($411+) Knoxville, TN to Richmond, VA Movers
Moving from Knoxville, TN, to Richmond, VA, runs anywhere from $399 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,916 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 435 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 $1,176, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $7,916 or more.
- Moving containers run $931 - $3,019, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $399 - $1,058.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Knoxville, TN, to Richmond, VA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,080 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
Compare moving options from Knoxville, TN to Richmond, VA
Moving options from Knoxville to Richmond fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $2,080 - $5,203 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 435-mile route typically takes 1 to 4 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 435-mile route from Knoxville to Richmond, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,176 - $3,839 | $931 - $1,712 | $399 - $735 | $821 - $1,617 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,080 - $5,203 | $1,241 - $2,407 | $405 - $898 | $982 - $1,813 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,652 - $7,916 | $1,582 - $3,019 | $503 - $1,058 | $1,291 - $2,343 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Knoxville, TN to Richmond, VA
Hiring full-service movers from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Richmond, Virginia, costs between $1,176 and $7,916. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 435-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $280 - $1,864, 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 Knoxville and Richmond. For a rough baseline, movers based in Knoxville tend to start around $170 plus $113/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 Knoxville to Richmond:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,176 - $3,839
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,080 - $5,203
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,652 - $7,916
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 Knoxville to Richmond.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Tennessee to Virginia. 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 Knoxville, TN to Richmond, VA
Specialty needs vary by market — 67% of Knoxville movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Richmond, 89% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $466 - $4,660 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready67% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $186 - $1,118/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $280 - $2,237 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs67% of local movers | $932 - $2,796 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,330 - $9,320 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $698 - $1,326 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items22% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $932 - $2,330 |
| Piano | Any piano type67% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Gouffon Moving & Storage | $746 - $3,262 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling | $280 - $1,398 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect22% nationallyTop pick: | $606 - $1,864 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $280 - $13,980+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $280 - $3,262+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Knoxville to Richmond?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Virginia Movers & Warehousemen’s Association is a good first thing to confirm.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Knoxville, TN?
Based on recent quotes for this route, a 2-bedroom move from Knoxville to Richmond with a local mover averages $1,976 - $4,943. For moves under 500 miles, local movers in Knoxville, TN can be a smart choice. Many use hourly pricing models that may reduce your total compared to what a national carrier would charge, and tighter coverage areas often mean faster turnaround and more hands-on communication.
That said, licensing requirements still apply. Make sure any company you're considering is properly licensed for interstate moves for the route you need.
Gouffon Moving & Storage (4.64/5 stars) is a local mover in Knoxville, based on our analysis of feedback from 243 customers, 91.8% of which is positive.
Address: 1520 Amherst Road, Knoxville, TN, 37909 | Founded: 1887
Moving container costs from Knoxville, TN to Richmond, VA
Moving containers from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Richmond, Virginia, cost between $931 and $3,019. 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 Knoxville runs about $60/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Knoxville to Richmond:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $931 - $1,712
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,241 - $2,407
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,582 - $3,019
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 $652 in Knoxville, TN. 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 $70 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $140 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 Richmond, VA, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Tennessee 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 $931. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,241 - $2,407, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Knoxville to Richmond?
- 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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville:
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.7/5), 10 years in business
- Gouffon Moving & Storage (4.8/5), 139 years in business
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.4/5), 27 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Knoxville, TN to Richmond, VA
Renting a moving truck for the 435-mile move from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Richmond, Virginia, costs between $399 and $1,058, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $129 - $147
- Daily insurance: $28/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
- Knoxville daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.79
| 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 Knoxville to Richmond based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $399 - $735
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $405 - $898
- 4+ bedrooms: $503 - $1,058
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $399 - $1,058 does not include fuel ($129 - $147) , lodging ($140/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Knoxville to Richmond 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 $140 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 Knoxville, Tennessee, usually costs about $652 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 435-mile drive falls between $129 and $147, 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 $47 and $280 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Knoxville to Richmond?
- 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 Knoxville, TN to Richmond, VA
For larger DIY moves from Knoxville, Tennessee, 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 Richmond, Virginia.
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 $982 and $1,813.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Knoxville to Richmond:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $821 - $1,617
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $982 - $1,813
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,291 - $2,343
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?
- 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 $70 - $140 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 Knoxville, Tennessee, typically costs $652.
What are the best freight companies from Knoxville to Richmond?
- 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.
- 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.
- Hittman Transport Services, Inc. (4.26/5 stars): Hittman Transport Services, Inc. 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: If speed matters on your move from Knoxville to Richmond, 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: Knoxville, TN vs Richmond, VA
Good news for your budget: Richmond isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Knoxville. Cost of living index runs 95 there against 92 here, and rent, income, and tax rates all fall in a comparable band. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores land in a similar range too - 31/100 and 57.46/100 here versus 51/100 and 51.55/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Richmond, VA to Knoxville, TN guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Tennessee to Virginia in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 70 movers based in Tennessee, handy for sizing up options on this 435-mile route.
Our take
A move from Knoxville, TN, to Richmond, VA, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $1,176 - $7,916 on the 435-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $931 - $3,019, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $399 - $1,058. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $2,080 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Brink's and CarMax.
FAQs: Moving from Knoxville, TN, to Richmond, VA
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($129 - $147), daily insurance ($28/day), and equipment rentals ($7 - $19) on top. Overnight stops can add another $140/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
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 is the best time of year to move from Knoxville, TN to Richmond, VA?
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. Virginia also has a hurricane season running June through November, worth factoring into your timing if you have flexibility. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
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.
Is Richmond a safe place to live?
Richmond has a safety index of 51.55 out of 100 and a crime index of 48.45, compared to 57.46 and 42.54 in Knoxville. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What percentage of Knoxville movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 67% of movers in Knoxville handle piano moves, and 22% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.