to $22.25 in 2025, roughly a third more. Heavy truck drivers went from $24.32 to $30.72, roughly a quarter more.
Trucks and insurance cost more as well. The American Transportation Research Institute, which studies trucking in general rather than moving companies, found that running a truck cost a record $2.336 a mile in 2025, and insurance costs rose another 6.4% in early 2026. You can see it in moving prices nationwide: the government's producer price index for household and office moving, which covers local and long-distance jobs, rose about 36% from April 2019 to April 2026.
Corey Oliver sees the same pressure inside the business: higher wages and fuel prices, plus trucks, equipment maintenance, insurance, and the cost of staffing professional crews. If a quote comes in far below the Denver-area range, ask what's being left out.
What kinds of movers will you find in Denver?
Low-hourly-rate operators
These outfits often advertise the lowest hourly rate you'll see. The truck may be a rental with no company name, and the crew may be day labor hired for that one job. There's usually no warehouse, and sometimes no clear operating authority.
Some of these crews work hard and do fine. The low rate still leaves out training, backup trucks, insurance, storage, and a company that answers the phone after move day.
Brokers
A broker books your move and then sells the job to whichever company takes it. You may not know who's coming until the truck pulls up.
Brokers are legal, and some are upfront. Ask plainly, "Will your own trucks and employees do my move?"
Established professional carriers
A carrier does the work itself, with its own trucks, its own employed crews, and its own authority. In Colorado, the Public Utilities Commission regulates movers who work within the state. It doesn't publish price averages, but a legitimate local mover will have a permit number it can show you.
Bailey's Moving & Storage is this kind of mover. We've been in business since 1952, we're an Allied Van Lines agent, and we own our trucks and employ our crews. We have warehouse storage, and we operate under US DOT 4205683 and Colorado PUC HHG-00739.
That usually means our quote won't be the lowest one you get. It also means one company is accountable from the first call to the last box.
Low-hourly-rate operators vs. Bailey's Moving & Storage
| Low-hourly-rate operators | Bailey's Moving & Storage | |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate and quote | Often advertise the lowest hourly rate you'll see | Our quote usually won't be the lowest one you get |
| Truck | May be a rental with no company name | Our own trucks |
| Crew | May be day labor hired for that one job | Our employed crews |
| Warehouse | Usually none | Warehouse storage |
| Operating authority | Sometimes no clear operating authority | US DOT 4205683 and Colorado PUC HHG-00739 |
| After move day | The low rate still leaves out training, backup trucks, insurance, storage, and a company that answers the phone after move day | One company is accountable from the first call to the last box |
Doing it yourself
A rental truck and a few good friends can be the cheapest way to move. If access is easy, the load is light, and your helpers show up, DIY can save real money.
It does cost you time, sore backs, and some risk to your things and your friends. It works well for a small apartment and less well for a family home.
What does a good move look like?
A good move is boring in the best way. The crew arrives on time in a marked truck, protects your floors, wraps your furniture, and loads with care. The final bill lands where the estimate said it would.
Lauren K. compared quotes from a handful of movers before she chose Bailey's Moving & Storage for her local move. Here's how it went, in her own words:
We were super impressed at how easy everything was. Also pleasantly surprised to actually come in a little under the estimate. Truly a great experience!!!
That's one customer's experience, not a promise that every move comes in under the estimate. Corey Oliver says customers notice most when the final price lands very close to the original estimate, because that builds trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should you tip movers in Denver?
Consumer guides from CNET (2025) and ConsumerAffairs (2026) suggest tipping about $20 to $50 per mover, or 10% to 20% of the bill, and the amount is up to you. Corey Oliver at Bailey's Moving & Storage notes that some customers go up to $100 per crew member on longer, multi-day jobs.
When is the cheapest time to move in Denver?
The cheapest time to move in Denver is usually during the week rather than on a weekend, and away from the end of the month. Corey Oliver says weekends bring higher demand and higher rates. At Bailey's Moving & Storage, we suggest the first of the month or mid-month for better availability. In summer, book 45 days or more ahead for any move, and especially for long distance, because more resources are needed. Local moves are more flexible; long-distance moves need at least 10 days.
What's included in a local moving quote?
A good quote starts with an inventory of what's moving, then shows the crew size, the truck, the estimated hours, and an estimated total. It should also explain how travel time, packing materials, specialty items, storage, and valuation are handled, and what happens if the move runs long. Quotes differ mostly because each mover sees a different inventory and estimates the move differently. For example, if one mover forgets to inventory the basement, that quote comes in lower even though your move hasn't changed. When you compare quotes, compare the inventories first so you're comparing like with like.
What's the difference between a moving broker and a carrier?
A broker takes your booking and passes the job to another company. A carrier does the move itself, with its own trucks and crews. Bailey's Moving & Storage is a carrier and an Allied Van Lines agent.
How much does it cost to move locally, and how do quotes work?
Typical Denver local moves in this guide's price table run from about $800 to $2,200+, depending on home size. In every row, the budget-mover total is lower and the Bailey's Moving & Storage typical total is higher. These are Corey Oliver's estimates, not published rates. The lowest quote isn't always the lowest cost, so ask what each total includes. How much it costs to move locally depends on your home, your access, and how many hours the job takes. Most Colorado local moves are billed by time, so ask for an estimated total. Federal binding-estimate rules cover interstate moves. Under Colorado PUC Rule 6608(b), 4 CCR 723-6: "A mover cannot charge more than 110 percent of the estimate." At Bailey's Moving & Storage, Denver local moves are most commonly billed hourly, with the clock running from when the crew leaves our warehouse until they return.
What your estimate should say
Your Denver move, planned in three simple steps
If you're weighing the cost of Denver movers, here's how it works with us:
- Get a free survey. We walk through your home in person or by video and note stairs, parking, and special items.
- Get a written total-cost estimate. You'll see what your move should cost and what could change it.
- Move day with our own crew. Our employed movers arrive in our trucks, ready to care for your things.
Ready to find out what your move should cost? Get Pricing or call 888-260-5717. You can also read more about moving with Bailey's Moving & Storage in Denver.
Picture the end of move day: everything in the right rooms, nothing broken, and a final bill that matches what you expected. That's the move we plan for.
Sources
- CNET — How much to tip movers (2025): https://www.cnet.com/home/how-much-you-should-you-tip-movers-in-2025-according-to-the-pros/
- ConsumerAffairs — Tipping your movers (2026): https://www.consumeraffairs.com/movers/tipping-your-movers.html
- Colorado PUC — Movers: https://puc.colorado.gov/movers
- FMCSA — What is a binding move estimate?: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/consumer-protection/protect-your-move/what-binding-move-estimate
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) No. 2 diesel retail prices, monthly (retrieved 2026-09-24; 2026 figure is a simple average of Jan–Aug monthly values, 2019 is EIA's annual average; no Denver/Colorado series exists): https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=EMD_EPD2D_PTE_R40_DPG&f=M
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Denver MSA, May 2019 (median hourly, SOC 53-7062 and 53-3032): https://www.bls.gov/oes/2019/may/oes_19740.htm
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Denver-Aurora-Centennial MSA, May 2025 (OEWS is not a strict time series; MSA boundaries were redefined): https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/0019740/2025
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Producer Price Index, used household and office goods moving (PCU484210484210; national, local + long-distance; Apr 2019 vs Apr 2026, final values): https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/PCU484210484210
- American Transportation Research Institute — New ATRI report details accelerating costs and low profitability despite cuts (July 2026; general for-hire trucking, not movers specifically): https://truckingresearch.org/2026/07/new-atri-report-details-accelerating-costs-and-low-profitability-despite-cuts/
- Colorado PUC — Transportation Rules, 4 CCR 723-6, Rule 6608 (6608(b): "A mover cannot charge more than 110 percent of the estimate."; 6608(c)(XII): Released Value Option, the lesser of $0.60 per pound per lost or damaged article or the article's value less depreciation, and a Full Replacement Cost Option; Rule 6600: Rules 6600 through 6699 apply to all movers), official Colorado Secretary of State CCR PDF (ruleVersionId 12664, effective 08/14/2026), retrieved 2026-10-01: https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=12664&fileName=4%20CCR%20723-6
- Colorado PUC — Transportation Rules, 4 CCR 723-6, Rule 6008(a)(III)(B) (mover minimum cargo liability, $0.60 per pound per article), official Colorado Secretary of State CCR PDF (ruleVersionId 12664, effective 08/14/2026), retrieved 2026-10-01: https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=12664&fileName=4%20CCR%20723-6
- Corey Oliver, Bailey's Moving & Storage — written SME answers, 2026-10-01 (first-party; all Bailey's Moving prices, billing, valuation, timing and tipping statements)
- Lauren K., 5-star Google review, 2020 (public review on the Denver Google listing)
- Bailey's Moving & Storage — Answering the 8 Most Common Questions on Moving, Pricing and Claims (March 2, 2026; local charges start and end at the warehouse), retrieved 2026-10-01: https://www.baileysallied.com/blog/eight-common-questions-on-moving-with-baileys
- 49 CFR 375.101 (federal household goods consumer-protection rules apply only to interstate transportation), retrieved 2026-10-01: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/375.101
- Bailey's Moving & Storage — company guidance on booking lead times and valuation (first-party), 2026-10-01
