($489+) Philadelphia, PA to Knoxville, TN Movers
Moving from Philadelphia, PA, to Knoxville, TN, runs anywhere from $499 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,106 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 625 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 $1,491, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,106 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,060 - $3,467, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $499 - $1,379.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Philadelphia, PA, to Knoxville, TN. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,180 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 Philadelphia, PA to Knoxville, TN
There are 3 main ways to move from Philadelphia to Knoxville: 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 $2,180 - $5,346. Moving containers run about 30% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 60% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 1 to 6 days for this 625-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 625-mile route from Philadelphia to Knoxville, broken down by home size:
- A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $1,491 - $4,132 with full-service movers, $1,060 - $1,840 with a container, $499 - $942 with a rental truck, or $954 - $1,690 by freight.
- A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $2,180 - $5,346 full-service, $1,415 - $2,757 by container, $554 - $1,162 by rental truck, or $1,121 - $2,080 by freight.
- A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $3,659 - $8,106 full-service, $1,710 - $3,467 by container, $651 - $1,379 by rental truck, or $1,425 - $2,718 by freight.
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 Philadelphia, PA to Knoxville, TN
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 625-mile move from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Knoxville, Tennessee, with costs ranging from $1,491 - $8,106. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $298 - $1,984. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Philadelphia and Knoxville. Local movers in Philadelphia typically start around $282 as a base rate plus $130/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Philadelphia to Knoxville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,491 - $4,132
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,180 - $5,346
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,659 - $8,106
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 Philadelphia to Knoxville.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Pennsylvania to Tennessee. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.
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Specialty moving services from Philadelphia, PA to Knoxville, TN
Specialty needs vary by market — 90% of Philadelphia movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Knoxville, 67% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing97% of local movers | $496 - $4,960 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready90% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Gentle Giant Moving Company | $198 - $1,190/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $298 - $2,381 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage36% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs39% of local movers | $992 - $2,976 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,480 - $9,920 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $743 - $1,412 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items59% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Nicky's Moving & Storage | $992 - $2,480 |
| Piano | Any piano type75% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Gentle Giant Moving Company | $794 - $3,472 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling38% of local movers | $298 - $1,488 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect22% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Keep It Moving, LLC | $645 - $1,984 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $298 - $14,880+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $298 - $3,472+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Philadelphia to Knoxville?
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Philadelphia, PA. 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 Philadelphia, PA to Knoxville, TN
Moving containers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Knoxville, Tennessee, cost between $1,060 and $3,467. 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 Philadelphia costs roughly $80/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Philadelphia to Knoxville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,060 - $1,840
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,415 - $2,757
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,710 - $3,467
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $74 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $149 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 $694 in Philadelphia, PA, 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 Knoxville, TN, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Pennsylvania to Tennessee 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 $1,060. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,415 - $2,757, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Philadelphia to Knoxville?
- 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia:
- Transtar Moving Systems (4.9/5), 64 years in business
- Keep It Moving, LLC (4.2/5), 20 years in business
- Superior Moving & Storage (4.3/5), 45 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Philadelphia, PA to Knoxville, TN
Plan on $499 - $1,379 for a rental moving truck on the 625-mile route from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Knoxville, Tennessee. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:
- Fuel for the drive: $197 - $225
- Daily insurance: $30/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
- Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia to Knoxville based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $499 - $942
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $554 - $1,162
- 4+ bedrooms: $651 - $1,379
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Philadelphia to Knoxville starts at $499 - $1,379, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($197 - $225) , overnight lodging ($149/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for an additional $600 - $1,200 on top of your base rate to cover those costs.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $149 per night. Most long-distance moves with rental trucks require 1 - 3 overnight stops.
- Equipment: Tow dollies, auto trailers, and specialty moving equipment can add between $64 and $322 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $197 - $225 in fuel for the 625-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $694 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Philadelphia to Knoxville?
- 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 Philadelphia, PA to Knoxville, TN
For larger DIY moves from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to Knoxville, Tennessee.
Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For most medium-to-large moves on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,121 and $2,080.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Philadelphia to Knoxville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $954 - $1,690
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,121 - $2,080
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,425 - $2,718
Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
- More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $74 - $149 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for about five hours typically runs $694.
What are the best freight companies from Philadelphia to Knoxville?
- 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.
- Pipco Transportation, Inc. (4.66/5 stars): Pipco Transportation, 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.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are one of the fastest ways to move your belongings interstate, often beating full-service movers on delivery time. If getting your stuff to Knoxville quickly is a priority, freight is worth a hard look. That said, freight carriers typically require you to be available to receive your shipment within a set window, so if you need short-term storage or your new place won't be ready right away, a container or full-service mover may give you more flexibility.
Cost of living: Philadelphia, PA vs Knoxville, TN
Philadelphia and Knoxville land in a similar range on everyday costs. The cost of living index sits at 104 in Philadelphia and 92 in Knoxville, and rent tracks closely too ($1,695/mo vs. $1,795/mo). You likely won't need to rework your monthly budget much after this move. Walkability (75 vs 31) and safety scores (33.91 vs 57.46) come out about the same too.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Knoxville, TN to Philadelphia, PA guide.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from Pennsylvania to Tennessee, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors. We track 106 movers in Pennsylvania, so you have real options to compare for this 625-mile move.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Philadelphia, PA, to Knoxville, TN, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $1,491 - $8,106 on the 625-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,060 - $3,467 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $499 - $1,379 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,180 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Regal Cinemas Corp and Regal.
FAQs: Moving from Philadelphia, PA, to Knoxville, TN
What do local movers charge in Philadelphia?
Local movers based in Philadelphia typically start around $282 as a base rate, plus $130/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 Knoxville run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Philadelphia, PA to Knoxville, TN?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
How much does it cost to move from Philadelphia, PA to Knoxville, TN?
Costs on this route range from around $1,491 to $8,106, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,491 and $8,106, 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.
How walkable is Knoxville?
Knoxville has a walkability score of 31 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 30, compared to 75 and 67 in Philadelphia. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($197 - $225), daily insurance ($30/day), and equipment rentals ($7 - $20) on top. Overnight stops can add another $149/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
What percentage of Philadelphia movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 75% of movers in Philadelphia handle piano moves, and 59% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
