($870+) St. Louis, MO to Portland, ME Movers
Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Portland, ME, runs anywhere from $854 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,115 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,290 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 $2,228, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $9,115 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,371 - $4,629, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $854 - $2,271.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Louis, MO, to Portland, ME. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,867 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
Compare moving options from St. Louis, MO to Portland, ME
There are 3 main ways to move from St. Louis to Portland: 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 $2,867 - $6,730. Moving containers run about 30% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 60% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 3 to 8 days for this 1,290-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 1,290-mile route from St. Louis to Portland, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $2,228 - $5,363, container $1,371 - $2,575, rental truck $854 - $1,660, freight trailer $1,185 - $2,205.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $2,867 - $6,730, container $1,819 - $3,556, rental truck $905 - $1,995, freight trailer $1,372 - $2,706.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $4,684 - $9,115, container $2,372 - $4,629, rental truck $1,114 - $2,271, freight trailer $1,822 - $3,740.
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 Portland, ME
For the 1,290-mile move from St. Louis, Missouri, to Portland, Maine, full-service movers cost between $2,228 and $9,115. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $286 - $1,904 (1 - 5+ bedrooms), crews will pack your boxes. The weight of your shipment and the mileage between the two cities are what drive your final cost. For scale, local movers in St. Louis generally start around $247 plus $145 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from St. Louis to Portland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,228 - $5,363
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,867 - $6,730
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,684 - $9,115
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 Portland.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Missouri to Maine. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
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. Louis, MO to Portland, ME
Specialty needs vary by market — 86% of St. Louis 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 packing93% of local movers | $476 - $4,760 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready86% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $190 - $1,142/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $286 - $2,285 |
| 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 | $952 - $2,856 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,380 - $9,520 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $713 - $1,355 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items36% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $952 - $2,380 |
| Piano | Any piano type64% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Arch Moving | $762 - $3,332 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling21% of local movers | $286 - $1,428 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect14% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $619 - $1,904 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $286 - $14,280+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $286 - $3,332+ |
What are the best full-service movers from St. Louis to Portland?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Maine Motor Transport Association 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 carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in St. Louis, MO. 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 St. Louis, MO to Portland, ME
Moving containers from St. Louis, Missouri, to Portland, Maine, cost between $1,371 and $4,629. 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. Louis costs roughly $90/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from St. Louis to Portland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,371 - $2,575
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,819 - $3,556
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,372 - $4,629
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $71 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 Portland, ME, 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 $666 in St. Louis, MO. 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 Missouri 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 $1,371. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,819 - $3,556, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers St. Louis 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. 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 Portland, ME
Truck rentals from St. Louis, Missouri, to Portland, Maine, range from $854 - $2,271 for the 1,290-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $391 - $447
- Daily insurance: $29/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
- 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 Portland based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $854 - $1,660
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $905 - $1,995
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,114 - $2,271
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $854 - $2,271 when pricing out a rental truck from St. Louis to Portland. Fuel alone runs ($391 - $447) , and overnight lodging ($143/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend an additional $600 - $1,200 beyond the base rate by the time the move is done.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in St. Louis, Missouri, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $666.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $391 - $447 for the 1,290-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $57 and $309, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $143 per night for hotel stops on the 1,290-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $286 - $428.
What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Louis 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. Louis, MO to Portland, ME
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from St. Louis, Missouri, to Portland, Maine. 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 $857 and $2,706.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Louis to Portland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,185 - $2,205
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,372 - $2,706
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,822 - $3,740
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 $71 - $143 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in St. Louis, Missouri, for about five hours typically runs $666.
What are the best freight companies from St. Louis 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.
- Flanagan-White Delivery, Inc. (4.42/5 stars): Flanagan-White Delivery, 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 are a great option when you need your belongings in Portland 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: St. Louis, MO vs Portland, ME
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Portland, side by side with St. Louis on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | St. Louis, MO | Portland, ME |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 84 | 112 |
| Average rent | $1,250/mo | $1,991/mo |
| Median home value | $180,206 | $452,202 |
| Average income | $55,279/yr | $76,174/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3% | 5.2% |
| State income tax | Up to 4.8% | Up to 5.8% |
| Walkability score | 66/100 | 62/100 |
| Safety index | 30.35/100 | 67.84/100 |
| 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 Portland, ME to St. Louis, MO guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Missouri 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 54 movers in our Missouri network to compare for this 1,290-mile move.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from St. Louis, MO, to Portland, ME, 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 $2,228 - $9,115 on the 1,290-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,371 - $4,629 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $854 - $2,271 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,867 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 TD Banknorth Inc and Maine Medical Center.
FAQs: Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Portland, ME
How walkable is Portland?
Portland has a walkability score of 62 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 68, 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.
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.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Maine?
Although a local license is not required in Maine, make sure the moving company you’ll be hiring is registered with U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). To verify if you’re dealing with a legal and licensed mover, you may ask them their USDOT registration number.
What do local movers charge in St. Louis?
Local movers based in St. Louis typically start around $247 as a base rate, plus $145/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.
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 3 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 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.