($694+) Boston, MA to Chicago, IL Movers

Full-service moving costs from Boston, MA to Chicago, IL

Full-service movers for the 982-mile relocation from Boston, Massachusetts, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $2,099 and $7,986. 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 $399 - $2,660, 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 Boston typically charge a base rate around $340 plus $100 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,099 - $4,924
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,439 - $6,057
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,141 - $7,986

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 Boston to Chicago.

Specialty moving services from Boston, MA to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market — 96% of Boston movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Chicago, 93% of movers offer the same service.

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

Movers licensed to operate in Illinois are typically members of the Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, 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.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.

Moving container costs from Boston, MA to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from Boston, Massachusetts, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,269 and $4,224. 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 Boston typically costs about $145/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Boston to Chicago:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,269 - $2,222
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,508 - $3,212
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,137 - $4,224

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $100 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $200 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
• Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $931 in Boston, MA, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
• Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Chicago, IL, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

What are the best moving containers Boston to Chicago?

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 Boston, MA to Chicago, IL

A rental truck for this 982-mile move from Boston, Massachusetts, to Chicago, Illinois, costs between $673 and $1,940. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

• Fuel for the drive: $416 - $475
• Daily insurance: $40/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $27
• Boston daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.89 - $1.09

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $673 - $1,226
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $758 - $1,595
• 4+ bedrooms: $950 - $1,940

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Gas: Fuel adds $416 - $475 for the 982-mile drive, depending on whether your rental truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: You'll handle the heavy lifting unless you bring in help. Two movers in Boston, Massachusetts, for about 5 hours typically costs around $931.
• Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
• Lodging: The 982-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $200 per night, adding $399 - $599 in hotel costs total.
• Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $67 and $399.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Boston to Chicago?

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 Boston, MA to Chicago, IL

For larger DIY moves from Boston, Massachusetts, 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 Chicago, Illinois.

Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For most medium-to-large moves on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,231 and $2,422.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,043 - $2,040
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,231 - $2,422
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,626 - $3,151

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Boston, Massachusetts, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $931.
• More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $100 - $200 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 Boston to Chicago?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the pick for best for large moves. The company is well-regarded as a top moving container option for its load-it-yourself, we-drive-it model, and that same model makes it a strong freight option for larger homes that benefit from the company's 53-foot trucks and footage-based pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Alongside their flagship container service, U-Pack provides a top-notch freight trailer option that follows the same model: no deposits, no upfront fees, and pricing based on the linear footage you actually use.
3. Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. (4.7/5 stars): Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and based facilities mean accessible support staff and area-specific scheduling flexibility that national-only freight carriers typically don't match.

Cost of living: Boston, MA vs Chicago, IL

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Chicago, side by side with Boston 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.