($417+) St. Louis, MO to Detroit, MI Movers
Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Detroit, MI, runs anywhere from $417 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,714 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 529 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 6 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 $1,256, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,714 or more.
- Moving containers run $919 - $2,997, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $417 - $1,131.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Louis, MO, to Detroit, MI. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $1,966 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 Detroit, MI
There are 3 main ways to move from St. Louis to Detroit: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service is the most expensive but covers everything from labor to transportation, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route averaging $1,966 - $5,206. Containers cost roughly 35% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 78% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option. At 529 miles, expect 1 to 6 days in transit no matter which service you choose.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 529-mile route from St. Louis to Detroit, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,256 - $3,886 | $919 - $1,736 | $417 - $799 | $836 - $1,593 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $1,966 - $5,206 | $1,275 - $2,468 | $432 - $910 | $1,011 - $1,937 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,736 - $7,714 | $1,699 - $2,997 | $561 - $1,131 | $1,333 - $2,542 |
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. Louis, MO to Detroit, MI
Full-service movers for the 529-mile relocation from St. Louis, Missouri, to Detroit, Michigan, cost between $1,256 and $7,714. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $262 - $1,744, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in St. Louis typically charge a base rate around $247 plus $145 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from St. Louis to Detroit:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,256 - $3,886
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,966 - $5,206
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,736 - $7,714
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 Detroit.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Missouri to Michigan. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: The summer months (May - September) are the busiest time of year for movers during peak moving season, which drives up prices and limits scheduling options. If you can move in the fall or winter, you'll likely find better rates and more flexibility.
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Specialty moving services from St. Louis, MO to Detroit, MI
Specialty needs vary by market: 68% of St. Louis movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Detroit, 59% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing71% of local movers | $436 - $4,360 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready68% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $174 - $1,046/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $262 - $2,093 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage13% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs67% of local movers | $872 - $2,616 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,180 - $8,720 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $653 - $1,241 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items31% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: McGuire Moving and Storage | $872 - $2,180 |
| Piano | Any piano type52% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $698 - $3,052 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling16% of local movers | $262 - $1,308 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect22% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $567 - $1,744 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $262 - $13,080+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $262 - $3,052+ |
What are the best full-service movers from St. Louis to Detroit?
Movers licensed to operate in Michigan are typically members of the Michigan Movers 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 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 Detroit, MI
Moving containers from St. Louis, Missouri, to Detroit, Michigan, cost between $919 and $2,997. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in St. Louis runs about $90/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from St. Louis to Detroit:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $919 - $1,736
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,275 - $2,468
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,699 - $2,997
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $65 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $131 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
- Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $610 in St. Louis, MO, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
- Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Detroit, MI, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Missouri to Michigan 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 $919. 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 $1,275 - $2,468.
What are the best moving containers St. Louis to Detroit?
- 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:
- Simple Moves (4.7/5), 25 years in business
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.8/5), 32 years in business
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5), 14 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from St. Louis, MO to Detroit, MI
Truck rentals from St. Louis, Missouri, to Detroit, Michigan, range from $417 - $1,131 for the 529-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $147 - $168
- Daily insurance: $26/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $17
- 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 Detroit based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $417 - $799
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $432 - $910
- 4+ bedrooms: $561 - $1,131
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from St. Louis to Detroit starts at $417 - $1,131, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($147 - $168), overnight lodging ($131/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for roughly $600 - $1,200 more on top of fuel and lodging to cover meals, equipment, and other extras.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $131 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 $57 and $283 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $147 - $168 in fuel for the 529-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $610 in St. Louis, Missouri, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Louis to Detroit?
- 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 Detroit, MI
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from St. Louis, Missouri, to Detroit, Michigan, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.
What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Pricing for a 2 - 3 bedroom move of this distance typically lands between $1,011 and $1,937.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Louis to Detroit:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $836 - $1,593
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,011 - $1,937
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,333 - $2,542
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 $65 - $131 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in St. Louis, Missouri, for about five hours typically runs $610.
What are the best freight companies from St. Louis to Detroit?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from St. Louis to Detroit, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.
Cost of living: St. Louis, MO vs Detroit, MI
Day-to-day costs in Detroit are close to what you're used to in St. Louis: cost of living index of 92 versus 84, with average rent of $1,250/mo compared to $1,250/mo. With an index gap that small, budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. For reference, walkability and safety scores are 66/100 and 30.35/100 in St. Louis versus 51/100 and 27.08/100 in Detroit.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Detroit, MI to St. Louis, MO guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Missouri to Michigan 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 138 movers in our Missouri network to compare for this 529-mile move.
Our take
A move from St. Louis, MO, to Detroit, MI, 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 $1,256 - $7,714 on the 529-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $919 - $2,997, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $417 - $1,131. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $1,966 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 General Motors and Henry Ford Health System.
FAQs: Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Detroit, MI
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($147 - $168), daily insurance ($26/day), and equipment rentals ($6 - $17) on top. Overnight stops can add another $131/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
What is the cheapest way to move from St. Louis, MO to Detroit, MI?
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 $432 - $910. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
How much does it cost to move from St. Louis, MO to Detroit, MI?
Costs on this route range from around $417 to $7,714, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,256 and $7,714, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
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 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
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 Detroit run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
What percentage of St. Louis movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 52% of movers in St. Louis handle piano moves, and 31% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.