One of the most underestimated parts about moving is wondering how long it takes movers to load and unload a moving truck. Not to mention how much it’ll cost in the end. But worry not, UniMovers is here to ensure you have the smoothest move!
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How long does it take movers to load a moving truck?
Here at UniMovers, we estimate that it’ll take around 2 hours with two movers if you’re venturing from your studio apartment. On the longer side, if you’re moving from a 3-4 bedroom home or even a 4+ bedroom home with four movers, we estimate it’ll take around 4+ hours to load. See below for our estimates on how long it usually takes for movers to load a moving truck.
| Studio/Small Apartment 400-600 ft2 | 2 movers, 2 hours | 4 man-hours |
| 1-3 Bedroom Apartment 700-1200 ft2 | 2 movers, 2-3 hours | 4-6 man-hours |
| 2-3 Bedroom Home 1100-1600 ft2 | 3 movers, 4 hours | 12 man-hours |
| 3-4 Bedroom Home 1500-2200 ft2 | 3 movers, 4-5 hours | 12-15 man-hours |
| 4+ Bedroom Home 2000-3000 ft2 | 4 movers, 4-6 hours | 16-24 man-hours |
| Large House Or Castle 3000+ ft2 | 4+ movers, 6+ hours| 24+ man-hours |
Of course, please keep in mind that these are estimates. There are many factors that can add time or take away. For instance, is the moving company bringing the moving truck, or are you? Also, how big is the moving truck? Larger trucks can hold more but take longer to load, and vice versa.
It also depends on where the truck has to park. If the truck can park near your old property, then the loading process won’t eat much of your time. But if it has to park a few houses away, it’s best to add another hour or two to your move.
Lastly, please keep a close eye on the weather. Storms can quickly add more time as the movers will have to move slower than on a sunny day.
You can do one thing to help shave more time off the loading process. A good strategy would be to have everything packed and ready before the big day. This means having your belongings in labeled boxes placed next to your door. Your movers will greatly appreciate this gesture as they can quickly grab and load!
How long does it take movers to unload a moving truck?
Now that the movers got everything loaded into the truck, it’s time to see how long it’ll take to unload it.
Almost like loading, Moving Labor estimates that unloading could take anywhere from 2-5 hours. But, again, this depends on many factors. Unloading can take as little as half the time as unloading. See below for our estimates on how long it will take movers to unload a moving truck.
| Studio/Small Apartment 400-600 ft2 | 2 movers, 2 hours | 4 man-hours |
| 1-3 Bedroom Apartment 700-1200 ft2 | 2 movers, 2 hours | 4 man-hours |
| 2-3 Bedroom Home 1100-1600 ft2 | 3 movers, 3 hours | 9 man-hours |
| 3-4 Bedroom Home 1500-2200 ft2 | 3 movers, 3-4 hours | 9-12 man-hours |
| 4+ Bedroom Home 2000-3000 ft2 | 4 movers, 4 hours | 16 man-hours |
| Large House Or Castle 3000+ ft2 | 4+ movers, 4+ hours | 16+ man-hours |
It’ll greatly depend on how thorough you want the unloading process to be. For example, are you okay with the movers placing your belongings in the general area of their new home, or do you want them in a precise spot?
Again, do keep in mind that truck placement also plays a significant role in unloading too. For example, Getting the truck as close to your new property as possible ensures less time will be used to unload.
What’s the weather looking like? Are your movers moving through a snowstorm? Is the truck getting pelted by a thunderstorm? Are you unloading with a bright blue sky? Make sure to keep a keen eye on the forecast, as many know it can change without notice!
Not to mention if the layout is different. Is your new home on the second or third floor? Are there tight staircases or a spacious elevator? All these factors will make or break your clock.
How long does it take to load and unload a moving truck?
If you can, try to get your move out and move in on the same day. Most moving companies have minimums ranging from 2-5 hours per mover. meaning if you have a small apartment, or small amount of things that will fall within the minimum, you could wind up paying DOUBLE what you would for the same move. Here are our estimates for how long it takes to load & unload a moving truck
| Studio/Small Apartment 400-600 ft2 | 2 movers, 3-4 hours | 6-8 man-hours |
| 1-3 Bedroom Apartment 700-1200 ft2 | 2 movers, 4-5 hours | 8-10 man-hours |
| 2-3 Bedroom Home 1100-1600 ft2 | 3 movers, 5-7 hours | 15-21 man-hours |
| 3-4 Bedroom Home 1500-2200 ft2 | 3 movers, 7-8 hours | 21-24 man-hours |
| 4+ Bedroom Home 2000-3000 ft2 | 4 movers, 7-10 hours | 28-40 man-hours |
| Large House Or Castle 3000+ ft2 | 4+ movers, 10+ hours | 40+ man-hours |
How much will it all cost?
It’s time to talk about the elephant in your new room. How much will this all be? How many movers will you need? Are you providing the moving truck, or is another company doing that for you?
As most people know, especially those on a tight budget, the cost of moving can be a scary thing to research. I recommend booking with a mover that charges a flat hourly rate with strong reviews. The flat-hourly rate ensures you’re not overpaying for a job, and the reviews ensure your movers won’t just be sitting around, or slow.
Once you’ve found your movers and have locked in that rate/mover, just multiply the rate by the total number of man hours from one of the tables above, and viola! You have you’re move cost estimate
Now it’s time to take a load off
Feel free to go to bed early. Now that the truck is driving off into the sunset, you surely deserve it. However, if moving is still on your mind, this article on why UniMovers may be a better moving option may be for you! Happy moving!
Evan Tovar recently graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in English/Creative Writing with a minor in history. When he's not working, he's at his desk practicing the art of world-building.
