How Much Does a Student Move Cost?

How Much Does a Student Move Cost?

Last updated: October 2026

Usually less than people expect. Most student moves are small loads.

A dorm room, a studio, a shared apartment with a few pieces of furniture. That's a different job than a family house, and it's priced that way, because what you pay for is the time it takes to move your things and not a flat fee built for somebody with four bedrooms and a garage. We price every student move on the actual work it takes, the same way we price any move.

How it's priced

Student moves are hourly. Like every job we do, they have a 2-hour minimum. A dorm room or a small apartment often fits inside a short job, especially when everything is packed and ready.

In the Chicago area, moving companies also charge at least one hour for travel. That's on the estimate from the start.

What makes it cost more or less

How much you're moving. A dorm room with a mini fridge and a few boxes is a quick job. An off-campus apartment with a couch, a bed frame, and a desk takes longer.

Stairs and elevators. Dorms and student apartments come in every shape. Some have elevators. Some are third-floor walk-ups. Stairs aren't a separate fee with us, but they take time.

Move-in week crowds. Dorm move-in and move-out days are busy at every school. Elevators get shared and loading areas fill up, and that can slow any move down.

Packing. If you're packed when the crew arrives, you're paying for loading, driving, and unloading. If you want us to pack, packing labor and materials are charged separately.

What's included

Moving blankets for your furniture are always free during the move. Taking apart a bed frame or a desk and putting it back together is included in the hourly rate. Mattress bags are included too.

Ways to keep it low

Pack before move day. Boxes taped, labeled, and stacked near the door.

Share the truck. Roommates moving at the same time can share one move and split the cost, with as many stops as needed. Read how roommates can share a mini move.

Book ahead. The busy weeks of the school year fill fast. Our post on when college students should book movers covers timing.

Think about storage. If you're leaving for the summer, storing your things can be easier than moving them home and back. See can college students store their stuff over the summer.

What doesn't change

Our pricing stays the same all year. There's no deposit to book, and estimates are free.

Small move, real crew

A student move is a small move, and small moves are something we do every day. Our mini moving service covers the same kind of job for anyone with a studio or a few rooms. For more on small-move pricing, see how much a small move costs in Chicago.

Student moves are part of our college moving service, one of our moving services.

Call (773) 275-4100 or email info@wcmoving.com for a free estimate. Tell us your school, your building, and your move date.