GITNUXREPORT 2026

Moving And Storage Industry Statistics

The moving and storage industry grew significantly in 2023, boosted by post-pandemic relocations and strong global demand.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

54% of U.S. consumers used professional movers for their last move in 2023.

Statistic 2

Average distance of U.S. moves in 2023 was 435 miles for long-distance relocations.

Statistic 3

62% of millennials cited job changes as primary reason for moving in 2023.

Statistic 4

Self-storage usage among U.S. households reached 10.9% in 2023.

Statistic 5

48% of renters moved in 2023 compared to 22% of homeowners.

Statistic 6

Peak moving season (May-Sep) accounted for 73% of all U.S. moves in 2023.

Statistic 7

29% of Americans stored items due to downsizing in 2023 surveys.

Statistic 8

Online booking for moving services rose to 41% of transactions in 2023.

Statistic 9

67% of interstate movers chose full-service options in 2023.

Statistic 10

Average cost paid by consumers for local moves: $1,250 in 2023.

Statistic 11

38% of moves were DIY with rental trucks in 2023.

Statistic 12

Women initiated 52% of household moves in U.S. 2023 polls.

Statistic 13

45% of storage users kept items for over 2 years in 2023.

Statistic 14

Remote work influenced 19% of moves to suburbs in 2023.

Statistic 15

71% of consumers researched movers online before booking in 2023.

Statistic 16

Average household packed 75 boxes for moves in 2023.

Statistic 17

26% of moves were for family reasons (marriage, birth) in 2023.

Statistic 18

Storage for vehicles (RVs, boats) grew 15% in demand in 2023.

Statistic 19

55% of Gen Z used portable storage pods for moves in 2023.

Statistic 20

Consumers reported 92% satisfaction with professional movers in 2023.

Statistic 21

Downsizing drove 34% of self-storage rentals in 2023.

Statistic 22

63% preferred eco-friendly moving companies in 2023 surveys.

Statistic 23

Average move preparation time: 8 weeks for U.S. households in 2023.

Statistic 24

47% of moves involved pets, complicating logistics in 2023.

Statistic 25

International moves by U.S. expats: 1.2 million in 2023.

Statistic 26

39% stored seasonal items like holiday decorations primarily.

Statistic 27

U.S. moving companies averaged 4.2 stars on review sites in 2023.

Statistic 28

51% of seniors used storage during retirement moves in 2023.

Statistic 29

U.S. moving industry employed 250,000 workers in 2023.

Statistic 30

Average hourly wage for movers: $18.75 in 2023.

Statistic 31

Self-storage sector jobs grew 3.5% to 150,000 in 2023.

Statistic 32

42% of movers were part-time seasonal workers in 2023.

Statistic 33

Turnover rate in moving industry: 28% annually in 2023.

Statistic 34

15% of workforce held CDL licenses for trucks over 26k lbs.

Statistic 35

Female employment in industry: 22% in 2023, up from 18%.

Statistic 36

Training hours per new mover: 40 hours average in 2023.

Statistic 37

Unionized workers: 12% of total moving labor force.

Statistic 38

Median age of movers: 34 years in 2023 BLS data.

Statistic 39

Overtime pay averaged 1.5x rate during peak season.

Statistic 40

7,500 new jobs added in self-storage construction 2023.

Statistic 41

Injury rate: 4.2 per 100 workers in moving ops.

Statistic 42

Dispatchers comprised 8% of workforce, avg salary $52k.

Statistic 43

65% of workers had high school diploma or equivalent.

Statistic 44

Benefits coverage: 58% offered health insurance.

Statistic 45

Customer service reps: 5% of staff, turnover 19%.

Statistic 46

Immigrant workers: 32% of moving labor in 2023.

Statistic 47

Average tenure: 2.8 years per employee.

Statistic 48

Managers earned avg $68,000 annually in 2023.

Statistic 49

11% growth projected for jobs through 2030.

Statistic 50

Warehouse staff: 18% of total employment.

Statistic 51

Certifications held: 45% had safety certs.

Statistic 52

Gig economy movers: 14% via apps like Dolly.

Statistic 53

Overtime hours averaged 12 per week in summer.

Statistic 54

Diversity: 41% non-white workers in 2023.

Statistic 55

Packers specialized: 9% of workforce.

Statistic 56

Unemployment rate in sector: 3.1% in 2023.

Statistic 57

In 2023, the U.S. moving and storage industry generated total revenue of $21.4 billion, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022 driven by post-pandemic relocations.

Statistic 58

Global moving services market size reached $92.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $145.3 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 5.8%.

Statistic 59

The self-storage sector in North America accounted for 52% of global self-storage revenue in 2023, totaling $45.2 billion.

Statistic 60

U.S. household goods moving revenue hit $18.7 billion in 2023, with long-distance moves contributing 65% of that figure.

Statistic 61

Europe's moving and storage market was valued at €28.4 billion in 2022, expected to reach €36.1 billion by 2028.

Statistic 62

In 2023, the Asia-Pacific region's storage market grew by 7.1% YoY, reaching $15.8 billion due to urbanization.

Statistic 63

U.S. commercial moving services revenue increased to $4.9 billion in 2023, up 3.8% from prior year.

Statistic 64

Self-storage facilities in the U.S. numbered 52,000 in 2023, generating $39 billion in annual revenue.

Statistic 65

The international household goods moving segment was worth $8.2 billion globally in 2023.

Statistic 66

Canadian moving industry revenue stood at CAD 2.8 billion in 2023, with 6.2% growth.

Statistic 67

U.S. storage unit rental rates averaged $120 per month in 2023, up 5% from 2022.

Statistic 68

42% of U.S. moves in 2023 were local (under 100 miles), generating $7.8 billion in revenue.

Statistic 69

Global portable storage market valued at $2.1 billion in 2023, projected CAGR 6.4% to 2030.

Statistic 70

UK moving services market size was £3.2 billion in 2023.

Statistic 71

U.S. military relocation services revenue reached $1.2 billion in FY2023.

Statistic 72

28% of Americans moved in the past 5 years, fueling a $19.5 billion residential moving market in 2023.

Statistic 73

Self-storage occupancy rates in U.S. averaged 92.5% in Q4 2023.

Statistic 74

Australia's storage industry revenue hit AUD 1.4 billion in 2023.

Statistic 75

Corporate relocation market globally valued at $12.5 billion in 2023.

Statistic 76

U.S. intrastate moving revenue was $6.3 billion in 2023.

Statistic 77

35 million Americans plan to move in 2024, boosting projected industry revenue to $22.8 billion.

Statistic 78

Latin America storage market grew to $3.7 billion in 2023 at 8.2% CAGR.

Statistic 79

U.S. piano and specialty moving revenue: $450 million in 2023.

Statistic 80

India moving services market size: INR 45,000 crore in FY2023.

Statistic 81

Europe self-storage revenue: €7.5 billion in 2023.

Statistic 82

U.S. student moving services: $1.1 billion annually.

Statistic 83

Global climate-controlled storage market: $18.9 billion in 2023.

Statistic 84

Brazil moving industry revenue: BRL 12.5 billion in 2023.

Statistic 85

U.S. wine storage market segment: $850 million in 2023.

Statistic 86

Middle East storage market: $2.3 billion in 2023, CAGR 9.1%.

Statistic 87

Fleet size per U.S. moving company averaged 25 trucks in 2023.

Statistic 88

Average U.S. self-storage facility size: 46,000 sq ft in 2023.

Statistic 89

85% of moving trucks were GPS-tracked in 2023 operations.

Statistic 90

U.S. moving industry handled 27 million moves annually in 2023.

Statistic 91

Self-storage facilities added 5.2 million sq ft of space in 2023.

Statistic 92

Average interstate move took 4.8 days door-to-door in 2023.

Statistic 93

72% of storage units were 10x10 ft or smaller in 2023.

Statistic 94

Fuel costs represented 22% of moving company operating expenses in 2023.

Statistic 95

Peak day for moves: September 1st, with 1.5 million units booked.

Statistic 96

Insurance claims in moving industry averaged $1,200 per incident in 2023.

Statistic 97

65% of moves used shrink wrap and padding materials standardly.

Statistic 98

Average truck capacity: 2,500 cu ft for household moves in 2023.

Statistic 99

Self-storage construction costs averaged $65 per sq ft in 2023.

Statistic 100

91% of facilities offered 24/7 access in 2023.

Statistic 101

Damage rates for furniture during moves: 2.1% in 2023 audits.

Statistic 102

Average employee handles 3.2 moves per week in peak season.

Statistic 103

78% of interstate moves required customs paperwork in 2023.

Statistic 104

Storage facility energy costs up 12% YoY in 2023.

Statistic 105

44% of companies used third-party logistics for overflow in 2023.

Statistic 106

Average local move time: 4 hours with 2 movers in 2023.

Statistic 107

Crane usage for piano moves: 18% of specialty operations.

Statistic 108

96% compliance rate with DOT regulations in 2023 inspections.

Statistic 109

White-glove delivery services grew to 15% of operations.

Statistic 110

Average storage retrieval time: 25 minutes per visit.

Statistic 111

68% of fleets transitioned to diesel-electric hybrids by 2023.

Statistic 112

Lost item recovery rate: 87% in moving claims 2023.

Statistic 113

AI scheduling tools adopted by 23% of firms for labor.

Statistic 114

67% of moving companies used mobile apps for inventory in 2023.

Statistic 115

Electric vehicle adoption in fleets: 12% by end of 2023.

Statistic 116

Blockchain for tracking shipments piloted by 5% of firms.

Statistic 117

Solar-powered storage facilities: 18% in sunny regions.

Statistic 118

RFID tagging used in 34% of high-value moves.

Statistic 119

Carbon emissions per move down 9% with route optimization software.

Statistic 120

52% of facilities had smart locks by 2023.

Statistic 121

Drones for inventory counts tested in 2% of warehouses.

Statistic 122

Recyclable packing materials used in 61% of operations.

Statistic 123

VR training modules adopted by 11% of companies.

Statistic 124

Telematics reduced fuel use by 15% in tracked fleets.

Statistic 125

Biodegradable pods introduced by 7% of portable storage firms.

Statistic 126

AI chatbots handled 29% of customer inquiries.

Statistic 127

LED lighting in 88% of modern storage facilities.

Statistic 128

Autonomous trucks in pilot for 1% of long-haul moves.

Statistic 129

Waterless cleaning tech in 23% of warehouses.

Statistic 130

Cloud-based CRM used by 76% of moving businesses.

Statistic 131

Rainwater harvesting at 14% of storage sites.

Statistic 132

3D scanning for precise packing in 8% of specialty moves.

Statistic 133

Zero-waste certifications held by 4% of companies.

Statistic 134

IoT sensors monitored 41% of climate-controlled units.

Statistic 135

Electric forklifts: 19% fleet replacement in 2023.

Statistic 136

Digital twins for facility layout in 3% of new builds.

Statistic 137

Recycled cardboard boxes supplied to 55% of clients.

Statistic 138

Predictive maintenance software in 27% of truck fleets.

Statistic 139

Wind energy powered 9% of large storage chains.

1/139

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Did you know that in 2023 alone, one of every four American adults packed up and moved, fueling a massive and dynamic $21.4 billion U.S. moving and storage industry that is experiencing rapid growth and technological transformation globally.

Key Takeaways

In 2023, the U.S. moving and storage industry generated total revenue of $21.4 billion, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022 driven by post-pandemic relocations.
Global moving services market size reached $92.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $145.3 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 5.8%.
The self-storage sector in North America accounted for 52% of global self-storage revenue in 2023, totaling $45.2 billion.
54% of U.S. consumers used professional movers for their last move in 2023.
Average distance of U.S. moves in 2023 was 435 miles for long-distance relocations.
62% of millennials cited job changes as primary reason for moving in 2023.
Fleet size per U.S. moving company averaged 25 trucks in 2023.
Average U.S. self-storage facility size: 46,000 sq ft in 2023.
85% of moving trucks were GPS-tracked in 2023 operations.
U.S. moving industry employed 250,000 workers in 2023.
Average hourly wage for movers: $18.75 in 2023.
Self-storage sector jobs grew 3.5% to 150,000 in 2023.
AI scheduling tools adopted by 23% of firms for labor.
67% of moving companies used mobile apps for inventory in 2023.
Electric vehicle adoption in fleets: 12% by end of 2023.

The moving and storage industry grew significantly in 2023, boosted by post-pandemic relocations and strong global demand.

Consumer Behavior and Trends

54% of U.S. consumers used professional movers for their last move in 2023.
Average distance of U.S. moves in 2023 was 435 miles for long-distance relocations.
62% of millennials cited job changes as primary reason for moving in 2023.
Self-storage usage among U.S. households reached 10.9% in 2023.
48% of renters moved in 2023 compared to 22% of homeowners.
Peak moving season (May-Sep) accounted for 73% of all U.S. moves in 2023.
29% of Americans stored items due to downsizing in 2023 surveys.
Online booking for moving services rose to 41% of transactions in 2023.
67% of interstate movers chose full-service options in 2023.
Average cost paid by consumers for local moves: $1,250 in 2023.
38% of moves were DIY with rental trucks in 2023.
Women initiated 52% of household moves in U.S. 2023 polls.
45% of storage users kept items for over 2 years in 2023.
Remote work influenced 19% of moves to suburbs in 2023.
71% of consumers researched movers online before booking in 2023.
Average household packed 75 boxes for moves in 2023.
26% of moves were for family reasons (marriage, birth) in 2023.
Storage for vehicles (RVs, boats) grew 15% in demand in 2023.
55% of Gen Z used portable storage pods for moves in 2023.
Consumers reported 92% satisfaction with professional movers in 2023.
Downsizing drove 34% of self-storage rentals in 2023.
63% preferred eco-friendly moving companies in 2023 surveys.
Average move preparation time: 8 weeks for U.S. households in 2023.
47% of moves involved pets, complicating logistics in 2023.
International moves by U.S. expats: 1.2 million in 2023.
39% stored seasonal items like holiday decorations primarily.
U.S. moving companies averaged 4.2 stars on review sites in 2023.
51% of seniors used storage during retirement moves in 2023.

Consumer Behavior and Trends Interpretation

The moving industry isn't just about boxes and trucks; it's a high-stakes, seasonally-charged ballet of job changes, digital bookings, and millennials leading a nomadic charge, all while half the nation's renters are packing, a third are desperately downsizing into storage units, and we collectively spend eight weeks prepping for a journey that, statistically speaking, will leave us both satisfied and significantly poorer.

Employment and Labor

U.S. moving industry employed 250,000 workers in 2023.
Average hourly wage for movers: $18.75 in 2023.
Self-storage sector jobs grew 3.5% to 150,000 in 2023.
42% of movers were part-time seasonal workers in 2023.
Turnover rate in moving industry: 28% annually in 2023.
15% of workforce held CDL licenses for trucks over 26k lbs.
Female employment in industry: 22% in 2023, up from 18%.
Training hours per new mover: 40 hours average in 2023.
Unionized workers: 12% of total moving labor force.
Median age of movers: 34 years in 2023 BLS data.
Overtime pay averaged 1.5x rate during peak season.
7,500 new jobs added in self-storage construction 2023.
Injury rate: 4.2 per 100 workers in moving ops.
Dispatchers comprised 8% of workforce, avg salary $52k.
65% of workers had high school diploma or equivalent.
Benefits coverage: 58% offered health insurance.
Customer service reps: 5% of staff, turnover 19%.
Immigrant workers: 32% of moving labor in 2023.
Average tenure: 2.8 years per employee.
Managers earned avg $68,000 annually in 2023.
11% growth projected for jobs through 2030.
Warehouse staff: 18% of total employment.
Certifications held: 45% had safety certs.
Gig economy movers: 14% via apps like Dolly.
Overtime hours averaged 12 per week in summer.
Diversity: 41% non-white workers in 2023.
Packers specialized: 9% of workforce.
Unemployment rate in sector: 3.1% in 2023.

Employment and Labor Interpretation

Despite offering over a quarter-million essential jobs, the U.S. moving industry runs on a precarious engine of high turnover, seasonal gigs, and modest pay, desperately trying to pack stability into a cardboard box of economic uncertainty.

Market Size and Revenue

In 2023, the U.S. moving and storage industry generated total revenue of $21.4 billion, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022 driven by post-pandemic relocations.
Global moving services market size reached $92.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $145.3 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 5.8%.
The self-storage sector in North America accounted for 52% of global self-storage revenue in 2023, totaling $45.2 billion.
U.S. household goods moving revenue hit $18.7 billion in 2023, with long-distance moves contributing 65% of that figure.
Europe's moving and storage market was valued at €28.4 billion in 2022, expected to reach €36.1 billion by 2028.
In 2023, the Asia-Pacific region's storage market grew by 7.1% YoY, reaching $15.8 billion due to urbanization.
U.S. commercial moving services revenue increased to $4.9 billion in 2023, up 3.8% from prior year.
Self-storage facilities in the U.S. numbered 52,000 in 2023, generating $39 billion in annual revenue.
The international household goods moving segment was worth $8.2 billion globally in 2023.
Canadian moving industry revenue stood at CAD 2.8 billion in 2023, with 6.2% growth.
U.S. storage unit rental rates averaged $120 per month in 2023, up 5% from 2022.
42% of U.S. moves in 2023 were local (under 100 miles), generating $7.8 billion in revenue.
Global portable storage market valued at $2.1 billion in 2023, projected CAGR 6.4% to 2030.
UK moving services market size was £3.2 billion in 2023.
U.S. military relocation services revenue reached $1.2 billion in FY2023.
28% of Americans moved in the past 5 years, fueling a $19.5 billion residential moving market in 2023.
Self-storage occupancy rates in U.S. averaged 92.5% in Q4 2023.
Australia's storage industry revenue hit AUD 1.4 billion in 2023.
Corporate relocation market globally valued at $12.5 billion in 2023.
U.S. intrastate moving revenue was $6.3 billion in 2023.
35 million Americans plan to move in 2024, boosting projected industry revenue to $22.8 billion.
Latin America storage market grew to $3.7 billion in 2023 at 8.2% CAGR.
U.S. piano and specialty moving revenue: $450 million in 2023.
India moving services market size: INR 45,000 crore in FY2023.
Europe self-storage revenue: €7.5 billion in 2023.
U.S. student moving services: $1.1 billion annually.
Global climate-controlled storage market: $18.9 billion in 2023.
Brazil moving industry revenue: BRL 12.5 billion in 2023.
U.S. wine storage market segment: $850 million in 2023.
Middle East storage market: $2.3 billion in 2023, CAGR 9.1%.

Market Size and Revenue Interpretation

While these figures prove we're a planet perpetually packed and in motion, the industry's true gold lies not in the $145.3 billion global journey itself, but in the $45.2 billion we spend annually in North America alone to store all the stuff we couldn't bear to leave behind.

Operational Statistics

Fleet size per U.S. moving company averaged 25 trucks in 2023.
Average U.S. self-storage facility size: 46,000 sq ft in 2023.
85% of moving trucks were GPS-tracked in 2023 operations.
U.S. moving industry handled 27 million moves annually in 2023.
Self-storage facilities added 5.2 million sq ft of space in 2023.
Average interstate move took 4.8 days door-to-door in 2023.
72% of storage units were 10x10 ft or smaller in 2023.
Fuel costs represented 22% of moving company operating expenses in 2023.
Peak day for moves: September 1st, with 1.5 million units booked.
Insurance claims in moving industry averaged $1,200 per incident in 2023.
65% of moves used shrink wrap and padding materials standardly.
Average truck capacity: 2,500 cu ft for household moves in 2023.
Self-storage construction costs averaged $65 per sq ft in 2023.
91% of facilities offered 24/7 access in 2023.
Damage rates for furniture during moves: 2.1% in 2023 audits.
Average employee handles 3.2 moves per week in peak season.
78% of interstate moves required customs paperwork in 2023.
Storage facility energy costs up 12% YoY in 2023.
44% of companies used third-party logistics for overflow in 2023.
Average local move time: 4 hours with 2 movers in 2023.
Crane usage for piano moves: 18% of specialty operations.
96% compliance rate with DOT regulations in 2023 inspections.
White-glove delivery services grew to 15% of operations.
Average storage retrieval time: 25 minutes per visit.
68% of fleets transitioned to diesel-electric hybrids by 2023.
Lost item recovery rate: 87% in moving claims 2023.

Operational Statistics Interpretation

While the industry's 27 million annual moves rely on a fleet of GPS-tracked trucks and shrink-wrapped belongings, it's clear that the true challenge lies not in the 4.8-day interstate journey, but in navigating the 25-minute storage retrieval, the 22% fuel costs, and the delicate dance of ensuring that only 2.1% of our collective memories arrive with a new scratch.

Technology and Sustainability

AI scheduling tools adopted by 23% of firms for labor.
67% of moving companies used mobile apps for inventory in 2023.
Electric vehicle adoption in fleets: 12% by end of 2023.
Blockchain for tracking shipments piloted by 5% of firms.
Solar-powered storage facilities: 18% in sunny regions.
RFID tagging used in 34% of high-value moves.
Carbon emissions per move down 9% with route optimization software.
52% of facilities had smart locks by 2023.
Drones for inventory counts tested in 2% of warehouses.
Recyclable packing materials used in 61% of operations.
VR training modules adopted by 11% of companies.
Telematics reduced fuel use by 15% in tracked fleets.
Biodegradable pods introduced by 7% of portable storage firms.
AI chatbots handled 29% of customer inquiries.
LED lighting in 88% of modern storage facilities.
Autonomous trucks in pilot for 1% of long-haul moves.
Waterless cleaning tech in 23% of warehouses.
Cloud-based CRM used by 76% of moving businesses.
Rainwater harvesting at 14% of storage sites.
3D scanning for precise packing in 8% of specialty moves.
Zero-waste certifications held by 4% of companies.
IoT sensors monitored 41% of climate-controlled units.
Electric forklifts: 19% fleet replacement in 2023.
Digital twins for facility layout in 3% of new builds.
Recycled cardboard boxes supplied to 55% of clients.
Predictive maintenance software in 27% of truck fleets.
Wind energy powered 9% of large storage chains.

Technology and Sustainability Interpretation

The moving industry is charging forward with a clever mix of bits and volts, from AI wrangling schedules and apps managing our stuff to a slow but steady greening with solar panels and electric vans, proving that even the business of hauling your old sofa is getting smarter and slightly more sustainable by the algorithm.