($464+) Missoula, MT to Salt Lake City, UT Movers
Moving from Missoula, MT, to Salt Lake City, UT, runs anywhere from $445 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,963 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 523 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 $1,567, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $9,963 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,094 - $3,482, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $445 - $1,229.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Missoula, MT, to Salt Lake City, UT. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,696 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 Missoula, MT to Salt Lake City, UT
There are 3 main ways to move from Missoula to Salt Lake City: 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 $2,696 - $7,028. 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 1 to 6 days for this 523-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 523-mile route from Missoula to Salt Lake City, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $1,567 for a studio up to $9,963 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,094 - $3,482 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $445 - $1,229, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $917 - $2,621, 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 August 31, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Missoula, MT to Salt Lake City, UT
Full-service movers for the 523-mile relocation from Missoula, Montana, to Salt Lake City, Utah, cost between $1,567 and $9,963. 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 $349 - $2,324, 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 Missoula typically charge a base rate around $342 plus $150 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Missoula to Salt Lake City:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,567 - $5,316
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,696 - $7,028
- 4+ bedrooms: $5,054 - $9,963
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 Missoula to Salt Lake City.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Montana to Utah. 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.
Add-ons and specialty services from Missoula, MT to Salt Lake City, UT
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost (Missoula to Salt Lake City) |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | You want the crew to box everything | $581 - $5,810 |
| Storage in transit | Your new place is not ready on arrival | $232 - $1,394/mo |
| Shuttle fee | A full-size truck cannot reach the door | $349 - $2,789 |
| Full-value protection | Coverage beyond the default $0.60/lb | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Shipments under about 2,000 lbs | $1,162 - $3,486 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,905 - $11,620 |
| Car shipping | Moving a second vehicle | $870 - $1,654 |
| Antiques & fine art | Climate control and white-glove handling | $1,162 - $2,905 |
| Piano | Upright, baby grand, or grand | $930 - $4,067 |
| Pool table | Disassembly and professional re-leveling | $349 - $1,743 |
| Hot tub | 500 - 900 lb units with electrical disconnect | $755 - $2,324 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled, vibration-safe transport | $349 - $17,430+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or VIP concierge | $349 - $4,067+ |
| Basic utilities | Ongoing monthly cost in Salt Lake City | $183/mo |
| Internet | Ongoing monthly cost in Salt Lake City | $83/mo |
| Cell phone plan | Ongoing monthly cost in Salt Lake City | $67/mo |
What are the best full-service movers from Missoula to Salt Lake City?
Movers licensed to operate in Utah are typically members of the , 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 movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Missoula, MT. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.
Moving container costs from Missoula, MT to Salt Lake City, UT
Moving containers from Missoula, Montana, to Salt Lake City, Utah, cost between $1,094 and $3,482. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Salt Lake City. If you go over that window, storage in Missoula adds around $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Missoula to Salt Lake City:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,094 - $2,019
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,402 - $2,761
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,865 - $3,482
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Access: Most major container brands operate in both Missoula, MT and Salt Lake City, UT. Still, double-check that a nearby facility is available if you need to access your belongings before delivery.
- Moving labor: Because containers are self-loaded, many customers hire hourly help. Two movers for about 5 hours typically cost around $813 in Missoula, MT, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $87 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $174 for larger ones (12 - 16 feet).
- Added contents protection: For more coverage beyond the standard minimum, full-value protection is the typical upgrade, generally 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value. On a $50,000 household, that's roughly $500 - $1,000 as a one-time fee.
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 $1,094. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,402 - $2,761, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Missoula to Salt Lake City?
- PODS (4.8/5 stars): PODS is best for nationwide coverage. It runs the widest service network of any container company, with secure month-to-month storage and steel-frame containers you load on your own schedule.
- Units Moving & Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars): Units is best for locally owned service. Their steel containers come in multiple sizes that fit tight driveways, and locally owned branches mean you reach a live support team that knows your area.
- 1-800-Pack-Rat: 1-800-Pack-Rat is best for weatherproof storage. Their all-steel containers hold up well in transit and long storage windows, with flexible month-to-month terms when your move-in date slips.
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 Missoula 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 Missoula:
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.5/5), 9 years in business
- All Lanes Moving & Storage (5.0/5), 26 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Missoula, MT to Salt Lake City, UT
Truck rentals from Missoula, Montana, to Salt Lake City, Utah, range from $445 - $1,229 for the 523-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $193 - $221
- Daily insurance: $35/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $23
- Missoula daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.99 - $1.09
| 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 Missoula to Salt Lake City based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $445 - $913
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $504 - $1,082
- 4+ bedrooms: $648 - $1,229
Pro tip: A rental truck from Missoula to Salt Lake City looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $445 - $1,229. But once you factor in fuel ($193 - $221) , overnight lodging ($174/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate suggests. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Missoula, Montana, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $813.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $193 - $221 for the 523-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 $70 and $378, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $174 per night for hotel stops on the 523-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $349 - $523.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Missoula to Salt Lake City?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars): Budget Truck Rental is the best value rental on this list. Budget undercuts most competitors on base rates and layers in discounts for online bookings, AAA membership, and military service.
- Penske Truck Rental (4/5 stars): Penske Truck Rental is the most reliable option here. Their newer fleet, unlimited mileage on one-way moves, and 24/7 roadside assistance make Penske the choice when breakdown risk is the bigger concern than cost.
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars): U-Haul Truck Rental offers the best availability. U-Haul operates more than 23,000 locations and offers 7 truck sizes, giving it the largest pickup network and the broadest accommodation for last-minute or one-way moves.
Freight trailer costs from Missoula, MT to Salt Lake City, UT
Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Missoula, Montana, to Salt Lake City, Utah. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.
Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. Most long-distance moves using this method run roughly between $1,121 and $2,039.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Missoula to Salt Lake City:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $917 - $1,799
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,121 - $2,039
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,523 - $2,621
Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Missoula, Montana, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $813.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $87 - $174 per additional foot to your total.
- Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.
What are the best freight companies from Missoula to Salt Lake City?
- 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.
- Jones Bros Trucking (4.54/5 stars): Jones Bros Trucking 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: Freight trailers are one of the fastest ways to move your belongings interstate, often beating full-service movers on delivery time. If getting your stuff to Salt Lake City quickly is a priority, freight is worth a hard look. That said, freight carriers typically require you to be available to receive your shipment within a set window, so if you need short-term storage or your new place won't be ready right away, a container or full-service mover may give you more flexibility.
Cost of living: Missoula, MT vs Salt Lake City, UT
There's not a big cost-of-living gap between Missoula and Salt Lake City to plan around. Cost of living index: 113 vs. 121. Average rent: $1,322/mo vs. $1,495/mo. The bigger factor in your budget is the one-time cost of the move itself, covered above. Walkability: 45 vs. 59. Safety index: 66.73 vs. 65.36.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Salt Lake City, UT to Missoula, MT guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 740 real quotes from Missoula, MT to Salt Lake City, UT, 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. Montana alone has 11 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 523-mile move like this one.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Missoula, MT, to Salt Lake City, UT, 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 $1,567 - $9,963 on the 523-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,094 - $3,482 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $445 - $1,229 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,696 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 Intermountain Healthcare and Alsco.
FAQs: Moving from Missoula, MT, to Salt Lake City, UT
How long does a move from Missoula, MT to Salt Lake City, UT take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, 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 are the best neighborhoods in Salt Lake City?
For families, East Bench, Greater Avenues, and Liberty Wells are worth a look in Salt Lake City. If you're moving solo or without kids, Capitol Hill, Central City, and East Bench tend to be popular picks instead.
What is the cheapest way to move from Missoula, MT to Salt Lake City, UT?
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 $504 - $1,082. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
Is Salt Lake City a safe place to live?
Salt Lake City has a safety index of 65.36 out of 100 and a crime index of 34.64, compared to 66.73 and 33.27 in Missoula. 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.
