Top local movers for Detroit to Wilmington moves
Searching for a dependable local mover in Detroit that also provides long-distance services to Wilmington can feel overwhelming. That’s where we come in — we’ve analyzed 36 local movers in Detroit who specialize in long-distance relocations, factoring in cost, services, and customer feedback.
These are the best local moving companies for getting from Detroit to Wilmington.
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving: 4.62 out of 5 stars
- Palmer Moving Services: 4.52 out of 5 stars
- White Star Movers, Inc.: 4.56 out of 5 stars
- Royal Movers Enterprises, LLC: 4.42 out of 5 stars
- O’Sullivan Moving & Storage CO.: 4.42 out of 5 stars
Company Info
Years in Business: 14
DOT #: 2378173
Alternate Names: JCAL Holdings, LLC
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
Years in Business: 114
DOT #: 511993
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Crating
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
Years in Business: 39
DOT #: 624288
Alternate Names: Whitestar Movers, Inc.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Crane vans
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by credit card
- DOD certified
Company Info
Years in Business: 17
DOT #: 1673815
Alternate Names: Royal Movers
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
Company Info
State license #: 20587
Years in Business: 42
DOT #: 1660642
Alternate Names: O’Sullivan Moving & Storage
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Crating
- Storage
How much does it cost to move from Detroit to Wilmington?
Movers in Michigan generally charge an average of per hour. Check out these typical costs for a full-service moving company, moving container, or truck rental:
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,190 – $3,608 | $703 – $1,594 | $446 – $814 |
| 2 – 3 bedrooms | $2,089 – $5,654 | $1,280 – $2,365 | $495 – $987 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,848 – $8,183 | $1,591 – $3,022 | $618 – $1,143 |
Cost to hire movers from Detroit to Wilmington
Moving a studio or one-bedroom home from Detroit to Wilmington typically costs between $1,190 and $3,608. For a two- or three-bedroom home, expect prices to fall between $2,089 and $5,654 when moving from Detroit to Wilmington. If you’re tackling a large move (think four or five bedrooms) from Detroit to Wilmington, you’re looking at costs ranging from $3,848 up to $8,183.
Cost of moving containers from Detroit to Wilmington
If you’re relocating from Detroit to Wilmington, you’ll typically spend between $703 and $1,594 for a small move. Have a two or three-bedroom home? Plan for costs to range from $1,280 up to $2,365. If you’re moving a larger home — four bedrooms or more — expect to pay anywhere between $1,591 and $3,022. For a full breakdown, check out our complete PODS cost guide.
Explore our top budget-friendly moving container companies for your move from Michigan.
Cost of moving truck rentals from Detroit to Wilmington
Renting a moving truck is typically the most budget-friendly choice for a Detroit to Wilmington move, but remember, you’ll be responsible for all the heavy lifting, packing, and driving on your own.
If you’re moving from a studio or one-bedroom place with a rental truck, expect to pay between $446 and $814. For a two- or three-bedroom move, costs usually range from $495 to $987. If you’re tackling a four-bedroom or bigger move, your rental truck will likely run between $618 and $1,143.
Estimated fuel costs are already factored into these quotes.
Major factors affecting moving costs from Detroit to Wilmington
The cost of Detroit movers will depend on:
- Move size: The cost of your move depends on how much you’re bringing. A one-bedroom from Detroit to Wilmington might be as low as $1,763, while a four-bedroom could reach $6,518.
- When you move: Moving in summer often costs more, since it’s the busiest season for movers in Detroit.
- DIY moves vs. full-service help: Truck rentals cost less — around $446 to $1,126 — but you’ll handle all the labor vs. letting professionals do it.
What to know before moving from Detroit to Wilmington
Expect a bump in monthly expenses after the move – Wilmington runs about 41% higher for singles and -35% higher for families than Detroit.
Singles spend around $3,533 in Detroit versus $2,500 in Detroit; families pay $4,350 compared with $6,687.
Dig into the side-by-side details here:
| Detroit | Wilmington | |
|---|---|---|
| Average 1 BR rent | $1,325 | $1,933 |
| Average 3 BR rent | $2,542 | $3,200 |
| Average home value | $73,156 | $307,799 |
| Average income (per capita) | $37,761 | $49,354 |
| Cost of living (single) | $2,500 | $3,533 |
| Cost of living (family of four) | $6,687 | $4,350 |
| Unemployment rate | 9.06% | 10.3% |
| Sales tax | 6.0% | 0.0% |
| State income tax | 4.25% | 6.6% |
- Consider this before moving: Rent can be about 45% higher in Wilmington than in Detroit, which may impact your monthly finances.
- A larger mortgage budget will be necessary since home prices are about 321% higher in Wilmington than in Detroit.
- Exciting news here, the average income is about 31% higher in Wilmington than in Detroit, so you should have more to save or invest each month.
- Anticipate increased living expenses in Wilmington, as the cost of living for a single person in Wilmington is 41% greater than in Detroit. This covers typical expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transport.
- Relocating to Wilmington could provide savings on routine expenses for your family, including transportation, utilities, and groceries. The cost of living for a family is 35% lower than in Detroit.
- The unemployment rate in Wilmington exceeds that of Detroit by about 14%, resulting in a larger pool of potential workers and thus more hiring competition.
- Wilmington has no sales tax, so you’ll save money on every taxable purchase compared to Detroit. This can be especially helpful if you make frequent or larger purchases.
- Income taxes are 55% higher in Delaware than in Michigan. This means a larger portion of your earnings will go to state taxes, potentially reducing your take-home pay.
Take a detailed look at how everyday expenses stack up between Detroit and Wilmington, from monthly bills to routine purchases:
| Living Expense | Detroit | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Basic utilities | $251.12 | $126.92 |
| Cell phone plan | $55.77 | $44.10 |
| Dozen eggs | $3.52 | $3.05 |
| Loaf of bread | $2.94 | $3.56 |
| Fast-food/casual eatery (one meal) | $18.00 | $16.00 |
| Dinner for 2 (mid-range restaurant) | $68.50 | $72.50 |
| Gym membership | $43.00 | $33.50 |
- Basic utilities tend to be more expensive in Detroit than in Wilmington.
- Cell phone plans typically cost more in Detroit than in Wilmington.
- Eggs cost more in Detroit than in Wilmington.
- Bread costs less in Detroit than in Wilmington.
- A quick meal tends to cost more in Detroit than in Wilmington.
- A mid-range dinner for two costs less in Detroit than in Wilmington.
- Gym memberships cost more in Detroit than in Wilmington.
How life is different in Detroit vs. Wilmington
| Detroit | Wilmington | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 639,111 | 70,898 |
| Transportation score | 7 | 6 |
| Walkability score | 51 | 74 |
| Bike friendliness score | 52 | 52 |
| Crime index | 72.92 | 67.32 |
| Safety index | 27.08 | 32.68 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
- Wilmington’s population is about 89% less than Detroit.
- Wilmington’s public transportation score of 6 out of 10 is lower than Detroit’s score of 7.
- Wilmington is more walkable than Detroit with a score of 74 out of 100 vs Detroit’s 51 out of 100.
- Both Wilmington and Detroit have similar bike-friendliness scores (52 vs 52), meaning Wilmington is about as safe for cyclists as Detroit. Typically, cities with scores of 20 or higher are seen as reasonably safe, though higher scores mean better cycling accessibility.
- Wilmington’s crime rate is lower than Detroit with a score of 67.32 compared to Detroit’s 72.92. This means that Wilmington neighborhoods are safer than 67.32% of all U.S. neighborhoods, and Detroit neighborhoods are safer than 72.92%.
- Wilmington is considered to be safer than Detroit with a safety index of 32.68 vs Detroit’s 27.08.
- Air quality in Wilmington is Good, and in Detroit it’s Good.
Other things to consider for your Detroit to Wilmington move
- HOA rules: To keep things running smoothly, make sure you’re familiar with any HOA or community moving policies before the big day.
- Elevator reservation: If there is an elevator in your building, it’s a good idea to secure a reservation before your moving day.
- Truck parking permits: Research parking requirements in your destination city to ensure your truck won’t run into restrictions.
- State licensing: Movers headquartered in Delaware that offer local and intrastate moving services don’t need to be licensed. Still, they must comply with Delaware Department of Transportation (DDOT) regulations on insurance and commercial vehicle safety. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State regulator: You can check the status of a Delaware moving license through the state’s public utilities commission.
- Moving Permits: You won’t need a moving permit in Delaware, though it’s smart to double-check any local parking restrictions ahead of your move.
- Change of address: We recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least one week before your move to ensure your mail gets forwarded to Wilmington without delay. You can select your official move date when completing the form. Start the process here.
- Moving company insurance: State laws differ on mover insurance. Selecting Released Value Protection is a cost-effective choice, provided at no extra charge by movers, even though it offers limited coverage. Within this option, the mover’s responsibility is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. If you’re concerned about the value of your possessions and require more extensive coverage, consider discussing alternative options with the moving company you’ve chosen or explore third-party insurance providers. Ensure comprehensive protection for your belongings during the move by exploring these additional coverage choices.
- Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you’ve got everything covered.
Where to live in Wilmington
Ready to relocate to Chemical Capital of the World? Here are some of the top neighborhoods to consider in Wilmington.
Best neighborhoods for singles
- Trolley Square
- Happy Valley
- Midtown Brandywine
- Delaware Avenue
- Trinity Vicinity
Best neighborhoods for families
- Forty Acres
- Happy Valley
- Trolley Square
- Lower Highlands
- Wawaset Park/Wawaset Heghts
Things to do in Wilmington
Now that you’ve made the move to Delaware, it’s the perfect time to explore Wilmington. From local hotspots to hidden gems, there’s something to enjoy for every lifestyle:
- Arts and culture: Cultural attractions in Wilmington include museums and art centers like the Nemours Estate, Hagley Museum And Library, Delaware Children’s Museum, and Delaware Art Museum.
- Outdoor recreation: Outdoor lovers will appreciate Bellevue State Park, Brandywine Park, Rockford Park & Tower, and Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park, along with many other spots perfect for walking, cycling, and fresh air adventures.
- Sports: Catch a live game and cheer on the home team at an Delaware Blue Coats (NBA G League)Wilmington Blue Rocks (MiLB)Delaware Black Foxes (USARL)Bearfight FC of Wilmington (USASA) game.
FAQ
When is the best time to move from Detroit to Wilmington?
Spring and fall are the ideal times to move from Detroit to Wilmington. You’ll benefit from more comfortable weather and avoid the higher prices that come with peak moving season in Detroit.
When is the cheapest time to move from Detroit to Wilmington?
With many people choosing to move from Detroit to Wilmington in spring or fall, winter moves often come with better rates. Take a look at our moving discounts guide to find out how to save.
How long does a move from Detroit to Wilmington take?
Covering 576 miles, the move from Detroit, MI to Wilmington, typically takes one to six days. Some Detroit movers may offer faster options, and if your timing is flexible, storage services in Wilmington can help bridge the gap.
Do movers in Detroit offer any discounts?
Many do — and the types of discounts available can help you cut costs. 2 movers provide military discounts. 2 movers extend senior citizen discounts.
Because offers change, confirm details with your mover to make sure you’re getting the most out of available deals.
How many movers in Detroit can handle specialty items for my move to Wilmington?
Specialty moving services aren’t offered by every company. In Detroit, 22 movers can handle pianos. 8 offer antique moving services. Compared to the rest of MI, there are 51 piano movers and 19 antique movers, while nationwide the numbers are 2,303 and 1,466 respectively.
If you need these services, it’s best to book early — availability can be limited, especially during peak moving months.
Helpful moving resources
Detroit moving services
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