($618+) Jersey City, NJ to Madison, WI Movers
Moving from Jersey City, NJ, to Madison, WI, runs anywhere from $618 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,515 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 942 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $1,745, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,515 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,073 - $3,553, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $618 - $1,722.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Jersey City, NJ, to Madison, WI. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,144 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Jersey City, NJ to Madison, WI
Moving options from Jersey City to Madison fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. The most hands-off option, full-service, runs $2,144 - $5,248 for a 2-3 bedroom home and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers cost about 34% less than full-service for the same size, and rental trucks land around 70% less, with both DIY options requiring you to load yourself. Covering 942 miles, this route usually takes 2 to 7 days from pickup to delivery.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 942-mile route from Jersey City to Madison, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $1,745 - $4,100 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,073 - $2,073), rental truck ($618 - $1,122), or freight trailer ($1,027 - $1,791). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $2,144 - $5,248 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $7,515.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Jersey City, NJ to Madison, WI
Hiring full-service movers from Jersey City, New Jersey, to Madison, Wisconsin, costs between $1,745 and $7,515. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 942-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $376 - $2,504, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Jersey City and Madison. For a rough baseline, movers based in Jersey City tend to start around $256 plus $139/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Jersey City to Madison:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,745 - $4,100
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,144 - $5,248
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,823 - $7,515
Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Jersey City to Madison.
Pro tip: Demand for full-service movers surges during peak moving season from May - September, pushing prices higher. Shifting your move to a cooler month could save you a meaningful amount on your total bill.
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Specialty moving services from Jersey City, NJ to Madison, WI
Specialty needs vary by market: 61% of Jersey City movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Madison, 52% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing71% of local movers | $626 - $6,260 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready61% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: White Glove Moving & Storage | $250 - $1,502/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $376 - $3,005 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage12% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs46% of local movers | $1,252 - $3,756 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,130 - $12,520 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $938 - $1,782 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items31% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: White Glove Moving & Storage | $1,252 - $3,130 |
| Piano | Any piano type38% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: White Glove Moving & Storage | $1,002 - $4,382 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling9% of local movers | $376 - $1,878 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect3% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (NJ) | $814 - $2,504 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $376 - $18,780+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $376 - $4,382+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Jersey City to Madison?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Wisconsin Movers Association is a good first thing to confirm.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national van lines are the smarter financial choice over local movers in Jersey City, NJ. Local companies can run 30% - 40% more at that range since they don't consolidate shipments the way interstate carriers do. If a direct, dedicated route with an average 2-day delivery appeals to you, a local mover could be worth it, but that convenience comes at a cost.
Moving container costs from Jersey City, NJ to Madison, WI
Moving containers from Jersey City, New Jersey, to Madison, Wisconsin, cost between $1,073 and $3,553. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in Jersey City typically runs around $130/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Jersey City to Madison:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,073 - $2,073
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,410 - $2,994
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,956 - $3,553
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $94 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $188 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
- Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $876 in Jersey City, NJ, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
- Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Madison, WI, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a New Jersey to Wisconsin move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.
Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $1,073. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,410 - $2,994.
What are the best moving containers Jersey City to Madison?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)
Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in Jersey City to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in Jersey City:
- Piece of Cake Moving & Storage (4.8/5), 8 years in business
- Moishe's Moving Systems (4.5/5), 33 years in business
- Metropolis Moving, Inc. (4.9/5), 11 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Jersey City, NJ to Madison, WI
Plan on $618 - $1,722 for a rental moving truck on the 942-mile route from Jersey City, New Jersey, to Madison, Wisconsin. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:
- Fuel for the drive: $375 - $429
- Daily insurance: $38/day
- Equipment rentals: $9 - $25
- Jersey City daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.99 - $0.99
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Jersey City to Madison based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $618 - $1,122
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $653 - $1,362
- 4+ bedrooms: $828 - $1,722
Pro tip: The base rate of $618 - $1,722 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from Jersey City to Madison. Fuel ($375 - $429), lodging at around $188/night, meals, and equipment rentals are all on top of that. Factor in roughly $600 - $1,200 more for meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging to get a realistic picture of what the move will actually cost.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Gas: Fuel adds $375 - $429 for the 942-mile drive, depending on whether your rental truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Moving labor: You'll handle the heavy lifting unless you bring in help. Two movers in Jersey City, New Jersey, for about 5 hours typically costs around $876.
- Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
- Lodging: The 942-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $188 per night, adding $376 - $563 in hotel costs total.
- Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $63 and $376.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Jersey City to Madison?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)
The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.
Freight trailer costs from Jersey City, NJ to Madison, WI
Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Jersey City, New Jersey, to Madison, Wisconsin. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.
Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,139 and $2,259.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Jersey City to Madison:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,027 - $1,791
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,139 - $2,259
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,471 - $3,113
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Jersey City, New Jersey, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $876.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $94 - $188 per additional foot to your total.
- Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.
What are the best freight companies from Jersey City to Madison?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
Pro tip: One of the biggest advantages of freight trailers is speed. For an interstate move, freight delivery is one of the fastest options you have short of driving a rental truck yourself. It's a smart choice when your timeline is firm and you'll be ready to receive your shipment. If there's any chance your new place won't be ready or you need a few weeks of storage, a moving container with built-in storage may serve you better.
Cost of living: Jersey City, NJ vs Madison, WI
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Madison, side by side with Jersey City on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Jersey City, NJ | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 140 | 103 |
| Average rent | $2,975/mo | $1,600/mo |
| Median home value | $538,163 | $346,854 |
| Average income | $94,813/yr | $76,983/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 8.3% | 3.3% |
| State income tax | Up to 10.7% | Up to 7.65% |
| Walkability score | 87/100 | 50/100 |
| Safety index | 56.79/100 | 65.43/100 |
| Air quality | Moderate | Good |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Madison, WI to Jersey City, NJ guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from New Jersey to Wisconsin, so we know current pricing better than most. Checking our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates. New Jersey alone has 315 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 942-mile move like this one.
Our take
For a move from Jersey City, NJ, to Madison, WI, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $1,745 for a studio to $7,515 for a 4+ bedroom home on the 942-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,073 - $3,553. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $618 - $1,722, though you'll be handling the driving and loading yourself. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with quotes starting around $2,144 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage included, and 24/7 live customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Datex Ohmeda and American Family Insurance.
FAQs: Moving from Jersey City, NJ, to Madison, WI
What size moving truck do I need for this route?
Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
What do local movers charge in Jersey City?
Local movers based in Jersey City typically start around $256 as a base rate, plus $139/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Madison run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Wisconsin?
Movers providing in-state relocation services in the Badger State must register with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), but strictly speaking, it’s not a regulated state. However, movers must comply with individual insurance, licensing, and other state laws and regulations.
What are the best neighborhoods in Madison?
For families, Dudgeon-Monroe, Hill Farms-University, and Maple-Prairie are worth a look in Madison. If you're moving solo or without kids, Madison, Shorewood Hills, and Middleton tend to be popular picks instead.
How walkable is Madison?
Madison has a walkability score of 50 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 66, compared to 87 and 64 in Jersey City. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What percentage of Jersey City movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 38% of movers in Jersey City handle piano moves, and 31% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.