Moving from Phoenix, AZ to Tucson, AZ
About 124 miles inside Arizona. Past the 100-mile local band movers price on distance and weight, but because the truck never crosses a state line the move is regulated by Arizona, not by the federal FMCSA. That changes which licence to check and which estimate rules protect you.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Phoenix, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers about 124 miles and is a move within Arizona. Full-service movers cost $558 – $744 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 10,124 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 124 miles, about 2 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 $558 – $744. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Arizona
- Driving
- about 2 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Phoenix to Tucson
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $450 – $600 | $315 – $420 | $225 – $300 |
| 1 bedroom | $502 – $670 | $362 – $482 | $241 – $321 |
| 2 bedrooms | $558 – $744 | $402 – $536 | $268 – $357 |
| 3 bedrooms | $642 – $856 | $462 – $616 | $308 – $411 |
| 4 bedrooms | $725 – $967 | $522 – $696 | $348 – $464 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $837 – $1,116 | $603 – $804 | $402 – $536 |
Transport only, for an estimated 124 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, Phoenix to Tucson
124 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $620. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $558 to $744, 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 Phoenix to Tucson
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 10,124 people a year (±953) moved from Maricopa County, AZ, home to Phoenix, to Pima County, AZ, home to Tucson. Going the other way: about 6,565 people a year (±949). Movers from Maricopa County make up 16.6% of the 60,943 people a year who moved into Pima County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Pinal County, AZ | 17,904 ±2,214 |
| Pima County, AZ | 10,124 ±953 |
| Coconino County, AZ | 6,398 ±704 |
| Yavapai County, AZ | 3,689 ±618 |
| Clark County, NV | 2,998 ±761 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Maricopa County, AZ | 10,124 ±953 |
| Pinal County, AZ | 2,942 ±711 |
| Cochise County, AZ | 2,144 ±529 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 1,719 ±590 |
| San Diego County, CA | 1,425 ±539 |
Licensed movers at each end
250 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Phoenix. 42 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 17.4% of their 132 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dircks Moving & LogisticsUSDOT 923640 | Phoenix · 7 mi | 24 trucks | 0 | — |
| Muscular Moving Men LLCUSDOT 1829172 | Phoenix · 17 mi | 22 trucks | 27 | 42.1% of 19 |
| Camelback Moving IncUSDOT 1635834 | Phoenix · 3 mi | 20 trucks | 35 | 0.0% of 26 |
| M&S Trucking and Moving LLCUSDOT 4035484 | Phoenix · 12 mi | 20 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Just-In Time MovingUSDOT 1759501 | Mesa · 21 mi | 20 trucks | 32 | 4.5% of 22 |
| Daniel's Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 653536 | Phoenix · 7 mi | 18 trucks | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Tucson end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Tucson: Desert Sun Moving Service (Tucson, 11 trucks), Two Men and A Truck (Tucson, 11 trucks), Ralph's Moving & Storage (Tucson, 9 trucks), Delivery Doctors Movers LLC (Tucson, 7 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Arizona, so Arizona rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Arizona licence or registration it holds and check it with the state. The federal 110% cap on non-binding estimates does not reach a move inside Arizona, so your protection on this 124-mile job is the estimate you sign; ask for it binding or not-to-exceed. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Phoenix to Tucson
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 124 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 Tucson
A local move inside Tucson later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $515 – $845 for a two-bedroom home and $867 – $1,560 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Tucson are Gilbert (about 102 mi), Chandler (about 104 mi), Mesa (about 112 mi).
Other routes from Phoenix
All routes from Phoenix, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix to Moreno Valley, CA | ~346 mi | $1,557 – $2,076 |
| Phoenix to Las Vegas, NV | 347 mi | $1,562 – $2,082 |
| Phoenix to San Diego, CA | 355 mi | $1,598 – $2,130 |
| Phoenix to Fontana, CA | ~365 mi | $1,643 – $2,190 |
| Phoenix to Los Angeles, CA | 374 mi | $1,683 – $2,244 |
| Phoenix to Anaheim, CA | ~383 mi | $1,724 – $2,298 |
| Phoenix to Albuquerque, NM | ~384 mi | $1,728 – $2,304 |
| Phoenix to El Paso, TX | ~403 mi | $1,814 – $2,418 |
Also moving to Tucson: from Las Cruces, NM, from El Paso, TX, from Albuquerque, NM, from Chula Vista, CA.
Phoenix to Tucson moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Phoenix to Tucson?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 124 miles cost about $450 – $600 for a studio, $558 – $744 for a two-bedroom home and $642 – $856 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Phoenix to Tucson take?
The drive is about 2 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 Phoenix to Tucson?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $268 – $357 for a two-bedroom home, against $558 – $744 with full-service movers; a moving container is $402 – $536.
Is Phoenix to Tucson an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Arizona, so the move is regulated by Arizona rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Arizona requires of household-goods movers; interstate authority (an MC number) is not required for this job. The federal 110% rule on non-binding estimates does not apply either, which is a good reason to ask for a binding estimate.
How many people move from Phoenix to Tucson each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 10,124 people a year (margin of error ±953) moved from Maricopa County, which contains Phoenix, to Pima County, which contains Tucson.
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.