($513+) Baltimore, MD to Chicago, IL Movers
Moving from Baltimore, MD, to Chicago, IL, runs anywhere from $513 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,287 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 702 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 6 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 $1,420, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,287 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,065 - $3,413, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $513 - $1,386.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Baltimore, MD, to Chicago, IL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,021 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 Baltimore, MD to Chicago, IL
There are 3 main ways to move from Baltimore to Chicago: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service handles labor and transportation for you, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route costing $2,021 - $5,313. Moving containers run about 32% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 73% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 1 to 6 days for this 702-mile route, depending on which option you go with.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 702-mile route from Baltimore to Chicago, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $1,420 - $4,089, container $1,065 - $1,971, rental truck $513 - $925, freight trailer $978 - $1,740.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $2,021 - $5,313, container $1,368 - $2,680, rental truck $537 - $1,121, freight trailer $1,094 - $2,060.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $3,440 - $7,287, container $1,796 - $3,413, rental truck $707 - $1,386, freight trailer $1,366 - $2,622.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated October 30, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Baltimore, MD to Chicago, IL
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 702-mile move from Baltimore, Maryland, to Chicago, Illinois, with costs ranging from $1,420 - $7,287. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $295 - $1,964. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Baltimore and Chicago. Local movers in Baltimore typically start around $263 as a base rate plus $110/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Baltimore to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,420 - $4,089
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,021 - $5,313
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,440 - $7,287
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 Baltimore to Chicago.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from Baltimore, MD to Chicago, IL
Specialty needs vary by market: 70% of Baltimore movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Chicago, 60% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing77% of local movers | $491 - $4,910 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready70% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $196 - $1,178/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $295 - $2,357 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage11% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs52% of local movers | $982 - $2,946 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,455 - $9,820 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $736 - $1,397 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items31% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $982 - $2,455 |
| Piano | Any piano type38% of local movers40% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $786 - $3,437 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling8% of local movers | $295 - $1,473 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect7% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Von Paris Moving & Storage | $638 - $1,964 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $295 - $14,730+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $295 - $3,437+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Baltimore to Chicago?
Look for Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Illinois beyond this list.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Baltimore, MD. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from Baltimore, MD to Chicago, IL
Moving containers from Baltimore, Maryland, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,065 and $3,413. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Chicago. If you go over that window, storage in Baltimore adds around $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Baltimore to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,065 - $1,971
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,368 - $2,680
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,796 - $3,413
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Access: Most major container brands operate in both Baltimore, MD and Chicago, IL. Still, double-check that a nearby facility is available if you need to access your belongings before delivery.
- Moving labor: Because containers are self-loaded, many customers hire hourly help. Two movers for about 5 hours typically cost around $687 in Baltimore, MD, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $74 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $147 for larger ones (12 - 16 feet).
- Added contents protection: For more coverage beyond the standard minimum, full-value protection is the typical upgrade, generally 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value. On a $50,000 household, that's roughly $500 - $1,000 as a one-time fee.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Maryland to Illinois 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 $1,065. 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 $1,368 - $2,680.
What are the best moving containers Baltimore to Chicago?
- 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 Baltimore 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 Baltimore:
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.4/5), 16 years in business
- Bellhop Moving (4.7/5), 15 years in business
- Zip Moving And Storage, Inc. (4.9/5), 11 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Baltimore, MD to Chicago, IL
Truck rentals from Baltimore, Maryland, to Chicago, Illinois, range from $513 - $1,386 for the 702-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $219 - $251
- Daily insurance: $29/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
- Baltimore daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.89 - $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 Baltimore to Chicago based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $513 - $925
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $537 - $1,121
- 4+ bedrooms: $707 - $1,386
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Baltimore to Chicago starts at $513 - $1,386, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($219 - $251), overnight lodging ($147/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for roughly $600 - $1,200 more on top of fuel and lodging to cover meals, equipment, and other extras.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Baltimore, Maryland, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $687.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $219 - $251 for the 702-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $59 and $319, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $147 per night for hotel stops on the 702-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $295 - $442.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Baltimore to Chicago?
- 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 Baltimore, MD to Chicago, IL
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 Baltimore, Maryland, to Chicago, Illinois. 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 $1,094 and $2,060.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Baltimore to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $978 - $1,740
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,094 - $2,060
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,366 - $2,622
Pro tip: Freight trailers come with a 4-foot loading ramp, which can be a challenge with bulky furniture. With 8 feet of vertical space available, stacking efficiently often requires a ladder and a plan. Since you're billed per linear foot, packing tight can make a real difference in your final cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
- Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in Baltimore, Maryland, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $687.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $74 and $147 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Baltimore to Chicago?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the pick for best for large moves. The company is well-regarded as a top moving container option for its load-it-yourself, we-drive-it model, and that same model makes it a strong freight option for larger homes that benefit from the company's 53-foot trucks and footage-based pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Alongside their flagship container service, U-Pack provides a top-notch freight trailer option that follows the same model: no deposits, no upfront fees, and pricing based on the linear footage you actually use.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Chicago fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.
Cost of living: Baltimore, MD vs Chicago, IL
Good news for your budget: Chicago isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Baltimore. Cost of living index runs 106 there against 93 here. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. For reference, walkability and safety scores are 64/100 and 27.28/100 here versus 77/100 and 33.87/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Chicago, IL to Baltimore, MD guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Maryland to Illinois in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 206 movers based in Maryland, handy for sizing up options on this 702-mile route.
Our take
The 702-mile move from Baltimore, MD, to Chicago, IL, costs between $1,420 and $7,287 with full-service movers, $1,065 - $3,413 with a moving container, and $513 - $1,386 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $2,021 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.
Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Chicago tend to point to bountiful arts and recreational activities and delicious food, though high crime rate and temperamental weather come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include U.S. Government and Chicago Public Schools.
FAQs: Moving from Baltimore, MD, to Chicago, IL
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 Baltimore?
Local movers based in Baltimore typically start around $263 as a base rate, plus $110/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 Chicago run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How do I know a mover is licensed 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.
What are the best neighborhoods in Chicago?
For families, Beverly, Edison Park, and Lincoln Park are worth a look in Chicago. If you're moving solo or without kids, Lake View, Lincoln Park, and The Loop tend to be popular picks instead.
How walkable is Chicago?
Chicago has a walkability score of 77 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 72, compared to 64 and 53 in Baltimore. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What percentage of Baltimore movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 38% of movers in Baltimore handle piano moves, and 31% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 40% and 26% nationally.