($565+) St. Louis, MO to Houston, TX Movers
Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Houston, TX, runs anywhere from $599 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,207 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 776 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 $1,841, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,207 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,151 - $3,682, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $599 - $1,532.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Louis, MO, to Houston, TX. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,466 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
Fact Checked by:
Compare moving options from St. Louis, MO to Houston, TX
Moving options from St. Louis to Houston fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $2,466 - $5,628 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 60% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 776 miles and typically takes 2 to 7 days.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 776-mile route from St. Louis to Houston, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $1,841 - $4,406, container $1,151 - $1,996, rental truck $599 - $1,097, freight trailer $976 - $1,851.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $2,466 - $5,628, container $1,364 - $2,683, rental truck $604 - $1,263, freight trailer $1,149 - $2,372.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $4,016 - $8,207, container $1,907 - $3,682, rental truck $756 - $1,532, freight trailer $1,618 - $2,945.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from St. Louis, MO to Houston, TX
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 776-mile move from St. Louis, Missouri, to Houston, Texas, with costs ranging from $1,841 - $8,207. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $268 - $1,784. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between St. Louis and Houston. Local movers in St. Louis typically start around $247 as a base rate plus $145/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from St. Louis to Houston:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,841 - $4,406
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,466 - $5,628
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,016 - $8,207
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 St. Louis to Houston.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Missouri to Texas. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
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.
Don't see your company listed?
Reach customers actively searching for trusted movers in your area. Tell us about your company and services to get your business listed on moveBuddha.
Specialty moving services from St. Louis, MO to Houston, TX
Specialty needs vary by market — 86% of St. Louis movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Houston, 66% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing93% of local movers | $446 - $4,460 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready86% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $178 - $1,070/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $268 - $2,141 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage36% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs86% of local movers | $892 - $2,676 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,230 - $8,920 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $668 - $1,269 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items36% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $892 - $2,230 |
| Piano | Any piano type64% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Arch Moving | $714 - $3,122 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling21% of local movers | $268 - $1,338 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect14% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $580 - $1,784 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $268 - $13,380+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $268 - $3,122+ |
What are the best full-service movers from St. Louis to Houston?
Look for Southwest Movers Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Texas 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 van lines are the smarter financial choice over local movers in St. Louis, MO. 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 St. Louis, MO to Houston, TX
Moving containers from St. Louis, Missouri, to Houston, Texas, cost between $1,151 and $3,682. 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 St. Louis typically runs around $90/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from St. Louis to Houston:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,151 - $1,996
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,364 - $2,683
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,907 - $3,682
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $67 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $134 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Houston, TX, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
- Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $624 in St. Louis, MO. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Missouri to Texas 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 $1,151. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,364 - $2,683, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers St. Louis to Houston?
- 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 St. Louis 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 St. Louis:
- Arch Moving (4.7/5), 23 years in business
- ABC Quality Moving & Storage (4.6/5), 37 years in business
- Simple Moves (4.7/5), 25 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from St. Louis, MO to Houston, TX
A rental truck for this 776-mile move from St. Louis, Missouri, to Houston, Texas, costs between $599 and $1,532. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $220 - $252
- Daily insurance: $27/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $18
- St. Louis 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 St. Louis to Houston based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $599 - $1,097
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $604 - $1,263
- 4+ bedrooms: $756 - $1,532
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $599 - $1,532 when pricing out a rental truck from St. Louis to Houston. Fuel alone runs ($220 - $252) , and overnight lodging ($134/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend an additional $600 - $1,200 beyond the base rate by the time the move is done.
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 $67 and $312.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $134.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $220 and $252 for the 776-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 $624 for 2 movers in St. Louis, Missouri, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Louis to Houston?
- 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 St. Louis, MO to Houston, TX
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 St. Louis, Missouri, to Houston, Texas. 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. Most long-distance moves using this method run roughly between $1,149 and $2,372.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Louis to Houston:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $976 - $1,851
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,149 - $2,372
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,618 - $2,945
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?
- 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 St. Louis, Missouri, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $624.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $67 and $134 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from St. Louis to Houston?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.
- Flanagan-White Delivery, Inc. (4.42/5 stars): Flanagan-White Delivery, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Local ownership translates to accessible support staff and facilities based in the communities they serve, giving customers more direct communication than they'd typically get from a national-only freight network.
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: St. Louis, MO vs Houston, TX
There's not a big cost-of-living gap between St. Louis and Houston to plan around. Cost of living index: 84 vs. 97. Average rent: $1,250/mo vs. $1,549/mo. The bigger factor in your budget is the one-time cost of the move itself, covered above. Walkability: 66 vs. 47. Safety index: 30.35 vs. 36.5.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Houston, TX to St. Louis, MO guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Missouri to Texas 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. There are 54 movers in our Missouri network to compare for this 776-mile move.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 776-mile route from St. Louis, MO, to Houston, TX, run $1,841 - $8,207 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,151 - $3,682, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $599 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,466, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Houston tend to point to bountiful arts and recreational activities and ample economic opportunity, though tropical storms and heat and humidity come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include H-E-B and Houston Methodist.
FAQs: Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Houston, TX
What do local movers charge in St. Louis?
Local movers based in St. Louis typically start around $247 as a base rate, plus $145/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 Houston run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Texas?
In-state movers operating in the Lone Star State are legally required to be licensed by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TXDMV), which issues 10-digit TXDMV numbers to commercial carriers.
What are the best neighborhoods in Houston?
For families, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, and Kingwood are worth a look in Houston. If you're moving solo or without kids, Downtown, Greenway/Upper Kirby, and Montrose tend to be popular picks instead.
How walkable is Houston?
Houston has a walkability score of 47 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 49, compared to 66 and 58 in St. Louis. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
Is Houston a safe place to live?
Houston has a safety index of 36.5 out of 100 and a crime index of 63.5, compared to 30.35 and 69.65 in St. Louis. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What percentage of St. Louis movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 64% of movers in St. Louis handle piano moves, and 36% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
