($505+) St. Paul, MN to Dayton, OH Movers
Moving from St. Paul, MN, to Dayton, OH, runs anywhere from $505 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,789 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 699 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 $1,583, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,789 or more.
- Moving containers run $961 - $3,327, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $505 - $1,334.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Paul, MN, to Dayton, OH. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,160 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 St. Paul, MN to Dayton, OH
Moving options from St. Paul to Dayton fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $2,160 - $5,531 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 41% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 75% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 699-mile route typically takes 1 to 6 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 699-mile route from St. Paul to Dayton, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,583 - $4,281 | $961 - $1,759 | $505 - $936 | $956 - $1,634 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,160 - $5,531 | $1,272 - $2,412 | $540 - $1,101 | $1,091 - $2,072 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,011 - $7,789 | $1,668 - $3,327 | $687 - $1,334 | $1,320 - $2,504 |
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. Paul, MN to Dayton, OH
Hiring full-service movers from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Dayton, Ohio, costs between $1,583 and $7,789. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 699-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $280 - $1,864, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between St. Paul and Dayton. For a rough baseline, movers based in St. Paul tend to start around $243 plus $100/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from St. Paul to Dayton:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,583 - $4,281
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,160 - $5,531
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,011 - $7,789
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. Paul to Dayton.
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.
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Specialty moving services from St. Paul, MN to Dayton, OH
Specialty needs vary by market: 69% of St. Paul movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Dayton, 63% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing82% of local movers | $466 - $4,660 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready69% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $186 - $1,118/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $280 - $2,237 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage12% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs60% of local movers | $932 - $2,796 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,330 - $9,320 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $698 - $1,326 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items26% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $932 - $2,330 |
| Piano | Any piano type49% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $746 - $3,262 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling4% of local movers | $280 - $1,398 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect10% of local movers9% nationally | $606 - $1,864 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $280 - $13,980+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $280 - $3,262+ |
What are the best full-service movers from St. Paul to Dayton?
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 full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in St. Paul, MN. 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. Paul, MN to Dayton, OH
Moving containers from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Dayton, Ohio, cost between $961 and $3,327. 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 St. Paul typically costs about $70/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from St. Paul to Dayton:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $961 - $1,759
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,272 - $2,412
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,668 - $3,327
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $70 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $140 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Dayton, OH, 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 $652 in St. Paul, MN. 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 Minnesota 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 $961. 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 $1,272 - $2,412.
What are the best moving containers St. Paul to Dayton?
- 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. Paul 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. Paul:
- Premium Moving Services (4.5/5), 9 years in business
- College Muscle Movers, LLC (4.5/5), 19 years in business
- Good Stuff Moving (4.8/5), 27 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from St. Paul, MN to Dayton, OH
Renting a moving truck for the 699-mile move from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Dayton, Ohio, costs between $505 and $1,334, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $207 - $237
- Daily insurance: $28/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
- St. Paul 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 St. Paul to Dayton based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $505 - $936
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $540 - $1,101
- 4+ bedrooms: $687 - $1,334
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from St. Paul to Dayton starts at $505 - $1,334, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($207 - $237), overnight lodging ($140/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for roughly $600 - $1,200 more on top of fuel and lodging to cover meals, equipment, and other extras.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $140 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 $61 and $303 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $207 - $237 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 $652 in St. Paul, Minnesota, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Paul to Dayton?
- 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. Paul, MN to Dayton, OH
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Dayton, Ohio, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.
What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Pricing for a 2 - 3 bedroom move of this distance typically lands between $1,091 and $2,072.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Paul to Dayton:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $956 - $1,634
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,091 - $2,072
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,320 - $2,504
Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $70 - $140 to your final bill.
- Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
- Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in St. Paul, Minnesota, typically costs $652.
What are the best freight companies from St. Paul to Dayton?
- 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.
- 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.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from St. Paul to Dayton, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.
Cost of living: St. Paul, MN vs Dayton, OH
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Dayton, side by side with St. Paul on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | St. Paul, MN | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 102 | 80 |
| Average rent | $1,350/mo | $925/mo |
| Median home value | $279,535 | $94,536 |
| Average income | $73,055/yr | $43,454/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 6.8% |
| State income tax | Up to 9.85% | Up to 3.5% |
| Walkability score | 60/100 | 45/100 |
| Safety index | 49.14/100 | 40.68/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Moderate |
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 Dayton, OH to St. Paul, MN guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Minnesota to Ohio, so we know current pricing better than most. Checking our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates. Minnesota alone has 151 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 699-mile move like this one.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 699-mile route from St. Paul, MN, to Dayton, OH, run $1,583 - $7,789 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $961 - $3,327, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $505 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,160, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Morgan Linen & Uniform Services and Premier Physicians.
FAQs: Moving from St. Paul, MN, to Dayton, OH
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 is the best time of year to move from St. Paul, MN to Dayton, 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.
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 extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($207 - $237), daily insurance ($28/day), and equipment rentals ($7 - $19) on top. Overnight stops can add another $140/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How walkable is Dayton?
Dayton has a walkability score of 45 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 47, compared to 60 and 64 in St. Paul. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What percentage of St. Paul movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 49% of movers in St. Paul handle piano moves, and 26% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.