($628+) St. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL Movers
Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Tampa, FL, runs anywhere from $628 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,458 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,008 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 8 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 $2,146, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,458 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,138 - $3,913, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $628 - $1,777.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Louis, MO, to Tampa, FL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,371 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
Fact Checked by:
Compare moving options from St. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL
Moving options from St. Louis to Tampa fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $2,371 - $5,633 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 39% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 71% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 1,008 miles and typically takes 2 to 8 days.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,008-mile route from St. Louis to Tampa, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $2,146 - $4,788, container $1,138 - $2,161, rental truck $628 - $1,204, freight trailer $1,076 - $1,963.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $2,371 - $5,633, container $1,450 - $2,915, rental truck $692 - $1,534, freight trailer $1,172 - $2,473.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $4,166 - $7,458, container $1,896 - $3,913, rental truck $905 - $1,777, freight trailer $1,581 - $3,006.
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 St. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 1,008-mile move from St. Louis, Missouri, to Tampa, Florida, with costs ranging from $2,146 - $7,458. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $276 - $1,840. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between St. Louis and Tampa. Local movers in St. Louis typically start around $247 as a base rate plus $145/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from St. Louis to Tampa:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,146 - $4,788
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,371 - $5,633
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,166 - $7,458
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 St. Louis to Tampa.
Pro tip: Peak moving season (May - September) limits truck availability and pushes up full-service moving costs. Booking during slower months can give you more scheduling room and a lower final price.
Don't see your company listed?
Reach customers actively searching for trusted movers in your area. Tell us about your company and services to get your business listed on moveBuddha.
Specialty moving services from St. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL
Specialty needs vary by market: 68% of St. Louis movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Tampa, 55% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing71% of local movers | $460 - $4,600 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready68% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $184 - $1,104/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $276 - $2,208 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage13% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs67% of local movers | $920 - $2,760 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,300 - $9,200 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $689 - $1,309 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items31% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: McGuire Moving and Storage | $920 - $2,300 |
| Piano | Any piano type52% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $736 - $3,220 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling16% of local movers | $276 - $1,380 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect22% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $598 - $1,840 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $276 - $13,800+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $276 - $3,220+ |
What are the best full-service movers from St. Louis to Tampa?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Professional Movers Association of Florida is a good first thing to confirm.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in St. Louis, MO. Local companies typically run 30% - 40% more at longer distances because they aren't set up to consolidate shipments the way national carriers do. The one case where a local mover might be worth the premium is if you want a dedicated direct-route truck, which averages a 2-day delivery time, but expect to pay more for that convenience.
Moving container costs from St. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL
Moving containers from St. Louis, Missouri, to Tampa, Florida, cost between $1,138 and $3,913. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in St. Louis typically runs around $90/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from St. Louis to Tampa:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,138 - $2,161
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,450 - $2,915
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,896 - $3,913
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $69 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $138 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Tampa, FL, 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 $644 in St. Louis, MO. 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 Missouri to Florida 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 $1,138. 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 $1,450 - $2,915.
What are the best moving containers St. Louis to Tampa?
- 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 St. Louis 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 St. Louis:
- Simple Moves (4.7/5), 25 years in business
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.8/5), 32 years in business
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5), 14 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from St. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL
A rental truck for this 1,008-mile move from St. Louis, Missouri, to Tampa, Florida, costs between $628 and $1,777. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $295 - $337
- Daily insurance: $28/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $18
- St. Louis daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.99
| 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 St. Louis to Tampa based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $628 - $1,204
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $692 - $1,534
- 4+ bedrooms: $905 - $1,777
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $628 - $1,777 when pricing out a rental truck from St. Louis to Tampa. Fuel alone runs $295 - $337, and overnight lodging ($138/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging by the time the move is done.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $138 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 $60 and $299 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $295 - $337 in fuel for the 1,008-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $644 in St. Louis, Missouri, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Louis to Tampa?
- 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 St. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL
If you're moving a larger household from St. Louis, Missouri, 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 Tampa, Florida.
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 $1,172 and $2,473.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Louis to Tampa:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,076 - $1,963
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,172 - $2,473
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,581 - $3,006
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
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 St. Louis, Missouri, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $644.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $69 and $138 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from St. Louis to Tampa?
- 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.
- 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.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Tampa fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.
Cost of living: St. Louis, MO vs Tampa, FL
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Tampa, side by side with St. Louis on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | St. Louis, MO | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 84 | 104 |
| Average rent | $1,250/mo | $1,930/mo |
| Median home value | $180,206 | $372,114 |
| Average income | $55,279/yr | $71,302/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3% | 5.0% |
| State income tax | Up to 4.8% | None |
| Walkability score | 66/100 | 51/100 |
| Safety index | 30.35/100 | 53.85/100 |
| Air quality | Moderate | Good |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Tampa, FL to St. Louis, MO guide.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from Missouri to Florida, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors. We track 138 movers in Missouri, so you have real options to compare for this 1,008-mile move.
Our take
The 1,008-mile move from St. Louis, MO, to Tampa, FL, costs between $2,146 and $7,458 with full-service movers, $1,138 - $3,913 with a moving container, and $628 - $1,777 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 $2,371 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Bloomin' Brands and Sykes Enterprises.
FAQs: Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Tampa, FL
How walkable is Tampa?
Tampa has a walkability score of 51 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 51, compared to 66 and 58 in St. Louis. 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 ($295 - $337), daily insurance ($28/day), and equipment rentals ($6 - $18) on top. Overnight stops can add another $138/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Florida?
Individuals and companies engaging in for-profit local and intrastate moving within the Sunshine State must register each year with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – Division of Consumer Services.
What is the best time of year to move from St. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL?
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. Florida also has a hurricane season running June through November, worth factoring into your timing if you have flexibility. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
What size moving truck do I need for this route?
Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
What percentage of St. Louis movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 52% of movers in St. Louis handle piano moves, and 31% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.