Planning a move in New York City and wondering how much packing services cost is one of the biggest questions people ask before they book a mover. The short answer, most NYC households pay somewhere in the mid hundreds to low thousands of dollars for professional packing, depending on home size, how much stuff they own, and whether packing materials are included. National data shows typical full packing costs for a 2 to 3 bedroom home often land between roughly 600 and 2,500 dollars, with larger homes going higher. (HomeGuide)
In this guide, 5 Stars Movers NYC breaks down what you can realistically expect to pay for packing services in New York City, how movers structure their pricing, and how to control your budget without risking damage to your belongings.
Average Cost of Packing Services in NYC
Professional packing prices vary from one mover to the next, but most reputable companies charge either by the hour per packer or by a flat rate that reflects home size, inventory, and complexity. Nationwide, common figures look like this for full professional packing. (HomeGuide)
- Studio or 1 bedroom
- Typical team: 2 packers for 2 to 4 hours
- Typical range: roughly 300 to 900 dollars
- 2 bedroom home or apartment
- Typical team: 2 to 3 packers for 3 to 5 hours
- Typical range: roughly 600 to 1,500 dollars
- 3 bedroom home
- Typical team: 3 to 4 packers for 6 to 8 hours
- Typical range: roughly 1,200 to 2,500 dollars
- 4+ bedroom home
- Typical team: 4 or more packers for 8 to 12+ hours
- Typical range: roughly 2,000 to 5,000+ dollars
Hourly labor rates for professional packers usually fall in the 50 to 100 dollars per hour per packer range at the national level, with dense metro areas like New York often near the higher end because of labor and operating costs. (HomeGuide)
When you request a quote from 5 Stars Movers NYC, we start with these baselines, then adjust based on your actual inventory, layout, and service needs so that your price reflects your real job, not a generic average.
How Much Do Packing Services Cost?
Direct answer: most New York City households can expect professional packing to cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a small, lightly furnished apartment to several thousand dollars for a larger, fully furnished home with many fragile or specialty items.
Key factors that move your packing price up or down
Several concrete variables drive your final cost:
- Home size and number of rooms
More rooms mean more surfaces, closets, cabinets, and storage areas that need time and materials. - Volume of belongings
Minimalist households pack faster and cheaper than homes with packed bookshelves, overstuffed closets, and full storage spaces. (Big League Movers) - Fragile and specialty items
Dishes, glassware, artwork, electronics, instruments, and antiques demand extra time, materials, and skill, which raises the packing portion of your bill. (Big League Movers) - Packing level
- Full packing of the entire home
- Partial packing of fragile or selected rooms
- Box-only or labor-only options
- Access and building conditions
Walk ups, tight staircases, elevator rules, no loading zone, and long carries from apartment to truck all add time and sometimes extra charges. - Materials
Whether boxes, paper, bubble wrap, and tape are bundled into the rate or billed separately will change what you pay on move day.
At 5 Stars Movers NYC, we collect this information in a quick call or video survey, then propose either an hourly structure with an estimated range or a flat packing price for clearly defined scope, so you know where the numbers come from.
How Do Movers Charge for Packing?
Professional moving companies typically use one of three pricing models for packing services.
1. Hourly rate per packer
Many movers charge a per hour, per packer rate. Nationwide, that rate often lands somewhere around 25 to 100 dollars per hour depending on city and company, with New York usually skewing higher because of local labor and overhead costs. (HomeGuide)
A typical NYC structure might look like:
- 2 packers x set hourly rate
- 3 or 4 hour minimum
- Time billed in half hour or hour increments after the minimum
This model is common when:
- Your inventory is hard to estimate in detail upfront
- You want flexible scope (for example, “pack until we reach this budget cap”)
- You plan partial packing and will decide in real time what to include
2. Flat rate based on scope
Some movers offer flat rate packing that covers:
- A defined number of rooms or entire home
- A clearly documented inventory list
- A specific combination of packing, materials, and add on services
Flat rates are more common for:
- Full packing jobs for entire apartments or houses
- Long distance relocations where the packing component is bundled into a single move quote (MyGoodMovers)
The advantage is predictability. As long as the scope does not change, your packing price stays fixed.
3. Hybrid or tiered pricing
A hybrid approach combines:
- A base flat fee for defined rooms or items
- Hourly rates for add ons, extra rooms, or extended time
- Separate line items for unusual materials or custom crating
5 Stars Movers NYC often uses a hybrid model to keep quotes transparent. For example, your kitchen, glassware, and artwork may be priced as a flat package, while extra closets or storage spaces are billed hourly if you choose to include them.
How Much Does It Cost To Have Movers Pack a House?
Direct answer: having movers fully pack a typical family home often runs from the mid hundreds into several thousand dollars, depending on size, how densely furnished it is, and whether you add unpacking or specialty handling.
Apartments and smaller homes
From national cost guides and industry data, typical full packing ranges look approximately like this. (HomeGuide)
- Studio or 1 bedroom apartment
- 2 packers, 2 to 4 hours
- Roughly 300 to 900 dollars
- 2 bedroom apartment or home
- 2 to 3 packers, 3 to 5 hours
- Roughly 600 to 1,500 dollars
Larger family homes
- 3 bedroom home
- 3 to 4 packers, 6 to 8 hours
- Roughly 1,200 to 2,500 dollars
- 4+ bedroom home
- 4+ packers, 8 to 12+ hours
- Often 2,000 to 5,000+ dollars
Homes that are very full, contain many breakables, or have complex layouts can push above these ranges, especially in premium metro markets.
How 5 Stars Movers NYC approaches whole home packing
When you request a quote for full home packing, our team:
- Reviews your home size, rough inventory, and photos or video if available
- Identifies fragile rooms and specialty items that will need extra time
- Estimates total labor hours and materials
- Proposes either a flat price for the full house or a clear hourly estimate with expected range
This process helps align your budget with real world labor so you do not get surprised by a vague “time and materials” bill.
Are Packing Supplies Included in Moving Quotes?
Direct answer: sometimes packing supplies are included in your packing service price, and sometimes they are separate line items. You should never guess, always ask.
Common ways movers handle materials
Professional movers usually take one of these approaches:
- Materials included
Boxes, paper, bubble wrap, tape, and other standard supplies are baked into your hourly or flat rate. This is common when companies quote full service packing for entire homes, and it simplifies billing. (MyGoodMovers) - Materials itemized separately
Each box and specialty material is charged by unit or bundle. You might see rows like “medium box”, “wardrobe box”, “mirror carton”, or “dish pack” on your estimate. (newcitymovers.com) - Hybrid
Basic boxes and supplies are included up to a certain count, while specialty cartons or custom crates appear as separate items.
Why this matters for your budget
Packing materials for a typical 3 bedroom home can easily land in the low hundreds of dollars by themselves if you buy everything retail. (MyGoodMovers)
If a quote looks substantially lower than others, always confirm whether:
- All boxes and standard supplies are included
- Only labor is included and you must buy or supply materials
- Specialty materials will be billed later
At 5 Stars Movers NYC, your packing estimate clearly indicates how we are handling boxes and supplies so you know what your total spend really looks like.
Why Are Packing Services So Expensive?
Many people experience sticker shock when they see professional packing prices, but there are specific reasons the numbers look the way they do.
1. Packing is labor intensive and skilled
Packing an entire home correctly is not just “throwing items in boxes”. Professional packers are trained to:
- Wrap fragile items using the right techniques
- Build stable box structures that protect items in transit
- Label cartons with room and contents for easier unloading
- Work in a tightly coordinated way so move day is efficient
That skill and time is what you are paying for, not just cardboard.
2. Quality materials add up
Sturdy double wall cartons, dish packs, wardrobe boxes, foam, paper, and bubble wrap are expensive. For a home with many belongings, the material cost alone can reach a few hundred dollars when done at professional standards. (MyGoodMovers)
3. Urban operating costs are higher
In a city like New York, moving companies deal with:
- Higher labor and insurance costs
- Parking and ticket risks
- Building certificate of insurance requirements
- Travel and access time baked into every job
All of these are reflected in per hour rates.
4. Risk and liability
When professionals pack your home, they assume greater responsibility if something breaks because of poor packing. That risk is baked into the price of the service.
The practical question is not only “Why is packing so expensive” but also “What does it cost me in time, stress, and potential damage if I try to do all of this myself”.
How 5 Stars Movers NYC Prices Packing Services
5 Stars Movers NYC is a licensed and insured moving company based at 347 E 104th St, New York, NY 10029, serving Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and surrounding neighborhoods. (5 Stars Movers NYC)
When it comes to packing, our pricing approach focuses on clarity and flexibility.
Transparent estimates
Your written quote will clearly outline:
- Whether we are charging hourly, flat rate, or a hybrid
- How many packers are included and for how many hours
- What rooms or item types are covered
- Whether standard packing materials are included or itemized
We avoid vague, open ended language so you can compare estimates fairly.
Customizable scope
You can choose from:
- Full home packing, from kitchen cabinets to closets
- Fragile only packing for breakables, art, and electronics
- Room focused packing, such as kitchen and closets only
- Add on unpacking and box removal at your destination
By narrowing or expanding scope, you can align the service level with your budget and comfort level.
How To Save Money On Professional Packing Services in NYC
You can reduce your packing bill without sacrificing safety by taking a strategic approach. Many national cost guides and moving resources highlight the same core tactics. (Big League Movers)
Declutter aggressively before packing day
- Donate or sell items you do not use
- Recycle old paperwork, broken items, and low value clutter
- The fewer items you own, the fewer boxes and labor hours you pay for
Pack simple, non fragile items yourself
- Books, linens, folded clothes, and some decor can often be safely self packed
- Let professionals handle the glassware, dishes, electronics, and art
Focus pro packers on the hardest rooms
Kitchens, china cabinets, home offices with electronics, and wall art are where professionals add serious value. Target your budget there.
Schedule outside peak times if possible
If you have flexibility, moving and packing mid week and outside peak summer can sometimes help you secure better availability and more favorable rates.
Get a clear, itemized quote
Ask every mover the same questions:
- How many packers and how many hours are included
- Whether materials are included
- How overtime or scope changes will be billed
This is the only way to compare apples to apples.
When Are Packing Services Worth the Cost?
Packing services are usually worth it when:
- You have a full time job, children, or care responsibilities and cannot spend dozens of hours packing
- You own many fragile, high value, or irreplaceable items
- You are moving out of or into a building with strict time windows, elevator bookings, or complex rules
- You want fewer surprises and a more predictable moving timeline
If your home is modestly furnished and you have time to pack methodically, a hybrid approach where you pack easy items and hire pros for the high risk zones can deliver the best value.
Get a Clear Packing Quote From 5 Stars Movers NYC
If you are planning a move anywhere in New York City, from the Upper East Side and Harlem to Brooklyn, Queens, or the Bronx, 5 Stars Movers NYC can give you a realistic, written packing estimate based on your actual home and inventory. (5 Stars Movers NYC)
Here is how to get started:
- Call our team at (212) 372-7489 to discuss your move details and packing needs. (5 Stars Movers NYC)
- Share photos or a quick video walk through so we can see volume and layout.
- Choose your service level full packing, fragile only, or room focused.
- Review your written quote, including labor, materials, and any add ons.
You will know exactly what you are paying for, why it costs what it does, and how our professional packing team will protect your belongings from the first box we tape to the last carton loaded onto the truck.
