About

Relocation budgeting often fails due to the underestimation of volume. Individuals typically assess their property based on floor space rather than the cubic footage of specific inventory items. This discrepancy leads to the selection of inadequate vehicle sizes or unexpected overage charges from professional carriers.

This tool utilizes standard logistics density formulas to convert a detailed household inventory into total cubic footage and estimated weight. It creates a comparative financial model between Self-Move (DIY) using rental trucks and Full-Service Moving, factoring in fuel, mileage, labor hours, and packaging materials. Accuracy in this calculation prevents the common scenario where a rental truck is filled to capacity with 30% of the house remaining, or a moving quote doubles on the day of service due to undeclared volume.

Formulas

The estimation logic relies on aggregating the volume of individual items to determine the requisite transport capacity. The core calculation for total volume V_total is:

V_total = n∑i=1 (v_i × q_i)

Where v is the unit volume of an item and q is the quantity. Estimated weight W is derived using the industry standard density factor for household goods:

W ≈ V_total × 7 lbs/ft³

For Professional Moving costs C_pro, the formula considers loading time and distance:

C_pro = [WL_rate × H_cost] + (D × R_mile)

Where L_rate is the loading speed (approx. 500 lbs/hour/person), H_cost is hourly labor, D is distance, and R_mile is the tariff per mile.

Reference Data

Item Category	Average Volume (ft³)	Est. Weight (lbs)	Loading Complexity
Sofa (3-Seater)	50 − 60	250	High (Requires 2 men)
King Bed (Frame + Mattress)	65 − 75	200	Medium (Disassembly)
Refrigerator (Standard)	45 − 60	250	High (Upright only)
Bookcase (Large)	20 − 40	100	Medium
Dining Table (6 Person)	30 − 40	150	Medium (Leg removal)
Washing Machine	25 − 30	180	High (Plumbing/Weight)
Moving Box (Medium 18x18x16)	3.0	35	Low
Wardrobe Box	10 − 14	40	Medium (Bulk)
Piano (Upright)	60 − 70	500 +	Extreme (Specialist)

Frequently Asked Questions

Square footage measures floor area, while moving trucks are limited by cubic footage (volume). A 1000 sq ft apartment can easily contain 3000 cubic feet of belongings when stacked. Furniture, boxes, and miscellaneous items occupy vertical space, which is why volume calculations are the only accurate metric for truck sizing.

This is the "AMS" (Average Density of Shipment) standard used by the logistics industry for non-weighed estimates. While dense items like books exceed this (approx. 30 lbs/ft³) and pillows differ (1 lb/ft³), a mixed household load statistically averages out to 6.5-7.0 lbs/ft³. This figure is sufficient for selecting suspension grades and estimating fuel consumption.

No. The output provides "Baseline Transport Costs". Professional movers typically offer "Release Value Protection" (60 cents per lb) for free, but "Full Value Protection" is an additional premium. For DIY moves, your auto insurance rarely covers cargo in a rental truck; separate damage waivers are usually required by the rental agency.

Logistics costs are asymmetric. Leaving a high-demand area (like San Francisco or NYC) often costs more due to labor premiums and higher demand for trucks leaving the city than entering. This tool applies a "Location Factor" to account for regional fuel prices and labor variances.