Binding vs Non-Binding Estimate Calculator
The words at the top of a moving estimate decide how much you can be asked for when the truck arrives. There are three kinds, and they behave very differently when the actual weight comes in above the estimate.
- Binding — the price is the price, provided nothing is added to the shipment.
- Non-binding — the estimate is a guess. At delivery you can be required to pay the estimate plus a limited overage, with the balance due later.
- Binding not-to-exceed — you pay the lower of the estimate or the actual charges.
Enter your numbers to see the delivery-day exposure of each.
Why the estimate type matters more than the price
A low non-binding estimate is not a low price. It is a low guess, and the guess is made by the party that benefits when it is wrong. Two quotes that differ by $400 can differ by far more at delivery if one is binding and the other is not.
If the charges come in high
Movers cannot hold your goods hostage over a disputed amount above what is legally collectible at delivery. Pay what is due, take delivery, and dispute afterward in writing — you have far more leverage with your belongings in your house than in a warehouse accruing storage fees.