The Best Long-Distance Movers in Waukegan, IL
The best long-distance mover in Waukegan is Shur-Way Moving and Cartage (4.52/5) for in-state moves and Safeway Moving (4.9/5) for moves out of Illinois, per moveBuddha's analysis of 99 Illinois movers.
Who are the best interstate movers serving Waukegan?
moveBuddha's top-rated interstate movers for Waukegan residents moving out of Illinois are Safeway Moving (4.9/5), American Van Lines (4.9/5), Allied Van Lines (4.2/5), Mayzlin Relocation (4.8/5), and North American Van Lines (4.8/5). National carriers operate dedicated long-haul networks, carry interstate FMCSA authority, and price moves by weight and mileage, the standard model for cross-state relocations.
Who are the best long-distance movers in Waukegan for in-state moves?
Shur-Way Moving and Cartage (4.52/5) is moveBuddha's top-rated Waukegan-based mover for long-distance moves within Illinois, followed by Alliance Moving & Storage (4.8/5) and TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.44/5). Of the 64 intrastate-capable movers serving Waukegan, 64 offer full packing services, which can meaningfully reduce the physical load of a longer in-state move. Full rankings for local long-distance movers serving Waukegan are listed below.
Below are moveBuddha's top picks for long-distance movers that serve Waukegan but stay within Illinois:
- Shur-Way Moving and Cartage: 4.52 out of 5 stars
- Alliance Moving & Storage: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK: 4.44 out of 5 stars
- Federal Companies: 4.48 out of 5 stars
- The Professionals Moving Specialists: 4.72 out of 5 stars
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Company stats
Read full reviewIndustry experience 5.0
Companies with more years in business often outperform newer competitors. Shur-Way Moving and Cartage has been in business for 71 years, demonstrating strong staying power in a competitive industry with services like international moving and interstate moving.
Review quality 4.1
Customer reviews are the clearest window into a mover’s reputation. Shur-Way Moving and Cartage has about 79% positive reviews across roughly 274 total reviews, with an average Yelp rating of 3.0.
Quote accuracy 4.1
Quote reliability often comes down to clarity and consistency. Customers can request instant email quotes from Shur-Way Moving and Cartage.
Customer service 4.4
From responsiveness to follow-through, customer service is a big differentiator. Shur-Way Moving and Cartage emphasizes clear communication, careful handling.
Recent reviews
"The crew was super efficient and handled my items with care. They were friendly and professional, making our move stress-free. Would definitely recommend them to anyone needing reliable movers!"
"Shur-Way made our cross-country move easy. Prompt, careful packing, excellent communication, and everything arrived intact. No hidden fees, and they finished under estimate. Highly recommended!"
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Company stats
Read full reviewIndustry experience 5.0
Companies with more years in business often outperform newer competitors. Alliance Moving & Storage has been in business for 9 years, demonstrating strong staying power in a competitive industry with services like labor-only moving and small-scale moving.
Review quality 5.0
Customer reviews are the clearest window into a mover’s reputation. Alliance Moving & Storage has about 96% positive reviews across roughly 247 total reviews, with an average Yelp rating of 4.0.
Quote accuracy 4.2
Quote reliability often comes down to clarity and consistency. Customers can request instant email quotes from Alliance Moving & Storage.
Customer service 5.0
From responsiveness to follow-through, customer service is a big differentiator. Alliance Moving & Storage emphasizes clear communication, careful handling.
Recent reviews
"Alliance Moving exceeded our expectations! Our move went smoothly and on time. We never experienced a delay and were constantly updated. The four movers did an awesome job disassembling and assembling our furniture! Very friendly, fast and efficient service! Highly recommend!"
"Movers were professional and super quick! Would use again for future moves."
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Company stats
Read full reviewIndustry experience 5.0
Companies with more years in business often outperform newer competitors. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has been in business for 14 years, demonstrating strong staying power in a competitive industry with services like labor-only moving and interstate moving.
Review quality 3.8
Customer reviews are the clearest window into a mover’s reputation. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has about 70% positive reviews across roughly 270 total reviews, with an average Yelp rating of 2.4.
Quote accuracy 3.9
Quote reliability often comes down to clarity and consistency. Customers can request quotes from TWO MEN AND A TRUCK.
Customer service 5.0
From responsiveness to follow-through, customer service is a big differentiator. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK emphasizes clear communication, careful handling.
Recent reviews
"Jose & Jared moved my mother’s belongings efficiently, were friendly, and the bill was well below my estimate. I highly recommend them to anyone. They did a fantastic job!!"
"The crew was friendly, gentle with my belongings, and lightning fast. I’ve never had a move without something breaking, but everything arrived perfectly. Highly recommend them!"
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Company stats
Read full reviewIndustry experience 5.0
Companies with more years in business often outperform newer competitors. Federal Companies has been in business for 113 years, demonstrating strong staying power in a competitive industry with services like labor-only moving and small-scale moving.
Review quality 4.1
Customer reviews are the clearest window into a mover’s reputation. Federal Companies has about 94% positive reviews across roughly 197 total reviews.
Quote accuracy 4.3
Quote reliability often comes down to clarity and consistency. Customers can request instant email quotes from Federal Companies.
Customer service 5.0
From responsiveness to follow-through, customer service is a big differentiator. Federal Companies emphasizes clear communication, careful handling, and visibility during transit through shipment tracking.
Recent reviews
From start to finish, everyone was professional, helpful, and exceeded expectations. Excellent service and communication—highly recommend Federal Companies!
Our move was stress-free. The movers arrived on time, were very efficient, and handled our belongings carefully. Would highly recommend!
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Company stats
Read full reviewIndustry experience 5.0
Companies with more years in business often outperform newer competitors. The Professionals Moving Specialists has been in business for 21 years, demonstrating strong staying power in a competitive industry with services like labor-only moving and small-scale moving.
Review quality 4.5
Customer reviews are the clearest window into a mover’s reputation. The Professionals Moving Specialists has about 93% positive reviews across roughly 1349 total reviews, with an average Yelp rating of 4.5.
Quote accuracy 4.3
Quote reliability often comes down to clarity and consistency. Customers can request instant email quotes from The Professionals Moving Specialists.
Customer service 5.0
From responsiveness to follow-through, customer service is a big differentiator. The Professionals Moving Specialists emphasizes clear communication, careful handling.
Recent reviews
"The Professionals lived up to their name. They were on time, quick, careful with all my belongings, and cost was under the quote. Stress-free move, would use again!"
"I highly recommend this company. Movers were super fast, professional, and wrapped everything so well. No damages, and the final price was even less than estimated!"
What add-on services do Waukegan movers offer?
Not every mover in Waukegan offers specialty services. Based on moveBuddha's review of 65 Waukegan movers, here is what is available and how often:
- Art handling: offered by 63.08% of Waukegan movers, compared to 50.51% statewide and 45.83% nationally.
- Junk removal: offered by 43.08% of Waukegan movers, compared to 40.4% statewide and 36.39% nationally.
- Fragile-only packing: offered by 32.31% of Waukegan movers, compared to 31.31% statewide and 23.87% nationally.
- Storage: offered by 95.38% of Waukegan movers, compared to 89.9% statewide and 84.85% nationally.
- Hot tub relocation: offered by 23.08% of Waukegan movers, compared to 19.19% statewide and 21.93% nationally.
- Piano moving: offered by 72.31% of Waukegan movers, compared to 70.71% statewide and 72.52% nationally.
Specialty service costs below use moveBuddha's pricing dataset adjusted for Waukegan's cost of living.
Does Waukegan have movers that offer art handling?
Art handling is available from 41 of 65 Waukegan movers (63.08%), compared to 50.51% statewide and 45.83% nationally. Shur-Way Moving and Cartage (4.52/5) and Alliance Moving & Storage (4.8/5) rate highest for art handling in Waukegan. Per-piece handling runs $49 to $485, with custom crates adding $146 to $194 per item.
| Art handling in Waukegan | Details |
|---|---|
| Waukegan movers offering this | 41 of 65 (63.08%) |
| Illinois statewide | 50 of 99 (50.51%) |
| National average | 45.83% |
| Top-rated Waukegan art movers | Shur-Way Moving and Cartage, Alliance Moving & Storage |
| Per-piece handling fee | $49 to $485 |
| Custom crating per item | $146 to $194 |
UV exposure discolors pigments. Humidity shifts warp canvas and crack paint layers. Impact fractures damage sculpture and frames. Standard moving blankets address none of these risks adequately for high-value artwork. Archival packing materials and custom crates built to the dimensions of each piece are the professional standard for art moving. Verify the mover has documented experience with your specific media type before committing.
Does Waukegan have movers that offer junk removal?
Junk removal is available from 28 of 65 Waukegan movers (43.08%), compared to 40.4% statewide and 36.39% nationally. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.44/5) and Move-tastic (4.62/5) rate highest for junk removal in Waukegan. Standalone junk removal typically runs $146 to $485 per load.
| Junk removal in Waukegan | Details |
|---|---|
| Waukegan movers offering this | 28 of 65 (43.08%) |
| Illinois statewide | 40 of 99 (40.4%) |
| National average | 36.39% |
| Top-rated Waukegan junk removal movers | TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, Move-tastic |
| Typical cost per load | $146 to $485 |
| Single large item | $73 to $146 |
Bundling junk removal with a move is almost always cheaper than scheduling it as a separate service. Removing unwanted items before a mover arrives also reduces the billable weight of the shipment, which lowers the base moving cost on weight-based quotes.
Does Waukegan have movers that offer fragile-only packing?
Fragile-only packing is available from 21 of 65 Waukegan movers (32.31%), compared to 31.31% statewide and 23.87% nationally. Alliance Moving & Storage (4.8/5) and Federal Companies (4.48/5) rate highest for fragile-only packing in Waukegan. Full professional packing runs $0.15 to $0.21 per pound; fragile-only packing covers dishes, glassware, mirrors, and lamps at a fraction of that total.
| Fragile-only packing in Waukegan | Details |
|---|---|
| Waukegan movers offering this | 21 of 65 (32.31%) |
| Illinois statewide | 31 of 99 (31.31%) |
| National average | 23.87% |
| Top-rated Waukegan providers | Alliance Moving & Storage, Federal Companies |
| Full professional packing rate | $0.15 to $0.21 per pound |
Fragile-only packing covers dishes, glassware, mirrors, and lamps without requiring a full-service packing contract. Professional packing adds $0.15 to $0.21 per pound on average to a move's total cost, so limiting crew packing to breakables is the most direct way to reduce that add-on while protecting the items with the highest in-transit breakage risk.
Does Waukegan have movers that offer storage?
Storage is available from 62 of 65 Waukegan movers (95.38%), compared to 89.9% statewide and 84.85% nationally. Shur-Way Moving and Cartage (4.52/5) and Alliance Moving & Storage (4.8/5) rate highest for storage in Waukegan. Storage-in-transit runs about $0.50 per cubic foot per month, putting a 1-bedroom load (about 514 cu ft) at roughly $249/month.
| Storage in Waukegan | Details |
|---|---|
| Waukegan movers offering this | 62 of 65 (95.38%) |
| Illinois statewide | 89 of 99 (89.9%) |
| National average | 84.85% |
| Top-rated Waukegan storage movers | Shur-Way Moving and Cartage, Alliance Moving & Storage |
| Storage-in-transit rate | About $0.50 per cubic foot per month |
| 1-bedroom monthly estimate (~514 cu ft) | $249 |
| 2-3 bedroom monthly estimate (~1,000 cu ft) | $485 |
Storage-in-transit keeps belongings with the mover's network between pickup and delivery, avoiding the cost of a third-party facility transfer. At $0.50 per cubic foot per month, a standard 1-bedroom load (about 514 cu ft) runs roughly $249 per month. For longer gaps, confirm whether the mover's valuation coverage remains active while items are in storage.
Does Waukegan have movers that offer hot tub relocation?
Hot tub relocation is available from 15 of 65 Waukegan movers (23.08%), compared to 19.19% statewide and 21.93% nationally. Shur-Way Moving and Cartage (4.52/5) and Alliance Moving & Storage (4.8/5) rate highest for hot tub moves in Waukegan. Hot tub moves typically run $146 to $388 per item when bundled with a full-service move.
| Hot tub relocation in Waukegan | Details |
|---|---|
| Waukegan movers offering this | 15 of 65 (23.08%) |
| Illinois statewide | 19 of 99 (19.19%) |
| National average | 21.93% |
| Top-rated Waukegan hot tub movers | Shur-Way Moving and Cartage, Alliance Moving & Storage |
| Bundled with full-service move | $146 to $388 |
| Standalone hot tub move | $291 to $776 |
Empty weight for most hot tubs is 500 to 1,000 lbs. The unit must be fully drained, and electrical or plumbing disconnection may require a licensed contractor before the mover can load it. Narrow side-gate access or no direct truck access to the backyard can add a crane or shuttle relay fee. Get a site-specific quote that accounts for access conditions before committing to a price.
Does Waukegan have movers that offer piano moving?
Piano moving is available from 47 of 65 Waukegan movers (72.31%), compared to 70.71% statewide and 72.52% nationally. Shur-Way Moving and Cartage (4.52/5) and Alliance Moving & Storage (4.8/5) rate highest for piano moving in Waukegan. A standalone piano move typically costs $776 to $3,395, depending on instrument type.
| Piano moving in Waukegan | Details |
|---|---|
| Waukegan movers offering this | 47 of 65 (72.31%) |
| Illinois statewide | 70 of 99 (70.71%) |
| National average | 72.52% |
| Top-rated Waukegan piano movers | Shur-Way Moving and Cartage, Alliance Moving & Storage |
| Upright piano | $776 to $1,455 |
| Baby grand piano | $1,164 to $2,425 |
| Grand piano | $1,746 to $3,395 |
Uprights weigh 400 to 800 lbs and grands top 1,200 lbs. Moving either without a piano board, padded blankets, and proper straps risks cracking the soundboard or snapping the legs, damage that a mover's standard released-value policy covers at just $0.60 per pound regardless of the instrument's value. Requesting full valuation coverage specifically for the piano is the most direct way to close that gap. For most moves, bundling piano service into a full-service household move costs less than a standalone piano carrier.
Who are the best movers in Waukegan for small long-distance moves?
Alliance Moving & Storage leads Waukegan's small-move providers with a 4.8/5 moveBuddha score, followed by Federal Companies at 4.48/5. DIY options like moving containers and rental trucks reduce costs by roughly 30% compared to full-service moving and are worth comparing for loads under 3,000 pounds.
What are the best moving containers for long-distance moves from Waukegan?
Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5), U-Pack (5.0/5), and MovingYourself (5.0/5) are moveBuddha's top-rated container options for moves out of Waukegan. Moving containers reduce costs by roughly 30% compared to full-service moving, making them the most cost-effective option for Waukegan residents who can handle their own loading and unloading. Container pricing varies by distance, container size, and the number of units required, so use the moveBuddha cost calculator to compare quotes for your specific move before committing to a provider.
What are the best labor-only movers in Waukegan?
41 of 65 Waukegan movers (63.08%) offer labor-only services, compared to 58.59% statewide and 54.55% nationally. Alliance Moving & Storage (4.8/5) is moveBuddha's top-rated labor-only mover in Waukegan, followed by TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.44/5). Labor-only movers handle loading and unloading without providing a truck, making them the right fit for Waukegan residents who plan to drive themselves or who have rented their own vehicle. Combining a labor-only crew with a rental truck or moving container reduces total move cost by roughly 30% compared to full-service moving, based on moveBuddha's pricing dataset.
What are the best moving truck rentals for long-distance Waukegan moves?
Budget Truck Rental, Penske Truck Rental, and U-Haul Truck Rental are moveBuddha's top-rated rental truck options for a DIY move out of Waukegan. A truck rental is the cheapest way to move out of state for those willing to handle both the loading and the driving. For moves over 500 miles, a local mover and a national mover price a rental truck the same, so distance alone does not change which provider to choose. Use the moveBuddha cost calculator to compare total DIY costs against container and full-service quotes before committing.
How much does it cost to hire long-distance movers in Waukegan?
Moving costs across Illinois range from $517 for a studio (2 movers, 3 hours at $269/hour) to $6,153 for a 5+ bedroom home (5 movers, 10 hours), according to moveBuddha's analysis of Illinois mover quotes. The table below shows Illinois statewide averages by home size. Your actual cost in Waukegan will vary based on distance, access conditions, and your mover's pricing model.
Use our free moving cost calculator to get a personalized estimate for your move.
| Home size | Estimated interstate cost from Illinois* |
|---|---|
| Studio apartment | $517 |
| 1-bedroom home or apartment | $786 |
| 2-bedroom home or apartment | $1,377 |
| 3-bedroom home | $3,411 |
| 4-bedroom home | $3,938 |
| 5+ bedroom home | $6,153 |
*Estimated costs above are based on varying types of moves that cross state lines in Illinois. All exceed 150 miles, but might remain below 1,500. Your price depends on inventory, distance, timing, service level, and more.
Data reflects Illinois statewide averages based on moveBuddha's analysis of mover quotes collected.
What affects moving costs in Waukegan?
Here are some additional cost considerations for your long-distance Waukegan move:
- Distance: The farther you move from Waukegan, the more you pay. A short intrastate move costs far less than a cross-country relocation. Once you cross state lines, pricing structure changes entirely and costs rise considerably.
- Home size and weight: Movers price local moves by the hour and interstate moves by total shipment weight. Downsizing before your move reduces both your bill and your packing time.
- Move type: Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most. DIY options like rental trucks or moving containers reduce costs by roughly 30% compared to full-service, according to moveBuddha data.
- Add-on services: Professional packing adds an average of $0.15–$0.21 per pound. Shuttle service, if required, adds $0.08–$0.12 per pound with minimums often starting around $200.
- Timing: Summer moves (May through September) carry the highest rates. Mid-month and mid-week bookings are consistently cheaper than weekend or month-end dates.
FAQs about the best long-distance movers in Waukegan
Do long-distance movers in Waukegan need to be licensed?
Every mover handling a cross-state shipment from Waukegan must hold a valid US Department of Transportation number and maintain FMCSA registration. Of the 65 movers moveBuddha has reviewed in Waukegan, 46 are licensed for interstate moves — and every company recommended on this page is among them. Verify any mover's credentials in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's database.
Before your move, read the FMCSA's Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move guide to understand the consumer protections that apply once you sign with a licensed carrier.
Is a local mover or a national mover better for leaving Waukegan?
Local movers in Waukegan are the most affordable option for moves that stay within Illinois. Of the 65 movers moveBuddha has reviewed in Waukegan, 46 are licensed for interstate routes and average $108/hour. The top-rated options are highlighted on this page.
When a move crosses out of Illinois, national movers with dedicated long-distance networks often handle the logistics more smoothly, though at a premium over local rates.
When is the cheapest time of year to move away from Waukegan?
The cheapest moving window in Waukegan is late fall through early winter. Average lows of 15°F, combined with school schedules and the holiday season, suppress demand and keep mover capacity high. Movers are most open to rate negotiation during this period. For anyone with scheduling flexibility, a November or December move date is the single most reliable way to lower your total cost.
What are the cheapest ways to move out of Waukegan?
When cost is the priority, a DIY move out of Waukegan is almost always the winner, particularly for moves within 50 miles. Rental trucks and moving containers save roughly 30% compared to full-service movers on equivalent routes, according to moveBuddha's data. The most economical options are a rental truck like U-Haul or a moving container like PODS. For more savings strategies on longer moves, see the cheapest ways to move out of state.