Moving from Birmingham, AL to Memphis, TN
About 253 miles across a state line, from Alabama into Tennessee, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Birmingham, AL to Memphis, TN covers about 253 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,139 – $1,518 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 284 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 253 miles, about 5 hours of driving. Long enough to be priced on weight, short enough that most carriers run it on a dedicated truck rather than pooling your goods with other shipments — a two-bedroom home typically runs $1,139 – $1,518. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 5 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Birmingham to Memphis
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $854 – $1,139 | $615 – $820 | $410 – $546 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,025 – $1,366 | $738 – $984 | $492 – $656 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,139 – $1,518 | $820 – $1,093 | $546 – $729 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,309 – $1,746 | $943 – $1,257 | $628 – $838 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,480 – $1,973 | $1,066 – $1,421 | $710 – $947 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,708 – $2,277 | $1,230 – $1,639 | $820 – $1,093 |
Transport only, for an estimated 253 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Birmingham to Memphis
253 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,265. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,139 to $1,518, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Birmingham to Memphis
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 284 people a year (±163) moved from Jefferson County, AL, home to Birmingham, to Shelby County, TN, home to Memphis. Going the other way: about 144 people a year (±109). Movers from Jefferson County make up 0.8% of the 33,594 people a year who moved into Shelby County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 9,789 people a year (±2,113) moving from Alabama to Tennessee and about 11,339 people a year (±2,639) from Tennessee to Alabama — a net gain for Alabama of about 1,550 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Shelby County, AL | 4,924 ±814 |
| Tuscaloosa County, AL | 1,850 ±459 |
| St. Clair County, AL | 1,774 ±564 |
| Lee County, AL | 976 ±286 |
| Madison County, AL | 969 ±305 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DeSoto County, MS | 2,448 ±743 |
| Rutherford County, TN | 1,527 ±362 |
| Crittenden County, AR | 1,270 ±538 |
| Davidson County, TN | 1,190 ±425 |
| Jefferson County, KY | 819 ±698 |
Licensed movers at each end
18 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Birmingham (43 counting those licensed only inside Alabama). 15 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 13.1% of their 61 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Latitude Moving Admiral Movers Motivated MoversUSDOT 2179652 | Birmingham · 6 mi | 52 trucks | 22 | 7.7% of 13 |
| Thompson Delivery Services ColwrightUSDOT 713589 | Birmingham · 0 mi | 31 trucks | 17 | 9.1% of 11 |
| Two Men and A TruckUSDOT 806985 | Irondale · 8 mi | 21 trucks | 12 | 16.7% of 6 |
| Home MoversUSDOT 4229634 | Birmingham · 4 mi | 12 trucks | 6 | 60.0% of 5 |
| Crocker Moving Services LLCUSDOT 2959084 | Birmingham · 4 mi | 7 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 1 |
| MovedaddycomUSDOT 2521318 | Birmingham · 7 mi | 7 trucks | 5 | 0.0% of 1 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Memphis end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Memphis: Lanigan Worldwide Moving & Warehousing Inc (Memphis, 20 trucks), Big League Movers Inc (Memphis, 20 trucks), Guardian Moving Systems Inc (Memphis, 17 trucks), Cooper & Cooper Moving Inc (Memphis, 13 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Alabama into Tennessee, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book Birmingham to Memphis
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 253 miles some carriers still quote hourly plus mileage rather than by weight. Get both numbers so you can compare like with like — hourly can win on a short haul with easy access at both ends.
Confirm it is a one-day run
Most carriers cover this distance in a single day, which avoids an overnight charge and a second crew. If a quote assumes two days, ask why.
Arriving in Memphis
A local move inside Memphis later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $455 – $733 for a two-bedroom home and $759 – $1,344 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Memphis are Little Rock (about 151 mi), Jackson (about 229 mi), Nashville (about 230 mi).
Other routes from Birmingham
All routes from Birmingham, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham to Huntsville, AL | ~98 mi | $435 – $719 |
| Birmingham to Montgomery, AL | ~98 mi | $435 – $719 |
| Birmingham to Atlanta, GA | ~163 mi | $734 – $978 |
| Birmingham to Nashville, TN | ~213 mi | $959 – $1,278 |
| Birmingham to Mobile, AL | ~243 mi | $1,094 – $1,458 |
| Birmingham to Augusta, GA | ~324 mi | $1,458 – $1,944 |
| Birmingham to Columbia, SC | ~388 mi | $1,746 – $2,328 |
| Birmingham to Cincinnati, OH | ~473 mi | $2,129 – $2,838 |
Also moving to Memphis: from Little Rock, AR, from Jackson, MS, from Nashville, TN, from Chattanooga, TN.
Birmingham to Memphis moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Birmingham to Memphis?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 253 miles cost about $854 – $1,139 for a studio, $1,139 – $1,518 for a two-bedroom home and $1,309 – $1,746 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Birmingham to Memphis take?
The drive is about 5 hours, but the move usually takes 1 to 3 days because it moves on a dedicated truck, because the corridor is too short to be worth consolidating. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 2 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Birmingham to Memphis?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $546 – $729 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,139 – $1,518 with full-service movers; a moving container is $820 – $1,093.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Birmingham to Memphis?
Yes. Birmingham is in Alabama and Memphis is in Tennessee, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 18 listed movers within 30 miles of Birmingham hold it.
How many people move from Birmingham to Memphis each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 284 people a year (margin of error ±163) moved from Jefferson County, which contains Birmingham, to Shelby County, which contains Memphis.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.