($605+) St. Louis, MO to Philadelphia, PA Movers
Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Philadelphia, PA, runs anywhere from $605 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,829 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 885 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 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 $1,827, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,829 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,118 - $3,834, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $605 - $1,537.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Louis, MO, to Philadelphia, PA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,422 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 Philadelphia, PA
There are 3 main ways to move from St. Louis to Philadelphia: 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 $2,422 - $5,680. Containers cost roughly 39% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 74% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option. At 885 miles, expect 2 to 7 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 885-mile route from St. Louis to Philadelphia, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $1,827 for a studio up to $7,829 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,118 - $3,834 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $605 - $1,537, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $938 - $3,068, billed by the space you actually use.
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 Philadelphia, PA
For the 885-mile move from St. Louis, Missouri, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, full-service movers cost between $1,827 and $7,829. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $276 - $1,840 (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 Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,827 - $4,309
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,422 - $5,680
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,906 - $7,829
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 Philadelphia.
Pro tip: Demand for full-service movers surges during peak moving season from May - September, pushing prices higher. Shifting your move to a cooler month could save you a meaningful amount on your total bill.
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Specialty moving services from St. Louis, MO to Philadelphia, PA
Specialty needs vary by market: 68% of St. Louis movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Philadelphia, 55% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing71% of local movers | $460 - $4,600 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready68% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $184 - $1,104/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $276 - $2,208 |
| 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 | $920 - $2,760 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,300 - $9,200 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $689 - $1,309 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items31% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: McGuire Moving and Storage | $920 - $2,300 |
| Piano | Any piano type52% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $736 - $3,220 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling16% of local movers | $276 - $1,380 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect22% of local movers9% 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 Philadelphia?
Pennsylvania Moving & Storage Associates membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in Pennsylvania, 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.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national van lines are the smarter financial choice over local movers in St. Louis, MO. 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. Louis, MO to Philadelphia, PA
Moving containers from St. Louis, Missouri, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, cost between $1,118 and $3,834. With a moving container, you load on your own schedule. U-Haul gives you 3 days to fill yours, while PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're ready, the company transports it straight to your new place. Need more time first? Storage in St. Louis typically costs about $90/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from St. Louis to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,118 - $1,989
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,481 - $2,872
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,916 - $3,834
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $69 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $138 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Philadelphia, PA, 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 $644 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 Pennsylvania 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 $1,118. 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 $1,481 - $2,872.
What are the best moving containers St. Louis to Philadelphia?
- 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 Philadelphia, PA
Plan on $605 - $1,537 for a rental moving truck on the 885-mile route from St. Louis, Missouri, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:
- Fuel for the drive: $259 - $296
- 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 Philadelphia based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $605 - $1,143
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $634 - $1,278
- 4+ bedrooms: $779 - $1,537
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from St. Louis to Philadelphia starts at $605 - $1,537, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($259 - $296), overnight lodging ($138/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 $138 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 $60 and $299 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $259 - $296 in fuel for the 885-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $644 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 Philadelphia?
- 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 Philadelphia, PA
If you're moving a larger household from St. Louis, Missouri, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. A 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route typically falls between $1,094 and $2,320.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Louis to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $938 - $1,771
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,094 - $2,320
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,548 - $3,068
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?
- 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 Philadelphia?
- 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: If speed matters on your move from St. Louis to Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, PA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Philadelphia, side by side with St. Louis on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | St. Louis, MO | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 84 | 104 |
| Average rent | $1,250/mo | $1,695/mo |
| Median home value | $180,206 | $231,098 |
| Average income | $55,279/yr | $60,698/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3% | 10.6% |
| State income tax | Up to 4.8% | Up to 3.07% |
| Walkability score | 66/100 | 75/100 |
| Safety index | 30.35/100 | 33.91/100 |
| 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 Philadelphia, PA to St. Louis, MO guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Missouri to Pennsylvania, so we know current pricing better than most. Checking our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates. Missouri alone has 138 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 885-mile move like this one.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from St. Louis, MO, to Philadelphia, PA, 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 $1,827 - $7,829 on the 885-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,118 - $3,834 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $605 - $1,537 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,422 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 Amtak and Comcast.
FAQs: Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Philadelphia, PA
How long does a move from St. Louis, MO to Philadelphia, PA take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 2 to 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are often one of the faster options outside of driving yourself, 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 is the best time of year to move from St. Louis, MO to Philadelphia, PA?
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. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from St. Louis, MO to Philadelphia, PA?
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.
Is Philadelphia a safe place to live?
Philadelphia has a safety index of 33.91 out of 100 and a crime index of 66.09, 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.
How walkable is Philadelphia?
Philadelphia has a walkability score of 75 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 67, 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 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.