How Much Do Packers Charge Per Hour?
Posted in: Moving AdvicePacking is arguably one of the most frustrating parts of moving. It’s time-consuming and anxiety-inducing as you pack your delicate valuables away and hope for the best, and sometimes it involves difficult decisions about what to take with you and what to get rid of.
The good news is, many companies offer packing services to take some or all of the packing work off your hands. But, before you add “hire professional packers” to your moving checklist, find out how much packers charge per hour, what their services include, and whether it might be worth it for you to hire packers to help you with your move.
Packing Services Hourly Rates
Packers typically charge between $25-$40 per hour per packer. The total cost, including materials, labor, and time, could be anywhere from $200-$2,000. Expect to pay even more if you also want to use unpacking services once you reach your new home.
Hourly rates for packing services are dependent on many factors, including how big your house is (because this affects how long it will take), the time of year you’re moving, and whether or not the company provides packing materials.
To get a better idea of how much packing services might cost you, check out the table below. Keep in mind that these costs are estimates, and what you ultimately end up paying may be higher or lower.
The costs in this table assume you’re paying roughly between $25-$40 per hour per packer.
| Home Size | Number of Packers | Hours to Pack | Total Estimated Cost of Packing |
| 400 square feet | 2 | 2 | $100-$160 |
| 800 square feet | 2 | 4 | $200-$320 |
| 1,200 square feet | 2 | 6 | $300-$480 |
| 1,600 square feet | 2 | 8 | $400-$640 |
| 2,000 square feet | 2 | 10 | $500-$800 |
| 2,400 square feet | 3 | 8 | $600-$960 |
| 3,200 square feet | 3 | 10.5 | $788-$1,260 |
Hourly Rates vs. Flat-Rate Pricing
Most professional packers charge hourly rates based on the time it takes to pack up a home of your size.
Sometimes, packers might offer flat-rate pricing, which is based on the weight and volume of your possessions. They may charge you by the room, such as whether your house has 1, 2, 3, or 4 bedrooms, or by how many bulky furniture items you have that need to be carefully packed. Flat rate pricing might also include the cost of packing materials, depending on the company.
“Get multiple quotes from moving and packing companies, and find out what’s included. This helps you find the lowest-priced option that still provides all the services you need.”
Flat-rate pricing for packing services might make sense if you have a large home, or a home with a lot in it, and know it would take many hours to pack it up completely. You may save money this way because you’re paying one flat rate for the specific size of your home instead of paying by the hour.
On the other hand, if you have a smaller apartment, an hourly packing service might make more sense because you don’t have as much stuff, and it wouldn’t take as long to pack up your belongings.
Additional Packing Costs to Consider
How long it takes to pack your things is just one element of the final cost of getting all your things packed up. Here’s a quick list of external factors that will affect the total cost of hiring packing services.
- Moving date: Expect to pay more per hour during peak moving season, which is from about June to September.
- Packing materials: Depending on the company you use, it may charge you for packing materials and add them to your overall quote. Packing materials include things like boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper, blankets for large furniture, and tape. Other companies may let you provide the packers with your own packing materials (and as a note, this generally is cheaper, since you can shop around for deals).
- Fuel surcharges: Packing services may charge you for their fuel costs of coming to your house. If you’re also using packers to help you unpack, expect additional fuel charges for transportation to your new place.
- Insurance/liability: Professional packers may also add on a cost for insurance or liability to cover any potential damages from packing up your things.
Do I Tip Packers?
Tipping packers and movers is generally considered proper etiquette. For professional packers, it’s customary to tip 5-10% of the total packing service cost. You can also think about it as adding an additional $2-$3 per hour per packer.
You can also show your appreciation for your packers by offering them cold water bottles and snacks while they work, or get them lunch. Also, sometimes just offering sincere thanks can go a long way.
Factors That Impact the Cost of Packers
Many external factors can affect how much you end up paying for professional packers, including:
- Location/distance. If the packers you’re using aren’t local, they may charge you extra for fuel.
- Home size. As mentioned earlier, the size of your home is going to affect how long it will take to pack your stuff, which impacts packing services that charge an hourly rate. If you’re using flat-rate packers, the size of your home also affects the cost because they charge more for a larger home.
- Volume/weight of belongings. Some packing services also charge based on how much stuff you have. Does most of it need to be packed into boxes, or do you have mainly large furniture? Factors like this will affect the overall cost.
- Specialty items. Labor costs may increase if you have specialty items that need extra packing care, such as instruments, antiques, art pieces, and glassware. Large instruments like pianos may also require specialty movers in addition to packers.
- Professional packing company vs. freelancer. The type of professional packer you’re using will also affect the cost. Some providers have a small one- or two-person operation, while other services are larger packing companies. Rates will differ depending on the type of service you use.
If you want to learn more essential packing tips, be sure to browse our Packing Hub.
What to Consider Before You Hire Packers
The idea of packing up your entire house before a big move can seem really daunting, so it’s tempting to shell out for someone to do the packing for you. But before you open your wallet and reserve professional packers, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
Do packing services fit in my moving budget?
Moving is expensive and adds up quickly. Can you cover the cost of packers in your budget? Maybe you can’t pay to hire them for 6 hours of packing, but you could afford to have them pack up a bedroom for you instead.
“For professional packers, it’s customary to tip 5-10% of the total packing service cost. You can also think about it as adding an additional $2-$3 per hour per packer.”
Figure out what will work best for you and what you can pay for. And don’t forget to factor in tipping for a job well done.
Am I comfortable with packers in my home?
Inviting packers into your home means trusting them to handle your belongings — and that’s not a small thing. Of course, they’re professionals, but that doesn’t mean you’ll feel comfortable letting strangers pack your personal or sentimental items. Also, think about whether your home is prepared for professional packers. Is stuff organized in piles, ready to be boxed up, or is there too much disorganization?
Is DIY the better option?
When deciding between professional packers or DIYing it, weigh factors like cost and the time it takes. Professional packers work faster, but they also cost more than if you do it yourself. However, you also save time using professional packers, freeing you up to handle other moving logistics. If you’d miss a lot of school or work, or disrupt the schedules of your household when trying to do all the packing yourself, then it might actually save you money in the long run to hire packing services.
Before hiring professional packers, be sure to find out answers to these questions, too. Knowing the answers can help you make a decision.
- Are packing materials included in the hourly rate?
- Is there a minimum time requirement?
- Are your packers trained and insured?
- Can I customize the level of service?
How Hiring Packers Works
Remember that packers are not the same thing as movers. If you’re using a moving company to help you relocate, movers generally help you load onto a moving truck, drive it to your new location, and help you unload your stuff. Or they’ll just handle the loading and/or unloading. Typically, packers are an add-on service to these types of moves.
What Packers Do
Packers are professionals who help you pack your stuff in boxes properly, using items like bubble wrap and packing paper to keep belongings secure and prevent them from breaking.
Expect the packers to first schedule a walk-through of your home to get an idea of how many items they need to pack and how many bedrooms there are. This helps them provide you with an accurate cost estimate. Some might be fine with a digital inventory where you list or take several photos of your home.
Professional packing services come to pack your belongings before your moving day. You can schedule them to come days or weeks in advance, but they generally don’t do last-minute packing on the same day as your move.
Most importantly, you should prepare well before your packers arrive. Getting your belongings ready for the packing team can help you save time and money in the long run. Follow these preparation tips to make sure everything goes smoothly:
- Declutter. Going through your belongings ahead of time, and either donating or getting rid of things you no longer want, can help reduce the overall volume of stuff that has to be packed.
- Clean. Wiping down appliances, furniture, and other items that need cleaning or dusting before they get packed can help save time.
- Organize. Gathering items together in small piles or areas of a room can help streamline the packing process when the packers arrive.
- Prepare appliances. Unplug and dust/clean major appliances like refrigerators, toasters, microwaves, etc., if the packers are helping you pack them.
- Designate special items. Set aside extra-fragile items like art or instruments together in one spot so the packers can handle them at the same time, instead of walking around multiple rooms of your house collecting each specialty item.
- Set aside essentials. If the packers are coming days or weeks ahead of your move, make sure they know what not to pack, since you will still need some clothes, towels, medications, and other toiletries to live with until moving day.
What Professional Packers Don’t Do
Generally, professional packers don’t load your belongings into a moving truck, and they don’t drive the moving truck to your new location. They also don’t unload moving trucks, as these are services that movers help with.
How to Save on Packing Services
If the cost of hiring professional packers seems like it might be too expensive, you can save money in a few ways.
- Pack non-fragile items and things that are easy to pack yourself.
- Declutter before the packers arrive. Reducing the amount of things to pack saves you money.
- Move in an off-peak time if you can. Peak moving season is June to September, so moving in the fall, winter, or spring can save you money. Also, if you move during the week instead of on the weekend, rates for packers may be lower.
- Get multiple quotes from moving and packing companies, and find out what’s included. This helps you find the lowest-priced option that still provides all the services you need.
Is Professional Packing Worth It?
Professional packing can definitely be worth it for the time, energy, and stress savings it provides, as long as it fits within your moving budget. You’re the only one who can decide whether it’s worth it to you. If you can afford it, even for just packing up part of your house, it can save you lots of time and help reduce stress around an already challenging event.
