($276+) St. Paul, MN to Madison, WI Movers
Moving from St. Paul, MN, to Madison, WI, runs anywhere from $276 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $5,928 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 258 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 4 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 $1,001, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $5,928 or more.
- Moving containers run $789 - $2,586, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $276 - $708.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Paul, MN, to Madison, WI. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $1,585 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 St. Paul, MN to Madison, WI
Moving options from St. Paul to Madison fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $1,585 - $4,729 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 80% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 258-mile route typically takes 1 to 4 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 258-mile route from St. Paul to Madison, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $1,001 - $3,599 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($789 - $1,476), rental truck ($276 - $502), or freight trailer ($785 - $1,380). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $1,585 - $4,729 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $5,928.
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 St. Paul, MN to Madison, WI
Hiring full-service movers from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Madison, Wisconsin, costs between $1,001 and $5,928. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 258-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $307 - $2,048, 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 Madison. 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 Madison:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,001 - $3,599
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,585 - $4,729
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,161 - $5,928
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 Madison.
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 St. Paul, MN to Madison, WI
Specialty needs vary by market: 69% of St. Paul movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Madison, 52% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing82% of local movers | $512 - $5,120 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready69% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $205 - $1,229/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $307 - $2,458 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage12% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs60% of local movers | $1,024 - $3,072 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,560 - $10,240 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $767 - $1,457 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items26% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $1,024 - $2,560 |
| Piano | Any piano type49% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $819 - $3,584 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling4% of local movers | $307 - $1,536 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect10% of local movers9% nationally | $666 - $2,048 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $307 - $15,360+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $307 - $3,584+ |
What are the best full-service movers from St. Paul to Madison?
Wisconsin Movers Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in Wisconsin, on top of the picks below.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing means no surprise charges on moving day, and their support team is consistently rated among the most responsive in the industry.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here, 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, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.
How much do local movers cost in St. Paul, MN?
Based on recent quotes for this route, a 2-bedroom move from St. Paul to Madison with a local mover averages $1,506 - $4,493. A local mover in St. Paul, MN is worth considering for moves under 500 miles. Short-distance moves don't always need the scale of a national carrier, and local companies can offer streamlined service, more flexible pickup windows, and a more personal approach to coordination.
Be sure to confirm interstate licensing, insurance coverage, and delivery expectations before booking.
Premium Moving Services (4.52/5 stars) is our preferred moving company in St. Paul, based on our analysis of feedback from 280 customers, 85.7% of which is positive.
Address: 949 Schaller Dr, S Maplewood, MN, 55119 | Founded: 2017
Moving container costs from St. Paul, MN to Madison, WI
Moving containers from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Madison, Wisconsin, cost between $789 and $2,586. 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 Madison:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $789 - $1,476
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,114 - $1,907
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,454 - $2,586
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 $717 in St. Paul, MN. 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 $154 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 Madison, WI, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Minnesota to Wisconsin 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 $789. 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 $1,114 - $1,907.
What are the best moving containers St. Paul to Madison?
- 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:
- Premium Moving Services (4.5/5), 9 years in business
- College Muscle Movers, LLC (4.5/5), 19 years in business
- Good Stuff Moving (4.8/5), 27 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from St. Paul, MN to Madison, WI
Renting a moving truck for the 258-mile move from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Madison, Wisconsin, costs between $276 and $708, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $84 - $96
- Daily insurance: $31/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
- 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 Madison based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $276 - $502
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $323 - $638
- 4+ bedrooms: $377 - $708
Pro tip: The base rate of $276 - $708 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from St. Paul to Madison. Fuel ($84 - $96), lodging at around $154/night, meals, and equipment rentals are all on top of that.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $154 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 $67 and $333 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $84 - $96 in fuel for the 258-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $717 in St. Paul, Minnesota, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Paul to Madison?
- 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 Madison, WI
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Madison, Wisconsin. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.
Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $922 and $1,653.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Paul to Madison:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $785 - $1,380
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $841 - $1,653
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,164 - $1,968
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?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In St. Paul, Minnesota, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $717.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $77 - $154 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 St. Paul to Madison?
- 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: One of the biggest advantages of freight trailers is speed. For an interstate move, freight delivery is one of the fastest options you have short of driving a rental truck yourself. It's a smart choice when your timeline is firm and you'll be ready to receive your shipment. If there's any chance your new place won't be ready or you need a few weeks of storage, a moving container with built-in storage may serve you better.
Cost of living: St. Paul, MN vs Madison, WI
St. Paul and Madison land in a similar range on everyday costs. The cost of living index sits at 102 in St. Paul and 103 in Madison, and average rent is $1,350/mo vs. $1,600/mo. With an index gap that small, you likely won't need to rework your monthly budget much after this move. For reference, walkability is 60 vs 50 and safety scores are 49.14 vs 65.43.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Madison, WI to St. Paul, MN guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Minnesota to Wisconsin 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 151 movers in our Minnesota network to compare for this 258-mile move.
Our take
A move from St. Paul, MN, to Madison, WI, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $1,001 - $5,928 on the 258-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $789 - $2,586, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $276 - $708. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $1,585 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Datex Ohmeda and American Family Insurance.
FAQs: Moving from St. Paul, MN, to Madison, WI
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 Madison run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Wisconsin?
Movers providing in-state relocation services in the Badger State must register with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), but strictly speaking, it’s not a regulated state. However, movers must comply with individual insurance, licensing, and other state laws and regulations.
What are the best neighborhoods in Madison?
For families, Dudgeon-Monroe, Hill Farms-University, and Maple-Prairie are worth a look in Madison. If you're moving solo or without kids, Madison, Shorewood Hills, and Middleton tend to be popular picks instead.
How walkable is Madison?
Madison has a walkability score of 50 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 66, compared to 60 and 64 in St. Paul. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
Is Madison a safe place to live?
Madison has a safety index of 65.43 out of 100 and a crime index of 34.57, compared to 49.14 and 50.86 in St. Paul. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What percentage of St. Paul movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 49% of movers in St. Paul handle piano moves, and 26% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.