($1,074+) Lansing, MI to Tempe, AZ Movers
Moving from Lansing, MI, to Tempe, AZ, runs anywhere from $1,074 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $11,529 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,934 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 5 to 16 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 $2,425, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $11,529 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,590 - $5,470, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,074 - $3,046.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Lansing, MI, to Tempe, AZ. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,252 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 Lansing, MI to Tempe, AZ
There are 3 main ways to move from Lansing to Tempe: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service handles labor and transportation for you, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route costing $3,252 - $7,114. Moving containers run about 39% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 64% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 5 to 16 days for this 1,934-mile route, depending on which option you go with.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,934-mile route from Lansing to Tempe, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $2,425 - $5,579, container $1,590 - $2,927, rental truck $1,074 - $2,090, freight trailer $1,348 - $2,583.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $3,252 - $7,114, container $1,977 - $4,265, rental truck $1,186 - $2,437, freight trailer $1,550 - $3,413.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $6,241 - $11,529, container $2,734 - $5,470, rental truck $1,466 - $3,046, freight trailer $2,077 - $4,509.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Lansing, MI to Tempe, AZ
Full-service movers for the 1,934-mile relocation from Lansing, Michigan, to Tempe, Arizona, cost between $2,425 and $11,529. 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 $287 - $1,912, 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 Lansing typically charge a base rate around $570 plus $240 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Lansing to Tempe:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,425 - $5,579
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,252 - $7,114
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,241 - $11,529
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 Lansing to Tempe.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from Lansing, MI to Tempe, AZ
Specialty needs vary by market: 45% of Lansing movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Tempe, 66% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing70% of local movers | $478 - $4,780 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready45% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $191 - $1,147/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $287 - $2,294 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs56% of local movers | $956 - $2,868 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,390 - $9,560 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $716 - $1,360 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items17% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: M & M Moving and Storage | $956 - $2,390 |
| Piano | Any piano type30% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $765 - $3,346 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling | $287 - $1,434 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect11% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $621 - $1,912 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $287 - $14,340+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $287 - $3,346+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Lansing to Tempe?
Look for Arizona Moving Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Arizona beyond this list.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Lansing, MI. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from Lansing, MI to Tempe, AZ
Moving containers from Lansing, Michigan, to Tempe, Arizona, cost between $1,590 and $5,470. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Lansing costs roughly $60/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Lansing to Tempe:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,590 - $2,927
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,977 - $4,265
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,734 - $5,470
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $72 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $143 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Tempe, AZ, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
- Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $669 in Lansing, MI. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Michigan to Arizona 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 $1,590. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,977 - $4,265.
What are the best moving containers Lansing to Tempe?
- 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 Lansing 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 Lansing:
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5), 8 years in business
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.5/5), 32 years in business
- MASS Movers LLC (4.9/5)
Moving truck rental costs from Lansing, MI to Tempe, AZ
Truck rentals from Lansing, Michigan, to Tempe, Arizona, range from $1,074 - $3,046 for the 1,934-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $588 - $672
- Daily insurance: $29/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
- Lansing daily rental rate: $19 - $29
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79
| 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 Lansing to Tempe based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,074 - $2,090
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,186 - $2,437
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,466 - $3,046
Pro tip: A rental truck from Lansing to Tempe looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $1,074 - $3,046. But once you factor in fuel ($588 - $672), overnight lodging ($143/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $143 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 $62 and $311 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $588 - $672 in fuel for the 1,934-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $669 in Lansing, Michigan, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Lansing to Tempe?
- 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 Lansing, MI to Tempe, AZ
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 Lansing, Michigan, to Tempe, Arizona. 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 $1,550 and $3,413.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Lansing to Tempe:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,348 - $2,583
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,550 - $3,413
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,077 - $4,509
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
- More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $72 - $143 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Lansing, Michigan, for about five hours typically runs $669.
What are the best freight companies from Lansing to Tempe?
- 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.
- 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.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Tempe fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.
Cost of living: Lansing, MI vs Tempe, AZ
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Tempe, side by side with Lansing on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Lansing, MI | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 84 | 113 |
| Average rent | $1,129/mo | $1,834/mo |
| Median home value | $119,327 | $421,086 |
| Average income | $52,170/yr | $77,643/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 7.4% | 5.4% |
| State income tax | Up to 4.25% | Up to 2.5% |
| Walkability score | 46/100 | 54/100 |
| Safety index | 51.34/100 | 57.64/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
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 Tempe, AZ to Lansing, MI guide.
Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:
In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from Michigan to Arizona, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 173 movers licensed in Michigan, useful context for sizing up this 1,934-mile move.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Lansing, MI, to Tempe, AZ, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $2,425 - $11,529 on the 1,934-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,590 - $5,470 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $1,074 - $3,046 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $3,252 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Amkor Technology, Inc. and Benchmark Electronics.
FAQs: Moving from Lansing, MI, to Tempe, AZ
How long does a move from Lansing, MI to Tempe, AZ take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 to 16 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are often one of the faster options outside of driving yourself, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($588 - $672), daily insurance ($29/day), and equipment rentals ($7 - $19) on top. Overnight stops can add another $143/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
What is the cheapest way to move from Lansing, MI to Tempe, AZ?
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 $1,186 - $2,437. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
How much does it cost to move from Lansing, MI to Tempe, AZ?
Costs on this route range from around $1,074 to $11,529, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,425 and $11,529, 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 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
What percentage of Lansing movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 30% of movers in Lansing handle piano moves, and 17% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.