($222+) Durham, NC to Chesapeake, VA Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from Durham, NC to Chesapeake, VA

Moving from Durham, NC, to Chesapeake, VA, runs anywhere from $203 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $4,842 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 184 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 2 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 $740, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $4,842 or more.
  • Moving containers run $762 - $2,474, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $203 - $516.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Durham, NC, to Chesapeake, VA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $1,362 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from Durham, NC to Chesapeake, VA

Moving options from Durham to Chesapeake fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $1,362 - $3,713 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 60% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 184 miles and typically takes 1 to 2 days.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 184-mile route from Durham to Chesapeake, broken down by home size:

  • Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $740 - $3,278, container $762 - $1,318, rental truck $203 - $362, freight trailer $722 - $1,311.
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $1,362 - $3,713, container $980 - $1,802, rental truck $235 - $432, freight trailer $817 - $1,547.
  • 4+ bedrooms: full-service $1,769 - $4,842, container $1,402 - $2,474, rental truck $273 - $516, freight trailer $1,068 - $1,924.

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.

Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental Truck
Budget Truck Rental
star star star star star 4.3 / 5
Read our full Budget review
Affordable pricing
Online estimates
Several discounts
Freight
MovingYourself
star star star star star 4.5 / 5
Read our full MovingYourself review
Fast delivery
Nationwide
100+ miles moves

Full-service moving costs from Durham, NC to Chesapeake, VA

Hiring full-service movers from Durham, North Carolina, to Chesapeake, Virginia, costs between $740 and $4,842. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 184-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $303 - $2,020, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Durham and Chesapeake. For a rough baseline, movers based in Durham tend to start around $240 plus $122/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Durham to Chesapeake:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $740 - $3,278
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,362 - $3,713
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,769 - $4,842

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 Durham to Chesapeake.

The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from North Carolina to Virginia. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.

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 Durham, NC to Chesapeake, VA

Specialty needs vary by market — 86% of Durham movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Chesapeake, 100% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing100% of local movers$505 - $5,050
Storage in transitNew place not ready86% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK$202 - $1,212/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$303 - $2,424
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage18% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs57% of local movers$1,010 - $3,030
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$2,525 - $10,100
Car shippingSecond vehicle$756 - $1,437
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items25% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Truckin' Movers Corporation$1,010 - $2,525
PianoAny piano type64% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK$808 - $3,535
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling29% of local movers$303 - $1,515
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect21% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Athens Moving Experts$657 - $2,020
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$303 - $15,150+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$303 - $3,535+

What are the best full-service movers from Durham to Chesapeake?

If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Virginia Movers & Warehousemen’s Association is a good first thing to confirm.

  1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
  2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
  3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.

How much do local movers cost in Durham, NC?

Based on recent quotes for this route, a 2-bedroom move from Durham to Chesapeake with a local mover averages $1,362 - $3,713. Working with a local mover based in Durham, NC often costs less than hiring a national carrier on routes under 500 miles. Shorter routes come with lower fuel overhead and simpler logistics, and local movers can offer more direct communication and quicker booking windows.

The tradeoff is that smaller companies may lack the infrastructure for longer hauls. Verify proper interstate licensing and relevant experience before signing anything.

Flex Moving & Storage (4.38/5 stars) is our preferred moving company in Durham, based on our analysis of feedback from 397 customers, 93.2% of which is positive.

Address: 4417 Hillsborough Rd, Durham, NC, 27705 | Founded: 2023

Moving container costs from Durham, NC to Chesapeake, VA

Moving containers from Durham, North Carolina, to Chesapeake, Virginia, cost between $762 and $2,474. 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 Chesapeake. If you go over that window, storage in Durham adds around $100/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Durham to Chesapeake:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $762 - $1,318
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $980 - $1,802
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,402 - $2,474

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $76 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $152 per month.
  • Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Chesapeake, VA, 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 $707 in Durham, NC. 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 North Carolina to Virginia 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 $762. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $980 - $1,802, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers Durham to Chesapeake?

  1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
  2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
  3. 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 Durham 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 Durham:

  • TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.7/5), 28 years in business
  • Truckin' Movers Corporation (4.9/5), 49 years in business
  • Bellhop Moving (4.1/5), 15 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from Durham, NC to Chesapeake, VA

A rental truck for this 184-mile move from Durham, North Carolina, to Chesapeake, Virginia, costs between $203 and $516. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

  • Fuel for the drive: $59 - $68
  • Daily insurance: $30/day
  • Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
  • Durham daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.89
Home sizeTypical truck size
Studio / 1 bedroom10 - 12 ft
2 - 3 bedrooms15 - 17 ft
4+ bedrooms20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel)

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Durham to Chesapeake based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $203 - $362
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $235 - $432
  • 4+ bedrooms: $273 - $516

Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Durham to Chesapeake starts at $203 - $516, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($59 - $68) , overnight lodging ($152/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?

  • Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
  • Lodging: Budget around $152 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
  • Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Durham, North Carolina, usually costs about $707 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
  • Gas: Fuel for the 184-mile drive falls between $59 and $68, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
  • Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $51 and $303 to your total.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Durham to Chesapeake?

  1. Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
  2. Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
  3. 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 Durham, NC to Chesapeake, VA

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 Durham, North Carolina, to Chesapeake, Virginia. 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 $817 and $1,547.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Durham to Chesapeake:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $722 - $1,311
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $817 - $1,547
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,068 - $1,924

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 $76 - $152 more per foot.
  • Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Durham, North Carolina, for about five hours typically runs $707.

What are the best freight companies from Durham to Chesapeake?

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Darrell Andrews Trucking, Inc. (4.5/5 stars): Darrell Andrews Trucking, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and based facilities mean accessible support staff and area-specific scheduling flexibility that national-only freight carriers typically don't match.

Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Durham to Chesapeake. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.

Cost of living: Durham, NC vs Chesapeake, VA

There's not a big cost-of-living gap between Durham and Chesapeake to plan around. Cost of living index: 99 vs. 104. Average rent: $1,699/mo vs. $1,800/mo. The bigger factor in your budget is the one-time cost of the move itself, covered above. Walkability: 30 vs. 21. Safety index: 45.28 vs. 70.88.

Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Chesapeake, VA to Durham, NC guide.

Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:

We've processed 10 real quotes from North Carolina to Virginia 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 117 movers in our North Carolina network to compare for this 184-mile move.

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Our take

How you handle your interstate move from Durham, NC, to Chesapeake, VA, 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 $740 - $4,842 on the 184-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $762 - $2,474 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $203 - $516 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $1,362 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 Dollar Tree and Chesapeake City Schools.

FAQs: Moving from Durham, NC, to Chesapeake, VA

How do I know a mover is licensed in Virginia?

In addition to filing tariffs and complying with insurance, bond, and highway safety requirements, all intrastate moving companies in Virginia must have a certificate from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (VaDMV).

What are the best neighborhoods in Chesapeake?

For families, Greenbrier, Great Bridge, and Hickory are worth a look in Chesapeake. If you're moving solo or without kids, Capital District, Central Office, and East Ghent tend to be popular picks instead.

How walkable is Chesapeake?

Chesapeake has a walkability score of 21 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 35, compared to 30 and 38 in Durham. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.

Is Chesapeake a safe place to live?

Chesapeake has a safety index of 70.88 out of 100 and a crime index of 25.0, compared to 45.28 and 54.72 in Durham. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.

What are some tips for saving money on a move from Durham, NC to Chesapeake, VA?

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.

What percentage of Durham movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 64% of movers in Durham handle piano moves, and 25% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.