Moving from Illinois to Tennessee ($1,180-$5,340)
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The cost to move from Illinois to Tennessee ranges from $1,180 to $5,340 with full-service movers, based on 898 real quotes from moveBuddha users. Our moving cost calculator weighs your exact distance, home size, and move date together, so your estimate reflects this specific Illinois to Tennessee route rather than a flat average.
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Tennessee?
The average cost of moving from Illinois to Tennessee with full-service movers typically ranges between $1,180 to $5,340 for a studio to 3-bedroom home. We calculated this average by reviewing 898 real-time quotes provided to moveBuddha users over the past 90 days. The average moving distance quoted was 494 miles.
The final price of your Illinois to Tennessee move will be dependent on the type of mover you choose, how much you're moving, time of year, distance, access, and add-on services. Get a free and accurate estimate using our moving cost calculator.
The rates below are for full-service movers, meaning the crew loads, transports, and unloads your belongings for you:
| Move Size | Full-Service Mover Cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,180 - $3,250 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,070 - $5,340 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,550 - $7,420 |
How much do moving containers cost from Illinois to Tennessee?
A moving container from Illinois to Tennessee costs between $720 and $3,050, depending on how much you're moving. For a 2-3 bedroom home, expect $1,320 to $2,380, roughly 55% less than full-service movers on this route. You pack and load the container yourself; the container company handles the 494-mile drive.
| Move Size | Moving Container Cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $720 - $1,610 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $1,320 - $2,380 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $1,720 - $3,050 |
34% of movers in Illinois offer climate-controlled storage, worth asking about if your container needs to sit before delivery.
How much does a rental truck cost from Illinois to Tennessee?
A rental truck from Illinois to Tennessee costs between $440 and $1,060. For a 2-3 bedroom home, budget $450 to $950, about 85% less than hiring full-service movers. That figure covers the truck itself; with gas in Illinois averaging $3.19 per gallon, fuel for the 494-mile drive, plus insurance, equipment rental, and lodging, all land on top of the base rate.
| Move Size | Rental Truck Cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $440 - $810 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $450 - $950 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $590 - $1,060 |
Add-on costs for an Illinois to Tennessee move
Add-on services are where an Illinois to Tennessee quote quietly grows. The $1,180-$5,340 range above covers loading, 494 miles of transport, and unloading. Nothing else is included.
At 494 miles, this is a same-day haul for most carriers, so storage-in-transit and guaranteed-delivery fees rarely appear on Illinois to Tennessee quotes. Origin-side labor charges carry more weight instead. Packing, stair carries, and appliance work in Illinois make up a larger share of a short-haul total than they do on a cross-country move.
Cost of living is close between Illinois and Tennessee, so accessorial pricing on this route lands near national averages at both ends. Distance, not local labor rates, is what drives the numbers below.
| Add-On Service | Typical Cost (Illinois to Tennessee) |
|---|---|
| Full packing service | $960 - $2,500 |
| Packing materials only | $140 - $380 |
| Specialty item (piano, safe, pool table) | $290 - $810 |
| Appliance disconnect & reconnect | $90 - $250 |
| Stair or elevator carry | $70 - $230 |
| Auto transport (1 vehicle) | $580 - $840 |
| Full-value protection | 1% - 2% of declared shipment value |
Released-value protection at 60¢ per pound is included at no charge on every interstate move, but it pays out almost nothing on a damaged item. A 40-pound TV settles at $24. Full-value protection is the line item most worth the money on a 494-mile haul. Our moving cost calculator prices these accessorials into your Illinois to Tennessee estimate up front instead of leaving them to surface on moving day.
69% of movers in Illinois handle piano moves, 27% handle pool tables, and 41% handle safes — confirm your mover covers whichever specialty item you're moving before booking. 21% of Illinois movers require a deposit to book, and 32% offer full-value protection as an add-on rather than folding it into every quote.
Our recommended Illinois to Tennessee Movers
These movers average a 82% positive review rate among Illinois movers we track.
Compare movers for your Illinois to Tennessee move
Before you request quotes, take a look at the Illinois long-distance movers our team has reviewed and rated for routes like this one to Tennessee:
52% of Illinois movers we track offer instant online quotes, so you can compare several before picking up the phone.
1228 Humbracht Circle, Bartlett, IL 60103
7400 Niles Center Rd, Skokie, IL 60077
2627 Kaneville Ct, Geneva, IL 60134
4250 N Marine Dr Aparment #1136, Chicago, IL 60613
3201 Tollview Drive, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
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Alternate Illinois to Tennessee moving options
DIY moving options offer real cost savings on an Illinois to Tennessee move, with the right choice depending on how hands-on you want to be. Moving containers run about 55% less than full-service interstate movers, and rental trucks come in around 85% less.
With a rental truck (ex: U-Haul), you handle all the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus added costs like fuel, insurance, and equipment rentals on top of the base rate. If you'd rather skip the heavy lifting, local labor-only crews in Illinois run $60 - $81 per hour to load the truck for you, while you still drive and unload on the Tennessee end. 60% of movers in Illinois offer labor-only service, so finding one shouldn't take long.
With a moving container (ex: PODS), you handle the packing and loading in Illinois on your own timeline, and the container company will drop it off in Tennessee for you to unload. A standard 16-foot container (the size most 2-3 bedroom interstate moves need) typically runs $323 - $824 to rent in Illinois, before the long-distance haul fee shown above is added.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed over 898 quotes from Illinois to Tennessee, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Tennessee to Illinois guide.
Illinois to Tennessee cost of living comparison
Before you commit to a Illinois to Tennessee move, it helps to know how the two states actually compare. Based on the moving trends moveBuddha tracks nationwide, cost of living, job markets, housing, and lifestyle are the factors that most often make or break a relocation decision:
| Factor | Illinois | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 90 | 90 |
| Average household income | $78,433 | $64,035 |
| Median home value | $249,224 | $319,208 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 3.3% |
| State income tax | 4.95% | 0.0% |
| Average monthly rent | $1,179 | $1,047 |
| Average sales tax | 8.82% | 9.55% |
| Crime index | 19.7 | 29.24 |
| College graduation rate | 37.14% | 30.48% |
| Population | 12,549,689 | 7,126,489 |
The cost of living in Tennessee is comparable to Illinois, so most people making this move are driven by career, family, or personal reasons rather than cost differences. Day-to-day expenses should feel familiar after you settle in.
Tennessee's largest industries are Manufacturing ($55 billion), Professional and business services ($41.4 billion), and Educational services, health care, and social assistance ($40.3 billion), worth a look if a job change is part of this move.
FAQs: Moving from Illinois to Tennessee
How long does it take to move from Illinois to Tennessee?
Plan for 1 - 4 days from pickup to delivery, depending on distance, your mover's routing, and whether your shipment is consolidated with others. Moving containers take longer, typically 1 - 2 weeks from loading to delivery since they ship by scheduled ground freight. Rental trucks give you the most control since you drive directly, but add 1 - 2 days depending on distance.
Who regulates interstate moves?
Interstate moves are regulated federally by the FMCSA. Verify your mover's USDOT number for free at FMCSA's carrier lookup tool. Report violations at 1-888-368-7238. You can also look up licensed movers in Illinois at Illinois's official regulatorandin Tennessee at Tennessee's official regulator.
Are full-service movers worth it for an Illinois to Tennessee move?
People making this move are often chasing abundant recreational opportunities in Tennessee.Full-service makes sense for a large home (3+ bedrooms), a tight timeline, or high-value items. DIY fits a smaller home (1-2 bedrooms) when cost matters most and you have time to spare. Moving containers, about 55% less than full-service, split the difference by skipping the drive.
What's the cheapest way to move from Illinois to Tennessee?
A rental truck is cheapest: $450 - $950 for a 2-3 bedroom move, about 85% less than full-service. At 494 miles, that's 2 days behind the wheel, plus around $185 in fuel. Moving containers ($1,320 - $2,380, about 55% less than full-service) skip the drive entirely. Use our moving cost calculator to compare all 3 for your move size.
How do I get a moving quote from Illinois to Tennessee?
Use our moving cost calculator for an instant estimate on this 494-mile route. Full-service runs $1,180-$5,340, or a rental truck starts at $443. Take a room-by-room inventory of your furniture and bulky items so your quote matches your final bill. Then collect a few real quotes and confirm whether each is binding or non-binding — moveBuddha has reviewed 103 movers in Illinois alone.
Popular Illinois to Tennessee moving routes
These are the most common city-to-city moves on the Illinois to Tennessee corridor. Each guide covers local mover recommendations, cost estimates specific to those metro areas, and neighborhood information to help you plan your destination.
Moving from Illinois to Tennessee: the bottom line
The cost to move from Illinois to Tennessee ranges from $1,180 - $5,340 for a studio to 3-bedroom home with full-service movers. Moving containers and rental trucks cost 55% - 85% less for the same move. For most people making this 494-mile relocation, hiring a full-service mover is the most reliable option, especially for larger homes, time-sensitive moves, or relocations involving high-value items.
To get the best price, collect at least 3 quotes, book 4 - 12 weeks in advance depending on your season, and schedule a mid-week, mid-month pickup date when possible. Use our moving cost calculator to compare costs across all service types for your specific home size.
