How Much Does It Cost To Move a Mobile Home? What You Need to Know

This is the biggest factor, plain and simple. The dimensions and weight of your home dictate the kind of equipment, crew, and permits you’ll need.

• Single-Wide: These are the simplest and most affordable to move. They’re typically 14 to 18 feet wide and 66 to 90 feet long. They can usually be transported in one piece on a single truck. Easy peasy, relatively speaking.
• Double-Wide: These homes are twice the trouble. They are transported in two separate sections and re-joined at the new location. This means you’re paying for two transport runs, more labor for the separation and re-assembly (or “re-seaming”), and potentially more complex permits. The cost is often double that of a single-wide, sometimes even more.
• Triple-Wide or Multi-Wide: These are less common, but they are the most complex and expensive to move. They require even more coordination, labor, and transport, sending the costs way up.

The weight of your home also matters. Older mobile homes were often built with heavier materials, which might require a more heavy-duty truck and could increase your transport costs.

It’s pretty straightforward: the farther you go, the more you pay. Most mobile home movers charge a base rate plus a per-mile fee.

• Short-Distance (Move-Only): For moves under 50 miles, you might pay a flat rate of around $1,000 to $5,000 just for the transport. This is often called a “transport-only” service, and it doesn’t include the disconnect/reconnect services we’ll talk about in a bit.
• Long-Distance: Once you start crossing state lines, things get complicated. Each state has its own set of rules, permits, and approved routes for oversized loads. The mover has to navigate all that red tape, which adds to the labor and administrative costs. Plus, you’ll have higher fuel and labor costs for the crew. A move from, say, North Carolina to Florida will be significantly more expensive than just moving to the next county over.

Oh, the paperwork. I remember a client from my logistics days who thought they could handle the permits themselves to save a few bucks. Bless their heart, it ended up delaying their move by three weeks. Getting the right permits is non-negotiable, and it’s a cost you have to factor in.

You’ll need moving permits from every county and state your home travels through. These permits can cost anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars. Your moving company will typically handle this for you (and you absolutely want them to), but the cost is passed on to you. They’ll need to make sure the route is approved for oversized loads, check for low bridges or power lines, and sometimes arrange for a police escort or pilot cars.

Moving a mobile home isn’t just about the drive. A huge chunk of the work happens before the wheels even start rolling and after they stop. This is often referred to as a “full-service” move.

At the Origin:

• Disconnecting Utilities: Your electricity, water, sewer, and gas all need to be safely disconnected by professionals.
• Removing “Attachments”: This includes skirting around the base of the home, any porches or decks, awnings, and even the steps leading to your door.
• Preparing for Transport: The crew will place the home on jacks, attach tires and axles (if they aren’t already there), and secure everything for the road.

At the Destination:

• Site Preparation: The new lot needs to be level and ready. Sometimes this costs extra if the ground isn’t properly prepared.
• Placing the Home: The crew will carefully position the home on the new foundation or piers.
• Leveling and Anchoring: The home must be perfectly leveled and then securely anchored or tied down to meet local code requirements. This is critical for safety!
• Reconnecting Utilities: Again, professionals are needed to hook everything back up.
• Re-installing Attachments: Putting the skirting, decks, and stairs back on. For a double-wide, this also includes the meticulous process of joining the two halves back together.

A transport-only move is cheaper upfront, but it leaves you responsible for all of this prep and setup work. For most people, a full-service move is the way to go for peace of mind.

The size of the crew needed for your move will impact the cost. A simple single-wide move might only need two or three people, but a complex double-wide setup could require a team of five or more.

You also have to think about “extras” that might pop up:

• Pilot Cars: Most states require escort vehicles for a load as wide as a mobile home. These cars drive ahead and behind to warn traffic and help navigate tight spots. You can expect to pay $1.50 to $2.00 per mile for each pilot car.
• Tires and Axles: If your home doesn’t have its own, the moving company will use their own transport set, and there might be a rental fee for that.
• Obstacles: Is your current or new lot hard to access? Are there trees in the way? Any challenging terrain can add labor hours and costs.