Flight Charge (Stair Carry Fee)
Definition
An additional fee of $50 to $100 per flight of stairs charged when there is no elevator. Applies at both origin and destination if applicable.
Flight charges compensate movers for the additional labor and time required to carry furniture and boxes up or down stairs. A flight is typically defined as 8-12 steps.
Pricing varies by company: some charge a flat fee per flight regardless of the number of trips, while others charge per flight per trip. The latter can add up quickly for large moves in multi-story buildings.
Flight charges apply at both ends of the move. Moving from a 3rd-floor walkup to a 2nd-floor apartment means paying for 2 flights at origin and 1 flight at destination.
This fee should be identified during the in-home estimate. If your estimator sees the stairs, the flight charge should be included in the original quote. Phone estimates are more likely to miss this charge, leading to a surprise on moving day.
Elevator access does not necessarily avoid extra fees. Some movers charge an elevator fee ($75-$150) for slow elevators, shared elevators that require wait times, or buildings that restrict elevator use to specific hours.