How Much Does Moving Cost in Topeka, KS?

A local move in Topeka usually costs between $393 for a studio and about $3,620 for a home with five or more bedrooms, with movers averaging around $110 per hour. A one-bedroom typically runs about $547, a two-bedroom about $886, and a three-bedroom about $2,050. Long distance moves of 100 miles or more cost $1,200 to $6,800 or more. Peak dates make the biggest difference to the bill: summer, weekends, and the last three days of any month typically run 20 to 30 percent higher than a Tuesday through Thursday move between October and April. Choose an off-peak weekday, pack before the crew arrives, and get a written estimate from a mover whose tariff is on file with the Kansas Corporation Commission.

Professional Moving & Storage has been moving households in eastern Kansas since 2000, from our offices in Lawrence and Lenexa. Topeka is about 25 miles west of our Lawrence office on I-70, so it is part of our regular service area. We operate under USDOT 917983 and MC 397078 and serve as an agent for National Van Lines on long distance moves. Here is what Topeka moves cost, what changes the price, and how to keep yours down.

Topeka Moving Costs by Home Size

Average full-service figures from moveBuddha's Topeka cost data:

Home size	Average local cost
Studio	$393
1 bedroom	$547
2 bedrooms	$886
3 bedrooms	$2,050
4 bedrooms	$2,352
5 or more bedrooms	$3,620

Local moves are billed by the hour at an average of about $110. Your own total depends on crew size, hours, stairs, and how ready you are.

For comparison, our guide to Lawrence moving costs shows the typical Lawrence move at $893 to $2,057 with a three or four-person crew, and our guide to Overland Park moving costs covers Johnson County.

Long Distance

Move	Typical range
100 miles or more	$1,200 to $6,800 or more
2 to 3 bedrooms, long distance	About $2,720 to $3,600 on average

Long distance moves are priced on the weight of your shipment and the miles it travels, not hours. That is why an inventory of your home matters more than a phone estimate.

How Movers Price a Topeka Move

Local: Hourly

Most moves within Topeka, and between Topeka and Lawrence, are billed by the hour. You pay for:

• Loading time
• Drive time between homes
• Unloading time
• Any packing materials used
• Extra handling for items such as pianos or safes

Long Distance: Weight and Mileage

Moves that go far beyond the area, and any move out of Kansas, are priced by weight and distance. Crossing into Missouri also brings federal rules, which our guide to the Kansas City to Lawrence move explains.

Larger Crews Can Cost Less

A four-person crew costs more per hour than a two-person crew, but it often finishes a three-bedroom house in half the time. On an hourly move the bigger crew can be the cheaper choice. Ask the mover to price both.

What Raises the Cost in Topeka

Older Homes

Neighborhoods such as Potwin, College Hill, and the streets around Washburn University have older homes with narrow stairways, porches, and basements. Every flight adds time. Stairs often add $50 to $70 per flight.

Volume

Topeka houses tend to have basements and garages, and those fill up. Removing about 500 pounds of things you do not need can take $200 to $400 off a weight-based bill. Our guide to downsizing before a move helps with the decisions.

Timing

moveBuddha reports that May through September, weekends, and the last three days of any month cost 20 to 30 percent more than off-peak dates.

Weather

Kansas weather is a real factor. Summer heat slows crews, spring brings storms, and winter can bring ice. Our guide to moving in bad weather covers how to plan for it.

Packing

Full packing for a three-bedroom home typically runs $600 to $1,500. Packing yourself and leaving only fragile items to the crew is the usual middle ground.

Cost Examples

These are typical scenarios, not quotes.

Scenario	Crew	Likely time	Likely cost
1 bedroom apartment, ground floor	2 movers	3 to 4 hours	About $450 to $650
2 bedroom house	3 movers	4 to 6 hours	About $800 to $1,300
3 bedroom house with basement	4 movers	6 to 8 hours	About $1,700 to $2,400
Lawrence to Topeka, 3 bedrooms	4 movers	7 to 9 hours	About $1,900 to $2,700

Moving Between Lawrence and Topeka

This is one of the most common routes we run. The two cities are about 25 miles apart on I-70, a drive of 30 to 40 minutes.

• It is a local move. It is billed by the hour, and the drive is part of the time.
• I-70 between the cities is the Kansas Turnpike. It is a toll road, and the toll is part of the cost of the truck's trip.
• Start early. A morning start keeps the unloading in daylight, which matters in winter.
• Plan both ends. A house in Topeka and an apartment in Lawrence near campus are very different jobs.

Students and staff moving between the University of Kansas and Washburn University often make this move in summer. Our KU student moving guide covers the Lawrence side.

Checking Your Mover

Intrastate household goods movers in Kansas file their tariffs with the Kansas Corporation Commission. The KCC's household goods tariff list shows each carrier with its MCID or DOT number, so you can confirm a mover is on file before you book.

A good estimate should:

• Be in writing
• State the hourly rate and crew size, or the weight and mileage basis
• List what is included, such as blankets, shrink wrap, and fuel
• List extra charges for stairs or heavy items
• Show the mover's USDOT number

Our guide to choosing a moving company covers the rest.

Ways to Save

1. Move Tuesday through Thursday. These are the cheapest days.
2. Move between October and April.
3. Avoid the last three days of the month.
4. Pack before move day. Our packing guide shows how.
5. Clear out first. Fewer items mean fewer hours and less weight.
6. Take apart beds and tables.
7. Clear the driveway so the truck can park close.

Moving to Topeka

If you are relocating to Topeka, our guide to moving to Topeka covers the city, our list of Topeka neighborhoods helps you choose an area, and our overview of Topeka's cost of living covers the rest of the budget.

If you are leaving, our article on mistakes to avoid when relocating from Topeka is worth a read before you book.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get a Topeka Moving Estimate

Professional Moving & Storage handles local and long distance moves, packing, storage, piano moving, senior moves, junk removal, and commercial moves across Lawrence, Topeka, and the Kansas City suburbs.

Our Topeka Movers operate under USDOT 917983 and MC 397078 and serve as an agent for National Van Lines. Call (785) 363-9582 for a written estimate on your Topeka move.