Updated April 2026

    Moving Industry Statistics & Trends (2026)

    The U.S. moving industry generates approximately $20 billion in annual revenue, with over 7,000 registered interstate carriers and thousands more local operators. Each year, roughly 31 million Americans relocate — creating steady demand for professional moving services across every price point and geography. This page compiles verified statistics from the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the U.S. Census Bureau, and Bureau of Labor Statistics to give moving company owners and researchers a single authoritative reference.

    $0B
    Annual industry revenue
    0M
    Americans who move each year
    0+
    Registered interstate carriers
    0%
    Moves happen May–September

    Market Size & Growth

    The U.S. moving industry has grown steadily over the past decade, driven by population mobility, e-commerce-driven commercial logistics demand, and an aging population requiring senior relocation services. Here are the key market-level figures.

    $20.1B

    Total U.S. moving industry revenue (2025)

    Source: IBISWorld

    3.5%

    Annual industry CAGR (2020–2026)

    Source: IBISWorld / AMSA

    88%

    Share of revenue from residential moves

    Source: AMSA

    17,000+

    Active moving companies in the U.S.

    Source: FMCSA / BLS

    58%

    Market share held by local/regional movers

    Source: IBISWorld

    12%

    International moves as share of long-distance

    Source: AMSA

    Market Segment Breakdown

    62%
    Local Moves
    Under 100 miles
    26%
    Long-Distance
    Interstate & intrastate
    12%
    International
    Cross-border relocation

    Sources: AMSA, IBISWorld 2025

    Consumer Moving Statistics

    What movers charge, what consumers pay, and what drives people to move. These benchmarks help moving companies set competitive pricing and understand their customers.

    $1,700

    Average cost of a local move (2–3 bedrooms)

    Source: HomeAdvisor / AMSA

    $4,890

    Average cost of a long-distance move

    Source: AMSA 2025 Survey

    50 mi

    Median distance for a local move

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau

    1,200 mi

    Median distance for a long-distance move

    Source: FMCSA

    11.2%

    Annual U.S. mobility rate (% of population who moved)

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025

    74%

    Consumers who get at least 3 quotes before booking

    Source: AMSA Consumer Survey

    Top Reasons Americans Move

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey, 2025

    Job relocation or new employment30%
    Family reasons (marriage, children, aging parents)22%
    Seeking better or more affordable housing20%
    Lifestyle change or retirement14%
    Education (college, graduate school)9%
    Other or unspecified5%

    Industry Business Statistics

    Operational and financial benchmarks for moving company owners. How does your business compare to industry averages on revenue, close rate, and technology adoption?

    $1.2M

    Average annual revenue per moving company

    Source: IBISWorld

    10–15

    Average full-time employees per moving company

    Source: BLS / IBISWorld

    220

    Average moves per company per year

    Source: AMSA Operations Survey

    $180

    Estimated customer acquisition cost (paid channels)

    Source: Moving industry benchmarks

    22%

    Average lead-to-booking close rate

    Source: DriveSales customer data

    38%

    Close rate for movers using CRM software

    Source: DriveSales platform data

    CRM software nearly doubles close rates

    Moving companies using a CRM to automate follow-up, track lead stages, and send estimates digitally close an average of 38% of inbound leads — compared to the industry average of 22% for companies relying on manual processes. Speed-to-contact is the primary driver: leads reached within 5 minutes are 4× more likely to convert. See how DriveSales CRM works →

    Seasonal Trends

    Move volume is highly seasonal. Understanding the pattern helps moving companies staff correctly, price strategically, and maintain revenue in the off-peak window.

    Relative Move Volume by Month

    Peak season
    Off-peak
    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
    MayPeak
    JunPeak
    JulPeak
    AugPeak
    SepPeak
    Oct
    Nov
    Dec

    Index: June = 100. Sources: AMSA, IBISWorld moving season data.

    Peak Season (May–September)

    • 15–30% premium pricing over off-peak
    • 2–4 week advance booking required
    • Saturday moves command highest rates
    • Carrier capacity tightest in June–July

    Off-Peak (October–April)

    • 15–25% discounts common to fill capacity
    • Same-week and next-day availability
    • Best negotiating leverage for consumers
    • Ideal time for movers to invest in tech & training

    Technology & Digital Trends

    Technology adoption in the moving industry has accelerated sharply since 2020. Companies investing in CRM, video surveys, and digital payments are outperforming peers on revenue per employee and customer retention.

    34%
    ↑ Rising
    CRM Software Adoption

    Moving companies using dedicated CRM software — up from 19% in 2022.

    91%
    Stable
    Online Reviews Impact

    Consumers who read online reviews before booking a moving company.

    47%
    ↑ Rising
    Virtual Survey Adoption

    Long-distance movers offering video survey estimates in 2025, up from 12% pre-pandemic.

    28%
    ↑ Rising
    Mobile App Usage (Crews)

    Moving companies using mobile apps for crew dispatch and job management.

    73%
    ↑ Rising
    Digital Payment Acceptance

    Moving companies accepting card or digital payments — up from 41% in 2019.

    39%
    ↑ Rising
    Online Booking Capability

    Moving companies offering real-time online booking without a phone call.

    Want to close more leads and automate follow-up?

    DriveSales gives moving companies a full CRM, video survey tools, digital estimates, and automated review requests — all in one platform built for movers.

    See All Features

    Regional Statistics

    Move volume is not evenly distributed. Population-dense states generate the most total moves, while Sun Belt states attract the most inbound migration — a critical distinction for movers planning market expansion.

    RankStateNet Migration
    1California↓ Net Outflow
    2Texas↑ Net Inflow
    3Florida↑ Net Inflow
    4New York↓ Net Outflow
    5North Carolina↑ Net Inflow
    6Arizona↑ Net Inflow

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2024–2025; FMCSA carrier data.

    Sun Belt migration is the dominant long-term trend

    Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Arizona have recorded positive net migration for seven consecutive years. For moving companies in these markets, inbound demand is structurally elevated — particularly for long-distance interstate jobs from California, New York, and Illinois. Movers in destination states should prioritize interstate authority registration (MC number) and video survey capability to capture this high-value segment. Learn about video surveys →

    Sources & Methodology

    Statistics on this page are compiled from publicly available government data, industry association research, and DriveSales platform analytics where noted. All figures represent best available estimates as of April 2026. Where ranges are reported, median values are used unless otherwise indicated.

    U.S. Census Bureau

    Annual mobility rate, migration patterns, American Community Survey data

    American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA)

    Industry revenue, consumer costs, operational benchmarks, member surveys

    Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

    Number of registered carriers, interstate authority data

    Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

    Moving company employment, wages, industry workforce size

    IBISWorld

    Market size, revenue, CAGR, segment breakdown, competitive landscape

    DriveSales Platform Data

    Close rates, CRM adoption impact, lead conversion benchmarks from active customers

    Statistics compiled from public data sources. Last updated April 2026. For media inquiries or citation permissions, contact [email protected].

    Moving Industry FAQ

    Common questions about the U.S. moving market, answered with data.

    Want to Outperform These Averages?

    DriveSales helps movers close more leads and run more efficiently — CRM, estimates, dispatch, and billing in one platform built for moving companies.

    See All Features