($781+) Portland, ME to Birmingham, AL Movers

Full-service moving costs from Portland, ME to Birmingham, AL

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,280-mile move from Portland, Maine, to Birmingham, Alabama, with prices running from $2,441 - $9,886. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $306 - $2,040 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Portland and Birmingham are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Portland movers tend to run around $382 as a base rate plus $135/hour per mover, for comparison.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,441 - $5,651
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,202 - $6,942
• 4+ bedrooms: $5,556 - $9,886

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 Portland to Birmingham.

Specialty moving services from Portland, ME to Birmingham, AL

Specialty needs vary by market: 50% of Portland movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Birmingham, 60% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from Portland to Birmingham?

If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Alabama Trucking Association is a good first thing to confirm.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Moving container costs from Portland, ME to Birmingham, AL

Moving containers from Portland, Maine, to Birmingham, Alabama, cost between $1,318 and $4,453. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in Portland runs about $100/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Portland to Birmingham:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,318 - $2,240
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,651 - $3,256
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,282 - $4,453

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 $714 in Portland, ME. 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 $77 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $153 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 Birmingham, AL, destination before booking.

What are the best moving containers Portland to Birmingham?

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 Portland, ME to Birmingham, AL

A rental truck for this 1,280-mile move from Portland, Maine, to Birmingham, Alabama, costs between $781 and $2,229. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

• Fuel for the drive: $415 - $475
• Daily insurance: $31/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
• Portland daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Portland to Birmingham based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $781 - $1,430
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $819 - $1,738
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,051 - $2,229

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Portland, Maine, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $714.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $415 - $475 for the 1,280-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 $61 and $332, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $153 per night for hotel stops on the 1,280-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $306 - $459.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Portland to Birmingham?

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 Portland, ME to Birmingham, AL

Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Portland, Maine, to Birmingham, Alabama. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.

Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,346 and $2,631.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,083 - $2,165
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,346 - $2,631
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,843 - $3,493

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 $77 - $153 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 Portland, Maine, typically costs $714.

What are the best freight companies from Portland to Birmingham?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.

Cost of living: Portland, ME vs Birmingham, AL

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

For a move from Portland, ME, to Birmingham, AL, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $2,441 for a studio to $9,886 for a 4+ bedroom home on the 1,280-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,318 - $4,453. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $781 - $2,229, though you'll be handling the driving and loading yourself. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with quotes starting around $3,202 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage included, and 24/7 live customer support.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Encompass Health and Regions Bank.