Moving from Illinois to Massachusetts ($2,750-$7,000)
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The cost to move from Illinois to Massachusetts ranges from $2,750 to $7,000 with full-service movers, based on 989 real quotes from moveBuddha users. Use our moving cost calculator to get a number tailored to your move — it weighs distance, home size, and move date together instead of leaning on a flat Illinois to Massachusetts average. This 1,092-mile route guide draws on our review of 100 movers based in Illinois.
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Massachusetts?
The average cost of moving from Illinois to Massachusetts with full-service movers typically ranges between $2,750 to $7,000 for a 2-3 bedroom home. We calculated this average by reviewing 989 real-time quotes provided to moveBuddha users over the past 90 days. The average moving distance quoted was 1,092 miles.
The final price of your Illinois to Massachusetts move will be dependent on the type of mover you choose, how much you're moving, time of year, distance, access, and add-on services. Get a free and accurate estimate using our moving cost calculator.
The rates below are for full-service movers, meaning the crew loads, transports, and unloads your belongings for you:
| Move Size | Full-Service Mover Cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,250 - $5,250 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,750 - $7,000 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,500 - $9,000 |
How much do moving containers cost from Illinois to Massachusetts?
A moving container from Illinois to Massachusetts costs between $1,000 and $4,750, depending on how much you're moving. For a 2-3 bedroom home, expect $1,750 to $3,500, roughly 50% less than full-service movers on this route. You pack and load the container yourself; the container company handles the 1,092-mile drive.
| Move Size | Moving Container Cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,000 - $2,250 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $1,750 - $3,500 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $2,250 - $4,750 |
How much does a rental truck cost from Illinois to Massachusetts?
A rental truck from Illinois to Massachusetts costs between $775 and $2,100. For a 2-3 bedroom home, budget $900 to $1,850, about 75% less than hiring full-service movers. That figure covers the truck itself; with gas in Illinois averaging $3.19 per gallon, fuel for the 1,092-mile drive, plus insurance, equipment rental, and lodging, all land on top of the base rate.
| Move Size | Rental Truck Cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $775 - $1,575 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $900 - $1,850 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $1,075 - $2,100 |
Add-on costs for an Illinois to Massachusetts move
The figures above are linehaul: crew time on both ends plus 1,092 miles of transport. Accessorial charges are quoted separately, and on an Illinois to Massachusetts route they commonly add 10% to 22% to the final invoice.
At 1,092 miles, an Illinois to Massachusetts move is typically a one-to-two-day haul. That's the range where storage-in-transit and shuttle fees start appearing on quotes, since your shipment may sit briefly before a delivery window opens in Massachusetts. Guaranteed-delivery upgrades are available but uncommon at this distance.
Massachusetts's cost of living runs about 11% above Illinois's, so destination-side charges on this route price above national averages, including shuttle service, long carries, and storage near Boston. Origin-side labor in Illinois is the cheaper end of this move.
| Add-On Service | Typical Cost (Illinois to Massachusetts) |
|---|---|
| Full packing service | $950 - $2,500 |
| Packing materials only | $125 - $375 |
| Specialty item (piano, safe, pool table) | $300 - $850 |
| Appliance disconnect & reconnect | $100 - $250 |
| Stair or elevator carry | $75 - $250 |
| Storage-in-transit (per month) | $175 - $425 |
| Shuttle service at delivery | $200 - $575 |
| Auto transport (1 vehicle) | $625 - $925 |
| Full-value protection | 1% - 2% of declared shipment value |
Released-value protection at 60¢ per pound is included at no charge on every interstate move, but it pays out almost nothing on a damaged item. A 40-pound TV settles at $24. Full-value protection is the line item most worth the money on a 1,092-mile haul. Our moving cost calculator prices these accessorials into your Illinois to Massachusetts estimate up front instead of leaving them to surface on moving day.
Our recommended Illinois to Massachusetts Movers
Compare movers for your Illinois to Massachusetts move
Before you request quotes, take a look at the Illinois long-distance movers our team has reviewed and rated for routes like this one to Massachusetts:
1228 Humbracht Circle, Bartlett, IL 60103
7400 Niles Center Rd, Skokie, IL 60077
3201 Tollview Drive, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
2325 N Clark St #300, Chicago, IL 60614
2627 Kaneville Ct, Geneva, IL 60134
Alternate Illinois to Massachusetts moving options
DIY moving options offer real cost savings on an Illinois to Massachusetts move, with the right choice depending on how hands-on you want to be. Moving containers run about 50% less than full-service interstate movers, and rental trucks come in around 75% less.
With a rental truck (ex: U-Haul), you handle all the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus added costs like fuel, insurance, and equipment rentals on top of the base rate. If you'd rather skip the heavy lifting, local labor-only crews in Illinois run $59 - $81 per hour to load the truck for you, while you still drive and unload on the Massachusetts end.
With a moving container (ex: PODS), you handle the packing and loading in Illinois on your own timeline, and the container company will drop it off in Massachusetts for you to unload. A standard 16-foot container (the size most 2-3 bedroom interstate moves need) typically runs $317 - $826 to rent in Illinois, before the long-distance haul fee shown above is added.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 989 real quotes from Illinois to Massachusetts over the past 3 months, giving us some of the most up-to-date pricing data around. Running your move through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Massachusetts to Illinois guide.
Illinois to Massachusetts cost of living comparison
Before you commit to a Illinois to Massachusetts move, it helps to know how the two states actually compare. Based on the moving trends moveBuddha tracks nationwide, cost of living, job markets, housing, and lifestyle are the factors that most often make or break a relocation decision:
| Factor | Illinois | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 90 | 100 |
| Average household income | $78,433 | $96,505 |
| Median home value | $249,224 | $623,131 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 3.9% |
| State income tax | 4.95% | 9.0% |
Massachusetts has a higher cost of living than Illinois, so most people moving in this direction are doing so for career, family, or lifestyle reasons rather than affordability. Budget for higher housing costs and day-to-day expenses compared to what you're used to in Illinois.
Getting to know Massachusetts
Massachusetts is nicknamed the Bay State. People who've made this move point to excellent education system, delicious seafood, and bountiful recreational opportunities as the biggest draws. According to a survey, Massachusetts is the most educated state in the country, because the state has a number of high – ranking state colleges and universities.
Most of Massachusetts has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. Far southeast coastal areas are the broad transition zone to Humid Subtropical climates. The warm to hot summers render the oceanic climate rare in this transition, only applying to exposed coastal areas such as on the peninsula of Barnstable County. The climate of Boston is quite representative for the commonwealth, characterized by summer highs of around 81 °F (27 °C) and winter highs of 35 °F (2 °C), and is quite wet. Frosts are frequent all winter, even in coastal areas due to prevailing inland winds. Due to its location near the Atlantic, Massachusetts is vulnerable to nor'easters, hurricanes, and tropical storms.
And in case you're feeling nostalgic once you're settled: In 1905, president of the Chicago Cubs filed charges against a fan in the bleachers for catching a fly ball and keeping it.
Moving from Illinois to Massachusetts FAQs
How do I get a moving quote from Illinois to Massachusetts?
Getting an accurate quote for your 1,092-mile move from Illinois to Massachusetts takes four steps.
- Get a ballpark with a cost calculator. Plug your home size and dates into our moving cost calculator for an instant estimate across all three move types on this 1,092-mile route. Most Illinois to Massachusetts moves take 2-8 days from packing to delivery.
- Decide on your type of mover. Use that ballpark to pick a lane: full-service movers (they load, drive, and unload), moving containers (you pack, they haul), or a rental truck (cheapest, but you drive). A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $2,750-$7,000, while rental trucks start around $750.
- Take a moving survey. Go room by room and list your furniture, boxes, and anything bulky (appliances, a piano, a safe). The more detail you give each company up front, the closer your quote will be to your final bill.
- Get quotes and choose your mover. Collect a few real quotes within your chosen lane and ask each company whether the estimate is binding or non-binding. Compare them across packing, access fees, storage, and the 2-8-day delivery window, not just the bottom line. moveBuddha has reviewed 100 movers based in Illinois alone, so you have a real pool to compare against before booking.
How long does it take to move from Illinois to Massachusetts?
Most full-service Illinois to Massachusetts moves land in the 2 - 8 day range from pickup to delivery, with the exact number driven by distance, your mover's schedule, and whether your load is consolidated with others headed the same direction.
Moving containers take longer than full-service, typically 1 - 2 weeks from when you finish loading to delivery at your new home, because they ship by ground freight on a scheduled run. Rental trucks give you the most control over timing since you drive directly to Massachusetts, but add 1 - 2 days of driving depending on the distance.
Should I ship my car when moving from Illinois to Massachusetts?
Deciding whether to drive your car or ship it depends on a few things: the distance, how tight your timeline is, and the number of vehicles involved. Auto transport for an Illinois to Massachusetts move typically costs $600 - $1,500 depending on distance and vehicle type, with open transport on the lower end and enclosed transport for higher-value vehicles running more.
Most people shipping their car on a long-distance move do so when the drive would take more than 2 days, they're relocating more than 1 vehicle, or they'd rather fly directly to Massachusetts and start settling in without a multi-day drive. If you can make the drive in a day, driving yourself is usually cheaper.
See our Illinois car shipping guide for vetted auto transport companies and current pricing for this route.
Who regulates interstate moves?
Interstate moves (any move that crosses state lines, like an Illinois to Massachusetts relocation) are regulated federally by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Every interstate mover needs a valid USDOT number — verify one for free at FMCSA's carrier lookup tool, and report violations to FMCSA at 1-888-368-7238.
In Illinois: 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. In Massachusetts: Moving companies in Massachusetts are required to obtain a license from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities – Transportation Oversight Division to provide local and intrastate moving services in Massachusetts movers must carry adequate cargo insurance and publicly file their tariffs required to list the services they provide and the cost for each.
Are full-service movers worth it for an Illinois to Massachusetts move?
People making the Illinois to Massachusetts move are often chasing natural beauty in Massachusetts — the kind of move worth protecting with professional handling rather than risking on a DIY haul.
Full-service movers are worth it for an Illinois to Massachusetts move when any of the following apply: you're moving a large home (3+ bedrooms), your timeline is tight, you have high-value or fragile items that need professional handling, or you can't take time away from work to manage the logistics of a multi-day drive across state lines.
DIY options make more sense when you're moving a smaller home (1-2 bedrooms), cost is the primary constraint, and you have the time and physical capacity to handle loading, driving, and unloading yourself. Moving containers, about 50% less than full-service, are the best middle-ground for people who want to skip the drive but still save significantly over full-service pricing.
Popular Illinois to Massachusetts moving routes
These are the most common city-to-city moves on the Illinois to Massachusetts corridor. Each guide covers local mover recommendations, cost estimates specific to those metro areas, and neighborhood information to help you plan your destination.
Moving from Illinois to Massachusetts: the bottom line
The cost to move from Illinois to Massachusetts ranges from $2,750 - $7,000 for a 2-3 bedroom home with full-service movers. Moving containers and rental trucks cost 50% - 75% less for the same move. For most people making this 1,092-mile relocation, hiring a full-service mover is the most reliable option, especially for larger homes, time-sensitive moves, or relocations involving high-value items.
To get the best price, collect at least 3 quotes, book 4 - 12 weeks in advance depending on your season, and schedule a mid-week, mid-month pickup date when possible. Use our moving cost calculator to compare costs across all service types for your specific home size.
