Serving Bellevue, King County, WA and surrounding areas
Movers & Moving Company in Bellevue, WA
A condo off NE 8th with a two-hour elevator slot. A split-level on Somerset with a driveway the truck cannot climb. A piano going to Kirkland. Say what is moving and where, and get a written estimate before you pick a date.
Two movers and a truck typically run $150 to $190 an hour. Most two-bedroom local moves land between $800 and $1,500. See typical Bellevue prices or text your move details to (425) 696-1428.
Fig. 1 What are you moving? Pick one.
- Moves handled
- Homes, condos and offices
- Primary coverage
- Bellevue and the Eastside
- Local billing
- Hourly, 55 miles or less
- Long distance
- By weight and mileage
- Estimates
- In writing, before move day
How much do movers cost in Bellevue, WA?
Local moves are billed by the hour, so the bill is really a count of hours. Three things set that count: how much you own, how far the crew has to carry it, and how ready it is when the truck arrives. A packed two-bedroom at ground level with the truck at the door is a four-hour job. The same two-bedroom on the 20th floor of a tower near Bellevue Square, with a shared freight elevator and a loading dock a hallway away, can take seven.
The clock usually covers travel from the mover's yard and back, not only the time at your door. Ask how travel time is billed when you get the estimate. If your route crosses Lake Washington on SR 520, the truck pays a toll each way, and it is higher for a truck than for a car. I-90 across Mercer Island is not tolled.
Moves of 56 miles or more are priced differently, by shipment weight and distance. See long-distance movers in Bellevue for how that works. For the hourly math on a move inside the Eastside, see local movers in Bellevue.
| Service | Typical range | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Two movers and a truck | $150 – $190 / hr | Loading, driving, unloading, pads, dollies and floor runners |
| Three movers and a truck | $200 – $260 / hr | The usual crew for a two or three-bedroom home |
| Four movers and a truck | $260 – $340 / hr | Larger houses, long carries, or a tight elevator window |
| Studio or one-bedroom, local | $450 – $900 | About three to five billed hours, door to door |
| Two-bedroom home, local | $800 – $1,500 | About four to seven billed hours |
| Three-bedroom house, local | $1,400 – $2,600 | About six to ten billed hours |
| Four bedrooms and up, local | $2,400 – $4,500 | Often two trucks or two days |
| Upright piano, local | $300 – $600 | Skid board, straps and a crew sized for the instrument |
| Packing labor | $60 – $85 / hr per packer | Boxes, paper and tape are billed as used |
Ranges are typical for Bellevue and the Eastside and are not a quote. Your price comes as a written estimate for your inventory, your buildings and your date.
Tell us what is moving in one tap.
Pick the kind of move and your messages app opens with it filled in. Add your date, where you are moving from and to, and a few photos of the big rooms. Nothing is stored on this site.
Photos of the garage, the kitchen and anything over 300 pounds make the estimate far more accurate.
How do you choose a moving company in Bellevue?
Washington regulates household movers more closely than most states, and that works in your favor. Rates for in-state moves are published in a state tariff with a floor and a ceiling, so a quote far below every other quote is a warning, not a bargain. What to check before you sign:
- The permit. A household goods permit number from the state Utilities and Transportation Commission, printed on the estimate. You can look it up on the commission's website in a minute.
- A written estimate. Based on a walk-through, in person or by video. A price given over the phone from a room count alone is not an estimate under state rules.
- Binding or non-binding. A binding estimate is a fixed price for the listed inventory. A non-binding one is a projection, with a cap on how far the final bill can run over it.
- Valuation. What the mover owes you if something breaks. The free basic level pays by the pound. Read that line before move day, not after.
- Who shows up. Ask whether the crew are employees of the company you hired and whether the truck is theirs.
Before the truck arrives
- Reserve the elevator and the dock. Downtown and Spring District buildings book move slots days ahead, and many will not let a crew start without one.
- Sort out truck parking. A 26-foot truck needs about 40 feet of curb. On a narrow or steep street, tell the estimator so a smaller shuttle truck can be planned.
- Finish packing the night before. Open boxes and loose items are the most common reason a four-hour move takes six.
- Empty what cannot ride. Propane, paint, gasoline and other flammables do not go on a moving truck.
What moving services can you book in Bellevue?
Prices shown are typical Bellevue ranges, not quotes. Not sure which one fits? Text what you are moving and you will be pointed to the right one.
Is hiring movers worth it compared with renting a truck or a container?
The rental truck looks cheap until you add what the day rate leaves out: mileage, fuel, the damage waiver, pads and a dolly, and the two friends you now owe. It also puts you behind the wheel of a 26-foot truck on I-405, and backing it into a loading dock built for someone who does this daily.
A portable container solves the driving and adds storage time, which helps when your closing dates do not line up. The catch on the Eastside is placement. Many condo associations and some hillside streets will not take a container at the curb, so check with your building or the city before you order one.
A middle route exists. You rent the truck or container and hire a crew for loading only, usually a two-hour minimum. Loading is where the skill is. A tightly tiered and strapped load fits more on the truck and arrives without the furniture having walked around in the back.
| Factor | Full-service movers | Rental truck, do it yourself | Portable container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who lifts | The crew | You and whoever you can recruit | You, or hired loaders |
| Who drives | The mover | You, in a 16 to 26 ft truck | The container company |
| Typical two-bedroom cost, local | $800 – $1,500 | $150 – $400 plus your weekend | $400 – $900 plus loading |
| Time on move day | 4 to 7 hours | A full day, often two | Spread over several days |
| Damage coverage | Valuation included, upgrades offered | Your own insurance, if any | Contents coverage sold separately |
| Works at a high-rise dock | Yes, with a certificate of insurance | Often not allowed without one | Rarely |
| Best for | Families, stairs, heavy furniture, tight dates | A studio and a strong back | Gaps between closing dates |
Which parts of Bellevue and the Eastside do you cover?
Serving Bellevue, King County, WA and surrounding areas. Each part of town moves a little differently, and the estimate should reflect that.
- Downtown and Old BellevueHigh-rise condos and apartments around Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square and Main Street. Elevator bookings, loading docks and insurance certificates.
- Wilburton, Bel-Red and the Spring DistrictNewer mid-rise buildings east of I-405 with garage clearance limits and timed move slots.
- Crossroads and Lake HillsGarden apartments with exterior stairs and ranch houses along 148th and 156th Avenues.
- Somerset, Lakemont and Cougar MountainSteep streets, switchback driveways and long carries. Often a shuttle truck job.
- Factoria, Eastgate and Newport HillsThe I-90 side of town, with quick access east to Issaquah and west to Mercer Island.
- Bridle Trails, Clyde Hill and MedinaLarge lots, long private drives and gated entries north and west of downtown.
- Kirkland, Redmond and SammamishNorth on I-405 and east on SR 520, including the Overlake and Totem Lake areas.
- Mercer Island, Newcastle and IssaquahWest and east on I-90, and south on I-405 toward Renton.
What protects your belongings during a move in Washington?
Valuation is not insurance. It is the mover's stated liability, and you choose the level on the bill of lading before anything is loaded. People skip this line because it looks like paperwork. It is the line that decides what a dropped television is worth.
Basic value protection
Included at no charge. Pays 60 cents per pound for the damaged item. A 40-pound television that cost $900 is worth $24 under this option. It suits sturdy, inexpensive loads.
Replacement value
Costs extra and is priced on the declared value of the shipment. The mover repairs the item, replaces it, or pays its current replacement cost. Deductible options lower the price.
Two limits apply at either level. Boxes you packed yourself are covered only if the carton shows outside damage, because nobody can vouch for what happened inside it. And jewelry, cash and documents should ride with you. For fragile kitchens and artwork, see packing services in Bellevue.
What else do people ask Bellevue movers?
How far in advance should you book movers in Bellevue?
Three to four weeks ahead for a move between May and September, and for any date in the last few days of a month, when leases turn over. Two weeks is usually enough from October through April. Midweek, mid-month dates are the easiest to get.
Do you tip movers?
Tipping is customary and not required. A common range is $5 to $10 per mover for each hour worked, handed to each person at the end of the job. On a long, hot day, cold water and a place to eat lunch go a long way too.
Can movers work in the rain?
Yes. Rain is a normal working day here from October to April. Mattresses and upholstered pieces are bagged or stretch-wrapped, floors get runners, and the truck backs as close to the door as it can. Expect the job to run a little slower, and keep old towels by the entry.
What will movers not move?
Hazardous items: propane tanks, gasoline, paint, solvents, aerosols, fireworks and ammunition. Perishable food and houseplants are usually declined on long-distance moves. Cash, jewelry, medication, passports and closing documents should travel with you, because no valuation option covers them properly.
Can you find movers near me for a move this week?
Sometimes. Midweek dates outside summer often have an opening within a few days. A written estimate still comes first, and it can be done by video the same day you call. Month-end weekends in June, July and August are usually booked two or more weeks out.
Single heavy items are handled by piano movers in Bellevue. For a business, see office movers in Bellevue.
Have a move date in mind?
(425) 696-1428Say where you are moving from and to, how many rooms, and anything heavy or awkward. You get a written estimate before you commit to a date. Prefer not to talk? Text the details and a few photos.