($531+) Washington DC, MD to Chicago, IL Movers

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

Full-service movers for the 699-mile relocation from Washington DC, Maryland, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,505 and $8,278. 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 $399 - $2,660, 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 Washington DC typically charge a base rate around $180 plus $85 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,505 - $4,453
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,297 - $5,817
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,012 - $8,278

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 Washington DC to Chicago.

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

Specialty needs vary by market — 93% of Washington DC 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 Washington DC to Chicago?

Movers licensed to operate in Illinois are typically members of the Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Moving container costs from Washington DC, MD to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from Washington DC, Maryland, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,126 and $3,598. With a moving container, you load on your own schedule. U-Haul gives you 3 days to fill yours, while PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're ready, the company transports it straight to your new place. Need more time first? Storage in Washington DC typically costs about $100/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,126 - $1,924
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,321 - $2,584
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,897 - $3,598

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both Washington DC, MD 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 $931 in Washington DC, MD, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $100 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $200 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 Washington DC 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 Washington DC, MD to Chicago, IL

A rental truck for this 699-mile move from Washington DC, Maryland, to Chicago, Illinois, costs between $510 and $1,485. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

• Fuel for the drive: $296 - $338
• Daily insurance: $40/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $27
• Washington DC daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.99 - $1.19

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $510 - $944
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $578 - $1,109
• 4+ bedrooms: $686 - $1,485

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $200 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 $86 and $432 to your total.
• Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
• Gas: Plan on spending $296 - $338 in fuel for the 699-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
• Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $931 in Washington DC, Maryland, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Washington DC 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 Washington DC, MD to Chicago, IL

For larger DIY moves from Washington DC, Maryland, 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 $1,146 and $2,261.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $975 - $1,819
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,146 - $2,261
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,488 - $2,935

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 $100 and $200.
• 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 Washington DC, Maryland, for roughly five hours typically average $931.

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

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the pick for best for large moves. The company is well-regarded as a top moving container option for its load-it-yourself, we-drive-it model, and that same model makes it a strong freight option for larger homes that benefit from the company's 53-foot trucks and footage-based pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Alongside their flagship container service, U-Pack provides a top-notch freight trailer option that follows the same model: no deposits, no upfront fees, and pricing based on the linear footage you actually use.
3. Terminal Transportation Services (4.7/5 stars): Terminal Transportation Services is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and based facilities mean accessible support staff and area-specific scheduling flexibility that national-only freight carriers typically don't match.

Cost of living: Washington DC, MD 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 Washington DC 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.