movers

How Much Does a Local Move Cost in Mississippi? (2026 Price Guide)

A local move in Mississippi costs $80 to $145 per hour for two movers in 2026. See totals by home size, regional rates, hurricane season timing, and PSC licensing.

How Much Does a Local Move Cost in Mississippi? (2026 Price Guide)

Mississippi is one of the least expensive states in the country to hire movers, and a local move here costs about $80 to $145 per hour for a two-mover crew and truck in 2026. A one-bedroom apartment typically totals $300 to $650, a two-bedroom home runs $600 to $1,200, and a three-bedroom house costs $850 to $1,950. Those figures include the travel fee most companies charge and are approximate, and humidity, stairs, and the distance between the two homes are the usual reasons a job runs longer than quoted.

Jackson and its suburbs of Madison, Ridgeland, Flowood, Brandon, and Clinton have the most companies. The Gulf Coast, from Gulfport and Biloxi to Ocean Springs and Pascagoula, has a solid base shaped by the casinos, Keesler Air Force Base, and the shipyard. Hattiesburg, Oxford, Starkville, Tupelo, Meridian, and Southaven each have a handful of companies, and the Delta and the rural counties depend on movers from the nearest city.

Mississippi requires in-state household goods movers to hold a certificate from the Mississippi Public Service Commission, which confirms the company has filed proof of insurance and agreed to the state's rules on estimates and claims. Ask for that number first. The pickup-and-trailer crews that advertise on social media do not have one, and they are the source of most moving complaints in the state.

What the Hourly Rate Includes

The hourly rate for a licensed Mississippi mover covers a set of things that should be confirmed in writing before the truck arrives:

• Two or three movers and a 20- to 26-foot truck
• Fuel, moving pads, straps, dollies, and shrink wrap for upholstered furniture
• Basic released-value liability coverage at 60 cents per pound per item
• Disassembly and reassembly of beds and simple furniture at most companies

Packing, boxes, specialty items, and storage are separate. So are surcharges for stairs beyond the first flight, long carries when the truck cannot park within 75 feet of the door, and heavy items over 300 pounds. Most companies require a two- or three-hour minimum and add a travel fee equal to one hour of labor.

Rates by Region

Jackson, Madison, Ridgeland, Flowood, and Brandon run $85 to $145 per hour for two movers and $120 to $205 for three. Older neighborhoods in Belhaven, Fondren, and Eastover have large trees, narrow drives, and older homes with stairs, while Madison and Flowood are mostly newer subdivisions with easy access.

The Gulf Coast runs $85 to $140 per hour for two movers. Condo buildings along the beach in Biloxi and Gulfport require elevator reservations and proof of insurance, and summer traffic on Highway 90 adds time. Ocean Springs and Pass Christian have older homes with raised foundations and porches that add stairs.

Hattiesburg, Oxford, Starkville, Tupelo, Meridian, and Southaven run $80 to $130 per hour. Oxford and Starkville see sharp spikes in mid-August and mid-May when the universities turn over, and Southaven's rates track the Memphis market across the state line.

Totals by Home Size

A studio or one-bedroom apartment in Fondren, near campus in Oxford, or in a Gulfport complex takes two movers three to four hours, for $300 to $650. A two-bedroom home in Clinton, Ocean Springs, or Tupelo takes four to six hours with two or three movers and costs $600 to $1,200.

A three-bedroom house in Madison, Brandon, Hattiesburg, or Long Beach takes six to eight hours with three movers, for $850 to $1,950. Larger homes in Eastover, Reunion, or the newer developments in Madison County run $1,600 to $3,200 with four movers.

Heat, Humidity, and Hurricane Season

Jackson and the Coast hit the mid-90s with humidity that makes the inside of a truck dangerous, movers take more breaks, and a six-hour job runs seven. Some companies add a hot-weather surcharge, and morning starts are cheaper in practice. Afternoon thunderstorms are nearly daily from June through September and pause loading.

Hurricane season from June through November is the Gulf Coast wild card. A tropical storm in the Gulf can cancel a scheduled move, and the weeks after a landfall are consumed by emergency relocations and insurance-funded moves. Coast residents with flexible timing should avoid August and September.

The cheapest window statewide is a weekday mid-month between October and February. Rates can run 20% to 30% below a Saturday in June.

Storage and the Humidity Problem

Mover-run warehouse storage costs $70 to $200 per month for an apartment's worth of goods and $160 to $420 for a house, plus a handling fee for each move in and out. Climate control is worth paying for everywhere in Mississippi. Non-climate-controlled storage will warp wood furniture, mildew upholstery, and damage electronics within a single summer.

Portable containers dropped in the driveway run $110 to $250 per month plus delivery, and they face the same humidity issue. A container sitting in a Jackson driveway in July is an oven, and anything sensitive should not go in it for more than a few days.

Closings that slip and renovation timelines that run long are common reasons for storage, and a move with a storage stop costs about one and a half times a direct move.

Hiring a Licensed Mississippi Mover

Ask for the Mississippi Public Service Commission certificate number and verify it. Ask for certificates of general liability, workers' compensation, and cargo insurance. Companies that also do interstate moves, which is common in Southaven and on the Coast, will have a USDOT number.

Get a written estimate with the hourly rate, crew size, travel fee, minimum hours, and every surcharge. An estimate from a company that has seen photos or done a walkthrough is more reliable than one from a two-minute phone call. Ask what would make the job run longer than estimated, and expect a straight answer.

You can compare licensed companies in the movers category across Mississippi.

Released-value coverage at 60 cents per pound is free and pays almost nothing. Full-value protection at 1% to 2% of declared value covers repair or replacement and is worth buying for furniture and electronics. The Mississippi home services blog has related guides on storage, packing, and long-distance moves.

Military, University, and Casino Moves

Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg, and the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport generate constant military turnover. Government-arranged moves go through contracted carriers, while personally procured moves put service members in the local market. Coast movers know the weight ticket process and often offer a military discount of 5% to 10%.

Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi State in Starkville, Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, and Jackson State create spikes in mid-August and mid-May. Book a month ahead or shift the date by a week.

Casino and hospitality workers on the Coast move frequently, and companies there are used to apartment moves in the high-rise and mid-rise buildings along the beach.

Older Homes, Raised Foundations, and Access

Mississippi's older housing adds stairs in places newcomers do not expect. Raised cottages in Ocean Springs, Bay St. Louis, and Pass Christian have six to twelve steps to the front porch, and every piece of furniture goes up and down them.

Belhaven and Fondren in Jackson have 1920s homes with narrow doors, tight stairs, and driveways that a 26-foot truck cannot enter.

Describe all of it when you get the quote. Most companies include the first flight of stairs and charge $50 to $100 per additional flight or add time, and a truck that cannot park within 75 feet of the door triggers a long-carry fee of $75 to $150.

Cutting the Cost

Move on a weekday mid-month outside summer and hurricane season. Pack yourself, label boxes by room, and stage everything near the door with beds and desks disassembled the night before. Declutter before the estimate, because a truck that is two-thirds full costs the same per hour as a full one.

Labor-only movers who load a truck you rented cost $55 to $100 per hour in most Mississippi markets and are a practical middle option for a one- or two-bedroom.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do movers charge per hour in Jackson, MS?

Two movers with a truck run $85 to $145 per hour, and three movers cost $120 to $205. Most companies require a two- or three-hour minimum plus a travel fee.

Are movers in Mississippi required to be licensed?

Yes. In-state household goods movers must hold a certificate from the Mississippi Public Service Commission. Ask for the number and verify it before signing.

Is it cheaper to move on the Gulf Coast or in Jackson?

Rates are similar, at $85 to $140 per hour on the Coast and $85 to $145 in Jackson. Coast moves face summer traffic, condo elevator rules, and hurricane season, which can add time.

Do I need climate-controlled storage in Mississippi?

Yes for anything made of wood, upholstered, or electronic. Non-climate-controlled storage damages those items within a single humid summer.

When is the cheapest time to move in Mississippi?

A weekday mid-month between October and February. Avoid month-end, summer weekends, hurricane season on the Coast, and the university move-in weeks in August.