($659+) St. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL Movers
Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Tampa, FL, runs anywhere from $680 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,907 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,008 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 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 $2,123, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $7,907 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,268 - $4,231, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $680 - $1,999.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Louis, MO, to Tampa, FL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,488 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. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL
Moving options from St. Louis to Tampa fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. The most hands-off option, full-service, runs $2,488 - $6,532 for a 2-3 bedroom home and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers cost about 30% less than full-service for the same size, and rental trucks land around 60% less, with both DIY options requiring you to load yourself. Covering 1,008 miles, this route usually takes 2 to 8 days from pickup to delivery.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,008-mile route from St. Louis to Tampa, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $2,123 - $4,827, container $1,268 - $2,133, rental truck $680 - $1,316, freight trailer $1,152 - $2,081.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $2,488 - $6,532, container $1,538 - $3,091, rental truck $771 - $1,564, freight trailer $1,293 - $2,373.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $4,077 - $7,907, container $2,159 - $4,231, rental truck $931 - $1,999, freight trailer $1,659 - $3,417.
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. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL
A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,008-mile move from St. Louis, Missouri, to Tampa, Florida, with prices running from $2,123 - $7,907. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $276 - $1,840 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between St. Louis and Tampa are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, St. Louis movers tend to run around $247 as a base rate plus $145/hour per mover, for comparison.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from St. Louis to Tampa:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,123 - $4,827
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,488 - $6,532
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,077 - $7,907
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. Louis to Tampa.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Missouri to Florida. 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 St. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL
Specialty needs vary by market — 86% of St. Louis movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Tampa, 93% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing93% of local movers | $460 - $4,600 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready86% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $184 - $1,104/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $276 - $2,208 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage36% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs86% of local movers | $920 - $2,760 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,300 - $9,200 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $689 - $1,309 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items36% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $920 - $2,300 |
| Piano | Any piano type64% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Arch Moving | $736 - $3,220 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling21% of local movers | $276 - $1,380 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect14% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $598 - $1,840 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $276 - $13,800+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $276 - $3,220+ |
What are the best full-service movers from St. Louis to Tampa?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Professional Movers Association of Florida is a good first thing to confirm.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in St. Louis, MO. 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 St. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL
Moving containers from St. Louis, Missouri, to Tampa, Florida, cost between $1,268 and $4,231. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in St. Louis typically runs around $90/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from St. Louis to Tampa:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,268 - $2,133
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,538 - $3,091
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,159 - $4,231
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. Louis, MO, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $644, 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 $69 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $138 per month.
- Access: Most major container companies serve both St. Louis, MO, and Tampa, FL, 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 Missouri to Florida 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 $1,268. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,538 - $3,091, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers St. Louis to Tampa?
- 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. Louis 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. Louis:
- Arch Moving (4.7/5), 23 years in business
- ABC Quality Moving & Storage (4.6/5), 37 years in business
- Simple Moves (4.7/5), 25 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from St. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL
Renting a moving truck for the 1,008-mile move from St. Louis, Missouri, to Tampa, Florida, costs between $680 and $1,999, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $295 - $337
- Daily insurance: $28/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $18
- St. Louis daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.99
| 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. Louis to Tampa based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $680 - $1,316
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $771 - $1,564
- 4+ bedrooms: $931 - $1,999
Pro tip: A rental truck from St. Louis to Tampa looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $680 - $1,999. But once you factor in fuel ($295 - $337) , overnight lodging ($138/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate suggests. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $69 and $322.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $138.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $295 and $337 for the 1,008-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $644 for 2 movers in St. Louis, Missouri, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Louis to Tampa?
- 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. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL
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 St. Louis, Missouri, to Tampa, Florida. 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 $1,293 and $2,373.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Louis to Tampa:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,152 - $2,081
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,293 - $2,373
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,659 - $3,417
Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $69 - $138 to your final bill.
- Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
- Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in St. Louis, Missouri, typically costs $644.
What are the best freight companies from St. Louis to Tampa?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.
- Flanagan-White Delivery, Inc. (4.42/5 stars): Flanagan-White Delivery, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Local ownership translates to accessible support staff and facilities based in the communities they serve, giving customers more direct communication than they'd typically get from a national-only freight network.
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 Tampa 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: St. Louis, MO vs Tampa, FL
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Tampa, side by side with St. Louis on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | St. Louis, MO | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 84 | 104 |
| Average rent | $1,250/mo | $1,930/mo |
| Median home value | $180,206 | $372,114 |
| Average income | $55,279/yr | $71,302/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3% | 5.0% |
| State income tax | Up to 4.8% | None |
| Walkability score | 66/100 | 51/100 |
| Safety index | 30.35/100 | 53.85/100 |
| Air quality | Moderate | 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 Tampa, FL to St. Louis, MO guide.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from Missouri to Florida, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors. We track 54 movers in Missouri, so you have real options to compare for this 1,008-mile move.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 1,008-mile route from St. Louis, MO, to Tampa, FL, run $2,123 - $7,907 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,268 - $4,231, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $680 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,488, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Bloomin' Brands and Sykes Enterprises.
FAQs: Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Tampa, FL
What are the best neighborhoods in Tampa?
For families, Bayshore Beautiful, Bayshore Gardens, and Beach Park are worth a look in Tampa. If you're moving solo or without kids, Channel District, Courier City-Oscawana, and Downtown tend to be popular picks instead.
How walkable is Tampa?
Tampa has a walkability score of 51 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 51, compared to 66 and 58 in St. Louis. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
Is Tampa a safe place to live?
Tampa has a safety index of 53.85 out of 100 and a crime index of 46.15, compared to 30.35 and 69.65 in St. Louis. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from St. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL?
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 is the best time of year to move from St. Louis, MO to Tampa, FL?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. Florida also has a hurricane season running June through November, worth factoring into your timing if you have flexibility. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
What percentage of St. Louis movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 64% of movers in St. Louis handle piano moves, and 36% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
