How Much Do Chicago Movers Cost?
Quick answer: The typical cost for hiring movers in Chicago is $100 per hour, with the total cost to move ranging from $364 to $3,296, on average. If you’re moving out of Illinois, the cost of hiring long-distance movers in Chicago really depends on where you’re moving.
Use our moving cost calculator below for a quick and personalized price estimate for your move out of Chicago, IL.
Jump to the cost information best for your Chicago move:
Our track record
Each year, 400,000+ people trust our moving recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:
- Founded in 2015
- 2,500+ moving companies analyzed
- $50,000 in moving & auto transport grants delivered
- Up-to-date pricing info & industry data
- Fact-checked for accuracy
Average cost to hire a local moving company in Chicago
Hiring a full-service Chicago mover is definitely the most convenient option, but that convenience comes at a cost — professional movers tend to be more expensive than other moving options. If you want movers to do all the heavy lifting for you and you can afford it, hire a full-service moving company for your Chicago move.
If you want to save money, you can hire a container company, where you do the packing and loading and they transport your belongings in Chicago for you, or by renting a moving truck and handling it all on your own.
Here are the average moving costs from Chicago to another state with different types of movers:
Destination | Professional Movers | Containers | Rental Trucks |
---|---|---|---|
Portland | $2,646 - $6,674 | $1,589 - $3,370 | $845 - $1,681 |
Los Angeles | $3,440 - $7,480 | $2,128 - $4,471 | $1,319 - $2,883 |
Seattle | $3,608 - $7,427 | $2,225 - $4,444 | $1,333 - $2,888 |
And here's how much professional movers cost in Chicago based on your move size:
Home size | Avg. total cost | Cost/hour | # of movers | # hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $364 | $140 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
1 bedroom | $504 | $140 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
2 bedroom | $812 | $196 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
3 bedroom | $1,868 | $274 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
4 bedroom | $2,142 | $274 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
5+ bedroom | $3,296 | $384 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
- Studio: The average cost to hire movers in Chicago to move a studio apartment is $364. You'll need two movers for three hours at $140 per hour.
- One bedroom: If you have a one-bedroom apartment or home, expect to pay around $504 for local Chicago movers. You'll need two movers for four hours at $140 per hour.
- Two bedrooms: The average cost to hire Chicago movers to move a two-bedroom home is $812. You'll need three movers for five hours at $196 per hour.
- Three bedrooms: For a three-bedroom home, expect to pay $1,868 for local Chicago movers. A three-bedroom typically requires four movers for eight hours at $274 per hour.
- Four bedrooms: Moving a four-bedroom house in Chicago will cost $2,142, on average. The cost to move a larger home can vary, but typically requires four movers for nine hours at $274 per hour.
- Five or more bedrooms: The cost of hiring Chicago movers for a home with five or more bedrooms is $3,296. You'll need five movers for ten hours at $384 per hour.
It's worth noting the cost per hour for Chicago movers remains the same for all home sizes, ranging from $140 per hour for two movers to $384 per hour for five movers. As the size of your home increases, the number of movers and hours required for the move also increases, resulting in a higher overall cost.
Overall, hiring local Chicago movers is a convenient and stress-free way to move within the city. By knowing the approximate cost for your home size, you can budget accordingly and make informed decisions for your upcoming move.
Best local moving companies in Chicago, IL
Our expert team of analysts has dug deep into licensing, insurance options, online reviews, and hundreds of other data points to find you the best local moving companies in Chicago.
Company | Quote | Rating | Contact |
---|---|---|---|
most popular
New City Moving
|
Get A Quote |
5 overall rating
|
2929 N Campbell Ave, Chicago, IL, 60618 (773) 489-0600 |
Alliance Moving & Storage | Get A Quote |
4.9 overall rating
|
3201 Tollview Drive, Rolling Meadows, IL, 60008 (847) 378-4949 |
The Professionals Moving Specialists | Get A Quote |
4.86 overall rating
|
3918 N Western Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60618 (888) 225-7351 |
Visit our best movers in Chicago page to see a complete list of moving companies, including hourly rates, services, and reviews. And if you’re moving outside of Chicago, consider one of Chicago’s top long-distance movers.
Average cost to hire interstate movers in Chicago
Since the cost of moving out of Chicago depends so much on where you’re moving, here are some example costs. For more detailed guides on your specific destination, find your moving route to Chicago or use our moving cost calculator to get quotes from the top interstate movers.
|
|
rating
4.25 / 5
Licensed
Insured
Price
|
|
|
Cost to move a one-bedroom home out of state from Chicago
Chicago to Los Angeles:
$2,482–$4,919
Chicago to New York City:
$1,966–$4,218
Chicago to Brooklyn:
$2,048–$4,007
Chicago to Queens:
$1,983–$4,305
Chicago to Houston:
$2,352–$5,157
Cost to move a two- or three-bedroom home out of state from Chicago
Chicago to Los Angeles:
$3,440–$6,548
Chicago to New York City:
$2,455–$5,277
Chicago to Brooklyn:
$2,503–$4,963
Chicago to Queens:
$2,360–$5,086
Chicago to Houston:
$2,646–$6,207
Cost to move a four- bedroom home (or larger) out of state from Chicago
Chicago to Los Angeles:
$6,379–$10,672
Chicago to New York City:
$4,037–$6,869
Chicago to Brooklyn:
$4,281–$7,216
Chicago to Queens:
$4,222–$6,736
Chicago to Houston:
$4,575–$6,979
Best interstate moving companies in Chicago, IL
Now that you have an idea of what your move from Chicago should cost, it’s time to start looking at the best interstate moving companies. We vetted each one, examining their pricing, services, and our own real-life customer reviews to pick the best options for you.
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Family owned & operated
- Affordable pricing
- Binding estimates
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
Average cost to rent a moving truck in Chicago
You'll definitely have to break a sweat, but moving truck rentals in Chicago will be much easier on your wallet than full-service movers. The average cost to rent a moving truck in Chicago ranges from $19-$39 per day.
While cheaper than full-service moving companies, you’ll have to do all the heavy lifting yourself — from boxing up your belongings to loading them on the truck, hauling them to your new spot, and unloading everything there.
Here are the typical costs of Chicago rental trucks:
- Base cost: $19–$39 per day
- Mileage fee: $0.69–$0.79 per mile
- Fuel cost: Dependent on driving distance.
- Truck coverage: $20–$55 based on coverage level
- Parking permit (if necessary): For a fee of $25, CDOT will provide ticket and tow enforceable signs to eligible moving companies for the day of the move. This requires 72 hours.
- Equipment costs (optional): Dolly, straps, blankets
The total cost to rent a truck from companies like Budget or U-Haul will depend on:
- How far you drive the truck
- How long you have the truck rental
- Additional insurance
- Parking
- Toll fees
- Fuel
- Accommodations and dining
- Moving equipment rentals
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
- Limits environmental impact as part of the EPA's SmartWay Program
- Non-slip flooring makes loading and unloading easier
- Easily choose truck size with their Truck Wizard Tool
- Competitive base prices with specialized discounts
- Round-trip and one-way moves available
- User-friendly website makes it easy to book the right truck
Average cost to rent a moving container in Chicago
Chicago has plenty of moving container companies to choose from. The containers are delivered, you load everything into them, the company picks it up, and it gets put in storage until you're ready for everything to be delivered to your new place.
Naturally, the advantage with containers like PODS and U-Pack is storage. These things will buy you time if you end up with a weird gap between leases.
Here's roughly what moving containers in Chicago are going to cost:
- Storage fee: $99.95 per 30 days
- Damage coverage: $10–$350 based on coverage level
- Parking permit (if necessary): For a fee of $25, CDOT will provide ticket and tow enforceable signs to eligible moving companies for the day of the move. This requires 72 hours.
- Door lock (if necessary): $10–$15
- Equipment costs (if necessary): Dolly, straps, blankets (optional)
Storing everything in a one-bedroom will end up costing somewhere around $110–$490 door-to-door. Still, you might want to factor in a little extra in case you decide to hire a third-party moving crew.
Each large container holds about three rooms until it's completely full. You might end up needing more containers, but keep in mind that your cost will essentially double with each container you add.
Company | Quote | Rating | Price |
---|---|---|---|
U-Pack | Check prices |
5 / 5
|
|
1-800-Pack-Rat | Check prices |
4.45 / 5
|
|
PODS | Check prices |
4.8 / 5
|
|
Factors that affect the cost of movers in Chicago, IL
The biggest factor that affects the cost of movers in Chicago, IL, is distance, but there are several other price considerations to keep in mind, including:
- The size of your move: The more belongings you have, the more your move will cost. Moving a four-bedroom home will typically be more expensive than moving a studio apartment.
- When you move: You’ll usually pay more to move during peak season (May–September) because demand is higher. Similarly, the time of month and day of the week you book your move will impact cost. Demand will be higher the first and last of each month, when leases change over, and on Fridays and Saturdays, the most popular moving days. To save money on your move, consider booking during the week and in the middle of one of the off-season months, if possible.
- The type of move: Professional movers are the most convenient option, but they will cost you more than going with a DIY option like moving container companies or moving truck rentals.
- Any add-on services you select: Even if you go with a DIY move, you may want to hire third-party movers to assist you with loading and unloading. And professional movers offer a variety of optional services like packing and unpacking to help customize and streamline your relocation. But these additional services will come at an extra cost.
Quick tips for a stress-free move
- Have important documentation.
Places like high rises and managed apartments will often require a copy of your mover's insurance
and elevator reservation on moving day.
- Get approval.
Check ahead with any neighborhood, community, or HOA rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Secure a parking permit (if needed). For a fee of $25, CDOT will provide ticket and tow enforceable signs to eligible moving companies for the day of the move. This requires 72 hours.
- Check state licensing laws. In Illinois, regulations on in-state moves and local movers are set forth by the Illinois Commerce Commission.
To move household goods locally and intrastate, companies need to have a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, so make sure the companies you’re considering have one and that it’s current.
- Invest in moving insurance. Choose cost-free Released Value Protection from movers for basic coverage at 60 cents per pound. For more extensive protection matching your items' full value, consult your moving company for alternative options or consider a third-party insurance provider.
Work with your movers to ensure all these items are taken care of before moving day.
Helpful Chicago resources
Chicago moving services
Nearby cities
Not what you were looking for?
Check out other categories that can help you find the information you need!