($687+) Portland, ME to Dayton, OH Movers
Moving from Portland, ME, to Dayton, OH, runs anywhere from $642 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,177 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 943 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 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 $2,449, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $9,177 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,245 - $4,084, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $642 - $1,718.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Portland, ME, to Dayton, OH. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,954 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 Portland, ME to Dayton, OH
Moving options from Portland to Dayton fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $2,954 - $7,016 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 943-mile route typically takes 2 to 7 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 943-mile route from Portland to Dayton, broken down by home size:
- A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $2,449 - $5,539 with full-service movers, $1,245 - $2,220 with a container, $642 - $1,189 with a rental truck, or $1,110 - $2,036 by freight.
- A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $2,954 - $7,016 full-service, $1,479 - $2,872 by container, $721 - $1,444 by rental truck, or $1,195 - $2,468 by freight.
- A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $4,715 - $9,177 full-service, $2,094 - $4,084 by container, $923 - $1,718 by rental truck, or $1,708 - $3,078 by freight.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Portland, ME to Dayton, OH
Hiring full-service movers from Portland, Maine, to Dayton, Ohio, costs between $2,449 and $9,177. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 943-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $298 - $1,984, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Portland and Dayton. For a rough baseline, movers based in Portland tend to start around $382 plus $135/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Portland to Dayton:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,449 - $5,539
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,954 - $7,016
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,715 - $9,177
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 Dayton.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Maine to Ohio. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Peak moving season (May - September) limits truck availability and pushes up full-service moving costs. Booking during slower months can give you more scheduling room and a lower final price.
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Specialty moving services from Portland, ME to Dayton, OH
Specialty needs vary by market — 78% of Portland movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Dayton, 88% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $496 - $4,960 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready78% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $198 - $1,190/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $298 - $2,381 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage56% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs33% of local movers | $992 - $2,976 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,480 - $9,920 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $743 - $1,412 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items67% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Liberty Bell Moving & Storage of Maine | $992 - $2,480 |
| Piano | Any piano type100% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $794 - $3,472 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling89% of local movers | $298 - $1,488 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect78% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Liberty Bell Moving & Storage of Maine | $645 - $1,984 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $298 - $14,880+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $298 - $3,472+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Portland to Dayton?
All three below meet the standards set by the Ohio Association of Movers, the group most Ohio movers are affiliated with.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in Portland, ME. Local companies typically run 30% - 40% more at longer distances because they aren't set up to consolidate shipments the way national carriers do. The one case where a local mover might be worth the premium is if you want a dedicated direct-route truck, which averages a 2-day delivery time, but expect to pay more for that convenience.
Moving container costs from Portland, ME to Dayton, OH
Moving containers from Portland, Maine, to Dayton, Ohio, cost between $1,245 and $4,084. 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 Portland typically costs about $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Portland to Dayton:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,245 - $2,220
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,479 - $2,872
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,094 - $4,084
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $74 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $149 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 $694 in Portland, ME, 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 Dayton, OH, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Maine to Ohio 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 $1,245. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,479 - $2,872, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Portland to Dayton?
- 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 Portland 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 Portland:
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.8/5), 9 years in business
- Tiny Tim's Moving (4.3/5), 33 years in business
- Integrity Movers, 0 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Portland, ME to Dayton, OH
Renting a moving truck for the 943-mile move from Portland, Maine, to Dayton, Ohio, costs between $642 and $1,718, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $298 - $340
- Daily insurance: $30/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
- Portland daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89
| 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 Portland to Dayton based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $642 - $1,189
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $721 - $1,444
- 4+ bedrooms: $923 - $1,718
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Portland to Dayton starts at $642 - $1,718, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($298 - $340) , overnight lodging ($149/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for an additional $600 - $1,200 on top of your base rate to cover those costs.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $149 per night. Most long-distance moves with rental trucks require 1 - 3 overnight stops.
- Equipment: Tow dollies, auto trailers, and specialty moving equipment can add between $64 and $322 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $298 - $340 in fuel for the 943-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $694 in Portland, Maine, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Portland to Dayton?
- 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 Portland, ME to Dayton, OH
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 Dayton, Ohio. 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. Most long-distance moves using this method run roughly between $1,195 and $2,468.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Portland to Dayton:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,110 - $2,036
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,195 - $2,468
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,708 - $3,078
Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Portland, Maine, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $694.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $74 - $149 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 Portland to Dayton?
- 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.
- 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.
- Dubois Livestock (3.96/5 stars): Dubois Livestock is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and operated facilities give you direct access to support staff who know the area and can coordinate pickups and deliveries with greater flexibility than national carriers.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are one of the fastest ways to move your belongings interstate, often beating full-service movers on delivery time. If getting your stuff to Dayton quickly is a priority, freight is worth a hard look. That said, freight carriers typically require you to be available to receive your shipment within a set window, so if you need short-term storage or your new place won't be ready right away, a container or full-service mover may give you more flexibility.
Cost of living: Portland, ME vs Dayton, OH
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Dayton, side by side with Portland on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Portland, ME | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 112 | 80 |
| Average rent | $1,991/mo | $925/mo |
| Median home value | $452,202 | $94,536 |
| Average income | $76,174/yr | $43,454/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 6.8% |
| State income tax | Up to 5.8% | Up to 3.5% |
| Walkability score | 62/100 | 45/100 |
| Safety index | 67.84/100 | 40.68/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Moderate |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Dayton, OH to Portland, ME guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Maine to Ohio, so we know current pricing better than most. Checking our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates. Maine alone has 15 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 943-mile move like this one.
Our take
For a move from Portland, ME, to Dayton, OH, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $2,449 for a studio to $9,177 for a 4 - 5 bedroom home on the 943-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,245 - $4,084. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $642 - $1,718, 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 $2,954 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 Morgan Linen & Uniform Services and Premier Physicians.
FAQs: Moving from Portland, ME, to Dayton, OH
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($298 - $340), daily insurance ($30/day), and equipment rentals ($7 - $20) on top. Overnight stops can add another $149/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
What is the cheapest way to move from Portland, ME to Dayton, OH?
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 $721 - $1,444. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
How much does it cost to move from Portland, ME to Dayton, OH?
Costs on this route range from around $2,449 to $9,177, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,449 and $9,177, 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 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 3 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
What do local movers charge in Portland?
Local movers based in Portland typically start around $382 as a base rate, plus $135/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 Dayton run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
What percentage of Portland movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 100% of movers in Portland handle piano moves, and 67% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
