($963+) Houston, TX to Wilmington, DE Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from Houston, TX to Wilmington, DE

Moving from Houston, TX, to Wilmington, DE, runs anywhere from $944 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,436 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,516 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 4 to 15 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 $2,347, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $9,436 or more.
  • Moving containers run $1,488 - $5,105, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $944 - $2,629.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Houston, TX, to Wilmington, DE. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,978 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from Houston, TX to Wilmington, DE

There are 3 main ways to move from Houston to Wilmington: 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 $2,978 - $6,904. Moving containers run about 30% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 60% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 4 to 15 days for this 1,516-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 1,516-mile route from Houston to Wilmington, broken down by home size:

  • Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $2,347 - $5,480, container $1,488 - $2,628, rental truck $944 - $1,863, freight trailer $1,353 - $2,487.
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $2,978 - $6,904, container $1,866 - $3,824, rental truck $1,052 - $2,065, freight trailer $1,567 - $3,149.
  • 4+ bedrooms: full-service $5,778 - $9,436, container $2,564 - $5,105, rental truck $1,311 - $2,629, freight trailer $2,133 - $3,963.

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.

Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental Truck
Budget Truck Rental
star star star star star 4.3 / 5
Read our full Budget review
Affordable pricing
Online estimates
Several discounts
Freight
MovingYourself
star star star star star 4.5 / 5
Read our full MovingYourself review
Fast delivery
Nationwide
100+ miles moves

Full-service moving costs from Houston, TX to Wilmington, DE

For the 1,516-mile move from Houston, Texas, to Wilmington, Delaware, full-service movers cost between $2,347 and $9,436. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $299 - $1,996 (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 Houston generally start around $175 plus $75 per hour, per mover.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,347 - $5,480
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,978 - $6,904
  • 4+ bedrooms: $5,778 - $9,436

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 Houston to Wilmington.

The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Texas to Delaware. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.

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 Houston, TX to Wilmington, DE

Specialty needs vary by market — 66% of Houston movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Wilmington, 89% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing96% of local movers$499 - $4,990
Storage in transitNew place not ready66% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: A Better Tripp Moving & Storage$200 - $1,198/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$299 - $2,395
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage6% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs66% of local movers$998 - $2,994
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$2,495 - $9,980
Car shippingSecond vehicle$748 - $1,420
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items30% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: A Better Tripp Moving & Storage$998 - $2,495
PianoAny piano type54% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: A Better Tripp Moving & Storage$798 - $3,493
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling22% of local movers$299 - $1,497
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect10% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: A Better Tripp Moving & Storage$649 - $1,996
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$299 - $14,970+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$299 - $3,493+

What are the best full-service movers from Houston to Wilmington?

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Houston, TX. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.

Moving container costs from Houston, TX to Wilmington, DE

Moving containers from Houston, Texas, to Wilmington, Delaware, cost between $1,488 and $5,105. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Houston costs roughly $70/month if you need it.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Houston to Wilmington:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,488 - $2,628
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,866 - $3,824
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,564 - $5,105

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Moving labor: Because loading is on you with a container move, hourly labor help is a popular add-on. In Houston, TX, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $699, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
  • Storage: After the first month, ongoing rental fees kick in. A small container (7 - 8 feet) averages about $75 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $150 per month.
  • Access: Most major container companies serve both Houston, TX, and Wilmington, DE, but confirm a facility is within reasonable distance if you need to retrieve items while in storage.
  • Added contents protection: Full-value protection provides broader coverage than the standard liability in your contract. It typically costs 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on $50,000 worth of belongings.

Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Texas to Delaware 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 $1,488. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,866 - $3,824, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers Houston to Wilmington?

  1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
  2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
  3. 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 Houston 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 Houston:

  • 3 Men Movers (4.8/5), 41 years in business
  • Summit Moving And Storage Houston (4.6/5), 5 years in business
  • Firefighting's Finest Moving & Storage (4.8/5), 22 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from Houston, TX to Wilmington, DE

Plan on $944 - $2,629 for a rental moving truck on the 1,516-mile route from Houston, Texas, to Wilmington, Delaware. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

  • Fuel for the drive: $481 - $550
  • Daily insurance: $30/day
  • Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
  • Houston daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.99
Home sizeTypical truck size
Studio / 1 bedroom10 - 12 ft
2 - 3 bedrooms15 - 17 ft
4+ bedrooms20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel)

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Houston to Wilmington based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $944 - $1,863
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,052 - $2,065
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,311 - $2,629

Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Houston to Wilmington starts at $944 - $2,629, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($481 - $550) , overnight lodging ($150/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for an additional $600 - $1,200 on top of your base rate to cover those costs.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $150 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 $65 and $324 to your total.
  • Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
  • Gas: Plan on spending $481 - $550 in fuel for the 1,516-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
  • Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $699 in Houston, Texas, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Houston to Wilmington?

  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 Houston, TX to Wilmington, DE

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 Houston, Texas, to Wilmington, Delaware. 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. Most long-distance moves using this method run roughly between $1,567 and $3,149.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,353 - $2,487
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,567 - $3,149
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,133 - $3,963

Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.

What other costs come with freight trailers?

  • Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
  • More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $75 - $150 more per foot.
  • Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Houston, Texas, for about five hours typically runs $699.

What are the best freight companies from Houston to Wilmington?

  1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
  2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
  3. W W Rowland Trucking Company, LLC (4.58/5 stars): W W Rowland Trucking Company, LLC is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and operated facilities give you direct access to support staff who know the area and can coordinate pickups and deliveries with greater flexibility than national carriers.

Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Houston to Wilmington. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.

Cost of living: Houston, TX vs Wilmington, DE

Good news for your budget: Wilmington isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Houston. Cost of living index runs 104 there against 97 here, and rent, income, and tax rates all fall in a comparable band. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores land in a similar range too - 47/100 and 36.5/100 here versus 74/100 and 32.68/100 there.

Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Wilmington, DE to Houston, TX guide.

Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:

In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from Texas to Delaware, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 289 movers licensed in Texas, useful context for sizing up this 1,516-mile move.

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Our take

The 1,516-mile move from Houston, TX, to Wilmington, DE, costs between $2,347 and $9,436 with full-service movers, $1,488 - $5,105 with a moving container, and $944 - $2,629 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 $2,978 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 Nestle and DuPont.

FAQs: Moving from Houston, TX, to Wilmington, DE

How walkable is Wilmington?

Wilmington has a walkability score of 74 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 52, compared to 47 and 49 in Houston. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.

What are the best neighborhoods in Wilmington?

For families, Forty Acres, Happy Valley, and Trolley Square are worth a look in Wilmington. If you're moving solo or without kids, Trolley Square, Happy Valley, and Midtown Brandywine tend to be popular picks instead.

How do I know a mover is licensed in Delaware?

Movers headquartered in Delaware that offer local and intrastate moving services don’t need to be licensed. Still, they must comply with Delaware Department of Transportation (DDOT) regulations on insurance and commercial vehicle safety.

What do local movers charge in Houston?

Local movers based in Houston typically start around $175 as a base rate, plus $75/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 Wilmington run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.

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 3 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 Houston movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 54% of movers in Houston handle piano moves, and 30% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.