($1,558+) Philadelphia, PA to Tacoma, WA Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from Philadelphia, PA to Tacoma, WA

Moving from Philadelphia, PA, to Tacoma, WA, runs anywhere from $1,690 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $12,853 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 2,835 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 7 to 21 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 $2,659, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $12,853 or more.
  • Moving containers run $2,125 - $7,487, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,690 - $4,744.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Philadelphia, PA, to Tacoma, WA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $4,091 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from Philadelphia, PA to Tacoma, WA

Moving options from Philadelphia to Tacoma fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $4,091 - $7,970 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 2,835-mile route typically takes 7 to 21 days door to door.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,835-mile route from Philadelphia to Tacoma, broken down by home size:

  • A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $2,659 - $6,478 with full-service movers, $2,125 - $3,939 with a container, $1,690 - $3,086 with a rental truck, or $1,821 - $3,546 by freight.
  • A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $4,091 - $7,970 full-service, $2,757 - $5,431 by container, $1,777 - $3,788 by rental truck, or $2,162 - $4,389 by freight.
  • A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $8,002 - $12,853 full-service, $3,768 - $7,487 by container, $2,134 - $4,744 by rental truck, or $3,044 - $6,171 by freight.

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 Philadelphia, PA to Tacoma, WA

Full-service movers for the 2,835-mile relocation from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Tacoma, Washington, cost between $2,659 and $12,853. 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 $335 - $2,232, 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 Philadelphia typically charge a base rate around $282 plus $130 per hour, per mover.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,659 - $6,478
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $4,091 - $7,970
  • 4+ bedrooms: $8,002 - $12,853

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 Philadelphia to Tacoma.

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

Pro tip: Peak moving season (May - September) limits truck availability and pushes up full-service moving costs. Booking during slower months can give you more scheduling room and a lower final price.

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Specialty moving services from Philadelphia, PA to Tacoma, WA

Specialty needs vary by market — 90% of Philadelphia movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Tacoma, 97% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing97% of local movers$558 - $5,580
Storage in transitNew place not ready90% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Gentle Giant Moving Company$223 - $1,339/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$335 - $2,678
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage36% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs39% of local movers$1,116 - $3,348
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$2,790 - $11,160
Car shippingSecond vehicle$836 - $1,588
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items59% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Nicky's Moving & Storage$1,116 - $2,790
PianoAny piano type75% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Gentle Giant Moving Company$893 - $3,906
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling38% of local movers$335 - $1,674
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect22% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Keep It Moving, LLC$725 - $2,232
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$335 - $16,740+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$335 - $3,906+

What are the best full-service movers from Philadelphia to Tacoma?

All three below meet the standards set by the Washington Movers Conference, the group most Washington movers are affiliated with.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in Philadelphia, PA. 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 Philadelphia, PA to Tacoma, WA

Moving containers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Tacoma, Washington, cost between $2,125 and $7,487. 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 Philadelphia runs about $80/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Philadelphia to Tacoma:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,125 - $3,939
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,757 - $5,431
  • 4+ bedrooms: $3,768 - $7,487

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $84 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $167 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 $781 in Philadelphia, PA, 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 Tacoma, WA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

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 $2,125. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,757 - $5,431, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers Philadelphia to Tacoma?

  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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia:

  • Transtar Moving Systems (4.9/5), 64 years in business
  • Keep It Moving, LLC (4.2/5), 20 years in business
  • Superior Moving & Storage (4.3/5), 45 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from Philadelphia, PA to Tacoma, WA

Renting a moving truck for the 2,835-mile move from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Tacoma, Washington, costs between $1,690 and $4,744, before these typical add-ons:

  • Fuel for the drive: $1,007 - $1,150
  • Daily insurance: $33/day
  • Equipment rentals: $8 - $22
  • Philadelphia daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.89 - $0.99
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 Philadelphia to Tacoma based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,690 - $3,086
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,777 - $3,788
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,134 - $4,744

Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $1,690 - $4,744 when pricing out a rental truck from Philadelphia to Tacoma. Fuel alone runs ($1,007 - $1,150) , and overnight lodging ($167/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend an additional $600 - $1,200 beyond the base rate by the time the move is done.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
  • Lodging: Budget around $167 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 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, usually costs about $781 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
  • Gas: Fuel for the 2,835-mile drive falls between $1,007 and $1,150, 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 $56 and $335 to your total.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Philadelphia to Tacoma?

  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 Philadelphia, PA to Tacoma, WA

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 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Tacoma, Washington. 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 $2,162 and $4,389.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,821 - $3,546
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,162 - $4,389
  • 4+ bedrooms: $3,044 - $6,171

Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.

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 $84 - $167 more per foot.
  • Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for about five hours typically runs $781.

What are the best freight companies from Philadelphia to Tacoma?

  1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
  2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
  3. Pipco Transportation, Inc. (4.66/5 stars): Pipco Transportation, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and operated facilities give you direct access to support staff who know the area and can coordinate pickups and deliveries with greater flexibility than national carriers.

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: Philadelphia, PA vs Tacoma, WA

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Tacoma, side by side with Philadelphia on housing, income, and taxes.

Measure Philadelphia, PA Tacoma, WA
Cost of living index104123
Average rent$1,695/mo$1,650/mo
Median home value$231,098$454,577
Average income$60,698/yr$83,857/yr
Unemployment rate10.6%7.3%
State income taxUp to 3.07%None
Walkability score75/10054/100
Safety index33.91/10044.45/100
Air qualityGoodGood

Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.

Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Tacoma, WA to Philadelphia, PA guide.

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Our take

How you handle your interstate move from Philadelphia, PA, to Tacoma, WA, 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 $2,659 - $12,853 on the 2,835-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $2,125 - $7,487 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $1,690 - $4,744 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $4,091 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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord and MultiCare Health System.

FAQs: Moving from Philadelphia, PA, to Tacoma, WA

How much does it cost to move from Philadelphia, PA to Tacoma, WA?

Costs on this route range from around $2,659 to $12,853, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,659 and $12,853, 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 Tacoma?

Tacoma has a walkability score of 54 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 48, compared to 75 and 67 in Philadelphia. 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 ($1,007 - $1,150), daily insurance ($33/day), and equipment rentals ($8 - $22) on top. Overnight stops can add another $167/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.

How do I know a mover is licensed in Washington?

Movers operating within Washington DC city limits are subject to regulation by the Utilities and Transportation Commission, which issues operating permits to household goods moving companies.

What is the best time of year to move from Philadelphia, PA to Tacoma, WA?

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.

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

About 75% of movers in Philadelphia handle piano moves, and 59% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.