Are There Additional Fees for Stairs or Long Carries?

Usually not. Because our local moves are billed by the hour, stairs and long carries are simply part of the time, not a separate line item tacked onto your bill. A distinct fee only comes up in genuinely extreme cases, and even then, we tell you about it upfront during your free estimate. You should never be surprised by it on moving day.

Here is how it actually works.

Why stairs and long carries take more time

There is no way around it: carrying furniture up three flights, or hauling boxes a long way from where the truck can park, takes longer than a ground-floor move with the truck at the door. The crew makes more trips, takes more care on the turns, and paces themselves to stay safe on the stairs.

Since you are paying by the hour on a local move, that extra time is already reflected in your estimate. We are not adding a "stair fee" on top. We are just being honest that a fourth-floor Lake View walk-up takes a bit longer than a ranch house with a driveway, and we plan the crew size accordingly so it does not drag.

The same goes for a long carry, the move where the truck cannot get near your door because of a narrow one-way street, a restricted alley, or a big complex where the dock sits far from the elevator. More distance means more minutes, and those minutes are part of the hourly time, not a hidden charge.

When a separate fee does come up

To be straight with you, there is one situation where an additional charge can apply: genuinely extreme access. Think many flights of stairs, or a carry so long it turns a normal move into a serious haul. In cases like that, the extra labor goes beyond what the standard hourly time covers, and a separate fee may apply.

When it does, you will hear about it from us before any work starts, never after. We would rather have the slightly awkward conversation during the estimate than spring a number on you when the truck is already loaded. And when stairs simply are not an option for a heavy piece, our hoisting and crane service can lift it through a window instead, which is sometimes faster and safer than fighting a staircase.

No surprises, by design

This is the whole reason we ask detailed questions when we quote your move. How many flights? How far is the walk from the curb to your door? Which floor, and is there an elevator? The answers let us send the right number of movers with the right equipment, extra dollies, floor runners, and door-jamb protection, and give you a number that holds up.

We have done this since 1982, so we know which Chicago neighborhoods have the trickiest access. Planning for it ahead of time is how we keep your move on schedule and your bill free of surprises. We also do not change any of this by the season, so a third-floor walk-up costs the same on a holiday weekend as it does on a quiet Tuesday.

If you are worried about how your stairs or your parking situation might affect the cost, just ask. Call (773) 275-4100 or email info@wcmoving.com for a free estimate that accounts for every flight and every long hallway, or read more in our FAQ. We will give you the real number before we lift a single box.