($507+) Atlanta, GA to Chicago, IL Movers
Moving from Atlanta, GA, to Chicago, IL, runs anywhere from $507 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,644 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 717 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 6 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 $1,616, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,644 or more.
- Moving containers run $981 - $3,272, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $507 - $1,315.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Atlanta, GA, to Chicago, IL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,209 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 Atlanta, GA to Chicago, IL
There are 3 main ways to move from Atlanta 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 $2,209 - $5,690. Moving containers run about 44% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 74% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 1 to 6 days for this 717-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 717-mile route from Atlanta to Chicago, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,616 - $4,466 | $981 - $1,836 | $507 - $971 | $939 - $1,719 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,209 - $5,690 | $1,247 - $2,673 | $569 - $1,130 | $1,018 - $2,097 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,800 - $7,644 | $1,845 - $3,272 | $685 - $1,315 | $1,462 - $2,751 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Atlanta, GA to Chicago, IL
For the 717-mile move from Atlanta, Georgia, to Chicago, Illinois, full-service movers cost between $1,616 and $7,644. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $331 - $2,204 (1 - 5+ bedrooms), crews will pack your boxes. The weight of your shipment and the mileage between the two cities are what drive your final cost. For scale, local movers in Atlanta generally start around $216 plus $85 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Atlanta to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,616 - $4,466
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,209 - $5,690
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,800 - $7,644
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 Atlanta to Chicago.
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 Atlanta, GA to Chicago, IL
Specialty needs vary by market: 58% of Atlanta movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Chicago, 60% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing79% of local movers | $551 - $5,510 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready58% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Atlanta Peach Movers | $220 - $1,322/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $331 - $2,645 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage10% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs61% of local movers | $1,102 - $3,306 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,755 - $11,020 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $825 - $1,568 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items26% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Atlanta Peach Movers | $1,102 - $2,755 |
| Piano | Any piano type41% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Atlanta Peach Movers | $882 - $3,857 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling11% of local movers | $331 - $1,653 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect10% of local movers9% nationally | $716 - $2,204 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $331 - $16,530+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $331 - $3,857+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Atlanta to Chicago?
Movers licensed to operate in Illinois are typically members of the Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association, 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.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Atlanta, GA. 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 Atlanta, GA to Chicago, IL
Moving containers from Atlanta, Georgia, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $981 and $3,272. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Atlanta costs roughly $100/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Atlanta to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $981 - $1,836
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,247 - $2,673
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,845 - $3,272
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Access: Most major container brands operate in both Atlanta, GA 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 $771 in Atlanta, GA, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $83 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $165 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 Georgia 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 $981. 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 $1,247 - $2,673.
What are the best moving containers Atlanta 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 Atlanta 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 Atlanta:
- Wirks Moving & Storage, Inc. (4.9/5), 19 years in business
- Flex Moving & Storage (4.5/5), 4 years in business
- Zip Moving And Storage, Inc. (4.7/5), 11 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Atlanta, GA to Chicago, IL
Truck rentals from Atlanta, Georgia, to Chicago, Illinois, range from $507 - $1,315 for the 717-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $251 - $287
- Daily insurance: $33/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $22
- Atlanta daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $0.79
| 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 Atlanta to Chicago based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $507 - $971
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $569 - $1,130
- 4+ bedrooms: $685 - $1,315
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Atlanta to Chicago starts at $507 - $1,315, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($251 - $287), overnight lodging ($165/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for roughly $600 - $1,200 more on top of fuel and lodging to cover meals, equipment, and other extras.
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 $83 and $386.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $165.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $251 and $287 for the 717-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 $771 for 2 movers in Atlanta, Georgia, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Atlanta 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 Atlanta, GA to Chicago, IL
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 Atlanta, Georgia, to Chicago, Illinois. 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 $1,018 and $2,097.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Atlanta to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $939 - $1,719
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,018 - $2,097
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,462 - $2,751
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Atlanta, Georgia, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $771.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $83 - $165 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 Atlanta to Chicago?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Atlanta to Chicago. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: Atlanta, GA vs Chicago, IL
There's not a big cost-of-living gap between Atlanta and Chicago to plan around. Cost of living index: 113 vs. 106. Average rent: $1,900/mo vs. $2,045/mo. The bigger factor in your budget is the one-time cost of the move itself, covered above. Walkability: 48 vs. 77. Safety index: 35.77 vs. 33.87.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Chicago, IL to Atlanta, GA guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Georgia to Illinois over the past 3 months, giving us some of the most up-to-date pricing data around. Running your move through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. There are 256 movers in our Georgia network to compare for this 717-mile move.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Atlanta, GA, to Chicago, IL, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $1,616 - $7,644 on the 717-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $981 - $3,272 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $507 - $1,315 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,209 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 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 Atlanta, GA, to Chicago, IL
How much does it cost to move from Atlanta, GA to Chicago, IL?
Costs on this route range from around $507 to $7,644, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,616 and $7,644, 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 is the cheapest way to move from Atlanta, GA to Chicago, IL?
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 $569 - $1,130. 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 ($251 - $287), daily insurance ($33/day), and equipment rentals ($8 - $22) on top. Overnight stops can add another $165/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How long does a move from Atlanta, GA to Chicago, IL take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 1 to 6 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 Atlanta, GA to Chicago, IL?
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 percentage of Atlanta movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 41% of movers in Atlanta handle piano moves, and 26% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.