Number of racks and amount of equipment
Rack count and loose equipment are the base of the quote. A rack that ships loaded is cheaper to move than one that has to be de-installed, packed unit by unit and re-racked. Weight matters as much as count, because storage and UPS equipment need more people and lifting gear.
Distance and transport type
Distance sets truck time, fuel and driver hours. A move between two buildings in one city is a different job from a long-haul move, and an international move adds freight, export documents and customs work. A dedicated air-ride truck costs more than shared freight but protects sensitive hardware, and team drivers shorten transit for time-critical loads.
Crating and packing
Anti-static packing is standard. Custom crating adds material and labor, and it is recommended for fragile, high-value or overseas equipment. Racks that ship loaded need bracing but less unit-by-unit packing.
Rigging, access and delivery
Access can change the price more than distance. Stairs, tight elevators, a dock that is not at truck height, a long carry to the data hall and heavy items that need rigging all add labor and equipment. Liftgate and inside delivery are written into the scope so they are not a surprise.
After-hours work and timing
Nights and weekends can add labor cost, and many facilities only allow certain windows. A date that is known early gives us more options for crews and trucks, and flexible dates can lower the price. We are available 24/7 when a move cannot wait.
Insurance, storage and extras
Declared value and insurance, storage while a destination is prepared through server rack storage, rack and stack at the destination and decommissioning of unneeded equipment are scoped separately, so the quote covers what your move needs.
How a data center relocation cost estimate is built
A data center relocation cost estimate starts with a written scope, not a rate card. We list the racks and loose equipment, the route, the packing method, the access at both ends, the labor windows and the insurance, and each line of the scope carries its own cost. That is why two moves with the same rack count can have very different costs, and why we do not publish price numbers.
These items are easy to miss when you compare quotes, so check that each one is included or listed separately.
- Crating, rigging, liftgate and inside delivery
- After-hours or weekend labor
- Insurance and declared value
- Customs broker and freight for international moves
- Storage if the destination is not ready
How to lower the cost of a move
These steps reduce what has to move, or make the move easier to plan.
- Sell retired equipment through our buy back program, paid in cash or as a credit toward the move
- Retire or consolidate equipment before the move so fewer racks travel
- Share an accurate inventory with make, model and quantity
- Stay flexible on dates and ask about shared windows
- Confirm dock, elevator and access details at both sites
What we need to give you a quote
An equipment list, the origin and destination addresses with dock and access details, your target dates and any security requirements for drives. Gaps are fine and are filled in during discovery. For a longer read, see our guide to how much it costs to move a data center, and learn how data center movers and our migration services are scoped.