Red Cat moving blankets and packing tape

Local Movers in DC, MD & VA.
One Flat Rate.

Across town or across the river, from Capitol Hill to Bethesda and Arlington. One price before moving day, not a clock running in Beltway traffic.

Two Red Cat movers and a customer with a wrapped sofa and Red Cat boxes
  • No Deposit
  • Flat Rate
  • Unbeatable Price
Red Cat local movers wrapping furniture in moving blankets in a living room
Red Cat local mover pad-wrapping an armchair

When the Clock Keeps Running, So Does the Uncertainty. Hourly local moving vs. a flat rate.

With hourly moving, you get an estimate before the work starts, but the final price isn't decided until the work is finished. If the move takes longer than expected, you pay for the extra time.

That's a lot of uncertainty to carry on moving day.

Red Cat does it differently.

We agree on the price before moving day, so you know what you're paying before the first box gets loaded.

Local Moving Prices in DC, Maryland & Virginia

Starting flat rates for local moves across DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Your final price comes from your inventory, and it's locked in before moving day.

  • 1 Bedroom Apartment, local move

    from$240flat rate
  • 2 Bedroom Apartment, local move

    from$320flat rate
  • 2 Bedroom House, local move

    from$780flat rate
  • 3 Bedroom House, local move

    from$1,440flat rate
  • Everything pad-wrapped
  • Fragile items packed by us: TVs, glass, mirrors
  • Furniture disassembled and reassembled
  • You pack the boxes, or add our packing service

Rates shown are for weekday moves in the first three weeks of the month. Storage available, first month free while space allows.

DC, MD & VA Customers on Their Red Cat Move

  • Maya Robinson2BR apartment · DC

  • Daniel Kim3BR house · Bethesda

Hourly vs. Flat Rate

Why Let the Clock Decide What You Pay?

With hourly movers, the final price depends on how long the job takes. DC-area drivers lost about 62 hours to traffic in 2024, nearly 20 more than the national average (INRIX). On an hourly move, every one of those minutes is on your bill.

A stressed hourly mover holding an hourly invoice under a wall clock

Typical hourly mover

The Price Keeps Climbing.

  • You get an Estimate

    It's based on a best guess, not exactly what your move will take.

  • Unexpected Delays

    Traffic, stairs, elevators, parking and other surprises can add time.

  • The Clock Keeps Running

    The final price isn't known until the work is finished.

Red Cat Movers

The Cure for the Common Mover.

  • A Price, Not an Estimate

    Set before move day, not by how long a Capitol Hill walk-up takes.

  • No Surprise Charges

    A jammed I-495 or a backed-up 14th Street Bridge doesn't change your price.

  • The Perfect Move

    Focus on your new space, not on babysitting the crew.

A calm Red Cat mover holding a flat-rate quote

Red Cat vs. DMV Mover

What's Included in Our DC, MD & VA Flat Rate

Red Cat local movers packing a kitchen
Red Cat local movers packing Red Cat moving boxes in a living room
Red Cat local mover pad-wrapping an armchair in a moving blanket and Red Cat tape
What a Red Cat flat rate includes compared with a typical DMV mover
IncludedRed CatDMV Mover
One price, set before moving day
No deposit to book
Drive time and Beltway or I-95 traffic
Disassembly and reassembly
Packing your fragile furniture
Washed blankets and new boxes
Travel time
DDOT public space permits pulled for you
Montgomery County and Arlington COI formats, pre-approved
Old Town Alexandria historic-district access coordination

✕ means it's usually billed by the hour, charged extra, or left to you.

Get My Flat Rate

How a Local Flat‑Rate Move Works in the DMV

A simpler way to move. Clear steps, a flat rate, and a team that shows up ready to work.

  1. A flat-rate quote on a phone and a laptop

    1Get a flat rate.

    Tell us what's moving and where. We know how The Wharf, CityCenterDC and Crystal City high-rises handle freight elevator reservations and after-hours loading windows.

  2. A signed flat-rate estimate with a lock

    2Lock in your price.

    E-sign your flat rate, no deposit. Need a DDOT parking permit or a COI for your building? We sort it out before move day.

  3. Packed moving boxes ready to go

    3Move day.

    We arrive on time from our Rockville base. Beltway traffic or a slow freight elevator never changes your price.

Local moving

Every Kind of Home Across DC, MD & VA

High-rises, row houses, single-family homes and small moves. Each one has its own DMV quirks, and each one gets one flat price.

  • Apartments & high-rises

    Navy Yard, Rosslyn and Crystal City towers. We book the freight elevator and loading dock and send your building its COI.

  • Row houses & walk-ups

    Capitol Hill row houses and Dupont Circle walk-ups with no elevator. Stairs are part of the plan, never an hourly surprise.

  • Family homes

    Bethesda, Potomac and Fairfax houses, fully pad-wrapped, with beds and tables taken apart and put back together.

  • Small moves

    Studios and one-bedrooms around Pentagon City and Crystal City, moved quickly at one flat price.

Our team

Meet the Rockville-Based Crew
Behind Your DMV Move

  • Igor S., Co-Founder & Operator at Red Cat Movers

    Co-Founder & Operator

    Igor S.

    • 30,000+

      moves overseen

    • 2,000+

      moves by hand

    • 2012

      moving since

  • Milan T., Co-Founder · Quality Control at Red Cat Movers

    Co-Founder · Quality Control

    Milan T.

    • 12+ yrs

      sales at WTW

    • 3

      board roles

    • 2x

      co-founder

Our co-founder Igor S. has been moving people since 2012. Red Cat is how he always wanted it done: one flat rate, the best materials and impeccable service on every move. Our crews are based in Rockville, Maryland.

Same expertise.
A better experience.

Affordable pricing. Flat rates. Impeccable service.

Meet the crew

MARYLANDVIRGINIADC667095270395495695RockvilleOur home baseFrederickTowsonBaltimoreColumbiaAnnapolisGaithersburgBethesdaSilver SpringMcLeanArlingtonAlexandriaFairfax

Areas we serve

Neighborhoods We Move
in DC, MD & VA

Capitol Hill, Adams Morgan and Georgetown in DC. Bethesda, Silver Spring, Rockville and Gaithersburg in Maryland. Arlington, Alexandria, McLean and Fairfax in Northern Virginia.

FAQ

Local moving questions,
answered.

Prices, permits and building rules for local moves in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Anything else, give us a call.

Talk with Red Cat
  • Local flat rates start at $240 for a 1-bedroom apartment, $320 for a 2-bedroom apartment, $780 for a 2-bedroom house and $1,440 for a 3-bedroom house. Your exact price comes from your inventory, and it's set before moving day.

Add to your move

Pair it with these.

Case study

A Recent Local Move, Start to Finish

Before the move

The Challenge2-Bedroom Apartment, DC to Bethesda

Red Cat Movers

The estimate

Sarah M.

Flat-rate quote

Rate type
Flat Rate
Service type
Moving
Service date
Oct 14, 2026
Volume
567 cu ft

Origin

Washington, DC 20002

  • Apartment
  • 2 Bedroom
  • Private parking
  • 20–75 ft carry
  • 11–20 steps

Destination

Bethesda, MD 20814

  • Apartment
  • Elevator
  • Private parking
  • 20–75 ft carry

What's included

  • Disassembly & reassembly of standard furniture
  • All furniture blanket wrapped
  • Loading, unloading & furniture placement
  • All taxes, tolls, fuel and mileage
  • Basic valuation (60¢/lb per article)
  • Itemized inventory on move day
  • Flat rate price guaranteed for items listed in this estimate

Cost summary

Quote
$658.99
Valuation
$0.00
Grand total$658.99

Sarah M. was moving from a 2-bedroom apartment in Washington, DC to an apartment in Bethesda, and she wanted to spend only where it counted.

  • The challenge

    Saturday, end of month

    Her first pick: October 24.

    Sat, Oct 24 · Prime
    $1,414.98
    Wed, Oct 14 · Economy
    $658.99
    Saved
    $755.99 (53%)

    Sarah first asked for Saturday, October 24, 2026. The end of the month and Saturdays are the busiest time to move, and October 24 was a Prime day, one of the most expensive of the month, priced at $1,414.98. Since she was flexible, we recommended Wednesday, October 14: mid-month weekdays are the most affordable time to move, and October 14 was an Economy day. The same move priced at $658.99, a saving of $755.99.

    October 2026

    • First pick: Oct 24· $1,414.98
    • Booked: Oct 14· $658.99
    Moving price tier for each day of October 2026, from Economy (cheapest) to Ultimate
    SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
    1Sub Peak
    2Sub Peak
    3Peak
    4Standard
    5Discount
    6Discount
    7Discount
    8Discount
    9Sub Peak
    10Sub Peak
    11Standard
    12Economy
    13Economy
    14Economy
    15Economy
    16Peak
    17Peak
    18Standard
    19Regular
    20Regular
    21Regular
    22Regular
    23Prime
    24Prime
    25Premium
    26Premium
    27Premium
    28Premium
    29Premium
    30Premium
    31Prime
    CheapestMost expensive
    • Economy
    • Discount
    • Standard
    • Regular
    • Sub Peak
    • Peak
    • High Peak
    • Premium
    • Prime
    • Ultimate
  • The challenge

    Bulky and fragile pieces

    A sectional, two beds, a TV, mirrors.

    Taken apart
    7 pieces
    Fragile
    7 pieces
    Packed by crew
    6 pieces

    A 2-piece sectional sofa, a queen bed and a double bed had to be taken apart, and a 50 to 60 inch TV, a floor mirror and a wall mirror needed packing. With the steps and the long carry, all of it added to the work.

    Special handling

    Disassembly

    • Sofa sectional, 2 piece1Living room
    • Floor lamp2Living room
    • Dining table, medium1Dining room
    • Bed, queen1Bedroom 1
    • Floor lamp1Bedroom 1
    • Bed, double or full1Bedroom 2

    Assembly

    • Sofa sectional, 2 piece1Living room
    • Floor lamp2Living room
    • Dining table, medium1Dining room
    • Bed, queen1Bedroom 1
    • Floor lamp1Bedroom 1
    • Bed, double or full1Bedroom 2

    Pressboard

    • Bookcase, medium1Living room
    • Computer desk1Living room

    Fragile

    • TV flatscreen, 50–60 in1Living room
    • Floor lamp2Living room
    • Floor mirror, over 4 ft1Living room
    • Computer desk1Living room
    • Floor lamp1Bedroom 1
    • Wall mirror, over 4 ft1Bedroom 1

    Blanket wrapped

    • Sofa sectional, 2 piece1Living room
    • Chair, overstuffed1Living room
    • Bookcase, medium1Living room
    • TV flatscreen, 50–60 in1Living room
    • Ottoman, large1Living room
    • Floor mirror, over 4 ft1Living room
    • Computer desk1Living room
    • Office chair1Living room
    • Dining table, medium1Dining room
    • Dining chair4Dining room
    • Bed, queen1Bedroom 1
    • Nightstand2Bedroom 1
    • Dresser, triple1Bedroom 1
    • Wall mirror, over 4 ft1Bedroom 1
    • Bed, double or full1Bedroom 2
    • Nightstand2Bedroom 2
  • The challenge

    18 steps and a 75-ft carry

    No elevator in DC, a long carry both ends.

    Steps in DC
    18, no elevator
    Carry, each end
    ~75 ft
    Elevator
    Bethesda only

    The DC apartment had no elevator, so the crew carried every piece of furniture and all 36 boxes down 18 steps by hand, including the sectional, the dresser and both beds. Both buildings had private parking, but the truck could only get about 75 feet from the door at each end, so all 68 items were carried about 75 feet out in DC and about 75 feet back in at Bethesda, where an elevator took them up. The estimate listed the steps (11 to 20) and the 20 to 75 ft carry at both addresses, so they were priced into the flat rate up front, not added as extra time on move day.

    Every item's path on move day

    1. DC apartment2 bedrooms
    2. 18 steps downNo elevator
    3. ~75 ft carryTo the truck
    4. DC to BethesdaOne truck
    5. ~75 ft carryFrom the truck
    6. Elevator upBethesda apartment
  • The challenge

    Smart budgeting

    No overspending, no move-day headaches.

    Spending
    Only where it counts
    Move date
    Flexible
    Must have
    A stress-free move day

    Sarah budgets carefully and doesn't spend money where it isn't needed. She didn't want to overspend on her move, but she didn't want to cut corners either and end up with a headache on move day. She wanted a fair price and a crew she could trust with the stairs, the long carry and her bulky, fragile pieces. She was flexible about the date and happy to pack part of the move herself, which gave us room to bring the price down without taking anything away from the service.

Red Cat mover blanket-wrapping a sectional sofa piece in Sarah's DC apartment
  • Old place: 18 steps, no elevator
  • 75-ft carry, both ends
  • New place: elevator

Her estimate: $658.99 flat rate.

How we did it

Our ApproachSame Move, Over 50% Less

Her dates were flexible, so we priced the move on the cheapest day.

  • Our approach

    Walkthrough and inventory

    68 items, room by room.

    Items
    68
    Volume
    566.5 cu ft
    Weight
    3,582 lbs

    We went through the apartment room by room and built a full inventory: 68 items including 36 boxes, about 567 cubic feet. We noted the 18 steps, the 75-foot carry at both ends and the elevator in Bethesda.

    Inventory

    • Disassembly
    • Assembly
    • Pressboard
    • Fragile
    • (CP) Packed by movers
    • (PBO) Packed by customer
    • Blanket wrapped
    Living roomQtyLbsCftTags
    Sofa sectional, 2 piece135050
    Chair, overstuffed18525
    Bookcase, medium111020
    TV flatscreen, 50–60 in17010
    Floor lamp23010
    Ottoman, large15015
    Floor mirror, over 4 ft1355
    Table lamp2308
    Computer desk19515
    Office chair15012
    Vacuum cleaner1204
    Artificial plant, small1207
    Total14945181
    Dining roomQtyLbsCftTags
    Dining table, medium114025
    Dining chair410028
    Rug, large110515
    Total634568
    KitchenQtyLbsCftTags
    Trash can1154
    Brooms and mops1213
    Total2367
    Bedroom 1QtyLbsCftTags
    Bed, queen130060
    Nightstand27010
    Floor lamp1155
    Dresser, triple121040
    Wall mirror, over 4 ft1355
    Total6630120
    Bedroom 2QtyLbsCftTags
    Bed, double or full125050
    Nightstand27010
    Plastic organizer, large1355
    Total435565
    BoxesQtyLbsCftTags
    Dishpack428020
    Wardrobe box, short28412
    Book box735014
    Medium box, 3 cu ft1633648
    Large box, 4.5 cu ft722131.5
    Total361,271125.5
    Grand total683,582566.5
  • Our approach

    Packing split to save

    She packed boxes and lamps.

    Packed by Sarah
    36 boxes, 5 lamps
    Packed by our crew
    6 pieces

    To keep the price down, Sarah packed her 36 boxes, 3 floor lamps and 2 table lamps herself. Our crew packed the sectional sofa, the TV, the floor mirror, the wall mirror, the queen bed and the double bed.

    Special handling

    (CP) Packed by movers

    • Sofa sectional, 2 piece1Living room
    • TV flatscreen, 50–60 in1Living room
    • Floor mirror, over 4 ft1Living room
    • Bed, queen1Bedroom 1
    • Wall mirror, over 4 ft1Bedroom 1
    • Bed, double or full1Bedroom 2

    (PBO) Packed by customer

    • Floor lamp2Living room
    • Table lamp2Living room
    • Floor lamp1Bedroom 1
    • Dishpack4Boxes
    • Wardrobe box, short2Boxes
    • Book box7Boxes
    • Medium box, 3 cu ft16Boxes
    • Large box, 4.5 cu ft7Boxes
  • Our approach

    Timed to the elevator

    Planned back from 9 AM.

    Bethesda elevator
    9:00 AM
    Done in DC by
    8:20 AM
    Crew start
    6:10 AM

    The Bethesda building reserved its elevator for us at 9 AM, so our dispatcher planned the whole day back from that time. To be unloading at 9, the crew had to finish in DC by 8:20, drive to Bethesda, do a walkthrough with Sarah to see where everything goes and protect the floors. That meant loading in DC from 7 AM, leaving our warehouse with the truck at 6:30 and being at the warehouse by 6:10 to get the truck ready.

    1. 6:10 AMCrew at the warehouseTruck prepped and loaded with blankets and tools
    2. 6:30 AMTruck leaves the warehouseOn the way to DC
    3. 7:00 AMLoading starts in DC18 steps and the 75-ft carry
    4. 8:20 AMDone in DCOn the road to Bethesda
    5. Before 9Walkthrough in BethesdaWhere each piece goes, floors protected
    6. 9:00 AMUnloading startsRight on the elevator reservation
  • Our approach

    Flat rate, happy move

    $658.99, unpacking as we unloaded.

    Final bill
    $658.99
    Unpacked by the end
    ~40%
    Floors
    Protected

    The final bill was $658.99, the flat rate on her estimate. Every piece of furniture went exactly where Sarah wanted it, and since this was a 2-bedroom to a 2-bedroom, each box went into the same room it came from. The wooden floors were covered with hard surface protection tape. Sarah unpacked while we unloaded, so by the time we finished she was already about 40% unpacked.

    Sarah's packing tip

    “When you pack, don't sort. Just pack as you go, one drawer in one box. Last time I sorted my books into a box for each category, and it was the biggest waste of time.”
Get My Flat Rate

The Results

Red Cat mover hanging a painting in Sarah's new Bethesda apartment

$658.99 flat rate

Saved over 50% by moving on an Economy day, Wednesday, Oct 14.

68 items, one price

The sectional, both beds and the dining table taken apart and put back together.

Know your price.
Then let's move.

Your stuff moves. Your price doesn't.

Trusted by local people and businesses.

Three Red Cat movers holding Red Cat boxes
Instant Price