Best Long-Distance Movers in Illinois for 2025
Quick answer: Safeway Moving is our top choice for long-distance movers in Illinois. Based on our in-depth research and analysis, Safeway Moving offers the best overall value by providing quality service at an affordable price.

- Best overall value: Safeway Moving
- Best IL-based company: STI Moving & Storage Inc.
- Best for small moves: MiniMoves
- Best moving container: PODS
- Best labor-only company: HireAHelper
- Best rental truck: U-Haul Truck Rental
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Our track record
Best long-distance movers in Illinois for those moving out of state
These are the best state-to-state long-distance moving companies available in Illinois:
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Allied Van Lines: 4.75 out of 5 stars
- North American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- Fragile packing
- Storage options
- 24/7 shipment tracking
- Quick & efficient
- Accurate quotes
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
Best long-distance movers in Illinois for those staying in state
While it’s not as common, if you’re staying in Illinois but still moving a couple hundred miles, these are the best intrastate movers for you:
- STI Moving & Storage Inc.: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- New City Moving: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- Mid-West Moving & Storage: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- Alliance Moving & Storage: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- Amenity Moving & Storage, Inc.: 4.86 out of 5 stars
- Efficient service (36%)
- Professional and polite staff (32%)
- Good communication (29%)
- Damage to items (38%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (30%)
- Unexpected charges (28%)
Company Info
State license #: 139020
Pricing: $150/hr
Years in Business: 20
DOT #: 1308599
Alternate Names: STI Moving & Storage, Inc.
STI Moving & Storage Inc., serving Skokie, IL since 2004, has established itself as a reputable choice for local residential moving. Standing out from competitors, STI boasts an impressive Google rating of 4.7 from over 1000 reviews and holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. They offer comprehensive services including packing, unpacking, and specialized handling for fragile items and antiques. With a competitive rate of $150 per hour and options for full valuation insurance coverage, they cater to a variety of moving needs, ensuring peace of mind for their clients.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Crane vans
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- Professional and polite staff (30%)
- Efficient service (28%)
- Careful handling (25%)
- Damage to items (20%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (15%)
- Lack of communication (10%)
Company Info
State license #: 158051
Years in Business: 16
DOT #: 3078026
Alternate Names: Windy City Moving, Inc.
New City Moving, a reputable moving company based in Chicago, IL, has been providing local residential moving services since 2010. With an impressive 4.7 average rating from 1,096 Yelp reviews and a 4.8 average rating from 2,393 Google reviews, they stand out among nearby movers. They also boast an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, reflecting their commitment to customer satisfaction. Beyond local moves, New City Moving offers office moving, packing, and unpacking services, along with full valuation insurance coverage. They accept both cash and credit cards, ensuring a flexible payment process.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- Efficient service (30%)
- Professional and polite staff (28%)
- Good communication (25%)
- Damage to items (32%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (27%)
- Unexpected charges (23%)
Company Info
State license #: 75043
Years in Business: 41
DOT #: 294025
Mid-West Moving & Storage has been a trusted name in the Elk Grove Village, IL area since 1984, specializing in local residential moves. While their Yelp reviews average at 2.8 from 77 reviews, their stellar Google My Business rating of 4.7 from 385 reviews and an A+ BBB rating speak volumes about their overall customer satisfaction. Unlike many nearby movers, Mid-West Moving & Storage distinguishes itself with a comprehensive range of services, including packing, unpacking, and specialized moves like pianos and antiques. They also offer full valuation insurance coverage and shipment tracking for added peace of mind.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Crane vans
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOD certified
- Efficient service (30%)
- Professional and polite staff (25%)
- Careful handling (22%)
- Unexpected charges (18%)
- Damage to items (15%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (12%)
Company Info
State license #: 214845
Years in Business: 9
DOT #: 2882675
Alternate Names: HK & RP, LLC
Alliance Moving & Storage has been providing dependable local residential moving services in and around Rolling Meadows, IL, since 2016. With an average rating of 4.2 on Yelp and 3.8 on Google, they have earned a solid reputation bolstered by an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Unlike many nearby competitors, Alliance Moving & Storage stands out with their comprehensive offerings, including packing and unpacking services, as well as specialized capabilities to move pianos, hot tubs, and antiques. They accept both cash and credit cards, and no deposit is required, making them a convenient and flexible choice for local moves.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Professional and polite staff (41%)
- Careful handling (36%)
- Efficient service (32%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (12%)
- Damage to items (9%)
- Lack of communication (8%)
Company Info
State license #: 73744
Years in Business: 38
DOT #: 70719
Amenity Moving & Storage, Inc. has been a trusted name in local residential moving services in and around Plainfield, IL since 1986. Their reputation for excellence is reflected in their stellar consumer reviews, boasting an average rating of 4.8 on Yelp and 4.9 on Google, alongside an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Unlike many nearby moving companies, Amenity Moving & Storage offers a wide range of services, including office moving, packing and unpacking, and the ability to move specialized items like pianos, hot tubs, and safes. With no deposit required, they make the moving process seamless and stress-free for their clients.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Crating
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
Best long-distance movers in Illinois for small moves
Most professional movers won’t handle moves under a certain minimum total weight, usually 2,000 pounds. If your Illinois move is from a college dorm or studio apartment, for example, a traditional full-service moving company might not work for you.
The good news is there are companies that specialize in small moves. Take a look at the options below if you are planning a small long-distance relocation.
- No minimum size
- Top-quality materials
- Full-service packing
- Specializes in small moves
- Guaranteed delivery date
- Online chatbot and resources for a seamless move
- Car shipping services
- Gives back with charitable donations
Moving containers for long-distance moves in IL
If you’re comfortable doing the packing and loading but don’t want to drive from Illinois to your new state, a moving container can be a great cost-saving alternative to full-service movers.
Expect to pay somewhere around $736 to $7,170 for a moving container in Illinois. The cost depends on several factors, so we recommend getting multiple moving quotes.
We suggest starting with these two top-rated container companies.
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Long distance moves only
- Only pay for the space you use
- No deposit or initial fees
- Fast delivery time frames
Labor-only moving companies in Illinois
If you’re comfortable doing the driving from Illinois to your new state but want some help packing, loading, and unloading, look for labor-only moving companies.
You’ll typically pay $27 to $42 per hour per worker for Illinois-based labor-only movers.
Check out our top recommendations below.
- First call quoting, get a quote in just a couple of minutes
- Rates are typically 20-40% lower than the industry averages
- $1,000 money-back service guarantee
- Fast and accurate delivery times
- Free damage coverage with additional coverage options
- Quick and easy booking process
- National 4.75/5 star rating (these guys are good at what they do)
- Dedicated move concierge specialist
- Pay as you go service. 2-hour minimum and then prorated down to the minute
- The time clock starts when the movers arrive and ends when you tell them
Rental trucks in IL for a total DIY long-distance move
The cheapest way to move out of state is with a full DIY approach — meaning you’ll handle driving, in addition to all the loading and unloading.
Moving rental trucks do require the most work on your part, but will save you the most money.
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
- Limits environmental impact as part of the EPA's SmartWay Program
- Non-slip flooring makes loading and unloading easier
- Easily choose truck size with their Truck Wizard Tool
How we chose the best long-distance movers in Illinois
Average cost of a long-distance move out of Illinois
Long-distance moving costs in Illinois range from $873 up to $12,131 or more, depending on the specific details of your relocation.
Factors that affect the cost
- Size: The volume of items you're moving directly affects costs. Evaluate what you truly need in Illinois — every extra item adds up.
- Distance: The distance you’re moving away from Illinois is a major cost factor. Whether it's a couple hundred miles or a cross-country trek, distance plays a key role in your moving budget.
- Type of move: How you choose to move out of Illinois is crucial. Your options include a full-service moving company, truck rental, moving container, or a freight trailer. Each option comes with a different price point and its own set of perks and downsides.
- Services: Consider whether to do it yourself or hire help for packing and unpacking. Professional services add convenience but also increase costs.
- Seasonal timing: When you move affects the price. Summer moves are typically more expensive. Planning your move during the off-season (October-April) can be more cost-effective.
To get an accurate cost estimate, check out our free moving cost calculator.
Thing to consider before hiring a long-distance mover in Illinois
Whether you’re staying in Illinois for the home of Chicago, ample economic opportunity, and bountiful recreational opportunities, or moving out due to the harsh winter weather, bad traffic, and high crime rate, here’s what you need to consider before your big move.
Company licensing
In Illinois, regulations on in-state moves and local movers are set forth by the Illinois Commerce Commission. To move household goods locally and intrastate, companies need to have a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, so make sure the companies you’re considering have one and that it’s current.
Insurance options
Choose cost-free Released Value Protection from movers for basic coverage at 60 cents per pound. For more extensive protection matching your items' full value, consult your moving company for alternative options or consider a third-party insurance provider.
Moving date
Weather factors influence how busy movers are, so those things play into the availability of movers and the cost.
In Illinois, you have to consider that the average winter temperature is 17°F, the average summer temperature is 86°F, you’ll see 40” of rain, and about 22” of snow each year.
Taking your car
If you’re moving across the country and don’t want to leave your car (or drive it cross-country), you may want to use an Illinois car shipper.
You’ll also want to consider vehicle inspections in your new location, as regulations can differ state to state and even by city. Take Illinois’s requirements, as an example. In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
Long-distance movers in nearby cities
Helpful Illinois resources
Illinois moving services
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