($956+) Chicago, IL to Boise, ID Movers
Moving from Chicago, IL, to Boise, ID, runs anywhere from $956 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,705 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,692 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 4 to 15 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 $2,084, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $9,705 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,496 - $5,080, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $956 - $2,836.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Chicago, IL, to Boise, ID. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,898 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 Chicago, IL to Boise, ID
Moving options from Chicago to Boise fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. The most hands-off option, full-service, runs $2,898 - $6,474 for a 2-3 bedroom home and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers cost about 38% less than full-service for the same size, and rental trucks land around 64% less, with both DIY options requiring you to load yourself. Covering 1,692 miles, this route usually takes 4 to 15 days from pickup to delivery.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,692-mile route from Chicago to Boise, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $2,084 - $4,800 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,496 - $2,681), rental truck ($956 - $1,855), or freight trailer ($1,294 - $2,365). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $2,898 - $6,474 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $9,705.
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 Chicago, IL to Boise, ID
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 1,692-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Boise, Idaho, with costs ranging from $2,084 - $9,705. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $334 - $2,224. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Chicago and Boise. Local movers in Chicago typically start around $220 as a base rate plus $100/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Chicago to Boise:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,084 - $4,800
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,898 - $6,474
- 4+ bedrooms: $5,572 - $9,705
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 Boise.
Pro tip: Peak moving season (May - September) limits truck availability and pushes up full-service moving costs. Booking during slower months can give you more scheduling room and a lower final price.
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Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to Boise, ID
Specialty needs vary by market: 60% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Boise, 47% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing78% of local movers | $556 - $5,560 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready60% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $222 - $1,334/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $334 - $2,669 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage10% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs59% of local movers | $1,112 - $3,336 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,780 - $11,120 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $833 - $1,582 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items28% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $1,112 - $2,780 |
| Piano | Any piano type42% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $890 - $3,892 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling11% of local movers | $334 - $1,668 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect9% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $723 - $2,224 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $334 - $16,680+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $334 - $3,892+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Chicago to Boise?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Idaho Trucking Association is a good first thing to confirm.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Chicago, IL. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.
Moving container costs from Chicago, IL to Boise, ID
Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Boise, Idaho, cost between $1,496 and $5,080. 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 Chicago typically runs around $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Chicago to Boise:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,496 - $2,681
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,783 - $3,751
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,559 - $5,080
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $83 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $167 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 $778 in Chicago, IL, 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 Boise, ID, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Illinois to Idaho 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 $1,496. 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 $1,783 - $3,751.
What are the best moving containers Chicago to Boise?
- 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 Chicago 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 Chicago:
- Move-tastic (5.0/5), 17 years in business
- Windy City Movers Inc. (4.6/5), 44 years in business
- STI Moving & Storage Inc. (4.7/5), 21 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Chicago, IL to Boise, ID
Renting a moving truck for the 1,692-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Boise, Idaho, costs between $956 and $2,836, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $599 - $684
- Daily insurance: $33/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $22
- Chicago daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.79
| 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 Chicago to Boise based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $956 - $1,855
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,033 - $2,318
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,397 - $2,836
Pro tip: The base rate of $956 - $2,836 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from Chicago to Boise. Fuel ($599 - $684), lodging at around $167/night, meals, and equipment rentals are all on top of that. Factor in roughly $600 - $1,200 more for meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging to get a realistic picture of what the move will actually cost.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $167 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 Chicago, Illinois, usually costs about $778 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 1,692-mile drive falls between $599 and $684, 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 $56 and $334 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Chicago to Boise?
- 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 Chicago, IL to Boise, ID
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 Chicago, Illinois, to Boise, Idaho. 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 $1,456 and $3,152.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Chicago to Boise:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,294 - $2,365
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,456 - $3,152
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,067 - $3,982
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?
- 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 $83 and $167.
- 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 Chicago, Illinois, for roughly five hours typically average $778.
What are the best freight companies from Chicago to Boise?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Chicago to Boise, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.
Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs Boise, ID
Good news for your budget: Boise isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Chicago. Cost of living index runs 119 there against 106 here. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. For reference, walkability and safety scores are 77/100 and 33.87/100 here versus 88/100 and 65.01/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Boise, ID to Chicago, IL guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Illinois to Idaho 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 314 movers based in Illinois, handy for sizing up options on this 1,692-mile route.
Our take
The 1,692-mile move from Chicago, IL, to Boise, ID, costs between $2,084 and $9,705 with full-service movers, $1,496 - $5,080 with a moving container, and $956 - $2,836 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 $2,898 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Albertsons and Albertsons Companies.
FAQs: Moving from Chicago, IL, to Boise, ID
What are the best neighborhoods in Boise?
For families, Collister, Depot Bench, and North End are worth a look in Boise. If you're moving solo or without kids, Central Bench, Downtown Boise, and East End tend to be popular picks instead.
How walkable is Boise?
Boise has a walkability score of 88 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 99, compared to 77 and 72 in Chicago. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
Is Boise a safe place to live?
Boise has a safety index of 65.01 out of 100 and a crime index of 34.99, compared to 33.87 and 35.19 in Chicago. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Chicago, IL to Boise, ID?
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.
What is the best time of year to move from Chicago, IL to Boise, ID?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
What percentage of Chicago movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 42% of movers in Chicago handle piano moves, and 28% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.