($630+) Dallas, TX to Chicago, IL Movers
Moving from Dallas, TX, to Chicago, IL, runs anywhere from $630 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,677 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 926 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 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 $1,873, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,677 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,073 - $3,740, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $630 - $1,688.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Dallas, TX, to Chicago, IL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,350 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 Dallas, TX to Chicago, IL
Moving options from Dallas to Chicago fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. The most hands-off option, full-service, runs $2,350 - $5,811 for a 2-3 bedroom home and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers cost about 37% less than full-service for the same size, and rental trucks land around 71% less, with both DIY options requiring you to load yourself. Covering 926 miles, this route usually takes 2 to 7 days from pickup to delivery.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 926-mile route from Dallas to Chicago, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,873 - $4,819 | $1,073 - $2,053 | $630 - $1,122 | $997 - $1,884 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,350 - $5,811 | $1,482 - $2,708 | $673 - $1,445 | $1,185 - $2,259 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,145 - $7,677 | $1,859 - $3,740 | $828 - $1,688 | $1,580 - $3,113 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Dallas, TX to Chicago, IL
A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 926-mile move from Dallas, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois, with prices running from $1,873 - $7,677. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $307 - $2,048 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Dallas and Chicago are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Dallas movers tend to run around $179 as a base rate plus $60/hour per mover, for comparison.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Dallas to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,873 - $4,819
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,350 - $5,811
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,145 - $7,677
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 Dallas to Chicago.
Pro tip: The summer months (May - September) are the busiest time of year for movers during peak moving season, which drives up prices and limits scheduling options. If you can move in the fall or winter, you'll likely find better rates and more flexibility.
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Specialty moving services from Dallas, TX to Chicago, IL
Specialty needs vary by market: 55% of Dallas movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Chicago, 60% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing74% of local movers | $512 - $5,120 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready55% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: 3 Men Movers | $205 - $1,229/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $307 - $2,458 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage13% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs62% of local movers | $1,024 - $3,072 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,560 - $10,240 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $767 - $1,457 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items24% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: 3 Men Movers | $1,024 - $2,560 |
| Piano | Any piano type41% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: 3 Men Movers | $819 - $3,584 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling9% of local movers | $307 - $1,536 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect7% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $666 - $2,048 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $307 - $15,360+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $307 - $3,584+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Dallas to Chicago?
All three below meet the standards set by the Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association, the group most Illinois movers are affiliated with.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Dallas, TX. 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 Dallas, TX to Chicago, IL
Moving containers from Dallas, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,073 and $3,740. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in Dallas typically runs around $80/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Dallas to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,073 - $2,053
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,482 - $2,708
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,859 - $3,740
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $77 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $154 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 $717 in Dallas, TX, 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 Texas 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 $1,073. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,482 - $2,708.
What are the best moving containers Dallas to Chicago?
- 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 Dallas 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 Dallas:
- AB Moving (4.5/5), 26 years in business
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5), 6 years in business
- 3 Men Movers (4.8/5), 41 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Dallas, TX to Chicago, IL
A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 926 miles from Dallas, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois, running $630 - $1,688. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:
- Fuel for the drive: $302 - $345
- Daily insurance: $31/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
- Dallas daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $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 Dallas to Chicago based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $630 - $1,122
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $673 - $1,445
- 4+ bedrooms: $828 - $1,688
Pro tip: A rental truck from Dallas to Chicago looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $630 - $1,688. But once you factor in fuel ($302 - $345), overnight lodging ($154/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $154 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 Dallas, Texas, usually costs about $717 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 926-mile drive falls between $302 and $345, 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 $307 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Dallas to Chicago?
- 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 Dallas, TX to Chicago, IL
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 Dallas, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois. 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. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,185 and $2,259.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Dallas to Chicago:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $997 - $1,884
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,185 - $2,259
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,580 - $3,113
Pro tip: Freight trailers come with a 4-foot loading ramp, which can be a challenge with bulky furniture. With 8 feet of vertical space available, stacking efficiently often requires a ladder and a plan. Since you're billed per linear foot, packing tight can make a real difference in your final cost.
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 $77 and $154.
- 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 Dallas, Texas, for roughly five hours typically average $717.
What are the best freight companies from Dallas to Chicago?
- 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.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Dallas to Chicago, 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: Dallas, TX vs Chicago, IL
Dallas and Chicago land in a similar range on everyday costs. The cost of living index sits at 100 in Dallas and 106 in Chicago, and average rent is $1,774/mo vs. $2,045/mo. With an index gap that small, you likely won't need to rework your monthly budget much after this move. For reference, walkability is 46 vs 77 and safety scores are 48.6 vs 33.87.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Chicago, IL to Dallas, TX guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Texas 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. Texas alone has 843 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 926-mile move like this one.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 926-mile route from Dallas, TX, to Chicago, IL, run $1,873 - $7,677 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,073 - $3,740, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $630 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,350, 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 Dallas, TX, to Chicago, IL
How do I know a mover is licensed in Illinois?
In Illinois, regulations on in-state moves and local movers are set forth by the Illinois Commerce Commission. To move household goods locally and intrastate, companies need to have a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, so make sure the companies you’re considering have one and that it’s current.
What is the best time of year to move from Dallas, TX 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.
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 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
Is Chicago a safe place to live?
Chicago has a safety index of 33.87 out of 100 and a crime index of 35.19, compared to 48.6 and 51.4 in Dallas. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What is the cheapest way to move from Dallas, TX 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 $673 - $1,445. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What percentage of Dallas movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 41% of movers in Dallas handle piano moves, and 24% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.