($545+) Kansas City, MO to Knoxville, TN Movers
Moving from Kansas City, MO, to Knoxville, TN, runs anywhere from $556 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,876 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 730 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 $1,594, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $7,876 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,040 - $3,408, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $556 - $1,549.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Kansas City, MO, to Knoxville, TN. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,206 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 Kansas City, MO to Knoxville, TN
There are 3 main ways to move from Kansas City to Knoxville: 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 $2,206 - $6,073. Containers cost roughly 30% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 60% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option. At 730 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 730-mile route from Kansas City to Knoxville, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $1,594 for a studio up to $7,876 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,040 - $3,408 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $556 - $1,549, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $936 - $2,870, 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 September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Kansas City, MO to Knoxville, TN
Full-service movers for the 730-mile relocation from Kansas City, Missouri, to Knoxville, Tennessee, cost between $1,594 and $7,876. 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 $269 - $1,792, 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 Kansas City typically charge a base rate around $251 plus $113 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Kansas City to Knoxville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,594 - $4,608
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,206 - $6,073
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,095 - $7,876
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 Kansas City to Knoxville.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Missouri to Tennessee. 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 Kansas City, MO to Knoxville, TN
Specialty needs vary by market — 72% of Kansas City movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Knoxville, 67% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $448 - $4,480 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready72% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Bellhop Moving | $179 - $1,075/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $269 - $2,150 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage32% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs52% of local movers | $896 - $2,688 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,240 - $8,960 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $671 - $1,275 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items60% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Moving Proz | $896 - $2,240 |
| Piano | Any piano type64% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Moving Proz | $717 - $3,136 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling32% of local movers | $269 - $1,344 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect28% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Moving Proz | $582 - $1,792 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $269 - $13,440+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $269 - $3,136+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Kansas City to Knoxville?
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in Kansas City, 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 Kansas City, MO to Knoxville, TN
Moving containers from Kansas City, Missouri, to Knoxville, Tennessee, cost between $1,040 and $3,408. 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 Kansas City costs roughly $75/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Kansas City to Knoxville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,040 - $1,970
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,420 - $2,841
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,846 - $3,408
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $67 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $134 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Knoxville, TN, 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 $627 in Kansas City, 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 Tennessee 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 $1,040. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,420 - $2,841, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Kansas City to Knoxville?
- 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 Kansas City 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 Kansas City:
- Moving Proz (4.9/5), 10 years in business
- Bellhop Moving (4.6/5), 15 years in business
- Metro Wide Movers, LLC (4.8/5), 14 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Kansas City, MO to Knoxville, TN
Truck rentals from Kansas City, Missouri, to Knoxville, Tennessee, range from $556 - $1,549 for the 730-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $208 - $238
- Daily insurance: $27/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $18
- Kansas City 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 Kansas City to Knoxville based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $556 - $1,035
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $613 - $1,167
- 4+ bedrooms: $758 - $1,549
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Kansas City to Knoxville starts at $556 - $1,549, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($208 - $238) , overnight lodging ($134/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for an additional $600 - $1,200 on top of your base rate to cover those costs.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Kansas City, Missouri, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $627.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $208 - $238 for the 730-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 $54 and $291, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $134 per night for hotel stops on the 730-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $269 - $403.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Kansas City to Knoxville?
- 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 Kansas City, MO to Knoxville, TN
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Kansas City, Missouri, to Knoxville, Tennessee. 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 $806 and $2,184.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Kansas City to Knoxville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $936 - $1,809
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,136 - $2,184
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,462 - $2,870
Pro tip: Freight trailers come with a 4-foot loading ramp, which can be a challenge with bulky furniture. With 8 feet of vertical space available, stacking efficiently often requires a ladder and a plan. Since you're billed per linear foot, packing tight can make a real difference in your final cost.
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 $67 - $134 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Kansas City, Missouri, for about five hours typically runs $627.
What are the best freight companies from Kansas City to Knoxville?
- 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.
- Material Transport Co (4.62/5 stars): Material Transport Co is our pick for best locally owned freight company. Their locally owned and operated facilities mean you work with support staff who know the route and the area, giving you more responsive scheduling than national-only carriers typically offer.
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: Kansas City, MO vs Knoxville, TN
Day-to-day costs in Knoxville are close to what you're used to in Kansas City: cost of living index of 92 versus 88, with average rent of $1,795/mo compared to $1,300/mo. Housing, income, and taxes are all in a similar range, so budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores are close too, at 35/100 and 42.6/100 in Kansas City versus 31/100 and 57.46/100 in Knoxville.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Knoxville, TN to Kansas City, MO guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Missouri to Tennessee in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 54 movers based in Missouri, handy for sizing up options on this 730-mile route.
Our take
The 730-mile move from Kansas City, MO, to Knoxville, TN, costs between $1,594 and $7,876 with full-service movers, $1,040 - $3,408 with a moving container, and $556 - $1,549 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $2,206 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Regal Cinemas Corp and Regal.
FAQs: Moving from Kansas City, MO, to Knoxville, TN
What is the cheapest way to move from Kansas City, MO to Knoxville, TN?
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 $613 - $1,167. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
Is Knoxville a safe place to live?
Knoxville has a safety index of 57.46 out of 100 and a crime index of 42.54, compared to 42.6 and 58.4 in Kansas City. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
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 is the best time of year to move from Kansas City, MO to Knoxville, TN?
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.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Tennessee?
Although a local license is not required in Tennessee, 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 percentage of Kansas City movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 64% of movers in Kansas City handle piano moves, and 60% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
