($281+) Arlington, VA to Durham, NC Movers

Full-service moving costs from Arlington, VA to Durham, NC

Hiring full-service movers from Arlington, Virginia, to Durham, North Carolina, costs between $906 and $5,640. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 255-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $414 - $2,760, 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 Durham. 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 Durham:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $906 - $3,226
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,450 - $4,036
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,015 - $5,640

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 Durham.

Specialty moving services from Arlington, VA to Durham, NC

Specialty needs vary by market: 70% of Arlington movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Durham, 59% of movers offer the same service.

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

All three below meet the standards set by the North Carolina Movers Association, the group most North Carolina movers are affiliated with.

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.

How much do local movers cost in Arlington, VA?

Based on recent quotes for this route, a 2-bedroom move from Arlington to Durham with a local mover averages $1,479 - $4,116. A local mover in Arlington, VA is worth considering for moves under 500 miles. Short-distance moves don't always need the scale of a national carrier, and local companies can offer streamlined service, more flexible pickup windows, and a more personal approach to coordination.

Be sure to confirm interstate licensing, insurance coverage, and delivery expectations before booking.

Moving container costs from Arlington, VA to Durham, NC

Moving containers from Arlington, Virginia, to Durham, North Carolina, cost between $847 and $2,662. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Durham. If you go over that window, storage in Arlington adds around $100/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $847 - $1,418
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,040 - $1,947
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,385 - $2,662

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both Arlington, VA and Durham, NC. 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 $966 in Arlington, VA, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $104 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $207 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 Arlington to Durham?

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 Durham, NC

Plan on $281 - $744 for a rental moving truck on the 255-mile route from Arlington, Virginia, to Durham, North Carolina. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $112 - $128
• Daily insurance: $41/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 Durham based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $281 - $508
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $305 - $644
• 4+ bedrooms: $385 - $744

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Gas: Fuel adds $112 - $128 for the 255-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 $966.
• Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
• Lodging: The 255-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $207 per night, adding $414 - $621 in hotel costs total.
• Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $69 and $414.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Arlington to Durham?

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 Durham, NC

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 Arlington, Virginia, to Durham, North Carolina. 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 $815 and $1,637.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $755 - $1,354
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $815 - $1,637
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,063 - $2,069

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 $104 - $207 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 $966.

What are the best freight companies from Arlington to Durham?

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.

Cost of living: Arlington, VA vs Durham, NC

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Durham, 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.

Our take

A move from Arlington, VA, to Durham, NC, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $906 - $5,640 on the 255-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $847 - $2,662, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $281 - $744. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $1,450 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.

Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Durham tend to point to low cost of living and quality education, though terrible traffic and high crime rate come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include Duke University & Duke Univ. Health System and IBM.