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

A local move in Louisiana costs $95 to $165 per hour for two movers in 2026. See totals by home size, New Orleans access issues, LPSC licensing, and how to save.

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

Moving a shotgun house in New Orleans is a different job from moving a ranch in Baton Rouge, and the pricing shows it. A local move in Louisiana costs about $95 to $165 per hour for a two-mover crew and truck in 2026, with a one-bedroom apartment totaling $375 to $800 and a three-bedroom house running $1,000 to $2,300. Those figures are approximate, and a narrow street in the Marigny, a raised house with 12 front steps in Mid-City, or a July afternoon at 96 degrees can each add an hour or more.

Louisiana regulates household goods movers through the Louisiana Public Service Commission, which issues certificates to companies moving goods within the state. That gives customers here a real tool, because a mover without an LPSC certificate is operating illegally for intrastate moves, and the certificate number should be on the company's trucks and paperwork. Checking it is the fastest way to weed out the unlicensed crews that show up on social media before every hurricane season and disappear after.

The state has four distinct moving markets. New Orleans and the surrounding parishes have the most companies, the tightest streets, and the most unusual housing, while Baton Rouge is a suburban market with easier access and slightly lower rates. Lafayette and Lake Charles serve Acadiana and the southwest, and Shreveport and Monroe cover the north with fewer companies and longer drives.

Hourly Rates Across the State

A two-mover crew with a truck runs $100 to $165 per hour in New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, and the Northshore towns of Mandeville and Covington. Three movers cost $140 to $220 per hour. Most companies require a two- or three-hour minimum and charge a travel fee equal to one hour of labor.

Baton Rouge, Prairieville, Denham Springs, and Zachary see rates of $95 to $150 per hour for two movers. Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Houma are similar or slightly lower. Shreveport, Bossier City, Monroe, and Alexandria run $90 to $140 per hour but have fewer companies, so booking early matters more.

Rates rise on weekends, at the end of the month, and from late May through August. Louisiana State University's calendar in Baton Rouge and Tulane and Loyola's in New Orleans create spikes in mid-August and mid-May when student moves compete with everyone else for trucks.

What Different Homes Cost to Move

A one-bedroom apartment or half of a double in Uptown, the Bywater, or the Warehouse District takes two movers three to four hours, for a total of $375 to $800 with the travel fee. Warehouse District condos with freight elevator reservations and Uptown apartments with no off-street parking both push toward the top.

A two-bedroom home in Metairie, Gentilly, or the Baton Rouge suburbs takes four to six hours with two or three movers and costs $750 to $1,400. A three-bedroom house in Lakeview, Mandeville, Prairieville, or Youngsville takes six to eight hours with three movers, for $1,000 to $2,300.

Large homes in Old Metairie, English Turn, the Country Club of Louisiana, or the River Ranch area of Lafayette run $2,000 to $3,800 and often need four movers and two trucks. Outdoor kitchens, pool furniture, and large art collections are common in these moves and add time.

Raised Houses, Shotguns, and Historic Districts

New Orleans housing is the reason local movers charge what they do. Raised houses in Mid-City, Broadmoor, and the Irish Channel have front steps and often no rear access, so every piece of furniture goes up and down the stairs. Shotgun houses have doors in a line with no hallway, and moving a sofa through three rooms to reach the back bedroom takes time.

Historic districts in the French Quarter, Marigny, and Treme add parking and access rules. Trucks larger than a certain size cannot enter some blocks, and a shuttle from a smaller vehicle may be needed. Long-carry fees of $100 to $250 are common in these neighborhoods, and the crew size matters more than the hourly rate.

The Louisiana Weather Factor

Heat and humidity from May through September slow every crew down. A move that takes six hours in November takes seven in July because the movers need water breaks and the truck becomes an oven. Companies build this into summer estimates, and some add a summer surcharge outright.

Hurricane season from June through November brings its own disruption. A tropical storm in the Gulf can cancel a scheduled move, and the weeks after a storm are chaotic as companies handle emergency relocations and insurance-funded moves. If you have a choice, avoid scheduling in the peak weeks of August and September.

Rain is the more common daily problem. Afternoon thunderstorms in New Orleans and Baton Rouge are nearly daily in summer, and a crew that has to stop for 45 minutes still charges for the time in many cases. Morning starts are cheaper in practice.

Packing, Storage, and Extra Services

Full packing service adds $300 to $1,000 for an apartment and $900 to $2,500 for a house, plus $100 to $400 in materials. Kitchen-only packing at $200 to $450 covers the items most likely to break.

Storage is a common need in Louisiana because of renovation timelines, insurance settlements after storm damage, and closings that slip. Mover-operated warehouse storage runs $90 to $250 per month for an apartment and $200 to $500 for a house. Climate control matters here more than in most states because of the humidity, and non-climate-controlled storage will damage wood furniture and electronics within a season.

Specialty items carry flat fees. Pianos run $200 to $500, hot tubs $300 to $600, and gun safes $200 to $450.

Hiring a Licensed Louisiana Mover

Ask for the Louisiana Public Service Commission certificate number and verify it. Also ask for proof of liability insurance, workers' compensation, and cargo coverage. Companies that also do interstate moves will have a USDOT number and federal operating authority.

Get a written estimate that specifies the hourly rate, crew size, travel fee, minimum hours, and every surcharge. For New Orleans moves, describe the house honestly, including whether it is raised, a shotgun, the stairs, the street width, and the parking, because a company that has seen photos or done a walkthrough gives a far more reliable number. You can compare licensed companies in the movers category across Louisiana.

Released-value coverage at 60 cents per pound is included free and covers almost nothing. Full-value protection at 1% to 2% of declared value is worth buying for furniture and electronics. For related guides on storage, hurricane preparation, and long-distance moves, browse the Louisiana home services blog.

Apartment Complexes and Condo Buildings

Baton Rouge and Metairie have large apartment complexes where the distance from the parking lot to a third-floor unit is the main cost driver. Movers price long carries and stair climbs by the hour, and a two-bedroom on the third floor of a complex off Bluebonnet or Veterans Boulevard often takes an hour longer than the same apartment on the ground floor.

Condo buildings in the Warehouse District, the CBD, and along the lakefront require freight elevator reservations and proof of the mover's insurance, and some limit moves to weekday hours. Ask the building manager a week ahead, because a missed elevator window can turn a four-hour move into a six-hour one.

Saving Money on a Louisiana Move

Move on a weekday in the middle of the month, ideally between October and April. The rate difference from a Saturday in July can be 25% or more on a full-house move.

Pack everything yourself, label every box by room, and stage it near the exit. In a shotgun house, that means near the front door, not the back bedroom. Disassemble beds and desks the night before.

Declutter before the estimate. Louisiana's resale and donation networks are active, and a truck that is two-thirds full costs the same per hour as a full one. Every item that stays behind is time saved on both ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do movers charge per hour in New Orleans?

Two movers with a truck run $100 to $165 per hour, and three movers cost $140 to $220. Historic district access, raised houses, and long carries push New Orleans jobs toward the higher end.

Are movers in Louisiana required to be licensed?

Yes. Intrastate household goods movers must hold a certificate from the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Ask for the number and verify it before signing.

Is it cheaper to move in Baton Rouge than in New Orleans?

Slightly. Rates in Baton Rouge run $95 to $150 per hour for two movers, and easier access in suburban neighborhoods means jobs finish faster.

Should I avoid moving during hurricane season?

Moves happen throughout the season, but August and September carry real risk of a storm-related cancellation. If your timing is flexible, spring and fall are safer and cheaper.

Do movers in Louisiana charge more for raised houses?

Some charge per flight of stairs beyond the first, at $50 to $100, and others build stairs into the hourly estimate. Describe every step and stair at both addresses when you get the quote.