($759+) Orlando, FL to Chicago, IL Movers
Moving from Orlando, FL, to Chicago, IL, runs anywhere from $744 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,189 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,154 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 8 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 $1,909, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $7,189 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,167 - $4,151, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $744 - $2,093.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Orlando, FL, to Chicago, IL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,226 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 Orlando, FL to Chicago, IL
There are 3 main ways to move from Orlando to Chicago: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service handles labor and transportation for you, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route costing $2,226 - $5,245. Moving containers run about 30% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 60% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 2 to 8 days for this 1,154-mile route, depending on which option you go with.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,154-mile route from Orlando to Chicago, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,909 - $4,207 | $1,167 - $2,345 | $744 - $1,332 | $1,061 - $1,986 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,226 - $5,245 | $1,646 - $3,075 | $812 - $1,617 | $1,215 - $2,537 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,983 - $7,189 | $2,141 - $4,151 | $1,010 - $2,093 | $1,679 - $3,220 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated October 6, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Orlando, FL to Chicago, IL
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 1,154-mile move from Orlando, Florida, to Chicago, Illinois, with costs ranging from $1,909 - $7,189. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $318 - $2,120. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Orlando and Chicago. Local movers in Orlando typically start around $188 as a base rate plus $80/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Orlando to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,909 - $4,207
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,226 - $5,245
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,983 - $7,189
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 Orlando to Chicago.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Florida to Illinois. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from Orlando, FL to Chicago, IL
Specialty needs vary by market — 93% of Orlando movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Chicago, 93% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $530 - $5,300 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready93% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: 1st Class Moving and Storage | $212 - $1,272/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $318 - $2,544 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage20% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs55% of local movers | $1,060 - $3,180 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,650 - $10,600 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $794 - $1,508 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items48% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: 1st Class Moving and Storage | $1,060 - $2,650 |
| Piano | Any piano type80% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: 1st Class Moving and Storage | $848 - $3,710 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling30% of local movers | $318 - $1,590 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect28% of local movers21% nationallyTop pick: 1st Class Moving and Storage | $689 - $2,120 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $318 - $15,900+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $318 - $3,710+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Orlando to Chicago?
Look for Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Illinois 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 carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Orlando, FL. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from Orlando, FL to Chicago, IL
Moving containers from Orlando, Florida, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,167 and $4,151. 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 Chicago. If you go over that window, storage in Orlando adds around $80/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Orlando to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,167 - $2,345
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,646 - $3,075
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,141 - $4,151
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Access: Most major container brands operate in both Orlando, FL and Chicago, IL. Still, double-check that a nearby facility is available if you need to access your belongings before delivery.
- Moving labor: Because containers are self-loaded, many customers hire hourly help. Two movers for about 5 hours typically cost around $742 in Orlando, FL, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $80 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $159 for larger ones (12 - 16 feet).
- Added contents protection: For more coverage beyond the standard minimum, full-value protection is the typical upgrade, generally 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value. On a $50,000 household, that's roughly $500 - $1,000 as a one-time fee.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Florida to Illinois 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 $1,167. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,646 - $3,075, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Orlando to Chicago?
- 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 Orlando 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 Orlando:
- 1st Class Moving and Storage (4.7/5), 11 years in business
- Big Man Movers Corp. (4.6/5), 16 years in business
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5), 10 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Orlando, FL to Chicago, IL
Plan on $744 - $2,093 for a rental moving truck on the 1,154-mile route from Orlando, Florida, to Chicago, Illinois. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:
- Fuel for the drive: $389 - $445
- Daily insurance: $32/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $21
- Orlando daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.19
| 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 Orlando to Chicago based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $744 - $1,332
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $812 - $1,617
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,010 - $2,093
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Orlando to Chicago starts at $744 - $2,093, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($389 - $445) , overnight lodging ($159/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for an additional $600 - $1,200 on top of your base rate to cover those costs.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Gas: Fuel adds $389 - $445 for the 1,154-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 Orlando, Florida, for about 5 hours typically costs around $742.
- Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
- Lodging: The 1,154-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $159 per night, adding $318 - $477 in hotel costs total.
- Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $53 and $318.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Orlando to Chicago?
- 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 Orlando, FL to Chicago, IL
For larger DIY moves from Orlando, Florida, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to Chicago, Illinois.
Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For most medium-to-large moves on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,215 and $2,537.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Orlando to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,061 - $1,986
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,215 - $2,537
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,679 - $3,220
Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.
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 Orlando, Florida, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $742.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $80 and $159 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Orlando to Chicago?
- 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.
- A.R. Paquette & Co, Inc. (4.38/5 stars): A.R. Paquette & Co, 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: 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 Chicago 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: Orlando, FL vs Chicago, IL
Orlando and Chicago land in a similar range on everyday costs. The cost of living index sits at 106 in Orlando and 106 in Chicago, and rent tracks closely too ($1,943/mo vs. $2,045/mo). You likely won't need to rework your monthly budget much after this move. Walkability (41 vs 77) and safety scores (50.43 vs 33.87) come out about the same too.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Chicago, IL to Orlando, FL guide.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from Florida to Illinois, 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 229 movers in Florida, so you have real options to compare for this 1,154-mile move.
Our take
A move from Orlando, FL, to Chicago, IL, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $1,909 - $7,189 on the 1,154-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,167 - $4,151, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $744 - $2,093. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $2,226 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.
Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Chicago tend to point to bountiful arts and recreational activities and delicious food, though high crime rate and temperamental weather come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include U.S. Government and Chicago Public Schools.
FAQs: Moving from Orlando, FL, to Chicago, IL
What do local movers charge in Orlando?
Local movers based in Orlando typically start around $188 as a base rate, plus $80/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 Chicago run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Illinois?
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.
What are the best neighborhoods in Chicago?
For families, Beverly, Edison Park, and Lincoln Park are worth a look in Chicago. If you're moving solo or without kids, Lake View, Lincoln Park, and The Loop tend to be popular picks instead.
How walkable is Chicago?
Chicago has a walkability score of 77 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 72, compared to 41 and 57 in Orlando. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
Is Chicago a safe place to live?
Chicago has a safety index of 33.87 out of 100 and a crime index of 35.19, compared to 50.43 and 49.57 in Orlando. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What percentage of Orlando movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 80% of movers in Orlando handle piano moves, and 48% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.