($398+) St. Louis, MO to Knoxville, TN Movers
Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Knoxville, TN, runs anywhere from $398 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,437 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 485 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 4 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 $1,173, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,437 or more.
- Moving containers run $908 - $3,025, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $398 - $1,029.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Louis, MO, to Knoxville, TN. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $1,855 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 Knoxville, TN
There are 3 main ways to move from St. Louis 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 $1,855 - $5,185. Containers cost roughly 38% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 77% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option. At 485 miles, expect 1 to 4 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 485-mile route from St. Louis to Knoxville, broken down by home size:
- A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $1,173 - $3,668 with full-service movers, $908 - $1,642 with a container, $398 - $735 with a rental truck, or $817 - $1,537 by freight.
- A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $1,855 - $5,185 full-service, $1,150 - $2,334 by container, $428 - $915 by rental truck, or $950 - $1,922 by freight.
- A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $3,515 - $7,437 full-service, $1,499 - $3,025 by container, $554 - $1,029 by rental truck, or $1,212 - $2,256 by freight.
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 Knoxville, TN
Full-service movers for the 485-mile relocation from St. Louis, Missouri, to Knoxville, Tennessee, cost between $1,173 and $7,437. 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 Knoxville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,173 - $3,668
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,855 - $5,185
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,515 - $7,437
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 Knoxville.
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 Knoxville, TN
Specialty needs vary by market: 68% of St. Louis movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Knoxville, 76% 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 Knoxville?
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.
How much do local movers cost in St. Louis, MO?
Based on recent quotes for this route, a 2-bedroom move from St. Louis to Knoxville with a local mover averages $1,947 - $5,444. Shorter moves don't always call for a national van line, and local moving companies in St. Louis, MO often offer competitive pricing on nearby routes. Smaller crews and regional focus translate to lower overhead and more scheduling flexibility.
Just make sure they're properly licensed for interstate moves and equipped to handle the full distance.
ABC Quality Moving & Storage (4.72/5 stars) is a local mover in St. Louis, based on our analysis of feedback from 273 customers, 83.5% of which is positive.
Address: 3050 Armona Dr, St. Louis, MO, 63129 | Founded: 1989
Moving container costs from St. Louis, MO to Knoxville, TN
Moving containers from St. Louis, Missouri, to Knoxville, Tennessee, cost between $908 and $3,025. 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 Knoxville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $908 - $1,642
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,150 - $2,334
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,499 - $3,025
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $610 in St. Louis, MO. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
- Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $65 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $131 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
- Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Knoxville, TN, destination before booking.
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 $908. 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 $1,150 - $2,334.
What are the best moving containers St. Louis 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 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 Knoxville, TN
Truck rentals from St. Louis, Missouri, to Knoxville, Tennessee, range from $398 - $1,029 for the 485-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $135 - $154
- 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 Knoxville based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $398 - $735
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $428 - $915
- 4+ bedrooms: $554 - $1,029
Pro tip: The base rate of $398 - $1,029 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from St. Louis to Knoxville. Fuel ($135 - $154), lodging at around $131/night, meals, and equipment rentals are all on top of that.
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 $610.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $135 - $154 for the 485-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 $52 and $283, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $131 per night for hotel stops on the 485-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $262 - $392.
What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Louis 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 St. Louis, MO to Knoxville, TN
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from St. Louis, 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 $785 and $1,922.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Louis to Knoxville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $817 - $1,537
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $950 - $1,922
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,212 - $2,256
Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.
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 $65 - $131 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 $610.
What are the best freight companies from St. Louis to Knoxville?
- 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.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from St. Louis to Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, TN
There's not a big cost-of-living gap between St. Louis and Knoxville to plan around. Cost of living index: 84 vs. 92. Average rent: $1,250/mo vs. $1,795/mo. The bigger factor in your budget is the one-time cost of the move itself, covered above. Walkability: 66 vs. 31. Safety index: 30.35 vs. 57.46.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Knoxville, TN to St. Louis, MO guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Missouri to Tennessee 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 485-mile move.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from St. Louis, MO, to Knoxville, TN, 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 $1,173 - $7,437 on the 485-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $908 - $3,025 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $398 - $1,029 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $1,855 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 Regal Cinemas Corp and Regal.
FAQs: Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Knoxville, TN
What are some tips for saving money on a move from St. Louis, MO to Knoxville, TN?
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.
How much does it cost to move from St. Louis, MO to Knoxville, TN?
Costs on this route range from around $398 to $7,437, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,173 and $7,437, 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.
How walkable is Knoxville?
Knoxville has a walkability score of 31 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 30, 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 extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($135 - $154), 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.
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 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.