($1,087+) Portland, ME to Houston, TX Movers

Full-service moving costs from Portland, ME to Houston, TX

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,946-mile move from Portland, Maine, to Houston, Texas, with prices running from $2,770 - $12,293. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $318 - $2,120 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Portland and Houston are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Portland movers tend to run around $382 as a base rate plus $135/hour per mover, for comparison.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,770 - $5,829
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,571 - $7,811
• 4+ bedrooms: $7,062 - $12,293

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 Houston.

Specialty moving services from Portland, ME to Houston, TX

Specialty needs vary by market: 53% of Portland movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Houston, 54% of movers offer the same service.

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

Movers licensed to operate in Texas are typically members of the Southwest Movers 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 Portland, ME to Houston, TX

Moving containers from Portland, Maine, to Houston, Texas, cost between $1,578 and $5,368. 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 Portland typically costs about $100/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,578 - $2,963
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,102 - $4,067
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,712 - $5,368

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $80 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $159 per month.
• Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Houston, TX, 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 $742 in Portland, ME. 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.

What are the best moving containers Portland to Houston?

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 Portland, ME to Houston, TX

A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 1,946 miles from Portland, Maine, to Houston, Texas, running $1,087 - $3,209. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:

• Fuel for the drive: $656 - $750
• 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

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,087 - $2,267
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,248 - $2,698
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,453 - $3,209

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $80 and $371.
• Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $159.
• Gas: Expect fuel to run between $656 and $750 for the 1,946-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $742 for 2 movers in Portland, Maine, for about 5 hours.
• Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

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

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 Portland, ME to Houston, TX

If you're moving a larger household from Portland, Maine, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Houston, Texas.

Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. A 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route typically falls between $1,682 and $3,321.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,350 - $2,534
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,682 - $3,321
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,190 - $4,250

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Portland, Maine, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $742.
• More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $80 - $159 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 Portland to Houston?

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.

Cost of living: Portland, ME vs Houston, TX

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Houston, side by side with Portland 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.

Our take

How you handle your interstate move from Portland, ME, to Houston, TX, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $2,770 - $12,293 on the 1,946-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,578 - $5,368 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $1,087 - $3,209 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $3,571 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.

Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Houston tend to point to bountiful arts and recreational activities and ample economic opportunity, though tropical storms and heat and humidity come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include H-E-B and Houston Methodist.