($1,134+) Milwaukee, WI to Tacoma, WA Movers
Moving from Milwaukee, WI, to Tacoma, WA, runs anywhere from $1,134 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $10,794 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 2,005 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 6 to 17 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 $2,486, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $10,794 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,531 - $5,900, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,134 - $3,221.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Milwaukee, WI, to Tacoma, WA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,536 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 Milwaukee, WI to Tacoma, WA
There are 3 main ways to move from Milwaukee to Tacoma: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service handles labor and transportation for you, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route costing $3,536 - $7,764. Moving containers run about 44% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 63% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 6 to 17 days for this 2,005-mile route, depending on which option you go with.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,005-mile route from Milwaukee to Tacoma, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $2,486 - $5,523, container $1,531 - $2,938, rental truck $1,134 - $2,343, freight trailer $1,392 - $2,590.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $3,536 - $7,764, container $1,981 - $4,118, rental truck $1,316 - $2,551, freight trailer $1,651 - $3,328.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $6,689 - $10,794, container $2,827 - $5,900, rental truck $1,549 - $3,221, freight trailer $2,374 - $4,445.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated October 30, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Milwaukee, WI to Tacoma, WA
Full-service movers for the 2,005-mile relocation from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Tacoma, Washington, cost between $2,486 and $10,794. 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 $306 - $2,040, 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 Milwaukee typically charge a base rate around $349 plus $105 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Milwaukee to Tacoma:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,486 - $5,523
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,536 - $7,764
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,689 - $10,794
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 Milwaukee to Tacoma.
Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.
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Specialty moving services from Milwaukee, WI to Tacoma, WA
Specialty needs vary by market: 59% of Milwaukee movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Tacoma, 57% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing80% of local movers | $510 - $5,100 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready59% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $204 - $1,224/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $306 - $2,448 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage11% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs59% of local movers | $1,020 - $3,060 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,550 - $10,200 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $764 - $1,451 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items26% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Brothers Moving & Storage | $1,020 - $2,550 |
| Piano | Any piano type33% of local movers40% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $816 - $3,570 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling7% of local movers | $306 - $1,530 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect13% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $663 - $2,040 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $306 - $15,300+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $306 - $3,570+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Milwaukee to Tacoma?
Movers licensed to operate in Washington are typically members of the Washington Movers Conference, 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 van lines are the smarter financial choice over local movers in Milwaukee, WI. Local companies can run 30% - 40% more at that range since they don't consolidate shipments the way interstate carriers do. If a direct, dedicated route with an average 2-day delivery appeals to you, a local mover could be worth it, but that convenience comes at a cost.
Moving container costs from Milwaukee, WI to Tacoma, WA
Moving containers from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Tacoma, Washington, cost between $1,531 and $5,900. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Tacoma. If you go over that window, storage in Milwaukee adds around $90/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Milwaukee to Tacoma:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,531 - $2,938
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,981 - $4,118
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,827 - $5,900
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $77 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $153 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Tacoma, WA, 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 $714 in Milwaukee, WI. 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 Wisconsin to Washington 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 $1,531. 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 $1,981 - $4,118.
What are the best moving containers Milwaukee to Tacoma?
- 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 Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee:
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.8/5), 10 years in business
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.4/5), 33 years in business
- Brothers Moving & Storage (4.7/5), 13 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Milwaukee, WI to Tacoma, WA
Truck rentals from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Tacoma, Washington, range from $1,134 - $3,221 for the 2,005-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $651 - $744
- Daily insurance: $31/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
- Milwaukee daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.69
| 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 Milwaukee to Tacoma based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,134 - $2,343
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,316 - $2,551
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,549 - $3,221
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Milwaukee to Tacoma starts at $1,134 - $3,221, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($651 - $744), overnight lodging ($153/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 $153 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 $66 and $332 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $651 - $744 in fuel for the 2,005-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $714 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Milwaukee to Tacoma?
- 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 Milwaukee, WI to Tacoma, WA
Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Tacoma, Washington. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.
Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,651 and $3,328.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Milwaukee to Tacoma:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,392 - $2,590
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,651 - $3,328
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,374 - $4,445
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?
- 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 $77 and $153.
- 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 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for roughly five hours typically average $714.
What are the best freight companies from Milwaukee to Tacoma?
- 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: Freight trailers are one of the fastest ways to move your belongings interstate, often beating full-service movers on delivery time. If getting your stuff to Tacoma quickly is a priority, freight is worth a hard look. That said, freight carriers typically require you to be available to receive your shipment within a set window, so if you need short-term storage or your new place won't be ready right away, a container or full-service mover may give you more flexibility.
Cost of living: Milwaukee, WI vs Tacoma, WA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Tacoma, side by side with Milwaukee on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Milwaukee, WI | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 88 | 123 |
| Average rent | $1,250/mo | $1,650/mo |
| Median home value | $171,025 | $454,577 |
| Average income | $51,888/yr | $83,857/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 7.4% | 7.3% |
| State income tax | Up to 7.65% | None |
| Walkability score | 62/100 | 54/100 |
| Safety index | 33.24/100 | 44.45/100 |
| Air quality | Good | 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 Tacoma, WA to Milwaukee, WI guide.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from Wisconsin to Washington, 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 107 movers in Wisconsin, so you have real options to compare for this 2,005-mile move.
Our take
A move from Milwaukee, WI, to Tacoma, WA, 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 $2,486 - $10,794 on the 2,005-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,531 - $5,900, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $1,134 - $3,221. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $3,536 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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord and MultiCare Health System.
FAQs: Moving from Milwaukee, WI, to Tacoma, WA
How walkable is Tacoma?
Tacoma has a walkability score of 54 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 48, compared to 62 and 58 in Milwaukee. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
Is Tacoma a safe place to live?
Tacoma has a safety index of 44.45 out of 100 and a crime index of 55.55, compared to 33.24 and 66.76 in Milwaukee. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Milwaukee, WI to Tacoma, WA?
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 is the best time of year to move from Milwaukee, WI to Tacoma, WA?
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 long does a move from Milwaukee, WI to Tacoma, WA take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 6 to 17 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 percentage of Milwaukee movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 33% of movers in Milwaukee handle piano moves, and 26% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 40% and 26% nationally.