($443+) Virginia Beach, VA to Knoxville, TN Movers
Moving from Virginia Beach, VA, to Knoxville, TN, runs anywhere from $460 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,385 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 540 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 6 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 $1,179, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $7,385 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,025 - $3,241, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $460 - $1,199.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Virginia Beach, VA, to Knoxville, TN. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $1,960 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Virginia Beach, VA to Knoxville, TN
Moving options from Virginia Beach to Knoxville fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $1,960 - $5,299 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 60% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 540 miles and typically takes 1 to 6 days.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 540-mile route from Virginia Beach to Knoxville, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $1,179 - $3,651 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,025 - $1,822), rental truck ($460 - $789), or freight trailer ($932 - $1,641). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $1,960 - $5,299 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $7,385.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Virginia Beach, VA to Knoxville, TN
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 540-mile move from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Knoxville, Tennessee, with costs ranging from $1,179 - $7,385. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $299 - $1,996. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Virginia Beach and Knoxville. Local movers in Virginia Beach typically start around $183 as a base rate plus $97/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Virginia Beach to Knoxville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,179 - $3,651
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,960 - $5,299
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,729 - $7,385
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 Virginia Beach to Knoxville.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Virginia to Tennessee. 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.
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Specialty moving services from Virginia Beach, VA to Knoxville, TN
Specialty needs vary by market — 100% of Virginia Beach movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Knoxville, 67% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $499 - $4,990 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready100% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $200 - $1,198/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $299 - $2,395 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage45% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs60% of local movers | $998 - $2,994 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,495 - $9,980 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $748 - $1,420 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items50% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Atlantic Beach Movers | $998 - $2,495 |
| Piano | Any piano type85% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $798 - $3,493 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling30% of local movers | $299 - $1,497 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect25% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: | $649 - $1,996 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $299 - $14,970+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $299 - $3,493+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Virginia Beach to Knoxville?
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national van lines are the smarter financial choice over local movers in Virginia Beach, VA. Local companies can run 30% - 40% more at that range since they don't consolidate shipments the way interstate carriers do. If a direct, dedicated route with an average 2-day delivery appeals to you, a local mover could be worth it, but that convenience comes at a cost.
Moving container costs from Virginia Beach, VA to Knoxville, TN
Moving containers from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Knoxville, Tennessee, cost between $1,025 and $3,241. 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 Virginia Beach runs about $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Virginia Beach to Knoxville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,025 - $1,822
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,262 - $2,567
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,647 - $3,241
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Access: Most major container brands operate in both Virginia Beach, VA and Knoxville, TN. 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 $699 in Virginia Beach, 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 $150 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 Tennessee 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 $1,025. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,262 - $2,567, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Virginia Beach to Knoxville?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- 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 Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach:
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.6/5), 12 years in business
- Atlantic Beach Movers (4.7/5), 20 years in business
- A Friendly & Affordable Mover (4.8/5), 28 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Virginia Beach, VA to Knoxville, TN
A rental truck for this 540-mile move from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Knoxville, Tennessee, costs between $460 and $1,199. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $171 - $196
- Daily insurance: $30/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
- Virginia Beach daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89
| 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 Virginia Beach to Knoxville based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $460 - $789
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $502 - $985
- 4+ bedrooms: $577 - $1,199
Pro tip: A rental truck from Virginia Beach to Knoxville looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $460 - $1,199. But once you factor in fuel ($171 - $196) , overnight lodging ($150/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate suggests. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
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 $349.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $150.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $171 and $196 for the 540-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 $699 for 2 movers in Virginia Beach, Virginia, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Virginia Beach to Knoxville?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- 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 Virginia Beach, VA to Knoxville, TN
If you're moving a larger household from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Knoxville, Tennessee.
Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. Most moves on this route fall between $1,030 and $1,974.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Virginia Beach to Knoxville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $932 - $1,641
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,030 - $1,974
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,427 - $2,490
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?
- Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
- Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in Virginia Beach, Virginia, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $699.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $75 and $150 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Virginia Beach to Knoxville?
- 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.
- Sysco Hampton Roads, Inc. (4.58/5 stars): Sysco Hampton Roads, Inc. 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: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Virginia Beach to Knoxville. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: Virginia Beach, VA vs Knoxville, TN
Day-to-day costs in Knoxville are close to what you're used to in Virginia Beach: cost of living index of 92 versus 105, with average rent of $1,795/mo compared to $1,950/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 33/100 and 58.0/100 in Virginia Beach versus 31/100 and 57.46/100 in Knoxville.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Knoxville, TN to Virginia Beach, 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 Tennessee, 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 104 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 540-mile move like this one.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 540-mile route from Virginia Beach, VA, to Knoxville, TN, run $1,179 - $7,385 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,025 - $3,241, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $460 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $1,960, 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 Regal Cinemas Corp and Regal.
FAQs: Moving from Virginia Beach, VA, to Knoxville, TN
What are the best neighborhoods in Knoxville?
For families, Farragut, Oak Ridge, and Maryville are worth a look in Knoxville. If you're moving solo or without kids, Farragut, Oak Ridge, and Alcoa tend to be popular picks instead.
What is the cheapest way to move from Virginia Beach, VA to Knoxville, TN?
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 $502 - $985. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
Is Knoxville a safe place to live?
Knoxville has a safety index of 57.46 out of 100 and a crime index of 42.54, compared to 58.0 and 42.0 in Virginia Beach. 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 3 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 Virginia Beach, VA to Knoxville, TN?
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.
What percentage of Virginia Beach movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 85% of movers in Virginia Beach handle piano moves, and 50% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
