($556+) Arlington, VA to St. Louis, MO Movers

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Moving from Arlington, VA, to St. Louis, MO, runs anywhere from $556 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,581 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 817 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 $1,629, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,581 or more.
  • Moving containers run $1,097 - $3,342, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $556 - $1,586.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Arlington, VA, to St. Louis, MO. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,060 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from Arlington, VA to St. Louis, MO

There are 3 main ways to move from Arlington to St. Louis: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service is the most expensive but covers everything from labor to transportation, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route averaging $2,060 - $5,504. Containers cost roughly 36% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 71% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option. At 817 miles, expect 2 to 7 days in transit no matter which service you choose.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 817-mile route from Arlington to St. Louis, broken down by home size:

Home size Full-service movers Moving container Rental truck Freight trailer
Studio / 1 bedroom $1,629 - $4,201 $1,097 - $2,039 $556 - $1,017 $967 - $1,661
2 - 3 bedrooms $2,060 - $5,504 $1,328 - $2,803 $594 - $1,233 $1,139 - $2,242
4+ bedrooms $3,545 - $7,581 $1,910 - $3,342 $737 - $1,586 $1,529 - $2,673

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.

Professional moving
Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Moving container
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental truck
Rental Truck
Budget Truck Rental
star star star star star 4.3 / 5
Read our full Budget review
Affordable pricing
Online estimates
Several discounts
Freight trailer
Freight
MovingYourself
star star star star star 4.5 / 5
Read our full MovingYourself review
Fast delivery
Nationwide
100+ miles moves

Full-service moving costs from Arlington, VA to St. Louis, MO

Full-service movers for the 817-mile relocation from Arlington, Virginia, to St. Louis, Missouri, cost between $1,629 and $7,581. 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 $396 - $2,640, 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 Arlington typically charge a base rate around $200 plus $110 per hour, per mover.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Arlington to St. Louis:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,629 - $4,201
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,060 - $5,504
  • 4+ bedrooms: $3,545 - $7,581

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 St. Louis.

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 Arlington, VA to St. Louis, MO

Specialty needs vary by market: 70% of Arlington movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In St. Louis, 68% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing80% of local movers$660 - $6,600
Storage in transitNew place not ready70% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: 495 Movers, Inc$264 - $1,584/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$396 - $3,168
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage13% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs54% of local movers$1,320 - $3,960
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$3,300 - $13,200
Car shippingSecond vehicle$989 - $1,878
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items34% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: 495 Movers, Inc$1,320 - $3,300
PianoAny piano type42% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: 495 Movers, Inc$1,056 - $4,620
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling9% of local movers$396 - $1,980
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect8% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Olympia Moving & Storage$858 - $2,640
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$396 - $19,800+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$396 - $4,620+

What are the best full-service movers from Arlington to St. Louis?

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 Arlington, VA. 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 Arlington, VA to St. Louis, MO

Moving containers from Arlington, Virginia, to St. Louis, Missouri, cost between $1,097 and $3,342. 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 Arlington typically runs around $100/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Arlington to St. Louis:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,097 - $2,039
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,328 - $2,803
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,910 - $3,342

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Access: Most major container brands operate in both Arlington, VA and St. Louis, MO. 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 $924 in Arlington, VA, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
  • Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $99 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $198 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.

Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Virginia to Missouri 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 $1,097. 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 $1,328 - $2,803.

What are the best moving containers Arlington to St. Louis?

  1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
  2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
  3. 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 Arlington 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 Arlington:

  • College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5), 0 years in business
  • BoxStar Movers (5.0/5), 5 years in business
  • Zip Moving And Storage, Inc. (4.9/5), 11 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from Arlington, VA to St. Louis, MO

Truck rentals from Arlington, Virginia, to St. Louis, Missouri, range from $556 - $1,586 for the 817-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

  • Fuel for the drive: $343 - $392
  • Daily insurance: $40/day
  • Equipment rentals: $9 - $26
  • Arlington daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.99 - $1.19
Home sizeTypical truck size
Studio / 1 bedroom10 - 12 ft
2 - 3 bedrooms15 - 17 ft
4+ bedrooms20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel)

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Arlington to St. Louis based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $556 - $1,017
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $594 - $1,233
  • 4+ bedrooms: $737 - $1,586

Pro tip: The base rate of $556 - $1,586 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from Arlington to St. Louis. Fuel ($343 - $392), lodging at around $198/night, meals, and equipment rentals are all on top of that. Factor in roughly $600 - $1,200 more for meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging to get a realistic picture of what the move will actually cost.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
  • Lodging: Budget around $198 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 Arlington, Virginia, usually costs about $924 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
  • Gas: Fuel for the 817-mile drive falls between $343 and $392, 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 $66 and $396 to your total.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Arlington to St. Louis?

  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 St. Louis, MO

Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Arlington, Virginia, to St. Louis, Missouri, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.

What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Pricing for a 2 - 3 bedroom move of this distance typically lands between $1,139 and $2,242.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $967 - $1,661
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,139 - $2,242
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,529 - $2,673

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 trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $99 - $198 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 Arlington, Virginia, typically costs $924.

What are the best freight companies from Arlington to St. Louis?

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Arlington to St. Louis, 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: Arlington, VA vs St. Louis, MO

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

Measure Arlington, VA St. Louis, MO
Cost of living index16484
Average rent$2,718/mo$1,250/mo
Median home value$866,334$180,206
Average income$140,160/yr$55,279/yr
Unemployment rate4.0%6.3%
State income taxUp to 5.75%Up to 4.8%
Walkability score71/10066/100
Safety index79.15/10030.35/100
Air qualityGoodModerate

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 St. Louis, MO to Arlington, VA guide.

Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:

Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Virginia to Missouri, 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. Virginia alone has 304 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 817-mile move like this one.

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Our take

The 817-mile move from Arlington, VA, to St. Louis, MO, costs between $1,629 and $7,581 with full-service movers, $1,097 - $3,342 with a moving container, and $556 - $1,586 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $2,060 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.

Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to St. Louis tend to point to rich culture and bountiful arts and recreational activities, though poor education and high crime rate come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include BJC HealthCare and Walmart.

FAQs: Moving from Arlington, VA, to St. Louis, MO

Is St. Louis a safe place to live?

St. Louis has a safety index of 30.35 out of 100 and a crime index of 69.65, compared to 79.15 and 15.67 in Arlington. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.

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.

What is the best time of year to move from Arlington, VA to St. Louis, MO?

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.

How do I know a mover is licensed in Missouri?

Movers that provide local and intrastate relocation services in Missouri fall under the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). Every household goods mover operating in the state is required to have a MoDOT Number.

What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?

The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($343 - $392), daily insurance ($40/day), and equipment rentals ($9 - $26) on top. Overnight stops can add another $198/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.

What percentage of Arlington movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 42% of movers in Arlington handle piano moves, and 34% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.