($149+) Philadelphia, PA to Washington DC, MD Movers

Full-service moving costs from Philadelphia, PA to Washington DC, MD

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 139-mile move from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Washington DC, Maryland, with prices running from $669 - $4,322. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $368 - $2,456 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Philadelphia and Washington DC are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Philadelphia movers tend to run around $282 as a base rate plus $130/hour per mover, for comparison.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Philadelphia to Washington DC:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $669 - $2,982
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,217 - $3,586
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,548 - $4,322

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 Philadelphia to Washington DC.

Specialty moving services from Philadelphia, PA to Washington DC, MD

Specialty needs vary by market — 90% of Philadelphia movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Washington DC, 93% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from Philadelphia to Washington DC?

If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Maryland Motor Truck Association is a good first thing to confirm.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

How much do local movers cost in Philadelphia, PA?

Based on recent quotes for this route, a 2-bedroom move from Philadelphia to Washington DC with a local mover averages $1,157 - $3,407. For moves under 500 miles, local movers in Philadelphia, PA can be a smart choice. Many use hourly pricing models that may reduce your total compared to what a national carrier would charge, and tighter coverage areas often mean faster turnaround and more hands-on communication.

That said, licensing requirements still apply. Make sure any company you're considering is properly licensed for interstate moves for the route you need.

Moving container costs from Philadelphia, PA to Washington DC, MD

Moving containers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Washington DC, Maryland, cost between $774 and $2,226. 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 Washington DC. If you go over that window, storage in Philadelphia adds around $80/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Philadelphia to Washington DC:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $774 - $1,309
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $994 - $1,679
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,266 - $2,226

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 Philadelphia, PA, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $860, 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 $92 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $184 per month.
• Access: Most major container companies serve both Philadelphia, PA, and Washington DC, MD, 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.

What are the best moving containers Philadelphia to Washington DC?

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 Philadelphia, PA to Washington DC, MD

A rental truck for this 139-mile move from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Washington DC, Maryland, costs between $146 and $310. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

• Fuel for the drive: $54 - $62
• Daily insurance: $37/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $25
• Philadelphia daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.89 - $0.99

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Philadelphia to Washington DC based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $146 - $249
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $165 - $274
• 4+ bedrooms: $191 - $310

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Gas: Fuel adds $54 - $62 for the 139-mile drive, depending on whether your rental truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: You'll handle the heavy lifting unless you bring in help. Two movers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for about 5 hours typically costs around $860.
• Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
• Lodging: The 139-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $184 per night, adding $368 - $553 in hotel costs total.
• Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $61 and $368.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Philadelphia to Washington DC?

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 Philadelphia, PA to Washington DC, MD

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 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Washington DC, Maryland. 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 $727 and $1,329.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Philadelphia to Washington DC:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $650 - $1,087
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $727 - $1,329
• 4+ bedrooms: $953 - $1,612

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
• Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $860.
• More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $92 and $184 per foot.

What are the best freight companies from Philadelphia to Washington DC?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Pipco Transportation, Inc. (4.66/5 stars): Pipco Transportation, Inc. 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.

Cost of living: Philadelphia, PA vs Washington DC, MD

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