One of the first questions people ask when they call a moving company is how many hours the move will take. There is no exact universal number, because every move is different. But there are clear reference points: a one-bedroom apartment moved by a crew of movers usually takes 3 to 4 hours, a two-bedroom takes 5 to 7 hours, and a three-bedroom takes 6 to 9 hours. Below we look at what affects the final time, what stages the crew's work is made of, and give a table you can use to get a quick idea for your own situation.
How Long a Move Usually Takes
An apartment move can take a few hours or stretch over the whole day. It all depends not so much on the size of the apartment as on the amount of stuff, furniture and appliances, the floor, whether there is an elevator, and how ready things are when the movers arrive. If the boxes are packed, the furniture is taken apart and the truck can park right next to the building, the work goes much faster.
For a small one-bedroom with good preparation, 3 to 4 hours is often enough. That time covers carrying things out, loading, the drive between the addresses, unloading and carrying everything in. If wardrobes have to be taken apart, furniture wrapped, or heavy appliances carried down without an elevator, the move takes longer.
Moving a two-bedroom apartment usually takes around 5 to 7 hours. For a three-bedroom it is reasonable to plan 6 to 9 hours, especially if there are a lot of wardrobes and dressers. These are rough figures. Two apartments of the same size can need completely different amounts of time.
Typical Hours by Home Size
For a quick estimate, here is a summary table. It helps you figure out roughly how many movers and how many hours your situation may call for.
| Type of home | Moving time | Number of movers |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-bedroom | 3-4 hours | 2 movers |
| 2-bedroom | 5-7 hours | 2-3 movers |
| 3-bedroom | 6-9 hours | 3-4 movers |
| 4-bedroom and larger | 9+ hours | 4 or more movers |
The figures in the table are approximate, and the exact time depends on the factors listed below. For example, moving two one-bedroom apartments can take completely different amounts of time if one of them has no elevator and the things there were not packed in advance.
What the Time Depends On
Several factors affect how long the work takes at once, and you have to look at them together, not one at a time.
One of the main ones is the amount of stuff. A two-bedroom with minimal furnishings sometimes moves faster than a one-bedroom packed with furniture.
- Volume of things and furniture. The more rooms are furnished and the more large items there are in the home - wardrobes, sofas, beds - the longer carrying out and loading take. An empty room with a few boxes takes a crew about 30-40 minutes, a fully furnished one 2-3 hours.
- Distance and route. A move within one city usually fits into a drive of under an hour. Moves to another city stretch to several hours, and a move to another state can be counted in days - logistics, paperwork and road time get added.
- Floor and freight elevator. Carrying heavy furniture up the stairs without an elevator is the most labor-heavy part of the job. For each floor without an elevator, plan extra time, more for bulky items.
- Things ready to go. If the boxes are already packed and labeled and the furniture is partly taken apart, the crew goes straight to carrying out. If the movers do the packing on site, the time goes up.
- Parking and truck access. If the truck can park right at the door, the move goes faster. If it has to park a block away, every trip takes longer, and there may be dozens of such trips.
The floor matters a lot. With a working freight elevator, boxes and furniture move much faster. In a walk-up, every item has to be carried up or down the stairs. You notice it most with a refrigerator, a washing machine, a sofa and wardrobes. In high-rises the building usually sets its own rules for the freight elevator - see our high-rise apartment moving tips for renters.
The distance from the door to the truck matters too. When the truck can park next to the door, loading goes faster. If the movers have to carry things across a courtyard or a parking lot, a good deal of carrying is added to the total time.
Loading vs. Unloading: Stages of the Crew's Work
To understand where the total time comes from, it helps to picture the process itself. The crew's work follows this order:
- Preparation at the address - looking over the volume, protecting furniture and appliances, taking apart large items if needed.
- Carrying out - moving boxes and furniture from the apartment to the truck.
- Loading - placing the load in the truck properly, with fragile items in mind.
- The drive - going to the new address, depending on the route and traffic.
- Unloading and carrying in - moving things into the new home.
- Setting up furniture - assembly and placement by the agreed plan, if that service was ordered.
If packing is part of the order, a separate stage is added to this scheme - packing on site, which is done before carrying out.
How long the move takes depends directly on how well the process is organized. With a sensible approach, loading takes the most time, and unloading usually goes a little faster. The time on the road can't be predicted in advance, since it depends on the distance between the two homes. If you only need hands for this part, there is separate help with loading and unloading.
Example: A One-Bedroom Apartment
Picture an apartment where one person or a couple lives. Most of the volume is a bed or sofa, a wardrobe, a TV, a refrigerator, a washing machine and about 15-25 boxes.
If everything is packed in advance and the furniture is ready to be carried out, a crew of two movers can do the main work in about 3-4 hours when the addresses are not far apart. For moves like that, see short-distance moves within the city.
If packing starts only after the movers arrive, the time can grow to 5-6 hours. So preparation directly affects how long the move lasts.
How Long Do Movers Take for a 2 Bedroom Apartment
In a two-bedroom apartment there is usually noticeably more stuff. Besides boxes and appliances, you have to move several wardrobes, beds, a sofa, tables and other furniture.
With two movers, a move like this can take 5-7 hours. If there is a lot of stuff, it is sometimes more efficient to bring in three. A bigger crew can finish the job faster. More on how this works in an apartment move with a crew.
Moving a Three-Bedroom Apartment or a House
For a three-bedroom apartment it is better to set aside most of the working day in advance. With an average amount of stuff, the move can take about 6-9 hours.
If several wardrobes need to be taken apart, glass packed, heavy appliances carried, or the work done without an elevator, it takes longer. With a large volume of things, it makes sense to add one more mover and choose a truck big enough to do the move in one trip. The same logic applies to moving a whole house.
How Long It Takes to Pack
Packing one room with a crew usually takes 1 to 2 hours, depending on how many things are in it.
If the furniture isn't prepared, you have to count the time to take it apart and wrap it. A wardrobe, a bed or a large table can't always just be carried out whole. Sometimes the furniture doesn't fit through the doorway, or there is a risk of damaging it. The movers can take it apart, protect the parts with stretch film, bubble wrap or cardboard, and put the furniture back together at the new place - see furniture disassembly and reassembly.
If you want the fastest possible move, it is better to pack personal things and small items in advance, leaving the complex furniture and heavy appliances to the movers. Or hand it all over to a packing and unpacking service.
What Else Adds Time
Separately, count the time for taking apart and putting together furniture, disconnecting and preparing appliances, and moving unusual and fragile items. For example, moving a piano or a safe needs extra preparation and care. If you have items like that, set aside separate time for them on top of the standard estimate.
A move to another city is a different story: the road alone can take most of the time. That is covered under long-distance moving out of Chicago.
How to Shorten the Day
Experience with apartment moves shows a simple pattern: the jobs that go fastest are the ones where everything was prepared before the truck arrived. The boxes should be closed and labeled, furniture emptied, passages clear, and a spot for the truck ideally arranged in advance.
Part of the preparation you can take on yourself - this noticeably cuts the crew's working time:
- Pack and label. Put things in boxes in advance and label them by room, so it is clear where the fragile things are and what goes into the truck first and what goes last.
- Keep a first-day bag. Collect separately the things you will need right after the move.
- Clear the way. Free the hallways and landings of anything in the way. If something bulky stands in the entryway, move it out beforehand so the movers can work easier and faster.
- Arrange parking. Reserve the parking spot outside the building for moving day in advance.
- Get appliances ready. Disconnect and prepare household appliances for the move.
The time also depends on how well everything is packed. For example, if you pack your things just in thin plastic bags, they can tear, and the movers will spend their time repacking. To shorten the move, pack everything properly yourself or leave that task to professionals.
It is also important to get the crew size right. For a small apartment two people are often enough. With a lot of furniture, a third mover can speed things up noticeably.
And plan the move for the morning. In Chicago this matters, since the city's streets are jammed, especially at rush hour. A weekday morning, before the traffic builds, usually goes faster than weekends and rush hours.
Tell us both addresses and floors, whether there are elevators, the large furniture and appliances, and how many boxes you have.
Get a Free Moving QuoteQuestions People Ask
How many movers do I need for a two-bedroom apartment?
Most often two or three are enough. The right number depends on the amount of furniture, the floors and how fast you want the work done. Adding movers cuts the time for carrying out and loading, especially with a lot of furniture or no elevator.
Can an apartment move be done in one day?
In most standard cases, yes. With proper preparation, even a two- or three-bedroom apartment can usually be moved completely within one working day.
How can I tell in advance how much time I'll need?
Count the boxes, the large furniture and appliances, the floors at both addresses, whether there are elevators, the distance between the addresses and the size of the truck. The more exactly this is known in advance, the more realistic the time estimate will be. If you also want to understand the money side, read what movers cost in Chicago.
