What is an access fee charged by movers?
Quick Answer
An access fee covers extra difficulty getting to your home - stairs, elevators, long walks from the truck to the door, or narrow hallways. Typical charges are $75 to $150 per obstacle. It is sometimes called an accessorial charge.
Access fees (also called accessorial charges) are additional costs that cover anything making it harder or slower for movers to reach your belongings. The most common access fees include stair carries ($50-$100 per flight), elevator charges ($75-$150), long carries ($75-$150 per 50 feet beyond 75 feet), shuttle service ($300-$600), and narrow hallway or doorway surcharges.
These fees exist because access challenges directly increase labor time and physical effort. Carrying a sofa up 3 flights of stairs takes significantly more time and energy than rolling it off a truck at ground level.
Access fees should be disclosed during the estimate phase. If a mover does an in-home survey, they will note access challenges and include fees in the quote. Phone and online estimates are more likely to miss these charges, leading to surprise fees on moving day.
To minimize access fees: choose an in-home or video estimate over a phone quote, proactively describe any access challenges when requesting estimates, reserve your building's elevator and loading dock in advance, and clear a direct path from your door to the truck.
Access fees at both origin and destination are charged separately. Moving from a 3rd-floor walkup to a home with a 200-foot driveway means paying stair fees at pickup and a long carry fee at delivery.