Moving from Alabama to Illinois
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Birmingham and Chicago it is about 675 miles and 2 days on the road (about 12 hours of driving); the 12 city pairs we price between the two states run from 453 to 901 miles.
Prices from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Carriers: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot 2026-09-24. We do not move anyone.
- ~675 miBirmingham → Chicago
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,038+2-bedroom, movers
- 12City routes priced
In short
About 859 people moved from Alabama to Illinois in 2024 (Census estimate, ±465), and about 5,231 went the other way. Between Birmingham and Chicago it is about 675 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,038 – $4,050 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 85 movers based in Alabama hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Alabama to Illinois
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 859 people a year (±465), against about 5,231 (±1,900) from Illinois to Alabama, so Illinois loses about 4,372 people a year on this exchange. Alabama is the 35th-largest of the 48 states sending people to Illinois; Illinois took in about 199,996 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | St. Clair County | 296 ±266 |
| Baldwin County | Cook County | 215 ±301* |
| Jefferson County | Cook County | 172 ±149 |
| Madison County | Winnebago County | 119 ±159* |
| Lee County | De Witt County | 118 ±146* |
US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 state-to-state migration and ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county flows; people a year with a 90% margin of error. County names link to their cost guides. * Margin as large as the estimate.
Birmingham to Chicago, the representative route
Each state is represented by its largest city we cover. The map shows that corridor; the table further down prices every city pair between Alabama and Illinois.
Cost of moving from Alabama to Illinois
At about 675 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,038 – $4,050 for a two-bedroom home and $3,493 – $4,657 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,187 – $2,916; a freight trailer is $1,458 – $1,944.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,278 – $3,038 | $1,640 – $2,187 | $1,094 – $1,458 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,734 – $3,645 | $1,968 – $2,624 | $1,312 – $1,750 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,038 – $4,050 | $2,187 – $2,916 | $1,458 – $1,944 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,493 – $4,657 | $2,515 – $3,353 | $1,677 – $2,236 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,949 – $5,265 | $2,843 – $3,791 | $1,895 – $2,527 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $4,556 – $6,075 | $3,281 – $4,374 | $2,187 – $2,916 |
Transport only, for an estimated 675 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.
City-to-city routes from Alabama to Illinois
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 1 has a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville to Springfield | ~453 mi | 3–7 days | $2,039 – $2,718 | $2,344 – $3,126 |
| Huntsville to Peoria | ~517 mi | 3–7 days | $2,327 – $3,102 | $2,675 – $3,567 |
| Birmingham to Springfield | ~538 mi | 3–7 days | $2,421 – $3,228 | $2,784 – $3,712 |
| Huntsville to Chicago | ~579 mi | 3–7 days | $2,606 – $3,474 | $2,996 – $3,995 |
| Birmingham to Peoria | ~605 mi | 3–7 days | $2,723 – $3,630 | $3,131 – $4,175 |
| Montgomery to Springfield | ~636 mi | 3–7 days | $2,862 – $3,816 | $3,291 – $4,388 |
| Birmingham to Chicago | ~675 mi | 3–7 days | $3,038 – $4,050 | $3,493 – $4,657 |
| Montgomery to Peoria | ~703 mi | 3–7 days | $3,164 – $4,218 | $3,638 – $4,851 |
| Mobile to Springfield | ~741 mi | 3–7 days | $3,335 – $4,446 | $3,835 – $5,113 |
| Montgomery to Chicago | ~770 mi | 3–7 days | $3,465 – $4,620 | $3,985 – $5,313 |
| Mobile to Peoria | ~812 mi | 3–7 days | $3,654 – $4,872 | $4,202 – $5,603 |
| Mobile to Chicago | ~901 mi | 3–7 days | $4,055 – $5,406 | $4,663 – $6,217 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Alabama
45 of the 85 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 603 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 84 of 349 vehicle inspections (24.1%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 57 of 603 driver inspections (9.5%, against 13.0%). 1 carrier has an acute or critical violation found in an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covan World-Wide MovingincorporatedMidland City, AL · USDOT 256677 | 138 | 33 of 85 | 6 of 138 |
| Coleman Worldwide Moving LLCMidland City, AL · USDOT 2897746 | 102 | 9 of 68 | 8 of 102 |
| Coleman American Moving Services IncMidland City, AL · USDOT 148986 | 91 | 12 of 41 | 4 of 91 |
| Port City Transfer LLCIrvington, AL · USDOT 3324282 | 41 | 7 of 37 | 1 of 41 |
| E & E Transfer CompanySylacauga, AL · USDOT 3650158 | 37 | 7 of 22 | 3 of 37 |
| McKinney & Sons Transfer LLCLexington, AL · USDOT 1058049 | 28 | 4 of 11 | 3 of 28 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
168 listed household-goods carriers are based in Alabama, 85 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Alabama directory ranks them. At the Illinois end, 341 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Illinois, moving costs in Illinois, or the reverse trip, Illinois to Alabama. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Alabama
Alabama to Illinois moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Alabama to Illinois?
Between the two states' main cities, Birmingham and Chicago, the distance is about 675 miles. From our model that is $3,038 – $4,050 for a two-bedroom home and $3,493 – $4,657 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,187 – $2,916 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,458 – $1,944. Across the 12 city pairs we price between Alabama and Illinois, distances run from 453 to 901 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Alabama to Illinois take?
Birmingham to Chicago is 2 days on the road (about 12 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Alabama to Illinois?
Yes. A move from Alabama into Illinois is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 168 listed movers based in Alabama, 85 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Alabama.
What is the cheapest way to move from Alabama to Illinois?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,458 – $1,944 for a two-bedroom home over 675 miles against $3,038 – $4,050 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,187 – $2,916, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Alabama to Illinois each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 859 people (±465) moved from Alabama to Illinois that year, against about 5,231 (±1,900) from Illinois to Alabama. That makes Alabama the 35th-largest source of new residents for Illinois among the states.