($517+) Chicago, IL to Washington DC, MD Movers

Full-service moving costs from Chicago, IL to Washington DC, MD

For the 697-mile move from Chicago, Illinois, to Washington DC, Maryland, full-service movers cost between $1,540 and $7,895. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $372 - $2,480 (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 Chicago generally start around $220 plus $100 per hour, per mover.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Chicago to Washington DC:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,540 - $4,206
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,234 - $5,389
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,865 - $7,895

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 Washington DC.

Specialty moving services from Chicago, IL to Washington DC, MD

Specialty needs vary by market: 60% of Chicago movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Washington DC, 70% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from Chicago to Washington DC?

Look for Maryland Motor Truck Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Maryland beyond this list.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Moving container costs from Chicago, IL to Washington DC, MD

Moving containers from Chicago, Illinois, to Washington DC, Maryland, cost between $1,014 and $3,267. 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 Washington DC:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,014 - $1,910
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,287 - $2,595
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,811 - $3,267

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 $868 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 $93 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $186 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 Washington DC, MD, destination before booking.

What are the best moving containers Chicago to Washington DC?

1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
3. MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)

Moving truck rental costs from Chicago, IL to Washington DC, MD

Plan on $517 - $1,417 for a rental moving truck on the 697-mile route from Chicago, Illinois, to Washington DC, Maryland. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $275 - $314
• Daily insurance: $37/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $25
• Chicago daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.79

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Chicago to Washington DC based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $517 - $985
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $514 - $1,115
• 4+ bedrooms: $642 - $1,417

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Chicago, Illinois, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $868.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $275 - $314 for the 697-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
• Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $74 and $403, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $186 per night for hotel stops on the 697-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $372 - $558.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Chicago to Washington DC?

1. Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
2. Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
3. 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 Washington DC, MD

For larger DIY moves from Chicago, Illinois, 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 Washington DC, Maryland.

Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For a 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,073 and $2,158.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Chicago to Washington DC:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $921 - $1,653
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,073 - $2,158
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,336 - $2,534

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 $93 - $186 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 $868.

What are the best freight companies from Chicago to Washington DC?

1. 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.
2. 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.

Cost of living: Chicago, IL vs Washington DC, MD

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Washington DC, side by side with Chicago on housing, income, and taxes.

Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.

Our take

A move from Chicago, IL, to Washington DC, MD, 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 $1,540 - $7,895 on the 697-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,014 - $3,267, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $517 - $1,417. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $2,234 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Department of Homeland Security and US Navy.