Deciding to move is an important, often life-changing decision. Once you set your mind to it, you may feel overwhelmed with all the moving tasks.
How many movers do I need for an apartment move?
Many questions will start to pop up in your head, such as, how to move, when to move, how much money to spend, where to find a moving company, and how many movers I will need for my apartment move?
Zip Moving & Storage is always at your service, doing everything possible to answer every question our customers may have to create the best moving experience.
That’s why we have decided to answer one of the most frequently asked questions with detailed information that will help you with your upcoming apartment move.
Moving is a unique experience
Let’s start with the basics. Here is a table with the average number of movers and time required to complete a move.
| Apartment Size | Number of Movers | Loading | Unloading | Loading + Unloading | Distance between pick up to delivery |
| Studio | 2 movers | 45 mins – 1 hour and 30 mins | 30 mins – 1 hour | 1 hour and 15 mins – 2 hours and 30 mins | 1.5 min per mile |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment | 2 movers | 1 hour – 1 hour and 30 mins | 1 hour – 1 hour and 30 mins | 2 hours – 3 hours | 1.5 min per mile |
| 2 Bedroom Apartment | 3 movers | 1 hour and 30 mins – 2 hours and 15 mins | 1 hour – 1 hour and 30 mins | 2 hours and 30 mins – 3 hours and 45 mins | 1.5 min per mile |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment | 3 movers | 1 hour and 45 mins – 2 hours and 45 mins | 1 hour and 30 mins – 2 hours and 15 mins | 3 hours and 15 mins – 5 hours | 1.5 min per mile |
| Apartment Size | Studio |
| Number of Movers | 2 movers |
| Loading | 45 mins – 1 hour and 30 mins |
| Unloading | 30 mins – 1 hour |
| Loading + Unloading | 1 hour and 15 mins – 2 hours and 30 mins |
| Distance between pick up to delivery | 1.5 min per mile |
| Apartment Size | 1 Bedroom Apartment |
| Number of Movers | 2 movers |
| Loading | 1 hour – 1 hour and 30 mins |
| Unloading | 1 hour – 1 hour and 30 mins |
| Loading + Unloading | 2 hours – 3 hours |
| Distance between pick up to delivery | 1.5 min per mile |
| Apartment Size | 2 Bedroom Apartment |
| Number of Movers | 3 movers |
| Loading | 1 hour and 30 mins – 2 hours and 15 mins |
| Unloading | 1 hour – 1 hour and 30 mins |
| Loading + Unloading | 2 hours and 30 mins – 3 hours and 45 mins |
| Distance between pick up to delivery | 1.5 min per mile |
| Apartment Size | 3 Bedroom Apartment |
| Number of Movers | 3 movers |
| Loading | 1 hour and 45 mins – 2 hours and 45 mins |
| Unloading | 1 hour and 30 mins – 2 hours and 15 mins |
| Loading + Unloading | 3 hours and 15 mins – 5 hours |
| Distance between pick up to delivery | 1.5 min per mile |
Of course, please have in mind that every move is unique, every apartment is different, and the number of items you are planning to relocate may also differ from home to home.
Generally speaking, it can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours to relocate an entire apartment.
Also, the driving time between locations is an important factor for every move. Based on our experience, the average driving time between homes is around 30 minutes.
We will outline the most common moving situations. Oversized items such as large pianos, dressers, safes, stairs, and elevators may demand more moving help and time. We always recommend contacting professional moving coordinators and scheduling a virtual survey.
Experienced survey specialists will go through all the rooms in your apartment and make an inventory list with you. You will get the most accurate moving estimate and information regarding your upcoming move.
How many movers do I need to move the studio apartment?
Two professional movers are usually more than enough for your typical studio apartment move. Based on our moving experience, trained movers will probably need between one hour and 45 mins to three hours to complete loading, unloading, and driving between locations.
If you don’t have many large items or stairs, and your movers can park near the entrance of your building, an average studio move will be a seamless process. Two skilled and experienced movers can do everything efficiently and without any hiccups. In no time, all your belongings will be safely relocated.
Be sure to let movers know if your apartment has a staircase because many moving companies charge extra for that. One flight of stairs or elevator usually means 10% additional time.
How many movers do I need to move a 1-bedroom apartment?
For a standard one bedroom apartment, two skilled and trained movers should be enough to do all the loading, unloading, and transporting. The loading process usually lasts one hour and 30 minutes at maximum.
So, if you combine loading, unloading, and average driving between homes, movers will need around two and a half to three and a half hours to finish everything properly.
How many movers do I need to move a 2-bedroom apartment?
In a typical moving scenario, an average two bedroom apartment has a decent amount of items that need to be packed and moved to the new location. That’s why we recommend hiring three movers to do all the loading, unloading, and transporting. The entire process can last up to four hours and 15 minutes.
Of course, that depends on the number of items you plan to relocate to your new address. We’ve also had two bedroom apartment moves that lasted slightly longer than two hours and 30 minutes. So, to be as precise as possible, the common two bedroom apartment relocation can last between three hours to four hours and 15 minutes.
For a 2-bedroom apartment, the movers will do everything to ensure it goes smoothly!
How many movers do I need to move a 3-bedroom apartment?
Moving the contents of a three bedroom apartment is an adventurous task. Our movers are professionally trained and have the muscles and brains needed for everything to go according to plan.
Sometimes, even the most experienced movers can find relocating a 3-bedroom apartment challenging.
For an average three bedroom apartment, you will probably need three movers, and the entire move can last between three and a half to five and half hours.
What else can affect your move?
| Apartment Size | Full Packing ADD | One flight of stairs or elevator ADD | Distance to door > 75ft ADD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 1 hour and 15 mins | 10% time | 20% time |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment | 1 hour and 45 mins | 10% time | 20% time |
| 2 Bedroom Apartment | 2 hours | 10% time | 20% time |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment | 2 hours and 15 mins | 10% time | 20% time |
| Apartment Size | Studio |
| Full Packing ADD | 1 hour and 15 mins |
| One flight of stairs or elevator ADD | 10% time |
| Distance to door > 75ft ADD | 20% time |
| Apartment Size | 1 Bedroom Apartment |
| Full Packing ADD | 1 hour and 45 mins |
| One flight of stairs or elevator ADD | 10% time |
| Distance to door > 75ft ADD | 20% time |
| Apartment Size | 2 Bedroom Apartment |
| Full Packing ADD | 2 hours |
| One flight of stairs or elevator ADD | 10% time |
| Distance to door > 75ft ADD | 20% time |
| Apartment Size | 3 Bedroom Apartment |
| Full Packing ADD | 2 hours and 15 mins |
| One flight of stairs or elevator ADD | 10% time |
| Distance to door > 75ft ADD | 20% time |
Here is a list of all things that can affect the number of movers you may need, the amount of time, and eventually the cost of your entire relocation:
- Flight of stairs
- Elevators
- Packing options
- Heavy, fragile items and antiques
- The distance from the moving truck to your apartment
Please let your moving coordinator know if you are thinking of relocating some of these items. That will make your moving estimate more precise, and the moving company can then decide how many movers they should send for everything to go as smoothly as possible.
Enjoy your moving experience
No matter if you are moving from a studio apartment or three bedroom one, Zip Moving & Storage has got you covered! Apartment moves can be challenging, especially if long hallways and staircases are in the picture, but there is nothing our professional movers cannot tackle.
It’s imperative to have the right balance between the number of movers, the cost of each mover, and the amount of time needed to complete the entire move.
Hopefully, this article helped you paint a clearer picture of what you can expect from a typical apartment move. So, if you are ready to move and you plan to hire local movers, contact us at 855-947-6543 and let us do all the hard work for you!
