($538+) Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL Movers

Full-service moving costs from Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL

Hiring full-service movers from Birmingham, Alabama, to Chicago, Illinois, costs between $1,599 and $8,341. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 661-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $284 - $1,892, 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 Birmingham and Chicago. For a rough baseline, movers based in Birmingham tend to start around $310 plus $175/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 Birmingham to Chicago:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,599 - $4,573
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,359 - $6,064
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,105 - $8,341

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 Birmingham to Chicago.

Specialty moving services from Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market — 91% of Birmingham movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Chicago, 93% of movers offer the same service.

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

Look for Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Illinois beyond this list.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Moving container costs from Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from Birmingham, Alabama, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,104 and $3,549. 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 Birmingham costs roughly $70/month if you need it.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,104 - $2,016
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,293 - $2,791
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,875 - $3,549

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both Birmingham, AL and Chicago, IL. Still, double-check that a nearby facility is available if you need to access your belongings before delivery.
• Moving labor: Because containers are self-loaded, many customers hire hourly help. Two movers for about 5 hours typically cost around $662 in Birmingham, AL, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $71 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $142 for larger ones (12 - 16 feet).
• Added contents protection: For more coverage beyond the standard minimum, full-value protection is the typical upgrade, generally 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value. On a $50,000 household, that's roughly $500 - $1,000 as a one-time fee.

What are the best moving containers Birmingham to Chicago?

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 Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL

Renting a moving truck for the 661-mile move from Birmingham, Alabama, to Chicago, Illinois, costs between $517 and $1,349, before these typical add-ons:

• Fuel for the drive: $199 - $227
• Daily insurance: $28/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
• Birmingham daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $517 - $977
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $531 - $1,092
• 4+ bedrooms: $704 - $1,349

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 $71 and $331.
• Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $142.
• Gas: Expect fuel to run between $199 and $227 for the 661-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 $662 for 2 movers in Birmingham, Alabama, for about 5 hours.
• Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

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

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 Birmingham, AL to Chicago, IL

For larger DIY moves from Birmingham, Alabama, 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 Chicago, Illinois.

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 $1,068 and $2,233.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $926 - $1,676
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,068 - $2,233
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,443 - $2,895

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 Birmingham, Alabama, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $662.
• More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $71 and $142 per foot.

What are the best freight companies from Birmingham to Chicago?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Kykenkee, Inc. (4.54/5 stars): Kykenkee, 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.

Cost of living: Birmingham, AL vs Chicago, IL

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Chicago, side by side with Birmingham on housing, income, and taxes.

Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.