($487+) Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL Movers
Moving from Chicago, IL, to Huntsville, AL, runs anywhere from $487 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,021 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 586 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 $1,412, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,021 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,058 - $3,171, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $487 - $1,301.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Chicago, IL, to Huntsville, AL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,090 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 Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL
Moving options from Chicago to Huntsville fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. The most hands-off option, full-service, runs $2,090 - $5,596 for a 2-3 bedroom home and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers cost about 30% less than full-service for the same size, and rental trucks land around 60% less, with both DIY options requiring you to load yourself. Covering 586 miles, this route usually takes 1 to 6 days from pickup to delivery.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 586-mile route from Chicago to Huntsville, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,412 - $3,788 | $1,058 - $1,758 | $487 - $907 | $962 - $1,582 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,090 - $5,596 | $1,370 - $2,481 | $504 - $994 | $1,001 - $2,067 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,658 - $8,021 | $1,793 - $3,171 | $655 - $1,301 | $1,448 - $2,511 |
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 Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL
A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 586-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Huntsville, Alabama, with prices running from $1,412 - $8,021. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $304 - $2,024 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Chicago and Huntsville are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Chicago movers tend to run around $220 as a base rate plus $100/hour per mover, for comparison.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Chicago to Huntsville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,412 - $3,788
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,090 - $5,596
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,658 - $8,021
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 Chicago to Huntsville.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Illinois to Alabama. 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 Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL
Specialty needs vary by market — 93% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Huntsville, 88% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing99% of local movers | $506 - $5,060 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready93% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Reebie Storage and Moving Co. | $202 - $1,214/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $304 - $2,429 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage36% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs62% of local movers | $1,012 - $3,036 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,530 - $10,120 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $758 - $1,440 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items55% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: H2H Movers Inc | $1,012 - $2,530 |
| Piano | Any piano type75% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: H2H Movers Inc | $810 - $3,542 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling36% of local movers | $304 - $1,518 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect23% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Move-tastic | $658 - $2,024 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $304 - $15,180+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $304 - $3,542+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Chicago to Huntsville?
Alabama Trucking Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in Alabama, on top of the picks below.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing means no surprise charges on moving day, and their support team is consistently rated among the most responsive in the industry.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here, 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, with 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 full-service movers are the more cost-efficient choice. Local movers in Chicago, IL, 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 Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL
Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Huntsville, Alabama, cost between $1,058 and $3,171. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in Chicago runs about $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Chicago to Huntsville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,058 - $1,758
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,370 - $2,481
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,793 - $3,171
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Because loading is on you with a container move, hourly labor help is a popular add-on. In Chicago, IL, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $708, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: After the first month, ongoing rental fees kick in. A small container (7 - 8 feet) averages about $76 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $152 per month.
- Access: Most major container companies serve both Chicago, IL, and Huntsville, AL, but confirm a facility is within reasonable distance if you need to retrieve items while in storage.
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection provides broader coverage than the standard liability in your contract. It typically costs 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on $50,000 worth of belongings.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Illinois to Alabama 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 $1,058. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,370 - $2,481, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Chicago to Huntsville?
- 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 Chicago 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 Chicago:
- Move-tastic (5.0/5), 17 years in business
- H2H Movers Inc (4.9/5), 12 years in business
- Stark Moving and Storage (5.0/5), 7 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL
Plan on $487 - $1,301 for a rental moving truck on the 586-mile route from Chicago, Illinois, to Huntsville, Alabama. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:
- Fuel for the drive: $189 - $216
- Daily insurance: $30/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
- Chicago daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $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 Chicago to Huntsville based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $487 - $907
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $504 - $994
- 4+ bedrooms: $655 - $1,301
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $487 - $1,301 does not include fuel ($189 - $216) , lodging ($152/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Chicago to Huntsville 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 $76 and $354.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $152.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $189 and $216 for the 586-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 $708 for 2 movers in Chicago, Illinois, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Chicago to Huntsville?
- 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 Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Chicago, Illinois, to Huntsville, Alabama. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.
Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $911 and $2,067.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Chicago to Huntsville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $962 - $1,582
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,001 - $2,067
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,448 - $2,511
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 Chicago, Illinois, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $708.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $76 - $152 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 Chicago to Huntsville?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.
- Keller Trucking Co, Inc. (4.54/5 stars): Keller Trucking Co, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Local ownership translates to accessible support staff and facilities based in the communities they serve, giving customers more direct communication than they'd typically get from a national-only freight network.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Huntsville fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.
Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs Huntsville, AL
There's not a big cost-of-living gap between Chicago and Huntsville to plan around. Cost of living index: 106 vs. 94. Average rent: $2,045/mo vs. $1,409/mo. The bigger factor in your budget is the one-time cost of the move itself, covered above. Walkability: 77 vs. 24. Safety index: 33.87 vs. 57.45.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Huntsville, AL to Chicago, IL guide.
Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:
In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from Illinois to Alabama, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 103 movers licensed in Illinois, useful context for sizing up this 586-mile move.
Our take
For a move from Chicago, IL, to Huntsville, AL, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $1,412 for a studio to $8,021 for a 4 - 5 bedroom home on the 586-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,058 - $3,171. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $487 - $1,301, though you'll be handling the driving and loading yourself. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with quotes starting around $2,090 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage included, and 24/7 live customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Qualitest Pharmaceuticals and Huntsville Hospital.
FAQs: Moving from Chicago, IL, to Huntsville, AL
How much does it cost to move from Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL?
Costs on this route range from around $1,412 to $8,021, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,412 and $8,021, 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.
How walkable is Huntsville?
Huntsville has a walkability score of 24 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 40, compared to 77 and 72 in Chicago. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($189 - $216), daily insurance ($30/day), and equipment rentals ($7 - $20) on top. Overnight stops can add another $152/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Alabama?
To guarantee the safety and reliability of local moving services in Alabama, it is essential for moving companies to possess a registration number issued by the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC). Trust your move to registered professionals for a secure and dependable experience.
What is the best time of year to move from Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL?
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. Alabama also has a hurricane season running June through November, worth factoring into your timing if you have flexibility. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
What percentage of Chicago movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 75% of movers in Chicago handle piano moves, and 55% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
