($663+) Chicago, IL to Fort Worth, TX Movers
Moving from Chicago, IL, to Fort Worth, TX, runs anywhere from $663 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,620 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 950 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 $1,863, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,620 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,154 - $3,716, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $663 - $1,727.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Chicago, IL, to Fort Worth, TX. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,497 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 Fort Worth, TX
There are 3 main ways to move from Chicago to Fort Worth: 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 $2,497 - $5,515. Moving containers run about 38% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 72% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 2 to 7 days for this 950-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 950-mile route from Chicago to Fort Worth, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,863 - $4,419 | $1,154 - $2,099 | $663 - $1,171 | $1,059 - $1,945 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,497 - $5,515 | $1,543 - $2,771 | $709 - $1,478 | $1,128 - $2,287 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,012 - $7,620 | $1,881 - $3,716 | $864 - $1,727 | $1,553 - $2,911 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated October 30, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Chicago, IL to Fort Worth, TX
Full-service movers for the 950-mile relocation from Chicago, Illinois, to Fort Worth, Texas, cost between $1,863 and $7,620. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $313 - $2,088, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in Chicago typically charge a base rate around $220 plus $100 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Chicago to Fort Worth:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,863 - $4,419
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,497 - $5,515
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,012 - $7,620
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 Fort Worth.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Illinois to Texas. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: The summer months (May - September) are the busiest time of year for movers during peak moving season, which drives up prices and limits scheduling options. If you can move in the fall or winter, you'll likely find better rates and more flexibility.
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Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to Fort Worth, TX
Specialty needs vary by market: 60% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Fort Worth, 53% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing78% of local movers | $522 - $5,220 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready60% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $209 - $1,253/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $313 - $2,506 |
| 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 | $1,044 - $3,132 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,610 - $10,440 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $782 - $1,486 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items28% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $1,044 - $2,610 |
| Piano | Any piano type42% of local movers40% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $835 - $3,654 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling11% of local movers | $313 - $1,566 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect9% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $679 - $2,088 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $313 - $15,660+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $313 - $3,654+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Chicago to Fort Worth?
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 Chicago, IL. 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 Chicago, IL to Fort Worth, TX
Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Fort Worth, Texas, cost between $1,154 and $3,716. 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 Fort Worth:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,154 - $2,099
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,543 - $2,771
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,881 - $3,716
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $78 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $157 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Fort Worth, 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 $731 in Chicago, IL. 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 Illinois 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 $1,154. 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 $1,543 - $2,771.
What are the best moving containers Chicago to Fort Worth?
- 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 Fort Worth, TX
A rental truck for this 950-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Fort Worth, Texas, costs between $663 and $1,727. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $316 - $361
- Daily insurance: $31/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $21
- 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 Fort Worth based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $663 - $1,171
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $709 - $1,478
- 4+ bedrooms: $864 - $1,727
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Chicago to Fort Worth starts at $663 - $1,727, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($316 - $361), overnight lodging ($157/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for roughly $600 - $1,200 more on top of fuel and lodging to cover meals, equipment, and other extras.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Chicago, Illinois, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $731.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $316 - $361 for the 950-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $63 and $339, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $157 per night for hotel stops on the 950-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $313 - $470.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Chicago to Fort Worth?
- 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 Fort Worth, TX
If you're moving a larger household from Chicago, Illinois, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Fort Worth, Texas.
Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. A 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route typically falls between $1,128 and $2,287.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Chicago to Fort Worth:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,059 - $1,945
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,128 - $2,287
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,553 - $2,911
Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.
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 $731.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $78 and $157 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Chicago to Fort Worth?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is our pick for best for large moves. The company is best known as a top moving container option for its hybrid model where you load and they drive, and that same model translates well to freight thanks to their 53-foot trucks and pay-by-the-foot pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Beyond their flagship container service, U-Pack also runs freight trailers with the same no-deposit, no-upfront-fee model, charging only for the linear footage you actually fill.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Chicago to Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, TX
There's not a big cost-of-living gap between Chicago and Fort Worth to plan around. Cost of living index: 106 vs. 102. Average rent: $2,045/mo vs. $1,773/mo. The bigger factor in your budget is the one-time cost of the move itself, covered above. Walkability: 77 vs. 35. Safety index: 33.87 vs. 56.81.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Fort Worth, TX to Chicago, IL guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Illinois 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 295 movers in our Illinois network to compare for this 950-mile move.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Chicago, IL, to Fort Worth, TX, 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 $1,863 - $7,620 on the 950-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,154 - $3,716 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $663 - $1,727 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,497 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.
Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Fort Worth tend to point to quality education and ample economic opportunity, though tornadoes and allergy-inducing pollen come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include AMR/American Airlines and Texas Health Resources.
FAQs: Moving from Chicago, IL, to Fort Worth, TX
How walkable is Fort Worth?
Fort Worth has a walkability score of 35 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 39, 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.
How much does it cost to move from Chicago, IL to Fort Worth, TX?
Costs on this route range from around $663 to $7,620, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,863 and $7,620, 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.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Chicago, IL to Fort Worth, TX?
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 do local movers charge in Chicago?
Local movers based in Chicago typically start around $220 as a base rate, plus $100/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 Fort Worth run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How long does a move from Chicago, IL to Fort Worth, TX take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 2 to 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are often one of the faster options outside of driving yourself, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
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 40% and 26% nationally.