The short version
Two movers and a truck in Houston run about $105 to $170 an hour at the companies that publish rates, often with a trip fee and a two-hour minimum. New cardboard boxes are about $1.77 to $2.87 each, so a two-bedroom's worth is roughly $100 to $150 with tape. Rented bins are $169 for a week for the same home. A local two-bedroom move with movers lands around $640 to $725 before the deposits a new apartment and a new electricity account can ask for, and more if the crew runs six hours.
Movers: hourly rates that are actually published
Most movers quote by phone. These three publish their rates, read on October 2, 2026.
| Company | Two movers and a truck | Extras they list |
|---|---|---|
| Movers of Houston | $115 an hour Monday to Thursday, $125 Friday and Sunday, $135 Saturday | $80 trip fee, two-hour minimum |
| South Coast Movers | $105 to $120 an hour | See their page |
| 3 Men Movers | $120 to $170 an hour, per their May 2026 post | See their post |
Weekend rates are higher at the companies above, so a weekday move is the cheaper version of the same move. How long it takes depends mostly on how packed and stacked you are when the crew arrives.
Truck rental, if you do it yourself
U-Haul and Penske show prices only after you enter dates and a location, so there is no fixed number to print. Expect a daily rate plus a per-mile charge for U-Haul's smaller trucks, plus fuel and the optional damage waiver (U-Haul, Penske). Add the cost of a second trip if the truck is too small, and the day of your life it takes. Friends who help still need lunch.
Boxes or bins
At U-Haul on October 2, 2026, a single small box was $1.77, a medium $2.27 and a large $2.87 (U-Haul boxes). A two-bedroom home needs about 48 medium boxes, so roughly $100 to $150 once you add tape, a dispenser and markers. Free boxes cost your time and a careful look for roaches; our guide to where to get moving boxes in Houston covers both.
Rented bins are the other route. We deliver 40 lidded bins with two dollies for $169 for a week or $219 for two, and pick them up from the new address, free within 30 miles of downtown Houston. Sales tax is added. That is more than cardboard on the receipt and less work: nothing to build, tape or haul to the curb afterward, and stacked bins load faster, which matters when the movers are on the clock. All packages.
Apartment costs the law does and does not control
- Security deposit. Texas sets no limit on the amount, outside public or subsidized housing. The landlord has 30 days after you move out to refund it or send an itemized list of deductions (TexasLawHelp).
- Application fee. No cap on the amount either. The landlord must give you the written tenant selection criteria notice; if they skip the notice and reject you, the fee must be returned (TexasLawHelp).
- Electricity deposit. A retail electric provider may ask for one, especially if you are new to Texas. State rules cap it at the greater of one-fifth of your estimated annual bill or your next two months of bills, and it is refunded after 12 consecutive on-time payments (16 Texas Administrative Code 25.478).
- The rest. Admin fees, pet deposits, parking, valet trash and renters insurance are whatever the lease says. Ask for the total move-in cost in writing before you apply.
A worked example: two-bedroom apartment, across town
Using the published rates above, on a Tuesday, with the crew loading from a packed and stacked apartment.
| Item | Figure | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Movers, 4 hours at $115 plus $80 trip fee | $540 | Movers of Houston published rates |
| Packing: new cardboard with tape, before tax | $100 to $150 | U-Haul single-box prices, 48 boxes |
| or packing: 40 rented bins, one week | $169 plus tax | Bin & Back Just Right package |
| Change of address online | $1.25 | USPS identity check fee |
| Move itself | about $640 to $725 | Before deposits and fees |
Deposits are on top: the apartment's, the electric provider's if asked, and pet or parking fees. A four-hour move is optimistic for a two-bedroom with stairs or a slow elevator; six hours is common, and that is another $230 at the same rate. The single biggest lever you control is being completely packed before the crew arrives.
Ways to spend less
- Move on a weekday in the middle of the month.
- Be packed, labeled and stacked by the door before the movers ring the bell. Every hour of packing you do is an hour you do not pay for.
- Get rid of things first. Our guide to donating and disposing before a Houston move lists who picks up for free.
- Use the calculator so you are not buying boxes twice or running short on moving day.
Questions people ask
How much do movers cost per hour in Houston?
At the Houston companies that publish rates, two movers and a truck run about $105 to $170 an hour, with higher rates on weekends, often plus a trip fee and a two-hour minimum.
How much does it cost to move a two-bedroom apartment in Houston?
Using published rates, about $640 to $725 for a four-hour local move with movers and new boxes or rented bins, before apartment and utility deposits. A six-hour move adds a couple of hundred dollars.
Is there a limit on security deposits in Texas?
No, outside public or subsidized housing. The landlord must refund it or itemize deductions within 30 days after you move out.
Is it cheaper to rent moving bins or buy boxes?
Cardboard is cheaper on the receipt: about $100 to $150 for a two-bedroom against $169 for a week of bins. Bins save the building, taping and disposal, and stack faster onto a truck.
Last updated October 2, 2026. Company prices were read on their own sites on October 2, 2026 and change without notice.