($563+) Montgomery, AL to Cleveland, OH Movers
Moving from Montgomery, AL, to Cleveland, OH, runs anywhere from $563 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,142 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 800 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 $1,729, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $8,142 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,078 - $3,631, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $563 - $1,498.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Montgomery, AL, to Cleveland, OH. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,496 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 Montgomery, AL to Cleveland, OH
There are 3 main ways to move from Montgomery to Cleveland: 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 $2,496 - $6,032. Moving containers run about 46% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 75% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 2 to 7 days for this 800-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 800-mile route from Montgomery to Cleveland, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,729 - $4,787 | $1,078 - $2,025 | $563 - $1,018 | $921 - $1,751 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,496 - $6,032 | $1,344 - $2,673 | $626 - $1,311 | $1,130 - $2,203 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,002 - $8,142 | $1,952 - $3,631 | $799 - $1,498 | $1,473 - $2,962 |
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 Montgomery, AL to Cleveland, OH
Full-service movers for the 800-mile relocation from Montgomery, Alabama, to Cleveland, Ohio, cost between $1,729 and $8,142. 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 $242 - $1,612, 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 Montgomery typically charge a base rate around $462 plus $133 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Montgomery to Cleveland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,729 - $4,787
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,496 - $6,032
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,002 - $8,142
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 Montgomery to Cleveland.
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 Montgomery, AL to Cleveland, OH
Specialty needs vary by market: 45% of Montgomery movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Cleveland, 57% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing64% of local movers | $403 - $4,030 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready45% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Coleman Worldwide Moving | $161 - $967/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $242 - $1,934 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs36% of local movers | $806 - $2,418 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,015 - $8,060 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $604 - $1,147 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items36% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Coleman Worldwide Moving | $806 - $2,015 |
| Piano | Any piano type45% of local movers40% nationallyTop pick: Coleman Worldwide Moving | $645 - $2,821 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling9% of local movers | $242 - $1,209 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect9% nationally | $524 - $1,612 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $242 - $12,090+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $242 - $2,821+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Montgomery to Cleveland?
Movers licensed to operate in Ohio are typically members of the Ohio Association of Movers, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.
- 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 Montgomery, AL. 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 Montgomery, AL to Cleveland, OH
Moving containers from Montgomery, Alabama, to Cleveland, Ohio, cost between $1,078 and $3,631. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Cleveland. If you go over that window, storage in Montgomery adds around $70/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Montgomery to Cleveland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,078 - $2,025
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,344 - $2,673
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,952 - $3,631
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $60 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $121 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 $564 in Montgomery, AL, 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 Cleveland, OH, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Alabama to Ohio 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 $1,078. 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 $1,344 - $2,673.
What are the best moving containers Montgomery to Cleveland?
- 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery:
- C & R Movers, LLC (4.2/5), 12 years in business
- Admiral Movers (4.8/5), 37 years in business
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.5/5), 0 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Montgomery, AL to Cleveland, OH
Truck rentals from Montgomery, Alabama, to Cleveland, Ohio, range from $563 - $1,498 for the 800-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $205 - $234
- Daily insurance: $24/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $16
- Montgomery daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $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 Montgomery to Cleveland based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $563 - $1,018
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $626 - $1,311
- 4+ bedrooms: $799 - $1,498
Pro tip: A rental truck from Montgomery to Cleveland looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $563 - $1,498. But once you factor in fuel ($205 - $234), overnight lodging ($121/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $121 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 $52 and $262 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $205 - $234 in fuel for the 800-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $564 in Montgomery, Alabama, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Montgomery to Cleveland?
- 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 Montgomery, AL to Cleveland, OH
If you're moving a larger household from Montgomery, Alabama, 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 Cleveland, Ohio.
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 $1,130 and $2,203.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Montgomery to Cleveland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $921 - $1,751
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,130 - $2,203
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,473 - $2,962
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?
- 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 $60 - $121 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Montgomery, Alabama, for about five hours typically runs $564.
What are the best freight companies from Montgomery to Cleveland?
- 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: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Montgomery to Cleveland. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: Montgomery, AL vs Cleveland, OH
Day-to-day costs in Cleveland are close to what you're used to in Montgomery: cost of living index of 83 versus 79, with average rent of $1,295/mo compared to $1,200/mo. With an index gap that small, budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. For reference, walkability and safety scores are 26/100 and 34.75/100 in Montgomery versus 57/100 and 36.59/100 in Cleveland.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Cleveland, OH to Montgomery, AL guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Alabama to Ohio 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 112 movers in our Alabama network to compare for this 800-mile move.
Our take
The 800-mile move from Montgomery, AL, to Cleveland, OH, costs between $1,729 and $8,142 with full-service movers, $1,078 - $3,631 with a moving container, and $563 - $1,498 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 $2,496 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.
Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Cleveland tend to point to abundant food options and beautiful nature, though construction and brutal winters come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals.
FAQs: Moving from Montgomery, AL, to Cleveland, OH
How much does it cost to move from Montgomery, AL to Cleveland, OH?
Costs on this route range from around $563 to $8,142, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,729 and $8,142, 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 Cleveland?
Cleveland has a walkability score of 57 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 52, compared to 26 and 33 in Montgomery. 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 ($205 - $234), daily insurance ($24/day), and equipment rentals ($6 - $16) on top. Overnight stops can add another $121/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Ohio?
Although a local license is not required in Ohio, make sure the moving company you’ll be hiring is registered with U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). To verify if you’re dealing with a legal and licensed mover, you may ask them their USDOT registration number.
What is the best time of year to move from Montgomery, AL to Cleveland, OH?
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 Montgomery movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 45% of movers in Montgomery handle piano moves, and 36% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 40% and 26% nationally.