($450+) Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL Movers
Moving from Chicago, IL, to Huntsville, AL, runs anywhere from $450 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,865 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ 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 $1,267, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,865 or more.
- Moving containers run $949 - $3,054, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $450 - $1,179.
- 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 $2,012 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. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $2,012 - $4,971 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 38% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 75% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 586 miles and typically takes 1 to 6 days.
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 | $1,267 - $3,723 | $949 - $1,711 | $450 - $789 | $846 - $1,508 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,012 - $4,971 | $1,243 - $2,340 | $495 - $1,026 | $954 - $1,911 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,522 - $7,865 | $1,658 - $3,054 | $606 - $1,179 | $1,379 - $2,368 |
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 Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 586-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Huntsville, Alabama, with costs ranging from $1,267 - $7,865. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $304 - $2,024. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Chicago and Huntsville. Local movers in Chicago typically start around $220 as a base rate plus $100/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Chicago to Huntsville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,267 - $3,723
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,012 - $4,971
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,522 - $7,865
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.
Pro tip: Demand for full-service movers surges during peak moving season from May - September, pushing prices higher. Shifting your move to a cooler month could save you a meaningful amount on your total bill.
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Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL
Specialty needs vary by market: 60% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Huntsville, 59% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing78% of local movers | $506 - $5,060 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready60% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $202 - $1,214/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $304 - $2,429 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage10% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs59% 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 items28% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $1,012 - $2,530 |
| Piano | Any piano type42% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $810 - $3,542 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling11% of local movers | $304 - $1,518 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect9% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $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?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Alabama Trucking Association is a good first thing to confirm.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Chicago, IL. 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 Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL
Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Huntsville, Alabama, cost between $949 and $3,054. 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 Chicago typically runs around $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Chicago to Huntsville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $949 - $1,711
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,243 - $2,340
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,658 - $3,054
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Access: Most major container brands operate in both Chicago, IL and Huntsville, AL. 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 $708 in Chicago, IL, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $76 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $152 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 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 $949. 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 $1,243 - $2,340.
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
- Windy City Movers Inc. (4.6/5), 44 years in business
- STI Moving & Storage Inc. (4.7/5), 21 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL
A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 586 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Huntsville, Alabama, running $450 - $1,179. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:
- 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: $450 - $789
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $495 - $1,026
- 4+ bedrooms: $606 - $1,179
Pro tip: A rental truck from Chicago to Huntsville looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $450 - $1,179. But once you factor in fuel ($189 - $216), overnight lodging ($152/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?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $152 per night. Most long-distance moves with rental trucks require 1 - 3 overnight stops.
- Equipment: Tow dollies, auto trailers, and specialty moving equipment can add between $66 and $329 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $189 - $216 in fuel for the 586-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $708 in Chicago, Illinois, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
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
If you're moving a larger household from Chicago, Illinois, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Huntsville, Alabama.
Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. A 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route typically falls between $954 and $1,911.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Chicago to Huntsville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $846 - $1,508
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $954 - $1,911
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,379 - $2,368
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?
- More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $76 - $152 to your final bill.
- Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
- Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in Chicago, Illinois, typically costs $708.
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.
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 Huntsville 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: Chicago, IL vs Huntsville, AL
Day-to-day costs in Huntsville are close to what you're used to in Chicago: cost of living index of 94 versus 106, with average rent of $1,409/mo compared to $2,045/mo. With an index gap that small, budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. For reference, walkability and safety scores are 77/100 and 33.87/100 in Chicago versus 24/100 and 57.45/100 in Huntsville.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Huntsville, AL to Chicago, IL guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Illinois to Alabama 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 314 movers in our Illinois network to compare for this 586-mile move.
Our take
The 586-mile move from Chicago, IL, to Huntsville, AL, costs between $1,267 and $7,865 with full-service movers, $949 - $3,054 with a moving container, and $450 - $1,179 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $2,012 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 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 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 do local movers charge in Chicago?
Local movers based in Chicago typically start around $220 as a base rate, plus $100/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 Huntsville run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
What size moving truck do I need for this route?
Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
How much does it cost to move from Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL?
Costs on this route range from around $450 to $7,865, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,267 and $7,865, 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 Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL?
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 $495 - $1,026. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What percentage of Chicago movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 42% of movers in Chicago handle piano moves, and 28% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.