Buyer Education
Cost of Packing for a Move: What It Really Costs to Do It Yourself or Hire Out
What is the cost of packing for a move in 2026? Boxes, supplies, and professional packing prices by home size, with budgeting guidance from The Gary Lee Team.
Gary & Rutsell Lee | October 13, 2026 | 5 min read | CA DRE #01448722 & #02067791
Last verified:
Professional packing for a 2026 move typically costs $280 to $2,200 depending on home size, with hourly rates around $60 to $80 per packer, while do-it-yourself supplies run a few hundred dollars for most homes.
The Bottom Line
2026 national pricing shows professional packers charging roughly $60-$80 per hour per packer, with whole-home packing ranges of $280-$2,200 by home size (Extra Space Storage), and full-service runs of $1,000-$2,500 (My Moving Journey), while DIY boxes and supplies typically cost a few hundred dollars.
What Does Packing Cost?
By home size, professional packing (2026 data):
- 1-bedroom: $280-$650
- 2-bedroom: $530-$1,000
- 3-bedroom: $1,030-$2,200
(Extra Space Storage, December 2025 update; similar ranges in SpareFoot and HomeAdvisor 2026 data.)
Hourly and full-service:
- $60-$80 per hour per packer (Extra Space Storage, 2026; SpareFoot, April 2026).
- Full-service packing: about $1,000-$2,500 (My Moving Journey, April 2026).
- A typical 2-bedroom: $450-$1,050 (A to B Movers, July 2026).
DIY supplies: boxes, tape, wrapping and padding for a typical home run a few hundred dollars, a fraction of professional cost, but they cost you time and effort.
For a 55+ Downsizing Move
- Sort before you pack: donating and selling before moving day shrinks both box count and cost.
- Pack by room and label the final destination, so unpacking in a smaller home is structured.
- Many community moves include a downsizing session with the moving company; ask.
Senior Move Managers vs. Standard Commercial Packers
Standard commercial packers pack and label; Senior Move Managers (often members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers) plan the whole transition, from sorting and downsizing to coordinating movers, unpacking and setting up the new home.
- October 2026 NorCal market estimates: Senior Move Manager packing runs $60 to $95 per hour per packer across Greater Sacramento and South Placer, above standard commercial packer rates because the service includes sorting guidance and transition planning.
- White-glove unboxing: the team unpacks boxes, places items where you want them, assembles furniture, hangs pictures, and removes packing debris, so a downsizer lands in a functioning home on day one.
- For single-story floor plans, the same service confirms what fits: measurements, furniture placement and donation scheduling happen before the truck arrives.
Packing Cost Benchmarks by Home Size
Budget a packing line item in your moving plan with the plan-the-move resource, and pull the full cost picture from the seller-resources library.
| Home size / option | 2026 cost |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom | $280-$650 |
| 2-bedroom | $530-$1,000 (typical $450-$1,050) |
| 3-bedroom | $1,030-$2,200 |
| Hourly per packer | $60-$80 |
| Full-service packing | about $1,000-$2,500 |
| DIY supplies | a few hundred dollars |
Figures exactly as published in this article: Extra Space Storage (December 2025); SpareFoot (April 2026); My Moving Journey (April 2026); A to B Movers (July 2026).
Packing Cost FAQs
How much does professional packing cost?
By home size, professional packing runs $280-$650 for a 1-bedroom, $530-$1,000 for a 2-bedroom, and $1,030-$2,200 for a 3-bedroom, with hourly rates around $60-$80 per packer.
Is it cheaper to pack myself?
DIY boxes and supplies for a typical home run a few hundred dollars, a fraction of professional cost, but they cost you time and effort.
What does full-service packing cost?
Full-service packing runs about $1,000-$2,500, with a typical 2-bedroom around $450-$1,050.
How can a 55+ downsizing move cut packing costs?
Sort before you pack: donating and selling before moving day shrinks both box count and cost.
Packing is one piece of the moving budget; see our related guide on the cost of movers for a 55+ move.
Budget a packing line item in your moving plan. The Gary Lee Team helps 55+ movers plan the whole move, with a dedicated plan-the-move resource and a seller-resources library.
Sources
Extra Space Storage, "How Much Do Professional Packers Cost?" (December 2025); SpareFoot, "How Much Do Professional Packers Cost?" (April 2026); My Moving Journey (April 2026); A to B Movers (July 2026).
Cost & Vendor Estimate Disclosure:
All moving costs, packing figures, and HOA document fee ranges quoted are estimates based on regional Northern California market averages. Actual costs vary by service provider, distance, volume, and individual community association policies.
About the Author
Written by Gary Lee, CA DRE #01448722 and Rutsell Lee, CA DRE #02067791 of The Gary Lee Team, eXp Realty of Northern California, Inc., specializing in 55+ active-adult communities across Northern California.
Meet your specialists
Meet Gary & Rutsell, your Northern California 55+ REALTORS
Gary Lee has been a full-time California REALTOR® since 2004. Rutsell Lee is also a California REALTOR® and co-founder of The Gary Lee Team. Together they research Northern California 55+ communities, tour homes and amenities, and help buyers and sellers compare their options throughout Greater Sacramento and Northern California.
The Gary Lee Team · eXp Realty of Northern California, Inc.
Have questions about transitioning to a NorCal 55+ community? Talk directly with Gary & Rutsell Lee at (916) 595-4279.
