($1,225+) Irvine, CA to Chicago, IL Movers

Full-service moving costs from Irvine, CA to Chicago, IL

For the 2,011-mile move from Irvine, California, to Chicago, Illinois, full-service movers cost between $1,352 and $11,321. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $424 - $2,828 (1 - 5+ bedrooms), crews will pack your boxes. The weight of your shipment and the mileage between the two cities are what drive your final cost. For scale, local movers in Irvine generally start around $197 plus $75 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,352 - $5,619
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,455 - $7,590
• 4+ bedrooms: $6,940 - $11,321

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 Irvine to Chicago.

Specialty moving services from Irvine, CA to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market — 85% of Irvine 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 Irvine 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 Irvine, CA to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from Irvine, California, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,688 and $6,181. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in Irvine runs about $110/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,688 - $3,110
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,161 - $4,403
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,902 - $6,181

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $106 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $212 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 $990 in Irvine, CA, 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 Chicago, IL, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

What are the best moving containers Irvine 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 Irvine, CA to Chicago, IL

Renting a moving truck for the 2,011-mile move from Irvine, California, to Chicago, Illinois, costs between $1,249 and $3,476, before these typical add-ons:

• Fuel for the drive: $905 - $1,034
• Daily insurance: $42/day
• Equipment rentals: $10 - $28
• Irvine daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,249 - $2,315
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,352 - $2,867
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,739 - $3,476

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $212 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 $92 and $460 to your total.
• Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
• Gas: Plan on spending $905 - $1,034 in fuel for the 2,011-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
• Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $990 in Irvine, California, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Irvine 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 Irvine, CA to Chicago, IL

For larger DIY moves from Irvine, California, 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 $1,695 and $3,700.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,459 - $2,942
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,695 - $3,700
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,416 - $4,896

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Irvine, California, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $990.
• More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $106 - $212 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 Irvine 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. ALL Service Handling (4.76/5 stars): ALL Service Handling 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: Irvine, CA 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 Irvine 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.