($659+) Manchester, NH to Chicago, IL Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from Manchester, NH to Chicago, IL

Moving from Manchester, NH, to Chicago, IL, runs anywhere from $700 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,843 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,017 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 8 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 $2,492, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $9,843 or more.
  • Moving containers run $1,268 - $4,272, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $700 - $1,846.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Manchester, NH, to Chicago, IL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,070 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from Manchester, NH to Chicago, IL

Moving options from Manchester to Chicago fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $3,070 - $6,868 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 1,017-mile route typically takes 2 to 8 days door to door.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,017-mile route from Manchester to Chicago, broken down by home size:

Home size Full-service movers Moving container Rental truck Freight trailer
Studio / 1 bedroom $2,492 - $5,666 $1,268 - $2,291 $700 - $1,382 $1,152 - $1,980
2 - 3 bedrooms $3,070 - $6,868 $1,506 - $2,966 $711 - $1,564 $1,280 - $2,547
4+ bedrooms $5,079 - $9,843 $2,053 - $4,272 $903 - $1,846 $1,744 - $3,122

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 Manchester, NH to Chicago, IL

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,017-mile move from Manchester, New Hampshire, to Chicago, Illinois, with prices running from $2,492 - $9,843. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $327 - $2,180 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Manchester and Chicago are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Manchester movers tend to run around $682 as a base rate plus $210/hour per mover, for comparison.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,492 - $5,666
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,070 - $6,868
  • 4+ bedrooms: $5,079 - $9,843

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 Manchester to Chicago.

The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from New Hampshire to Illinois. 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 Manchester, NH to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market — 100% of Manchester movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Chicago, 93% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing97% of local movers$545 - $5,450
Storage in transitNew place not ready100% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Trend Moving & Storage$218 - $1,308/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$327 - $2,616
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage40% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs53% of local movers$1,090 - $3,270
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$2,725 - $10,900
Car shippingSecond vehicle$816 - $1,551
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items43% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Trend Moving & Storage$1,090 - $2,725
PianoAny piano type87% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Trend Moving & Storage$872 - $3,815
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling30% of local movers$327 - $1,635
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect17% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: College Bound Movers$709 - $2,180
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$327 - $16,350+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$327 - $3,815+

What are the best full-service movers from Manchester to Chicago?

Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in Illinois, on top of the picks below.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in Manchester, NH. 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 Manchester, NH to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from Manchester, New Hampshire, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,268 and $4,272. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in Manchester runs about $100/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Manchester to Chicago:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,268 - $2,291
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,506 - $2,966
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,053 - $4,272

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $82 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $164 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
  • Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $763 in Manchester, NH, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
  • Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
  • Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Chicago, IL, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a New Hampshire to Illinois 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 $1,268. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,506 - $2,966, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers Manchester to Chicago?

  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 Manchester 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 Manchester:

  • Trend Moving & Storage (4.9/5), 8 years in business
  • College Bound Movers (4.7/5), 34 years in business
  • Liberty Bell Moving & Storage, Inc (4.5/5), 17 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from Manchester, NH to Chicago, IL

Truck rentals from Manchester, New Hampshire, to Chicago, Illinois, range from $700 - $1,846 for the 1,017-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

  • Fuel for the drive: $353 - $403
  • Daily insurance: $33/day
  • Equipment rentals: $8 - $22
  • Manchester daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $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 Manchester to Chicago based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $700 - $1,382
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $711 - $1,564
  • 4+ bedrooms: $903 - $1,846

Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $700 - $1,846 does not include fuel ($353 - $403) , lodging ($164/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Manchester to Chicago typically runs $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate alone.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
  • Lodging: Budget around $164 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 Manchester, New Hampshire, usually costs about $763 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
  • Gas: Fuel for the 1,017-mile drive falls between $353 and $403, 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 $55 and $327 to your total.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Manchester to Chicago?

  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 Manchester, NH to Chicago, IL

For larger DIY moves from Manchester, New Hampshire, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to Chicago, Illinois.

Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For most medium-to-large moves on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,280 and $2,547.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,152 - $1,980
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,280 - $2,547
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,744 - $3,122

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?

  • More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $82 and $164.
  • Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
  • Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in Manchester, New Hampshire, for roughly five hours typically average $763.

What are the best freight companies from Manchester to Chicago?

  1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
  2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
  3. Brian Forst Transport (4.7/5 stars): Brian Forst Transport is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned facilities and accessible live support staff make scheduling and route coordination easier on local-area routes than what most national freight providers can offer.

Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Manchester to Chicago. 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: Manchester, NH vs Chicago, IL

There's not a big cost-of-living gap between Manchester and Chicago to plan around. Cost of living index: 111 vs. 106. Average rent: $2,004/mo vs. $2,045/mo. The bigger factor in your budget is the one-time cost of the move itself, covered above. Walkability: 51 vs. 77. Safety index: 43.91 vs. 33.87.

Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Chicago, IL to Manchester, NH guide.

Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:

Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from New Hampshire to Illinois, 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. New Hampshire alone has 22 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 1,017-mile move like this one.

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Our take

Full-service movers on the 1,017-mile route from Manchester, NH, to Chicago, IL, run $2,492 - $9,843 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,268 - $4,272, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $700 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,070, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.

Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Chicago tend to point to bountiful arts and recreational activities and delicious food, though high crime rate and temperamental weather come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include U.S. Government and Chicago Public Schools.

FAQs: Moving from Manchester, NH, to Chicago, IL

What is the best time of year to move from Manchester, NH to Chicago, IL?

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 long does a move from Manchester, NH to Chicago, IL 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 extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?

The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($353 - $403), daily insurance ($33/day), and equipment rentals ($8 - $22) on top. Overnight stops can add another $164/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.

What is the cheapest way to move from Manchester, NH to Chicago, IL?

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 $711 - $1,564. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.

How much does it cost to move from Manchester, NH to Chicago, IL?

Costs on this route range from around $2,492 to $9,843, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,492 and $9,843, 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.

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

About 87% of movers in Manchester handle piano moves, and 43% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.