Quotes and what they mean
What is the difference between a binding and a non-binding estimate?
The short answer
A binding estimate fixes the price for the listed services and inventory. A non-binding estimate is a prediction, and the final charge is based on actual weight and services. A binding not-to-exceed sets a ceiling: you pay the lower of the estimate or the actual cost. Which one you have should be stated on the document, and if it is not, that is the question to ask.
Where the risk sits
- Binding: the mover carries the risk that the job is bigger than they thought, and prices for it. Adding items not on the inventory generally changes the agreement.
- Non-binding: you carry the risk. Federal rules limit how much more than a non-binding estimate a US interstate carrier may require at delivery, and the rest can be billed afterwards.
- Binding not-to-exceed: the mover carries the downside and you keep the upside. It is generally the best structure for a customer, and not every company offers it.
What makes any of them meaningful
The inventory. An estimate of any type is an estimate of the things listed on it, so items discovered on the day are a legitimate reason for a change. This is why the survey matters: a careful inventory converts an estimate into something that holds, and a phone guess converts it into an opening position.
Ask for the estimate type in writing, on the document, in those words. A document that avoids saying which it is has told you which it is.
Also asked
Can a mover charge more than a binding estimate?
For the services and items in the agreement, generally no. For services you add, or items not on the inventory, generally yes, and that is the mechanism a dishonest operator uses. Keep the inventory complete and get additions documented before they are loaded.
The long version
Moving quotes and estimates explained
Understand moving estimate types, surveys, contract documents, and the common reasons a quoted price can change before delivery.
Read the guide →General information about moving and about hiring, not advice about your move. Interstate household-goods moving within the United States is federally regulated; local, intrastate and Canadian moving is regulated by each state or province, and the rules differ. The authority for your move is the one to check.