($711+) Chicago, IL to Houston, TX Movers

Full-service moving costs from Chicago, IL to Houston, TX

Hiring full-service movers from Chicago, Illinois, to Houston, Texas, costs between $2,118 and $8,551. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 1,083-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $307 - $2,048, 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 Chicago and Houston. For a rough baseline, movers based in Chicago tend to start around $220 plus $100/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 Chicago to Houston:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,118 - $4,863
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,476 - $5,887
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,158 - $8,551

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 Chicago to Houston.

Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to Houston, TX

Specialty needs vary by market — 93% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Houston, 66% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from Chicago to Houston?

All three below meet the standards set by the Southwest Movers Association, the group most Texas movers are affiliated with.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Moving container costs from Chicago, IL to Houston, TX

Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Houston, Texas, cost between $1,216 and $4,335. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Chicago costs roughly $100/month if you need it.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Chicago to Houston:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,216 - $2,362
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,582 - $3,351
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,223 - $4,335

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $717 in Chicago, IL. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
• Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $77 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $154 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
• Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Houston, TX, destination before booking.

What are the best moving containers Chicago to Houston?

1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
3. MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)

Moving truck rental costs from Chicago, IL to Houston, TX

Truck rentals from Chicago, Illinois, to Houston, Texas, range from $740 - $2,056 for the 1,083-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

• Fuel for the drive: $353 - $403
• Daily insurance: $31/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
• Chicago daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.79

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Chicago to Houston based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $740 - $1,448
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $792 - $1,590
• 4+ bedrooms: $945 - $2,056

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $77 and $358.
• Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $154.
• Gas: Expect fuel to run between $353 and $403 for the 1,083-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $717 for 2 movers in Chicago, Illinois, for about 5 hours.
• Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Chicago to Houston?

1. Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
2. Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
3. 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 Chicago, IL to Houston, TX

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Chicago, Illinois, to Houston, Texas. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.

Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $922 and $2,578.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Chicago to Houston:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,173 - $2,020
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,252 - $2,578
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,674 - $3,434

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 Chicago, Illinois, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $717.
• More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $77 and $154 per foot.

What are the best freight companies from Chicago to Houston?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Keller Trucking Co, Inc. (4.54/5 stars): Keller Trucking Co, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and based facilities mean accessible support staff and area-specific scheduling flexibility that national-only freight carriers typically don't match.

Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs Houston, TX

Chicago and Houston land in a similar range on everyday costs. The cost of living index sits at 106 in Chicago and 97 in Houston, and rent tracks closely too ($2,045/mo vs. $1,549/mo). You likely won't need to rework your monthly budget much after this move. Walkability (77 vs 47) and safety scores (33.87 vs 36.5) come out about the same too.