Moving Companies in Chicago, IL
Hourly local moves vs. long-distance pricing
Moves under 100 miles in Chicago are typically billed by the hour, so home size, crew size, and street access set the final price. Out-of-state moves are based on weight and mileage instead.
| Move type | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom, local | $242 - $519 basic labor; $500 - $1,000 with larger inventory or building issues |
| 2 bedrooms, local | $547 - $841; up to $1,500 with stairs or packing |
| 3–4 bedrooms, local | $1,264 - $2,231+ |
| Hourly crew | $146 - $401 per hour |
| Long-distance out of state | $3,060 - $9,150+ |
Hourly rates climb with crew size, so compare two-person and three-person quotes against the same stair, elevator, parking, and inventory details. Insist on a binding-not-to-exceed estimate in writing so a phone quote cannot turn into a higher on-site demand.
Chicago-specific hurdles
- Temporary parking permits matter: if the truck is ticketed or parked far away, you may cover the ticket or extra long-carry labor.
- High-rise buildings in the Loop, River North, or Lakeview often require a certificate of insurance before the service elevator is unlocked.
- Rates spike May 1 - August 31, especially May 31/June 1 and October 31; mid-week or mid-month dates lower hourly prices.
- Stairs, pianos, safes, and long carries usually bring added on-site charges.
Check licensed Chicago movers in the directory below to verify insurance, building approval, and local pricing fit.
Free · no obligation
Quotes from movers in Chicago, IL
Two answers below and we pass your move to licensed companies from this page. No account, no fee to you.
Filter & sort Rating, reviews, fleet, licence
Best Movers in Chicago, IL
Ranked by popularity. Licensing, insurance and photos shown for each.
What customers say in Chicago, IL
Who's moving to Chicago, IL
Federal tax-filer migration data for Cook County.
65% arrived from another state. Long-haul moves need a carrier with active interstate operating authority — plenty of local companies don't hold one.
See licensed movers55% of departures went farther than 50 miles. Beyond that range moves are priced by weight and distance, and a state line means the carrier needs interstate authority.
See the full picture — 5-year trend, state flows and top routes
Each bar shows that state's in/out split — rows are ranked by total volume.
Households arriving from another state report $87,934 in average annual income; those relocating from elsewhere in Illinois report $79,821. Long-distance arrivals are the higher-budget half of the market.
How this works: IRS SOI County-to-County Migration Data, 2022-2023. The IRS compares the address on consecutive tax returns, so every move here is a real filed household. The catch: it publishes annually with about a two-year lag, counts Cook County rather than city limits exactly, misses people who don't file a return, and leaves 8% of moves unattributed to a specific county, because flows too small to publish are grouped into regional buckets instead. See the whole state on the Illinois migration page →
How much truck space do you need?
I’m moving a that’s .
Industry rules of thumb — about seven pounds per cubic foot, and published rental-truck capacities. Not our carrier records, not a quote. Bring both numbers to the call and what you get back will finally be comparable.