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How Much Do Movers Cost in Rochester, MN? Local and Long-Distance Prices for 2026

What movers cost in Rochester, MN for 2026: local hourly rates by home size, long-distance and Twin Cities pricing, winter and Mayo-season timing, and hiring tips.

How Much Do Movers Cost in Rochester, MN? Local and Long-Distance Prices for 2026

Hiring movers in Rochester, MN costs $400 to $900 for a one or two bedroom apartment and $900 to $2,200 for a three bedroom house on a local move. Most companies charge $120 to $180 per hour for a two-person crew and truck, with three-person crews at $160 to $240 per hour and a two to three hour minimum.

Long-distance moves in or out of Rochester are priced by weight and distance. A three bedroom move to the Twin Cities runs $1,500 to $3,500, and a cross-country move from Rochester to a coastal city runs $5,000 to $12,000 depending on how much you own. The Mayo Clinic drives a steady flow of relocations into the city, and that keeps local movers busy and rates a little above what you would find in a Minnesota town of similar size.

Local Move Prices by Home Size

A studio or one bedroom apartment takes a two-person crew two to four hours, which puts the cost at $350 to $700 including the truck. Apartments in downtown Rochester and near the Mayo campus often add time for elevators and loading zones, and some companies charge a flat $50 to $100 for buildings without freight elevators.

A two bedroom apartment or small house runs four to six hours with two movers, or $550 to $1,000. Three bedroom homes in the northwest and southwest neighborhoods typically need three movers for five to eight hours, or $900 to $1,800.

Four bedroom and larger homes in areas like Folwell, the Country Club Manor area, or the newer subdivisions off Highway 52 can run $1,800 to $3,500 with a four-person crew and a full day. Basements are the variable most people forget, since Rochester homes almost all have one and a finished basement can add two hours.

Packing services are quoted separately at $40 to $60 per packer per hour plus materials, and a full pack of a three bedroom home runs $600 to $1,500.

Long-Distance and Out-of-State Moves

Moves between Rochester and the Twin Cities are the most common long-distance route, and most companies price them as a flat rate or a day rate rather than by weight. A two bedroom apartment from Rochester to Minneapolis runs $1,200 to $2,200, and a three bedroom house runs $1,800 to $3,500.

Moves to Wisconsin, Iowa, or the Dakotas are priced similarly for short hauls and by weight for anything beyond a few hundred miles. A typical three bedroom home weighs 8,000 to 12,000 pounds, and interstate rates run roughly $0.50 to $0.90 per pound for the first 1,000 miles.

Cross-country moves for Mayo staff relocating from the coasts are common, and the price for a full three bedroom household from Rochester to California, the Northeast, or the Southeast runs $6,000 to $12,000. Container services and freight trailers cost less at $3,000 to $6,000 if you are willing to load yourself.

Interstate movers must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and carry a USDOT number, which you can check online. Intrastate movers in Minnesota need a household goods carrier permit from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

What Changes the Price in Rochester

Winter is the big one. Moving between December and March in Rochester means snow, ice, and temperatures that can be well below zero, and crews work slower with more care. Some companies add a winter surcharge, and most will not move on days with an active blizzard warning.

On the other hand, winter is the slow season, and rates are often 10% to 20% lower than summer.

Summer is peak season, and the end of June through August books out weeks ahead. Mayo's residency and fellowship cycles bring a wave of moves in late June and early July, and companies raise rates or simply run out of availability. Book four to six weeks ahead for a summer move.

Stairs, long carries, and parking all add time. Apartments in older buildings downtown and near Saint Marys often have no elevator and limited street parking, and movers charge for the extra distance from truck to door.

Specialty items cost extra. Pianos run $200 to $500 to move locally, gun safes and hot tubs run $250 to $600, and large aquariums, pool tables, and exercise equipment are quoted individually.

Movers Versus Alternatives

A rental truck from a Rochester location costs $30 to $60 per day plus mileage and fuel for a local move, and $800 to $2,000 one-way for a long-distance move. Add moving blankets, a dolly, and your own labor, and a DIY local move of a two bedroom apartment costs $100 to $250 versus $550 to $1,000 with movers.

Labor-only movers are the middle option. Companies in Rochester will send two people to load or unload your rental truck for $80 to $130 per hour, which works well for people who can drive the truck but do not want to carry a couch down two flights.

Portable storage containers are popular for Mayo relocations because the timing of a start date and a home purchase rarely lines up. A container delivered to your driveway, loaded, stored for a month, and delivered across town runs $400 to $900, and long-distance container moves run $2,500 to $6,000.

For most local moves of two bedrooms or more, the time and risk of doing it yourself make full-service movers the better value once you count a lost weekend and the chance of a back injury.

Hiring a Mover in Rochester

Get three written estimates, and for anything larger than a one bedroom, ask for an in-home or video survey. A mover who quotes a three bedroom house by phone without seeing it will revise the price on moving day.

Ask whether the estimate is binding, non-binding, or not-to-exceed. Minnesota law allows all three for intrastate moves, and a not-to-exceed estimate protects you from overages while letting the price drop if the job goes faster.

Check the MnDOT household goods permit for local movers and the USDOT number for interstate movers. Ask for a certificate of liability insurance and confirm workers' compensation. Minnesota requires it for employers, and a mover without it is exposing you to liability if a crew member is hurt on your property.

Understand valuation coverage. Basic coverage is $0.60 per pound per item, which pays $30 on a 50-pound television. Full value protection costs extra, typically 1% to 2% of the declared value, and is worth it for anything you would be upset to lose.

You can compare moving companies serving Rochester in our directory, and our blog covers what other home services cost across Minnesota.

Storage and Timing Gaps

Rochester relocations often involve a gap between arrival and a permanent home, especially for Mayo hires who start work before a purchase closes. Most local movers offer short-term storage in their own warehouse at $100 to $250 per month for a two or three bedroom household, and they will deliver when you are ready.

Storage-in-transit on a long-distance move is priced by the carrier and usually costs more than local warehouse storage, so ask both ways. A self-storage unit off Highway 63 or on the north side runs $80 to $200 per month for a 10 by 15 unit, and labor-only movers can handle the in and out.

If the gap is more than a couple of months, a container left in a storage yard is often the cheapest option, because you avoid a second full load and unload.

Tips That Save Money

Move on a weekday in the middle of the month. Rochester movers charge their lowest rates Tuesday through Thursday and are least busy from the 5th to the 25th, since leases and closings cluster at month end.

Pack yourself and have everything boxed and labeled before the crew arrives. Movers charge by the hour, and a crew that has to wait while you tape boxes is an expensive crew.

Declutter first. The cheapest item to move is the one you donate to the Salvation Army on Broadway or list on a local marketplace before moving day.

Ask about off-season rates. A move in January or February, weather permitting, can cost 15% to 20% less than the same move in July, and companies have open calendars.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average cost of movers in Rochester, MN?

Most local moves cost $400 to $2,200 depending on home size, at $120 to $240 per hour for a crew and truck. Long-distance moves to the Twin Cities run $1,200 to $3,500.

Do I need to tip movers in Rochester?

Tipping is customary but not required. Most people tip $20 to $40 per mover for a half day and $40 to $80 for a full day, more for difficult moves or bad weather.

When is the cheapest time to move in Rochester?

Mid-week, mid-month, and between November and March. Winter weather can complicate scheduling, but rates are lowest and availability is best.

Are Rochester movers licensed?

Intrastate movers need a Minnesota household goods carrier permit from MnDOT, and interstate movers need a USDOT number. Ask for both numbers and look them up before booking.

How far ahead should I book a summer move?

Four to six weeks for June through August, and eight weeks if your move falls in late June or early July when Mayo's residency turnover fills every calendar in town.