($785+) Wilmington, DE to Lafayette, LA Movers
Moving from Wilmington, DE, to Lafayette, LA, runs anywhere from $785 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,831 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,303 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 3 to 8 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 $1,981, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,831 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,304 - $4,499, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $785 - $2,176.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Wilmington, DE, to Lafayette, LA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,692 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 Wilmington, DE to Lafayette, LA
Moving options from Wilmington to Lafayette fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $2,692 - $5,943 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 41% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 66% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 1,303-mile route typically takes 3 to 8 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,303-mile route from Wilmington to Lafayette, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,981 - $4,587 | $1,304 - $2,308 | $785 - $1,485 | $1,127 - $2,099 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,692 - $5,943 | $1,582 - $3,353 | $909 - $1,802 | $1,265 - $2,523 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,423 - $7,831 | $2,235 - $4,499 | $1,035 - $2,176 | $1,878 - $3,387 |
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 Wilmington, DE to Lafayette, LA
Full-service movers for the 1,303-mile relocation from Wilmington, Delaware, to Lafayette, Louisiana, cost between $1,981 and $7,831. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $295 - $1,968, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in Wilmington typically charge a base rate around $334 plus $150 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Wilmington to Lafayette:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,981 - $4,587
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,692 - $5,943
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,423 - $7,831
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 Wilmington to Lafayette.
Pro tip: The summer months (May - September) are the busiest time of year for movers during peak moving season, which drives up prices and limits scheduling options. If you can move in the fall or winter, you'll likely find better rates and more flexibility.
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Specialty moving services from Wilmington, DE to Lafayette, LA
Specialty needs vary by market: 53% of Wilmington movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Lafayette, 40% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing72% of local movers | $492 - $4,920 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready53% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $197 - $1,181/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $295 - $2,362 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage11% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs46% of local movers | $984 - $2,952 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,460 - $9,840 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $737 - $1,400 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items28% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Ramsey's Moving System | $984 - $2,460 |
| Piano | Any piano type33% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $787 - $3,444 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling8% of local movers | $295 - $1,476 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect8% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $640 - $1,968 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $295 - $14,760+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $295 - $3,444+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Wilmington to Lafayette?
All three below meet the standards set by the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, the group most Louisiana movers are affiliated with.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are the more cost-efficient choice. Local movers in Wilmington, DE, often charge 30% - 40% more at that distance because their operations aren't built for long-haul logistics. The exception is if you want a dedicated point-to-point truck with an average 2-day delivery, though that level of service generally increases your total cost.
Moving container costs from Wilmington, DE to Lafayette, LA
Moving containers from Wilmington, Delaware, to Lafayette, Louisiana, cost between $1,304 and $4,499. 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 Lafayette. If you go over that window, storage in Wilmington adds around $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Wilmington to Lafayette:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,304 - $2,308
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,582 - $3,353
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,235 - $4,499
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Because loading is on you with a container move, hourly labor help is a popular add-on. In Wilmington, DE, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $689, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: After the first month, ongoing rental fees kick in. A small container (7 - 8 feet) averages about $74 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $148 per month.
- Access: Most major container companies serve both Wilmington, DE, and Lafayette, LA, but confirm a facility is within reasonable distance if you need to retrieve items while in storage.
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection provides broader coverage than the standard liability in your contract. It typically costs 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on $50,000 worth of belongings.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Delaware to Louisiana 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 $1,304. 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 $1,582 - $3,353.
What are the best moving containers Wilmington to Lafayette?
- 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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington:
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5), 9 years in business
- All Around Moverz (4.6/5), 16 years in business
- Forward Moving LLC (4.9/5), 9 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Wilmington, DE to Lafayette, LA
A rental truck for this 1,303-mile move from Wilmington, Delaware, to Lafayette, Louisiana, costs between $785 and $2,176. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $408 - $466
- Daily insurance: $30/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
- Wilmington daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $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 Wilmington to Lafayette based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $785 - $1,485
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $909 - $1,802
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,035 - $2,176
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $785 - $2,176 does not include fuel ($408 - $466), lodging ($148/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Wilmington to Lafayette typically runs more than the base rate alone, with meals, equipment, and other extras adding roughly $600 - $1,200 on top of fuel and lodging.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $148 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
- Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Wilmington, Delaware, usually costs about $689 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 1,303-mile drive falls between $408 and $466, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $49 and $295 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Wilmington to Lafayette?
- 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 Wilmington, DE to Lafayette, LA
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 Wilmington, Delaware, to Lafayette, Louisiana. 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 $1,265 and $2,523.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Wilmington to Lafayette:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,127 - $2,099
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,265 - $2,523
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,878 - $3,387
Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $74 and $148.
- Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
- Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in Wilmington, Delaware, for roughly five hours typically average $689.
What are the best freight companies from Wilmington to Lafayette?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
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: Wilmington, DE vs Lafayette, LA
Wilmington and Lafayette land in a similar range on everyday costs. The cost of living index sits at 104 in Wilmington and 90 in Lafayette, and average rent is $1,812/mo vs. $2,825/mo. With an index gap that small, you likely won't need to rework your monthly budget much after this move. For reference, walkability is 74 vs 42 and safety scores are 32.68 vs 54.25.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Lafayette, LA to Wilmington, DE guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Delaware to Louisiana, 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. Delaware alone has 17 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 1,303-mile move like this one.
Our take
For a move from Wilmington, DE, to Lafayette, LA, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $1,981 for a studio to $7,831 for a 4+ bedroom home on the 1,303-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,304 - $4,499. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $785 - $2,176, 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 $2,692 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 LHC Group and King-Patin.
FAQs: Moving from Wilmington, DE, to Lafayette, LA
What is the cheapest way to move from Wilmington, DE to Lafayette, LA?
Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $909 - $1,802. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
How much does it cost to move from Wilmington, DE to Lafayette, LA?
Costs on this route range from around $785 to $7,831, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,981 and $7,831, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
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 Wilmington?
Local movers based in Wilmington typically start around $334 as a base rate, plus $150/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 Lafayette run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Louisiana?
If you’re using a legitimate moving company to relocate from one home or apartment within the state to another, look for a company regulated by the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC). During the pre-move screening process, families on the move should verify that prospective movers are registered and in good standing with the LPSC. In cases of substandard service, inflated costs, and unlicensed movers operating illegally, consumers may file a complaint, after which the commission will initiate an investigation.
What percentage of Wilmington movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 33% of movers in Wilmington handle piano moves, and 28% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.