($590+) Portland, ME to Durham, NC Movers
Moving from Portland, ME, to Durham, NC, runs anywhere from $584 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,067 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 801 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 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 $2,027, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $9,067 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,174 - $3,804, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $584 - $1,554.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Portland, ME, to Durham, NC. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,865 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
Compare moving options from Portland, ME to Durham, NC
Moving options from Portland to Durham fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $2,865 - $6,720 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 801-mile route typically takes 2 to 7 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 801-mile route from Portland to Durham, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $2,027 - $4,969 | $1,174 - $2,162 | $584 - $1,056 | $985 - $1,779 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,865 - $6,720 | $1,466 - $2,829 | $662 - $1,255 | $1,138 - $2,263 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,455 - $9,067 | $2,045 - $3,804 | $757 - $1,554 | $1,590 - $3,103 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Portland, ME to Durham, NC
For the 801-mile move from Portland, Maine, to Durham, North Carolina, full-service movers cost between $2,027 and $9,067. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $320 - $2,136 (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 Portland generally start around $382 plus $135 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Portland to Durham:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,027 - $4,969
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,865 - $6,720
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,455 - $9,067
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 Portland to Durham.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Maine to North Carolina. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: The summer months (May - September) are the busiest time of year for movers during peak moving season, which drives up prices and limits scheduling options. If you can move in the fall or winter, you'll likely find better rates and more flexibility.
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Specialty moving services from Portland, ME to Durham, NC
Specialty needs vary by market — 78% of Portland movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Durham, 86% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $534 - $5,340 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready78% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $214 - $1,282/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $320 - $2,563 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage56% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs33% of local movers | $1,068 - $3,204 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,670 - $10,680 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $800 - $1,520 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items67% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Liberty Bell Moving & Storage of Maine | $1,068 - $2,670 |
| Piano | Any piano type100% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $854 - $3,738 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling89% of local movers | $320 - $1,602 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect78% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Liberty Bell Moving & Storage of Maine | $694 - $2,136 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $320 - $16,020+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $320 - $3,738+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Portland to Durham?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in North Carolina Movers Association 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 movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Portland, ME. 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 Portland, ME to Durham, NC
Moving containers from Portland, Maine, to Durham, North Carolina, cost between $1,174 and $3,804. 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 Portland costs roughly $100/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Portland to Durham:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,174 - $2,162
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,466 - $2,829
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,045 - $3,804
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $748 in Portland, ME. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
- Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $80 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $160 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
- Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Durham, NC, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Maine to North Carolina 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 $1,174. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,466 - $2,829, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Portland to Durham?
- 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 Portland 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 Portland:
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.8/5), 9 years in business
- Tiny Tim's Moving (4.3/5), 33 years in business
- Integrity Movers, 0 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Portland, ME to Durham, NC
A rental truck for this 801-mile move from Portland, Maine, to Durham, North Carolina, costs between $584 and $1,554. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $272 - $311
- Daily insurance: $32/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $21
- Portland daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89
| 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 Portland to Durham based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $584 - $1,056
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $662 - $1,255
- 4+ bedrooms: $757 - $1,554
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $584 - $1,554 does not include fuel ($272 - $311) , lodging ($160/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Portland to Durham typically runs $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate alone.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $160 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
- Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Portland, Maine, usually costs about $748 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 801-mile drive falls between $272 and $311, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $53 and $320 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Portland to Durham?
- 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 Portland, ME to Durham, NC
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Portland, Maine, to Durham, North Carolina, 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. Overall pricing for a move of this size and distance typically lands around $1,138 and $2,263.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Portland to Durham:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $985 - $1,779
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,138 - $2,263
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,590 - $3,103
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 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 $80 and $160.
- 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 Portland, Maine, for roughly five hours typically average $748.
What are the best freight companies from Portland to Durham?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
- Dubois Livestock (3.96/5 stars): Dubois Livestock is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned facilities and accessible live support staff make scheduling and route coordination easier on local-area routes than what most national freight providers can offer.
Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Portland to Durham. 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: Portland, ME vs Durham, NC
There's not a big cost-of-living gap between Portland and Durham to plan around. Cost of living index: 112 vs. 99. Average rent: $1,991/mo vs. $1,699/mo. The bigger factor in your budget is the one-time cost of the move itself, covered above. Walkability: 62 vs. 30. Safety index: 67.84 vs. 45.28.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Durham, NC to Portland, ME guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Maine to North Carolina in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 15 movers based in Maine, handy for sizing up options on this 801-mile route.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 801-mile route from Portland, ME, to Durham, NC, run $2,027 - $9,067 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,174 - $3,804, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $584 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,865, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Durham tend to point to low cost of living and quality education, though terrible traffic and high crime rate come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include Duke University & Duke Univ. Health System and IBM.
FAQs: Moving from Portland, ME, to Durham, NC
How much does it cost to move from Portland, ME to Durham, NC?
Costs on this route range from around $2,027 to $9,067, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,027 and $9,067, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
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 do local movers charge in Portland?
Local movers based in Portland typically start around $382 as a base rate, plus $135/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 Durham run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How do I know a mover is licensed in North Carolina?
For-profit household goods carriers in the state fall under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, Transportation Division. All legitimate movers should have a “C Number” issued by the commission, signifying that they’ve met minimum insurance requirements and adhere to the provisions outlined in the state’s Maximum Rate Tariff (MRT).
What are the best neighborhoods in Durham?
For families, Treyburn, American Village/Arrowhead, and Willowhaven are worth a look in Durham. If you're moving solo or without kids, Golden Belt, Warehouse District, and City Center tend to be popular picks instead.
What percentage of Portland movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 100% of movers in Portland handle piano moves, and 67% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.