($1,120+) Chicago, IL to Ontario, CA Movers
Moving from Chicago, IL, to Ontario, CA, runs anywhere from $1,120 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $10,499 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,979 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 5 to 16 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 $2,374, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $10,499 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,534 - $5,672, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,120 - $3,180.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Chicago, IL, to Ontario, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,239 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 Ontario, CA
Moving options from Chicago to Ontario fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $3,239 - $6,777 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 39% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 62% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 1,979-mile route typically takes 5 to 16 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,979-mile route from Chicago to Ontario, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $2,374 - $5,181 | $1,534 - $2,881 | $1,120 - $2,117 | $1,437 - $2,593 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,239 - $6,777 | $1,964 - $4,371 | $1,224 - $2,596 | $1,555 - $3,364 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $5,934 - $10,499 | $2,773 - $5,672 | $1,622 - $3,180 | $2,151 - $4,402 |
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 Ontario, CA
Full-service movers for the 1,979-mile relocation from Chicago, Illinois, to Ontario, California, cost between $2,374 and $10,499. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $334 - $2,224, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in Chicago typically charge a base rate around $220 plus $100 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Chicago to Ontario:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,374 - $5,181
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,239 - $6,777
- 4+ bedrooms: $5,934 - $10,499
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 Ontario.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Illinois to California. 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 Chicago, IL to Ontario, CA
Specialty needs vary by market: 60% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Ontario, 54% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing78% of local movers | $556 - $5,560 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready60% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $222 - $1,334/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $334 - $2,669 |
| 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 | $1,112 - $3,336 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,780 - $11,120 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $833 - $1,582 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items28% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $1,112 - $2,780 |
| Piano | Any piano type42% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $890 - $3,892 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling11% of local movers | $334 - $1,668 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect9% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: New City Moving | $723 - $2,224 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $334 - $16,680+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $334 - $3,892+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Chicago to Ontario?
California Moving & Storage Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in California, 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 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 Ontario, CA
Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Ontario, California, cost between $1,534 and $5,672. With a moving container, you load on your own schedule. U-Haul gives you 3 days to fill yours, while PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're ready, the company transports it straight to your new place. Need more time first? Storage in Chicago typically costs about $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Chicago to Ontario:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,534 - $2,881
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,964 - $4,371
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,773 - $5,672
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $778 in Chicago, IL. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
- Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $83 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $167 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
- Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Ontario, CA, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Illinois to California 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 $1,534. 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 $1,964 - $4,371.
What are the best moving containers Chicago to Ontario?
- 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 Ontario, CA
Renting a moving truck for the 1,979-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Ontario, California, costs between $1,120 and $3,180, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $700 - $800
- Daily insurance: $33/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $22
- 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 Ontario based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,120 - $2,117
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,224 - $2,596
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,622 - $3,180
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Chicago to Ontario starts at $1,120 - $3,180, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($700 - $800), overnight lodging ($167/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?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $167 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
- Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Chicago, Illinois, usually costs about $778 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 1,979-mile drive falls between $700 and $800, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $56 and $334 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Chicago to Ontario?
- 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 Ontario, CA
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Chicago, Illinois, to Ontario, California, 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. Pricing for a 2 - 3 bedroom move of this distance typically lands between $1,555 and $3,364.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Chicago to Ontario:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,437 - $2,593
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,555 - $3,364
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,151 - $4,402
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 $83 - $167 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 $778.
What are the best freight companies from Chicago to Ontario?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Chicago to Ontario, 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: Chicago, IL vs Ontario, CA
Chicago and Ontario land in a similar range on everyday costs. The cost of living index sits at 106 in Chicago and 119 in Ontario, and average rent is $2,045/mo vs. $2,619/mo. With an index gap that small, you likely won't need to rework your monthly budget much after this move. For reference, walkability is 77 vs 48 and safety scores are 33.87 vs 49.75.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Ontario, CA to Chicago, IL guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Illinois to California 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 314 movers based in Illinois, handy for sizing up options on this 1,979-mile route.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 1,979-mile route from Chicago, IL, to Ontario, CA, run $2,374 - $10,499 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,534 - $5,672, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $1,120 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,239, 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 Prime Healthcare and Niagara Bottling.
FAQs: Moving from Chicago, IL, to Ontario, CA
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 Ontario 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 Ontario, CA?
Costs on this route range from around $1,120 to $10,499, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,374 and $10,499, 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 Ontario, CA?
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 $1,224 - $2,596. 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 ($700 - $800), daily insurance ($33/day), and equipment rentals ($8 - $22) on top. Overnight stops can add another $167/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
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.