($32+) Wilmington, DE to Philadelphia, PA Movers
Moving from Wilmington, DE, to Philadelphia, PA, runs anywhere from $35 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $3,245 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 32 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes to 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 $382, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $3,245 or more.
- Moving containers run $104 - $1,432, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $35 - $131.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Wilmington, DE, to Philadelphia, PA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $684 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 Wilmington, DE to Philadelphia, PA
There are 3 main ways to move from Wilmington to Philadelphia: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service is the most expensive but covers everything from labor to transportation, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route averaging $684 - $2,112. Containers cost roughly 30% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 60% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option. At 32 miles, expect to days in transit no matter which service you choose.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 32-mile route from Wilmington to Philadelphia, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $382 - $1,128 | $104 - $688 | $35 - $88 | $0 - $0 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $684 - $2,112 | $348 - $977 | $40 - $103 | $0 - $0 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $1,047 - $3,245 | $704 - $1,432 | $54 - $131 | $0 - $0 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Wilmington, DE to Philadelphia, PA
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 32-mile move from Wilmington, Delaware, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with costs ranging from $382 - $3,245. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $312 - $2,080. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Wilmington and Philadelphia. Local movers in Wilmington typically start around $334 as a base rate plus $150/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Wilmington to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $382 - $1,128
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $684 - $2,112
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,047 - $3,245
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 Wilmington to Philadelphia.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Delaware to Pennsylvania. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: The summer months (May - September) are the busiest time of year for movers during peak moving season, which drives up prices and limits scheduling options. If you can move in the fall or winter, you'll likely find better rates and more flexibility.
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Specialty moving services from Wilmington, DE to Philadelphia, PA
Specialty needs vary by market — 89% of Wilmington movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Philadelphia, 90% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing97% of local movers | $520 - $5,200 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready89% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $208 - $1,248/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $312 - $2,496 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage39% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs39% of local movers | $1,040 - $3,120 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,600 - $10,400 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $779 - $1,480 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items63% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Move Crew LLC | $1,040 - $2,600 |
| Piano | Any piano type77% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Move Crew LLC | $832 - $3,640 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling39% of local movers | $312 - $1,560 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect23% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Move Crew LLC | $676 - $2,080 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $312 - $15,600+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $312 - $3,640+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Wilmington to Philadelphia?
Movers licensed to operate in Pennsylvania are typically members of the Pennsylvania Moving & Storage Associates, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
How much do local movers cost in Wilmington, DE?
Based on recent quotes for this route, a 2-bedroom move from Wilmington to Philadelphia with a local mover averages $704 - $2,175. For moves under 500 miles, local movers in Wilmington, DE 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.
Zip to Zip Moving Inc (4.44/5 stars) is our preferred moving company in Wilmington, based on our analysis of feedback from 278 customers, 97.8% of which is positive.
Address: 558 W Uwchlan Ave, Exton, PA, 19341 | Founded: 2020
Moving container costs from Wilmington, DE to Philadelphia, PA
Moving containers from Wilmington, Delaware, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, cost between $104 and $1,432. 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 Wilmington typically runs around $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Wilmington to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $104 - $688
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $348 - $977
- 4+ bedrooms: $704 - $1,432
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $78 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $156 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Philadelphia, PA, 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 $728 in Wilmington, DE. 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.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Delaware to Pennsylvania 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 $104. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $348 - $977, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Wilmington to Philadelphia?
- 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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington:
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5), 12 years in business
- Move Crew LLC (4.8/5), 0 years in business
- Bayshore Transportation System, Inc. (4.5/5), 53 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Wilmington, DE to Philadelphia, PA
Renting a moving truck for the 32-mile move from Wilmington, Delaware, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, costs between $35 and $131, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $11 - $12
- Daily insurance: $31/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $21
- Wilmington daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.99
| 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 Wilmington to Philadelphia based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $35 - $88
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $40 - $103
- 4+ bedrooms: $54 - $131
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $35 - $131 does not include fuel ($11 - $12) , lodging ($156/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Wilmington to Philadelphia typically runs $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate alone.
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 $78 and $364.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $156.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $11 and $12 for the 32-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 $728 for 2 movers in Wilmington, Delaware, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Wilmington to Philadelphia?
- 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 Wilmington, DE to Philadelphia, PA
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Wilmington, Delaware, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.
What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Overall pricing for a move of this size and distance typically lands around $0 and $0.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Wilmington to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $0 - $0
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $0 - $0
- 4+ bedrooms: $0 - $0
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?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Wilmington, Delaware, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $728.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $78 - $156 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 Wilmington to Philadelphia?
- 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.
- Pipco Transportation, Inc. (4.66/5 stars): Pipco Transportation, Inc. is our pick for best locally owned freight company. Their locally owned and operated facilities mean you work with support staff who know the route and the area, giving you more responsive scheduling than national-only carriers typically offer.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Wilmington to Philadelphia, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.
Cost of living: Wilmington, DE vs Philadelphia, PA
Day-to-day costs in Philadelphia are close to what you're used to in Wilmington: cost of living index of 104 versus 104, with average rent of $1,695/mo compared to $1,812/mo. Housing, income, and taxes are all in a similar range, so budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores are close too, at 74/100 and 32.68/100 in Wilmington versus 75/100 and 33.91/100 in Philadelphia.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Philadelphia, PA to Wilmington, DE guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Delaware to Pennsylvania in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 9 movers based in Delaware, handy for sizing up options on this 32-mile route.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 32-mile route from Wilmington, DE, to Philadelphia, PA, run $382 - $3,245 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $104 - $1,432, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $35 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $684, 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 Amtak and Comcast.
FAQs: Moving from Wilmington, DE, to Philadelphia, PA
How walkable is Philadelphia?
Philadelphia has a walkability score of 75 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 67, compared to 74 and 52 in Wilmington. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
How much does it cost to move from Wilmington, DE to Philadelphia, PA?
Costs on this route range from around $382 to $3,245, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $382 and $3,245, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Wilmington, DE to Philadelphia, PA?
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 do local movers charge in Wilmington?
Local movers based in Wilmington typically start around $334 as a base rate, plus $150/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Philadelphia run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How long does a move from Wilmington, DE to Philadelphia, PA take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, 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 percentage of Wilmington movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 77% of movers in Wilmington handle piano moves, and 63% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
