2-Hour Minimum

Local moves are billed hourly. When the crew arrives at your origin, the clock starts. It runs continuously — driving between origin and destination is on the clock — and stops when the crew finishes at the destination. The minimum exists because the crew has already committed half a day to your move (drive to origin, unload trucks, drive back) regardless of how long your specific move takes. After the 2-hour mark, time is typically prorated in 15-minute increments rather than rounded up to the next hour.

The minimum is the reason a short studio move with two stops can cost the same as a longer move with three stops. It also means there's no real saving from frantically rushing the crew — most studio and 1-bedroom moves take between 1.5 and 3 hours, so the minimum usually covers the work. For larger moves, the relevant question isn't whether you'll exceed the minimum (you will) — it's how the crew is sized and how prepared you are to hand them what they need to load.

Muscleman Elite bills local moves hourly with a 2-hour minimum. Time beyond the minimum is prorated in 15-minute increments — not rounded up to the next hour. The hourly rate and minimum are stated in your written estimate before move day; no surprises.

What if the move only takes 90 minutes?

You're still billed for the 2-hour minimum. The crew committed their day to your move regardless of how fast it goes.

Does the 2-hour minimum apply to long-distance moves?

No — long-distance moves are typically billed on weight, distance, and services, not hourly. The 2-hour minimum is a local-move convention.

How accurate is a 2-3 hour estimate for a small move?

For a studio or 1-bedroom with everything packed and accessible, ground-floor access, and a short drive between origin and destination, 2-3 hours is realistic with a 2-3 person crew. Add time for stairs, long carries, packing the crew has to do, and oversized items.