($492+) Knoxville, TN to Lafayette, LA Movers
Moving from Knoxville, TN, to Lafayette, LA, runs anywhere from $492 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,360 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 709 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 6 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 $1,663, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $8,360 or more.
- Moving containers run $971 - $3,372, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $492 - $1,424.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Knoxville, TN, to Lafayette, LA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,389 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 Knoxville, TN to Lafayette, LA
There are 3 main ways to move from Knoxville to Lafayette: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service is the most expensive but covers everything from labor to transportation, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route averaging $2,389 - $5,404. Containers cost roughly 46% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 76% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option. At 709 miles, expect 1 to 6 days in transit no matter which service you choose.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 709-mile route from Knoxville to Lafayette, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,663 - $4,122 | $971 - $1,781 | $492 - $971 | $948 - $1,619 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,389 - $5,404 | $1,286 - $2,468 | $569 - $1,187 | $1,102 - $2,118 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,113 - $8,360 | $1,827 - $3,372 | $698 - $1,424 | $1,434 - $2,724 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Knoxville, TN to Lafayette, LA
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 709-mile move from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Lafayette, Louisiana, with costs ranging from $1,663 - $8,360. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $274 - $1,824. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Knoxville and Lafayette. Local movers in Knoxville typically start around $170 as a base rate plus $113/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Knoxville to Lafayette:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,663 - $4,122
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,389 - $5,404
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,113 - $8,360
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 Knoxville to Lafayette.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from Knoxville, TN to Lafayette, LA
Specialty needs vary by market: 76% of Knoxville movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Lafayette, 40% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing76% of local movers | $456 - $4,560 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready76% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Gouffon Moving & Storage | $182 - $1,094/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $274 - $2,189 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage21% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs71% of local movers | $912 - $2,736 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,280 - $9,120 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $683 - $1,298 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items29% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Carey Moving & Storage | $912 - $2,280 |
| Piano | Any piano type52% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Gouffon Moving & Storage | $730 - $3,192 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling7% of local movers | $274 - $1,368 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect14% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $593 - $1,824 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $274 - $13,680+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $274 - $3,192+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Knoxville to Lafayette?
All three below meet the standards set by the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, the group most Louisiana movers are affiliated with.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Knoxville, TN. 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 Knoxville, TN to Lafayette, LA
Moving containers from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Lafayette, Louisiana, cost between $971 and $3,372. 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 Knoxville typically costs about $60/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Knoxville to Lafayette:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $971 - $1,781
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,286 - $2,468
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,827 - $3,372
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $68 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $137 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 $638 in Knoxville, TN, 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 Lafayette, LA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Tennessee to Louisiana 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 $971. 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 $1,286 - $2,468.
What are the best moving containers Knoxville to Lafayette?
- 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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville:
- Gouffon Moving & Storage (4.8/5), 139 years in business
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.7/5), 10 years in business
- Bellhop Moving (4.8/5), 15 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Knoxville, TN to Lafayette, LA
Truck rentals from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Lafayette, Louisiana, range from $492 - $1,424 for the 709-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $206 - $235
- Daily insurance: $27/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $18
- Knoxville 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 Knoxville to Lafayette based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $492 - $971
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $569 - $1,187
- 4+ bedrooms: $698 - $1,424
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $492 - $1,424 does not include fuel ($206 - $235), lodging ($137/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Knoxville to Lafayette typically runs more than the base rate alone, with meals, equipment, and other extras adding roughly $600 - $1,200 on top of fuel and lodging.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Knoxville, Tennessee, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $638.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $206 - $235 for the 709-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 $55 and $296, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $137 per night for hotel stops on the 709-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $274 - $410.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Knoxville to Lafayette?
- 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 Knoxville, TN to Lafayette, LA
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Lafayette, Louisiana. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.
Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $821 and $2,118.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Knoxville to Lafayette:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $948 - $1,619
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,102 - $2,118
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,434 - $2,724
Pro tip: Freight trailers come with a 4-foot loading ramp, which can be a challenge with bulky furniture. With 8 feet of vertical space available, stacking efficiently often requires a ladder and a plan. Since you're billed per linear foot, packing tight can make a real difference in your final cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Knoxville, Tennessee, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $638.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $68 - $137 per additional foot to your total.
- Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.
What are the best freight companies from Knoxville to Lafayette?
- 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.
- 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.
Pro tip: One of the biggest advantages of freight trailers is speed. For an interstate move, freight delivery is one of the fastest options you have short of driving a rental truck yourself. It's a smart choice when your timeline is firm and you'll be ready to receive your shipment. If there's any chance your new place won't be ready or you need a few weeks of storage, a moving container with built-in storage may serve you better.
Cost of living: Knoxville, TN vs Lafayette, LA
Day-to-day costs in Lafayette are close to what you're used to in Knoxville: cost of living index of 90 versus 92, with average rent of $2,825/mo compared to $1,795/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 31/100 and 57.46/100 in Knoxville versus 42/100 and 54.25/100 in Lafayette.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Lafayette, LA to Knoxville, TN guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Tennessee to Louisiana 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 213 movers in our Tennessee network to compare for this 709-mile move.
Our take
A move from Knoxville, TN, to Lafayette, LA, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $1,663 - $8,360 on the 709-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $971 - $3,372, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $492 - $1,424. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $2,389 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include LHC Group and King-Patin.
FAQs: Moving from Knoxville, TN, to Lafayette, LA
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Knoxville, TN to Lafayette, LA?
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 Knoxville?
Local movers based in Knoxville typically start around $170 as a base rate, plus $113/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 Lafayette run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How long does a move from Knoxville, TN to Lafayette, LA take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 1 to 6 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 are the best neighborhoods in Lafayette?
For families, Youngsville, Erath, and Maurice are worth a look in Lafayette. If you're moving solo or without kids, Saint Streets, Freetown-Port Rico, and Downtown Lafayette tend to be popular picks instead.
What is the cheapest way to move from Knoxville, TN to Lafayette, LA?
Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $569 - $1,187. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What percentage of Knoxville movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 52% of movers in Knoxville handle piano moves, and 29% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.