($565+) Richmond, VA to Chicago, IL Movers

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

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 798-mile move from Richmond, Virginia, to Chicago, Illinois, with prices running from $1,666 - $7,567. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $298 - $1,988 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Richmond and Chicago are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Richmond movers tend to run around $360 as a base rate plus $100/hour per mover, for comparison.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,666 - $4,359
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,208 - $5,403
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,856 - $7,567

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 Richmond to Chicago.

Specialty moving services from Richmond, VA to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market — 89% of Richmond 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 Richmond to Chicago?

Movers licensed to operate in Illinois are typically members of the Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, 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.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.

Moving container costs from Richmond, VA to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from Richmond, Virginia, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,084 and $3,645. 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 Richmond runs about $100/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,084 - $2,016
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,422 - $2,824
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,984 - $3,645

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both Richmond, VA and Chicago, IL. Still, double-check that a nearby facility is available if you need to access your belongings before delivery.
• Moving labor: Because containers are self-loaded, many customers hire hourly help. Two movers for about 5 hours typically cost around $696 in Richmond, VA, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $75 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $149 for larger ones (12 - 16 feet).
• Added contents protection: For more coverage beyond the standard minimum, full-value protection is the typical upgrade, generally 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value. On a $50,000 household, that's roughly $500 - $1,000 as a one-time fee.

What are the best moving containers Richmond 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 Richmond, VA to Chicago, IL

A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 798 miles from Richmond, Virginia, to Chicago, Illinois, running $553 - $1,517. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:

• Fuel for the drive: $252 - $288
• Daily insurance: $30/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
• Richmond daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $553 - $1,032
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $598 - $1,238
• 4+ bedrooms: $795 - $1,517

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $75 and $348.
• Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $149.
• Gas: Expect fuel to run between $252 and $288 for the 798-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $696 for 2 movers in Richmond, Virginia, for about 5 hours.
• Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

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

For larger DIY moves from Richmond, Virginia, 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 Chicago, Illinois.

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 $1,092 and $2,146.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $976 - $1,888
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,092 - $2,146
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,525 - $2,975

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 $75 and $149.
• 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 Richmond, Virginia, for roughly five hours typically average $696.

What are the best freight companies from Richmond to Chicago?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.
3. Abilene Motor Express (4.5/5 stars): Abilene Motor Express is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Local ownership translates to accessible support staff and facilities based in the communities they serve, giving customers more direct communication than they'd typically get from a national-only freight network.

Cost of living: Richmond, VA vs Chicago, IL

Day-to-day costs in Chicago are close to what you're used to in Richmond: cost of living index of 106 versus 95, with average rent of $2,045/mo compared to $1,595/mo. Housing, income, and taxes are all in a similar range, so budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores are close too, at 51/100 and 51.55/100 in Richmond versus 77/100 and 33.87/100 in Chicago.