($1,017+) Phoenix, AZ to Madison, WI Movers
Moving from Phoenix, AZ, to Madison, WI, runs anywhere from $1,017 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,722 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,686 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 4 to 15 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 $2,195, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $9,722 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,529 - $4,987, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,017 - $2,758.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Phoenix, AZ, to Madison, WI. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,209 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Phoenix, AZ to Madison, WI
Moving options from Phoenix to Madison fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. The most hands-off option, full-service, runs $3,209 - $6,889 for a 2-3 bedroom home and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers cost about 40% less than full-service for the same size, and rental trucks land around 66% less, with both DIY options requiring you to load yourself. Covering 1,686 miles, this route usually takes 4 to 15 days from pickup to delivery.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,686-mile route from Phoenix to Madison, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $2,195 - $4,953 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,529 - $2,659), rental truck ($1,017 - $1,973), or freight trailer ($1,310 - $2,566). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $3,209 - $6,889 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $9,722.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated October 30, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Phoenix, AZ to Madison, WI
A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,686-mile move from Phoenix, Arizona, to Madison, Wisconsin, with prices running from $2,195 - $9,722. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $327 - $2,180 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Phoenix and Madison are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Phoenix movers tend to run around $140 as a base rate plus $85/hour per mover, for comparison.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Phoenix to Madison:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,195 - $4,953
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,209 - $6,889
- 4+ bedrooms: $5,813 - $9,722
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 Phoenix to Madison.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Arizona to Wisconsin. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.
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Specialty moving services from Phoenix, AZ to Madison, WI
Specialty needs vary by market: 66% of Phoenix movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Madison, 57% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing79% of local movers | $545 - $5,450 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready66% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Camelback Moving | $218 - $1,308/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $327 - $2,616 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage13% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs53% of local movers | $1,090 - $3,270 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,725 - $10,900 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $816 - $1,551 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items26% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Budget Movers | $1,090 - $2,725 |
| Piano | Any piano type35% of local movers40% nationallyTop pick: Assurance Moving And Storage | $872 - $3,815 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling14% of local movers | $327 - $1,635 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect9% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Assurance Moving And Storage | $709 - $2,180 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $327 - $16,350+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $327 - $3,815+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Phoenix to Madison?
Look for Wisconsin Movers Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Wisconsin beyond this list.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are the more cost-efficient choice. Local movers in Phoenix, AZ, often charge 30% - 40% more at that distance because their operations aren't built for long-haul logistics. The exception is if you want a dedicated point-to-point truck with an average 2-day delivery, though that level of service generally increases your total cost.
Moving container costs from Phoenix, AZ to Madison, WI
Moving containers from Phoenix, Arizona, to Madison, Wisconsin, cost between $1,529 and $4,987. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in Phoenix typically runs around $90/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Phoenix to Madison:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,529 - $2,659
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,936 - $3,835
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,565 - $4,987
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $82 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $164 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
- Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $763 in Phoenix, AZ, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
- Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Madison, WI, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Arizona to Wisconsin 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 $1,529. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,936 - $3,835.
What are the best moving containers Phoenix to Madison?
- 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 Phoenix 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 Phoenix:
- Bellhop Moving (4.2/5), 15 years in business
- Aardvark Movers Inc (4.5/5), 23 years in business
- All My Sons Moving & Storage (4.6/5), 27 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Phoenix, AZ to Madison, WI
Renting a moving truck for the 1,686-mile move from Phoenix, Arizona, to Madison, Wisconsin, costs between $1,017 and $2,758, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $585 - $668
- Daily insurance: $33/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $22
- Phoenix 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 Phoenix to Madison based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,017 - $1,973
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,078 - $2,255
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,413 - $2,758
Pro tip: A rental truck from Phoenix to Madison looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $1,017 - $2,758. But once you factor in fuel ($585 - $668), overnight lodging ($164/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Gas: Fuel adds $585 - $668 for the 1,686-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 Phoenix, Arizona, for about 5 hours typically costs around $763.
- Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
- Lodging: The 1,686-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $164 per night, adding $327 - $491 in hotel costs total.
- Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $55 and $327.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Phoenix to Madison?
- 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 Phoenix, AZ to Madison, WI
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 Phoenix, Arizona, to Madison, Wisconsin. 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. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,458 and $3,098.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Phoenix to Madison:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,310 - $2,566
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,458 - $3,098
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,031 - $4,236
Pro tip: Freight trailers come with a 4-foot loading ramp, which can be a challenge with bulky furniture. With 8 feet of vertical space available, stacking efficiently often requires a ladder and a plan. Since you're billed per linear foot, packing tight can make a real difference in your final cost.
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 $82 and $164.
- 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 Phoenix, Arizona, for roughly five hours typically average $763.
What are the best freight companies from Phoenix to Madison?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is our pick for best for large moves. The company is best known as a top moving container option for its hybrid model where you load and they drive, and that same model translates well to freight thanks to their 53-foot trucks and pay-by-the-foot pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Beyond their flagship container service, U-Pack also runs freight trailers with the same no-deposit, no-upfront-fee model, charging only for the linear footage you actually fill.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are one of the fastest ways to move your belongings interstate, often beating full-service movers on delivery time. If getting your stuff to Madison quickly is a priority, freight is worth a hard look. That said, freight carriers typically require you to be available to receive your shipment within a set window, so if you need short-term storage or your new place won't be ready right away, a container or full-service mover may give you more flexibility.
Cost of living: Phoenix, AZ vs Madison, WI
Good news for your budget: Madison isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Phoenix. Cost of living index runs 103 there against 113 here. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. For reference, walkability and safety scores are 41/100 and 46.94/100 here versus 50/100 and 65.43/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Madison, WI to Phoenix, AZ guide.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from Arizona to Wisconsin, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors. We track 228 movers in Arizona, so you have real options to compare for this 1,686-mile move.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 1,686-mile route from Phoenix, AZ, to Madison, WI, run $2,195 - $9,722 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,529 - $4,987, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $1,017 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,209, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Datex Ohmeda and American Family Insurance.
FAQs: Moving from Phoenix, AZ, to Madison, WI
What is the cheapest way to move from Phoenix, AZ to Madison, WI?
Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $1,078 - $2,255. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($585 - $668), daily insurance ($33/day), and equipment rentals ($8 - $22) on top. Overnight stops can add another $164/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How long does a move from Phoenix, AZ to Madison, WI take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 4 to 15 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are often one of the faster options outside of driving yourself, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What is the best time of year to move from Phoenix, AZ to Madison, WI?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Phoenix, AZ to Madison, WI?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
What percentage of Phoenix movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 35% of movers in Phoenix handle piano moves, and 26% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 40% and 26% nationally.