From households chasing new opportunities to corporations expanding their footprint, the booming residential and commercial moving industry, projected to hit $109 billion globally, is transforming how we transition between spaces.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. moving services industry revenue reached $20.5 billion in 2023, marking a 2.1% increase from the previous year.
- Global moving services market size was valued at $82.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $109.3 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 3.6%.
- The North American household moving services market is expected to grow from $15.2 billion in 2023 to $21.8 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 4.1%.
- In 2023, 27 million Americans moved residences, with 11% interstate.
- Average cost of a local residential move in the U.S. was $1,450 in 2023.
- 43.2 million U.S. households relocated within the same county in 2022.
- Corporate office relocations numbered 45,000 in the U.S. in 2023.
- Average cost of commercial move for 10,000 sq ft office: $45,000 in 2023.
- 52% of U.S. businesses relocated internally within the same city in 2023.
- U.S. moving industry employed 145,000 workers in 2023.
- Average moving truck fleet size per company: 28 vehicles in 2023.
- 85% of moves used GPS tracking technology in 2023.
- U.S. moving industry contributed $28.4 billion to GDP in 2023.
- Total wages paid by moving industry: $6.7 billion in 2023.
- Industry taxes contributed $2.1 billion to federal revenue 2023.
The moving industry is growing globally as residential and corporate relocations steadily increase.
Commercial Sector
- Corporate office relocations numbered 45,000 in the U.S. in 2023.
- Average cost of commercial move for 10,000 sq ft office: $45,000 in 2023.
- 52% of U.S. businesses relocated internally within the same city in 2023.
- Commercial moving services revenue hit $5.8 billion in U.S. 2023.
- Healthcare facility moves grew 18% to 12,500 projects in 2023.
- 68% of commercial moves involved IT equipment relocation in 2023.
- Retail store relocations totaled 28,000 in U.S. amid sector shifts in 2023.
- Average downtime for commercial moves: 2.4 days in 2023.
- 75% of Fortune 500 companies used specialized commercial movers in 2023.
- Manufacturing plant relocations increased 22% to 3,200 in 2023.
- Commercial move crew averaged 12 workers for large offices in 2023.
- 41% of commercial relocations were due to lease expirations in 2023.
- Data center commercial moves reached 450 projects valued at $2.1 billion in 2023.
- 82% of commercial movers required white-glove services in 2023.
- Hotel and hospitality relocations totaled 1,800 in U.S. 2023.
- Average commercial move insurance per project: $250,000 in 2023.
- 35% growth in e-commerce warehouse relocations to 15,000 moves in 2023.
- Legal sector office moves down 9% to 8,200 due to hybrid work in 2023.
- 92% of commercial moves included furniture disassembly in 2023.
- Tech startup relocations surged 31% to 22,000 in major hubs 2023.
- Average commercial move distance: 28 miles for intra-city in 2023.
- Education institution moves totaled 4,500 campuses in 2023.
- 56% of commercial clients used 3D planning tools in 2023.
- Financial services relocations: 6,200 projects at $1.2 billion total cost 2023.
- 77% commercial move satisfaction with certified carriers in 2023.
Commercial Sector Interpretation
Amidst the $5.8 billion shuffle of American business in 2023—where offices, hospitals, and even data centers played a high-stakes game of musical chairs—the statistics reveal an industry whose real product isn't just moving boxes, but strategically transplanting the vital organs of commerce with surgical precision and, thankfully, a 77% satisfaction rate.
Economic Impact
- U.S. moving industry contributed $28.4 billion to GDP in 2023.
- Total wages paid by moving industry: $6.7 billion in 2023.
- Industry taxes contributed $2.1 billion to federal revenue 2023.
- 145,000 jobs supported multiplier effect of 2.8x in 2023.
- Fuel purchases by industry: $4.2 billion in 2023.
- $1.3 billion spent on vehicle purchases/leases in 2023.
- Insurance premiums paid: $890 million industry-wide 2023.
- 12% of small business GDP from moving services in logistics sector 2023.
- Export-related economic value: $750 million from international moves 2023.
- Post-pandemic recovery added $1.8 billion to industry revenue 2023.
Economic Impact Interpretation
While the moving industry's $28.4 billion GDP contribution might seem like we're just hauling boxes, we're actually fueling a massive economic engine, paying billions in wages and taxes, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, and proving that when America packs up, the whole economy comes along for the ride.
Market Overview
- The U.S. moving services industry revenue reached $20.5 billion in 2023, marking a 2.1% increase from the previous year.
- Global moving services market size was valued at $82.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $109.3 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 3.6%.
- The North American household moving services market is expected to grow from $15.2 billion in 2023 to $21.8 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 4.1%.
- U.S. local moving services accounted for 65% of total industry revenue in 2023, equating to approximately $13.3 billion.
- The commercial relocation services segment grew by 4.2% in 2023, driven by corporate expansions post-pandemic.
- International moving services market is forecasted to reach $18.7 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 5.3% from 2023.
- U.S. moving industry profit margin averaged 6.8% in 2023, up from 5.9% in 2022 due to fuel cost stabilization.
- The self-storage and moving industry combined generated $42 billion in the U.S. in 2023.
- Europe's moving services market size stood at €25.6 billion in 2022, projected to hit €34.2 billion by 2030.
- U.S. intrastate moving revenues increased by 3.4% to $8.9 billion in 2023.
- Asia-Pacific moving services market expected to grow at 6.2% CAGR from 2023-2030, reaching $28.5 billion.
- U.S. long-distance moving segment revenue was $6.2 billion in 2023, representing 30% of total market.
- The moving industry saw a 1.8% employment growth in 2023, adding 15,000 jobs.
- Global corporate relocation market valued at $12.4 billion in 2023, with 5.1% CAGR projected to 2030.
- U.S. moving services industry enterprises numbered 12,450 in 2023.
- The U.S. residential moving market share held 72% of total industry revenue in 2023.
- Average annual revenue per moving company in the U.S. was $1.65 million in 2023.
- Interstate moving complaints rose 12% to 28,500 in 2023 per FMCSA data.
- U.S. moving industry fuel costs represented 22% of operating expenses in 2023.
- Projected U.S. moving market growth of 2.5% annually through 2028.
- Canada’s moving industry revenue hit CAD 3.2 billion in 2023.
- 45% of U.S. moving revenue came from the top 20% of companies in 2023.
- Global moving services market CAGR from 2018-2023 was 3.2%.
- U.S. household goods moving carrier registrations totaled 1,200 active in 2023.
- Moving industry insurance claims averaged $4,200 per residential move in 2023.
- Latin America moving services market to reach $4.8 billion by 2030 at 4.5% CAGR.
- U.S. moving services exports valued at $1.1 billion in 2023.
- Industry concentration ratio (CR4) for U.S. moving services was 15% in 2023.
- Average moving truck utilization rate was 78% in U.S. local moves in 2023.
- U.S. moving industry digital booking platforms captured 18% market share in 2023.
Market Overview Interpretation
Despite the steady churn of boxes and a global market barreling toward $109 billion, the U.S. moving industry reveals a cautious optimism, with local moves dominating revenue but razor-thin profit margins and rising complaints hinting at the persistent bumps in the road.
Operational Metrics
- U.S. moving industry employed 145,000 workers in 2023.
- Average moving truck fleet size per company: 28 vehicles in 2023.
- 85% of moves used GPS tracking technology in 2023.
- Labor turnover rate in moving industry: 42% annually in 2023.
- Average miles driven per moving truck: 45,000 annually in 2023.
- 62% of companies reported fuel efficiency improvements of 8% in 2023.
- On-time delivery rate for interstate moves: 94.2% in 2023.
- Average load factor for moving trucks: 82% in 2023.
- 73% of movers adopted climate-controlled storage in 2023.
- Equipment maintenance costs averaged $12,500 per truck yearly in 2023.
- 51% usage of electric or hybrid vehicles in urban fleets 2023.
- Average dispatch efficiency improved 15% with AI scheduling in 2023.
- Injury rate in moving industry: 4.8 per 100 workers in 2023.
- 88% of companies used barcode inventory systems in 2023.
- Peak season overtime hours averaged 28% of total labor in 2023.
- Warehouse space utilized for moving: 1.2 billion sq ft nationally 2023.
- 67% reduction in paper usage via digital contracts in 2023.
- Average response time to customer inquiries: 2.4 hours in 2023.
- Crane usage in specialty moves: 14% of operations in 2023.
- 95% compliance with DOT safety regulations in 2023 audits.
- Packing materials recycling rate: 56% industry average 2023.
- Route optimization software saved 12% on fuel costs in 2023.
- 41,000 Class A CDL drivers employed in household goods moving 2023.
- Average vehicle age in fleets: 6.8 years in 2023.
- Lost/damaged goods claims: 0.8% of total shipments in 2023.
Operational Metrics Interpretation
In a year where nearly half the workforce was seemingly in constant motion, the moving industry nonetheless kept its promises—and its loads—remarkably intact, steering through the chaos with technology, sheer mileage, and a stubborn refusal to let your grandmother's china become a statistic.
Residential Sector
- In 2023, 27 million Americans moved residences, with 11% interstate.
- Average cost of a local residential move in the U.S. was $1,450 in 2023.
- 43.2 million U.S. households relocated within the same county in 2022.
- Residential moves accounted for 68% of all U.S. moving jobs in 2023.
- Average residential long-distance move cost $4,800 in 2023 for a 2-bedroom home.
- 15% of U.S. residential moves in 2023 were DIY, using rental trucks.
- Peak residential moving month in U.S. is August, with 20% higher volume.
- 62% of millennials moved for job-related reasons in 2023 surveys.
- Average residential move distance was 52 miles for local moves in 2023.
- 28% of residential moves in 2023 involved households with children under 18.
- U.S. residential packing supply sales reached $2.1 billion in 2023.
- 35% of residential movers used full-service companies in 2023.
- Average time to complete a residential local move: 4.2 hours in 2023.
- 12 million renter households moved in the U.S. in 2023.
- 76% of residential moves occur between May and September annually.
- Average residential move insurance coverage was $15,000 per household in 2023.
- 19% increase in senior residential moves (65+) in 2023 due to downsizing.
- Cross-country residential moves totaled 1.7 million in 2023.
- 41% of residential movers reported using online quotes in 2023.
- Average weight of household goods in residential move: 7,400 lbs in 2023.
- 22% of residential moves were prompted by family-related reasons in 2023.
- U.S. residential moving app downloads surged 45% in 2023 to 5.2 million.
- 8.5% of residential moves involved international borders within North America in 2023.
- Average residential move crew size: 3.2 workers for local jobs in 2023.
- 29 million local residential relocations occurred in U.S. metro areas in 2023.
- 14% of residential movers chose eco-friendly moving companies in 2023.
- Residential storage utilization post-move averaged 14 days in 2023.
- 67% satisfaction rate among residential movers with professional services in 2023.
- 3.1 million military family residential moves in U.S. in 2023.
Residential Sector Interpretation
In the whirlwind of American mobility, we are a nation perpetually caught between the romantic urge to DIY it with a rental truck and the expensive, practical relief of hiring three strangers to expertly wrestle our 7,400 pounds of life into a new beginning, all while trying not to think about the billion-dollar mountain of cardboard boxes left in our wake.
Sources & References
- Reference 1IBISWORLDibisworld.comVisit source
- Reference 2GRANDVIEWRESEARCHgrandviewresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 3MARKETRESEARCHFUTUREmarketresearchfuture.comVisit source
- Reference 4ALLIEDallied.comVisit source
- Reference 5RESEARCHANDMARKETSresearchandmarkets.comVisit source
- Reference 6SPAREFOOTsparefoot.comVisit source
- Reference 7STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 8FMCSAfmcsa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 9FORTUNEBUSINESSINSIGHTSfortunebusinessinsights.comVisit source
- Reference 10BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 11MARKETSANDMARKETSmarketsandmarkets.comVisit source
- Reference 12TRUCKINGtrucking.orgVisit source
- Reference 13BUSINESSRESEARCHINSIGHTSbusinessresearchinsights.comVisit source
- Reference 14AMSAamsa.orgVisit source
- Reference 15MORDORINTELLIGENCEmordorintelligence.comVisit source
- Reference 16CENSUScensus.govVisit source
- Reference 17ATAMOVINGatamoving.orgVisit source
- Reference 18MOVEmove.orgVisit source
- Reference 19FORBESforbes.comVisit source
- Reference 20UHAULuhaul.comVisit source
- Reference 21PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 22MOVINGmoving.comVisit source
- Reference 23ANGIangi.comVisit source
- Reference 24THUMBTACKthumbtack.comVisit source
- Reference 25RENTCAFErentcafe.comVisit source
- Reference 26REALTORrealtor.comVisit source
- Reference 27MOVINGINSURANCEmovinginsurance.comVisit source
- Reference 28AARPaarp.orgVisit source
- Reference 29MOVERCONNECTIONmoverconnection.comVisit source
- Reference 30FMSCAfmsca.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 31SENSORTOWERsensortower.comVisit source
- Reference 32HIREAHELPERhireahelper.comVisit source
- Reference 33GREENMOVERgreenmover.orgVisit source
- Reference 34EXTRASPACEextraspace.comVisit source
- Reference 35BBBbbb.orgVisit source
- Reference 36MILITARYONESOURCEmilitaryonesource.milVisit source
- Reference 37CORESNAILcoresnail.comVisit source
- Reference 38COMMERCIALMOVESPECIALISTScommercialmovespecialists.comVisit source
- Reference 39COLLIERScolliers.comVisit source
- Reference 40HEALTHCAREFACILITIESTODAYhealthcarefacilitiestoday.comVisit source
- Reference 41ICSCicsc.comVisit source
- Reference 42FMCAfmca.orgVisit source
- Reference 43CARTWRIGHTcartwright.comVisit source
- Reference 44INDUSTRYWEEKindustryweek.comVisit source
- Reference 45COMMERCIALMOVINGcommercialmoving.orgVisit source
- Reference 46CBREcbre.comVisit source
- Reference 47DATACENTERKNOWLEDGEdatacenterknowledge.comVisit source
- Reference 48WHITEMOVINGSERVICESwhitemovingservices.comVisit source
- Reference 49HOSPITALITYNEThospitalitynet.orgVisit source
- Reference 50INSUREMYMOVEinsuremymove.comVisit source
- Reference 51JLLjll.comVisit source
- Reference 52LEGALWEEKlegalweek.comVisit source
- Reference 53OFFICEFURNITUREMOVINGofficefurnituremoving.comVisit source
- Reference 54CRUNCHBASEcrunchbase.comVisit source
- Reference 55COMMERCIALRELOCATIONcommercialrelocation.comVisit source
- Reference 56ACADEMICMOVESacademicmoves.orgVisit source
- Reference 57PLANMYMOVEplanmymove.comVisit source
- Reference 58PWCpwc.comVisit source
- Reference 59MOVINGTECHmovingtech.orgVisit source
- Reference 60EPAepa.govVisit source
- Reference 61TTNEWSttnews.comVisit source
- Reference 62SELFSTORAGEselfstorage.orgVisit source
- Reference 63FLEETMAINTENANCEfleetmaintenance.comVisit source
- Reference 64GREENFLEETgreenfleet.netVisit source
- Reference 65MOVINGANALYTICSmovinganalytics.comVisit source
- Reference 66INVENTORYMANAGEMENTinventorymanagement.orgVisit source
- Reference 67LABORSTATSlaborstats.movingindustry.comVisit source
- Reference 68CUSHMANWAKEFIELDcushmanwakefield.comVisit source
- Reference 69DOCUSIGN-MOVING-REPORTdocusign-moving-reportVisit source
- Reference 70ZENDESKzendeskVisit source
- Reference 71HEAVYHAULheavyhaul.orgVisit source
- Reference 72ROUTE4MEroute4me.comVisit source
- Reference 73FLEETOWNERfleetowner.comVisit source
- Reference 74BEAbea.govVisit source
- Reference 75IRSirs.govVisit source
- Reference 76ATAata.orgVisit source
- Reference 77EIAeia.govVisit source
- Reference 78FHWAfhwa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 79NAICnaic.orgVisit source
- Reference 80SBAsba.govVisit source
- Reference 81TRADEtrade.govVisit source
- Reference 82MCKINSEYmckinsey.comVisit source