($978+) St. Paul, MN to Portland, ME Movers
Moving from St. Paul, MN, to Portland, ME, runs anywhere from $969 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $10,751 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,488 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 3 to 8 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 $2,337, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $10,751 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,419 - $5,057, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $969 - $2,618.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Paul, MN, to Portland, ME. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,296 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
Compare moving options from St. Paul, MN to Portland, ME
Moving options from St. Paul to Portland fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $3,296 - $6,994 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 60% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 1,488 miles and typically takes 3 to 8 days.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,488-mile route from St. Paul to Portland, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $2,337 - $5,460, container $1,419 - $2,606, rental truck $969 - $1,712, freight trailer $1,329 - $2,491.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $3,296 - $6,994, container $1,851 - $3,752, rental truck $1,067 - $2,208, freight trailer $1,540 - $2,942.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $5,488 - $10,751, container $2,518 - $5,057, rental truck $1,268 - $2,618, freight trailer $1,914 - $3,926.
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 St. Paul, MN to Portland, ME
Hiring full-service movers from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Portland, Maine, costs between $2,337 and $10,751. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 1,488-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $318 - $2,120, 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 St. Paul and Portland. For a rough baseline, movers based in St. Paul tend to start around $243 plus $100/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 St. Paul to Portland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,337 - $5,460
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,296 - $6,994
- 4+ bedrooms: $5,488 - $10,751
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 St. Paul to Portland.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Minnesota to Maine. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.
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Specialty moving services from St. Paul, MN to Portland, ME
Specialty needs vary by market — 91% of St. Paul movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Portland, 78% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $530 - $5,300 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready91% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $212 - $1,272/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $318 - $2,544 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage29% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs59% of local movers | $1,060 - $3,180 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,650 - $10,600 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $794 - $1,508 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items41% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Piepho Moving & Storage, Inc. | $1,060 - $2,650 |
| Piano | Any piano type76% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $848 - $3,710 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling21% of local movers | $318 - $1,590 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect12% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Piepho Moving & Storage, Inc. | $689 - $2,120 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $318 - $15,900+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $318 - $3,710+ |
What are the best full-service movers from St. Paul to Portland?
Movers licensed to operate in Maine are typically members of the Maine Motor Transport Association, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national van lines are the smarter financial choice over local movers in St. Paul, MN. Local companies can run 30% - 40% more at that range since they don't consolidate shipments the way interstate carriers do. If a direct, dedicated route with an average 2-day delivery appeals to you, a local mover could be worth it, but that convenience comes at a cost.
Moving container costs from St. Paul, MN to Portland, ME
Moving containers from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Portland, Maine, cost between $1,419 and $5,057. 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 St. Paul costs roughly $70/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from St. Paul to Portland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,419 - $2,606
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,851 - $3,752
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,518 - $5,057
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Because loading is on you with a container move, hourly labor help is a popular add-on. In St. Paul, MN, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $742, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: After the first month, ongoing rental fees kick in. A small container (7 - 8 feet) averages about $80 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $159 per month.
- Access: Most major container companies serve both St. Paul, MN, and Portland, ME, but confirm a facility is within reasonable distance if you need to retrieve items while in storage.
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection provides broader coverage than the standard liability in your contract. It typically costs 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on $50,000 worth of belongings.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Minnesota to Maine 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 $1,419. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,851 - $3,752, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers St. Paul to Portland?
- 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 St. Paul 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 St. Paul:
- College Muscle Movers, LLC (4.5/5), 19 years in business
- Premium Moving Services (4.5/5), 9 years in business
- Daymakers Moving & Storage (4.9/5), 8 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from St. Paul, MN to Portland, ME
A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 1,488 miles from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Portland, Maine, running $969 - $2,618. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:
- Fuel for the drive: $502 - $574
- Daily insurance: $32/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $21
- St. Paul daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- 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 St. Paul to Portland based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $969 - $1,712
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,067 - $2,208
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,268 - $2,618
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $969 - $2,618 does not include fuel ($502 - $574) , lodging ($159/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from St. Paul to Portland typically runs $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate alone.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Gas: Fuel adds $502 - $574 for the 1,488-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 St. Paul, Minnesota, for about 5 hours typically costs around $742.
- Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
- Lodging: The 1,488-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $159 per night, adding $318 - $477 in hotel costs total.
- Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $53 and $318.
What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Paul to Portland?
- 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 St. Paul, MN to Portland, ME
For larger DIY moves from St. Paul, Minnesota, 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 Portland, Maine.
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 $1,540 and $2,942.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Paul to Portland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,329 - $2,491
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,540 - $2,942
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,914 - $3,926
Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
- Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in St. Paul, Minnesota, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $742.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $80 and $159 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from St. Paul to Portland?
- 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.
- 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.
- T.A. Dedicated, Inc. (4.8/5 stars): T.A. Dedicated, 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.
Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from St. Paul to Portland. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: St. Paul, MN vs Portland, ME
There's not a big cost-of-living gap between St. Paul and Portland to plan around. Cost of living index: 102 vs. 112. Average rent: $1,350/mo vs. $1,991/mo. The bigger factor in your budget is the one-time cost of the move itself, covered above. Walkability: 60 vs. 62. Safety index: 49.14 vs. 67.84.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Portland, ME to St. Paul, MN guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Minnesota to Maine over the past 3 months, giving us some of the most up-to-date pricing data around. Running your move through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. There are 49 movers in our Minnesota network to compare for this 1,488-mile move.
Our take
The 1,488-mile move from St. Paul, MN, to Portland, ME, costs between $2,337 and $10,751 with full-service movers, $1,419 - $5,057 with a moving container, and $969 - $2,618 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $3,296 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include TD Banknorth Inc and Maine Medical Center.
FAQs: Moving from St. Paul, MN, to Portland, ME
What are some tips for saving money on a move from St. Paul, MN to Portland, ME?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
What do local movers charge in St. Paul?
Local movers based in St. Paul typically start around $243 as a base rate, plus $100/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 Portland run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How long does a move from St. Paul, MN to Portland, ME take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, 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 are the best neighborhoods in Portland?
For families, Deering Center, East End, and Rosemont are worth a look in Portland. If you're moving solo or without kids, East End, West End, and West Bayside tend to be popular picks instead.
What is the cheapest way to move from St. Paul, MN to Portland, ME?
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 $1,067 - $2,208. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What percentage of St. Paul movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 76% of movers in St. Paul handle piano moves, and 41% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.