($880+) Austin, TX to Madison, WI Movers
Moving from Austin, TX, to Madison, WI, runs anywhere from $821 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,971 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,183 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 $2,454, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $9,971 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,373 - $4,601, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $821 - $2,362.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Austin, TX, to Madison, WI. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,967 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
Compare moving options from Austin, TX to Madison, WI
Moving options from Austin to Madison fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $2,967 - $6,972 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 1,183-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 1,183-mile route from Austin to Madison, broken down by home size:
- A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $2,454 - $5,461 with full-service movers, $1,373 - $2,625 with a container, $821 - $1,565 with a rental truck, or $1,262 - $2,292 by freight.
- A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $2,967 - $6,972 full-service, $1,806 - $3,729 by container, $869 - $1,977 by rental truck, or $1,445 - $2,782 by freight.
- A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $5,375 - $9,971 full-service, $2,493 - $4,601 by container, $1,162 - $2,362 by rental truck, or $2,033 - $3,758 by freight.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated August 31, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Austin, TX to Madison, WI
Full-service movers for the 1,183-mile relocation from Austin, Texas, to Madison, Wisconsin, cost between $2,454 and $9,971. 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 $356 - $2,372, 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 Austin typically charge a base rate around $191 plus $90 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Austin to Madison:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,454 - $5,461
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,967 - $6,972
- 4+ bedrooms: $5,375 - $9,971
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 Austin to Madison.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Texas to Wisconsin. 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.
Add-ons and specialty services from Austin, TX to Madison, WI
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost (Austin to Madison) |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | You want the crew to box everything | $593 - $5,930 |
| Storage in transit | Your new place is not ready on arrival | $237 - $1,423/mo |
| Shuttle fee | A full-size truck cannot reach the door | $356 - $2,846 |
| Full-value protection | Coverage beyond the default $0.60/lb | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Shipments under about 2,000 lbs | $1,186 - $3,558 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,965 - $11,860 |
| Car shipping | Moving a second vehicle | $888 - $1,688 |
| Antiques & fine art | Climate control and white-glove handling | $1,186 - $2,965 |
| Piano | Upright, baby grand, or grand | $949 - $4,151 |
| Pool table | Disassembly and professional re-leveling | $356 - $1,779 |
| Hot tub | 500 - 900 lb units with electrical disconnect | $771 - $2,372 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled, vibration-safe transport | $356 - $17,790+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or VIP concierge | $356 - $4,151+ |
| Basic utilities | Ongoing monthly cost in Madison | $216/mo |
| Internet | Ongoing monthly cost in Madison | $72/mo |
| Cell phone plan | Ongoing monthly cost in Madison | $50/mo |
What are the best full-service movers from Austin to Madison?
Wisconsin Movers Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in Wisconsin, on top of the picks below.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 the more cost-efficient choice. Local movers in Austin, TX, often charge 30% - 40% more at that distance because their operations aren't built for long-haul logistics. The exception is if you want a dedicated point-to-point truck with an average 2-day delivery, though that level of service generally increases your total cost.
Moving container costs from Austin, TX to Madison, WI
Moving containers from Austin, Texas, to Madison, Wisconsin, cost between $1,373 and $4,601. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Austin costs roughly $80/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Austin to Madison:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,373 - $2,625
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,806 - $3,729
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,493 - $4,601
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 $830 in Austin, TX. 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 $89 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $178 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 Madison, WI, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Texas to Wisconsin 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 $1,373. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,806 - $3,729, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Austin to Madison?
- PODS (4.8/5 stars): PODS is best for nationwide coverage. It runs the widest service network of any container company, with secure month-to-month storage and steel-frame containers you load on your own schedule.
- Units Moving & Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars): Units is best for locally owned service. Their steel containers come in multiple sizes that fit tight driveways, and locally owned branches mean you reach a live support team that knows your area.
- 1-800-Pack-Rat: 1-800-Pack-Rat is best for weatherproof storage. Their all-steel containers hold up well in transit and long storage windows, with flexible month-to-month terms when your move-in date slips.
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 Austin 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 Austin:
- 3 Men Movers (4.9/5), 41 years in business
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.8/5), 7 years in business
- Firefighting's Finest Moving & Storage (4.8/5), 24 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Austin, TX to Madison, WI
Renting a moving truck for the 1,183-mile move from Austin, Texas, to Madison, Wisconsin, costs between $821 and $2,362, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $446 - $510
- Daily insurance: $36/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $24
- Austin daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.99
| 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 Austin to Madison based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $821 - $1,565
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $869 - $1,977
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,162 - $2,362
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $821 - $2,362 does not include fuel ($446 - $510) , lodging ($178/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Austin to Madison 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 $178 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 Austin, Texas, usually costs about $830 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 1,183-mile drive falls between $446 and $510, 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 $59 and $356 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Austin to Madison?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars): Budget Truck Rental is the best value rental on this list. Budget undercuts most competitors on base rates and layers in discounts for online bookings, AAA membership, and military service.
- Penske Truck Rental (4/5 stars): Penske Truck Rental is the most reliable option here. Their newer fleet, unlimited mileage on one-way moves, and 24/7 roadside assistance make Penske the choice when breakdown risk is the bigger concern than cost.
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars): U-Haul Truck Rental offers the best availability. U-Haul operates more than 23,000 locations and offers 7 truck sizes, giving it the largest pickup network and the broadest accommodation for last-minute or one-way moves.
Freight trailer costs from Austin, TX to Madison, WI
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 Austin, Texas, to Madison, Wisconsin. 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 $1,445 and $2,782.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Austin to Madison:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,262 - $2,292
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,445 - $2,782
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,033 - $3,758
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 $89 - $178 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 Austin, Texas, typically costs $830.
What are the best freight companies from Austin to Madison?
- 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.
- 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.
- Molina Trucking (4.34/5 stars): Molina Trucking 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: 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: Austin, TX vs Madison, WI
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Madison, side by side with Austin on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Austin, TX | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 129 | 103 |
| Average rent | $1,765/mo | $1,600/mo |
| Median home value | $512,969 | $346,854 |
| Average income | $91,461/yr | $76,983/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.3% |
| State income tax | None | Up to 7.65% |
| Walkability score | 42/100 | 50/100 |
| Safety index | 59.87/100 | 65.43/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
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 Madison, WI to Austin, TX guide.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed over 747 quotes from Austin, TX to Madison, WI, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors. We track 289 movers in Texas, so you have real options to compare for this 1,183-mile move.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 1,183-mile route from Austin, TX, to Madison, WI, run $2,454 - $9,971 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,373 - $4,601, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $821 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,967, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Datex Ohmeda and American Family Insurance.
FAQs: Moving from Austin, TX, to Madison, WI
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.
How much does it cost to move from Austin, TX to Madison, WI?
Costs on this route range from around $2,454 to $9,971, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,454 and $9,971, 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 is the cheapest way to move from Austin, TX to Madison, WI?
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 $869 - $1,977. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($446 - $510), daily insurance ($36/day), and equipment rentals ($8 - $24) on top. Overnight stops can add another $178/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How long does a move from Austin, TX to Madison, WI 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.