($548+) Arlington, VA to Chicago, IL Movers

Full-service moving costs from Arlington, VA to Chicago, IL

Hiring full-service movers from Arlington, Virginia, to Chicago, Illinois, costs between $1,519 and $8,182. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 701-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $422 - $2,816, 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 Arlington and Chicago. For a rough baseline, movers based in Arlington tend to start around $200 plus $110/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 Arlington to Chicago:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,519 - $4,037
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,272 - $5,514
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,949 - $8,182

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 Arlington to Chicago.

Specialty moving services from Arlington, VA to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market — 94% of Arlington movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Chicago, 93% of movers offer the same service.

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

If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association is a good first thing to confirm.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Moving container costs from Arlington, VA to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from Arlington, Virginia, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,105 and $3,611. 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 Arlington runs about $100/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,105 - $2,006
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,433 - $2,834
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,900 - $3,611

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $106 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $211 per month.
• Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Chicago, IL, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
• Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $986 in Arlington, VA. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.

What are the best moving containers Arlington 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)

Moving truck rental costs from Arlington, VA to Chicago, IL

Plan on $554 - $1,379 for a rental moving truck on the 701-mile route from Arlington, Virginia, to Chicago, Illinois. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $314 - $359
• Daily insurance: $42/day
• Equipment rentals: $10 - $28
• Arlington daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.99 - $1.19

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Arlington to Chicago based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $554 - $959
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $568 - $1,187
• 4+ bedrooms: $762 - $1,379

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Gas: Fuel adds $314 - $359 for the 701-mile drive, depending on whether your rental truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: You'll handle the heavy lifting unless you bring in help. Two movers in Arlington, Virginia, for about 5 hours typically costs around $986.
• Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
• Lodging: The 701-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $211 per night, adding $422 - $634 in hotel costs total.
• Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $70 and $422.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Arlington 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 Arlington, VA to Chicago, IL

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Arlington, Virginia, to Chicago, Illinois. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.

Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $1,267 and $2,071.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,005 - $1,823
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,124 - $2,071
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,491 - $2,747

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Arlington, Virginia, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $986.
• More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $106 - $211 per additional foot to your total.
• Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.

What are the best freight companies from Arlington to Chicago?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Terminal Transportation Services (4.7/5 stars): Terminal Transportation Services 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.

Cost of living: Arlington, VA vs Chicago, IL

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

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