($515+) Chicago, IL to Washington DC, MD Movers

Full-service moving costs from Chicago, IL to Washington DC, MD

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 697-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Washington DC, Maryland, with prices running from $1,506 - $7,953. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $372 - $2,480 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Chicago and Washington DC are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Chicago movers tend to run around $220 as a base rate plus $100/hour per mover, for comparison.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Chicago to Washington DC:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,506 - $4,196
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,139 - $5,701
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,893 - $7,953

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 Washington DC.

Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to Washington DC, MD

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

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

Look for Maryland Motor Truck Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Maryland 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 Chicago, IL to Washington DC, MD

Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Washington DC, Maryland, cost between $1,041 and $3,563. 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 Washington DC:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,041 - $1,962
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,445 - $2,719
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,842 - $3,563

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Moving labor: Because loading is on you with a container move, hourly labor help is a popular add-on. In Chicago, IL, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $868, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: After the first month, ongoing rental fees kick in. A small container (7 - 8 feet) averages about $93 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $186 per month.
• Access: Most major container companies serve both Chicago, IL, and Washington DC, MD, but confirm a facility is within reasonable distance if you need to retrieve items while in storage.
• Added contents protection: Full-value protection provides broader coverage than the standard liability in your contract. It typically costs 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on $50,000 worth of belongings.

What are the best moving containers Chicago to Washington DC?

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 Chicago, IL to Washington DC, MD

Plan on $525 - $1,485 for a rental moving truck on the 697-mile route from Chicago, Illinois, to Washington DC, Maryland. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $275 - $314
• Daily insurance: $37/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $25
• Chicago daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.79

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $525 - $934
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $589 - $1,203
• 4+ bedrooms: $708 - $1,485

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $186 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 $81 and $403 to your total.
• Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
• Gas: Plan on spending $275 - $314 in fuel for the 697-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
• Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $868 in Chicago, Illinois, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Chicago to Washington DC?

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 Chicago, IL to Washington DC, MD

For larger DIY moves from Chicago, Illinois, 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 Washington DC, Maryland.

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 $1,058 and $2,175.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $936 - $1,802
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,058 - $2,175
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,488 - $2,767

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 $93 - $186 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Chicago, Illinois, for about five hours typically runs $868.

What are the best freight companies from Chicago to Washington DC?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Keller Trucking Co, Inc. (4.54/5 stars): Keller Trucking Co, Inc. is our pick for best locally owned freight company. Their locally owned and operated facilities mean you work with support staff who know the route and the area, giving you more responsive scheduling than national-only carriers typically offer.

Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs Washington DC, MD

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Washington DC, side by side with Chicago 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.