Moving & RelocationLabor Billing Model
Packing Labor Cost Calculator
Calculate professional packing labor fees based on packer crew count, scheduled hours, hourly billing rates, and overtime overage rates.
Calculated Packing & Supplies Breakdown
Professional Packing Labor Formula
Total Packing Labor = (Number of Packers × Scheduled Hours × Hourly Rate) + (Overtime Hours × 1.5× Rate) + Specialist Fees- Packer Hourly Rates: Individual professional packers bill $40 to $55 per hour. A 2-person crew costs $80 to $110/hour.
- Standard Packing Productivity: A trained packer packs approximately 4 to 6 standard boxes per hour (or 2 fragile china dish packs per hour).
- Overtime & Overage Billing: Packing exceeding standard 8-hour workday schedules or same-day emergency packing bills at 1.5x regular rates.
- Fragile Crating Specialists: Fine art, antique clocks, and chandeliers incur specialized custom crating fees ($75–$150/piece).
Step-by-Step Worked Example
Scenario: Hiring a 2-person packing team for 5 scheduled hours at $50/hr per packer, with 1 unforeseen overtime overage hour
Calculation Steps:
- Scheduled Labor (2 packers × 5 hours × $50/hr) = $500.00
- Overtime Overage Labor (2 packers × 1 hour × [$50 × 1.5]) = $150.00
- Total Packing Labor Cost = $650.00 (Effective Rate: $54.17 / packer hour)
Result: The 2-person professional packing service totals $650 across 12 total packer-hours of scheduled and overtime work.
How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter the number of packers on your crew (standard: 2 packers for apartments; 3–4 for houses).
- 2Input the scheduled hours of packing work.
- 3Enter the hourly billing rate per packer.
- 4Include any expected overtime hours or specialty crating fees.
Assumptions & Limitations
- Client provides boxes and wrapping supplies, or supplies are billed separately on a materials invoice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do packers also unpack at the new house?
Yes, most full-service moving companies offer professional unpacking services at the same hourly labor rate. Unpackers will unbox items, place them onto tables, countertops, and shelves, and haul away all empty cardboard boxes and packing paper.
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