Moving from Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, IL
2,019 miles across a state line, from California into Illinois, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Measured driving distance. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, IL covers 2,019 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $9,086 – $12,114 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 2,622 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,019 miles from California to Illinois. Almost all of these move as consolidated freight: your goods share a trailer and the carrier quotes 7 to 14 days rather than a date. It is why a two-bedroom home here runs $9,086 – $12,114 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 5 days on the road (about 37 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households
- Book ahead
- 6 to 8 weeks
Cost of moving from Los Angeles to Chicago
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $6,814 – $9,086 | $4,906 – $6,542 | $3,271 – $4,361 |
| 1 bedroom | $8,177 – $10,903 | $5,887 – $7,850 | $3,925 – $5,233 |
| 2 bedrooms | $9,086 – $12,114 | $6,542 – $8,722 | $4,361 – $5,815 |
| 3 bedrooms | $10,448 – $13,931 | $7,523 – $10,030 | $5,015 – $6,687 |
| 4 bedrooms | $11,811 – $15,748 | $8,504 – $11,339 | $5,669 – $7,559 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $13,628 – $18,171 | $9,812 – $13,083 | $6,542 – $8,722 |
Transport only, for 2,019 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, Los Angeles to Chicago
2,019 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $10,095. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $9,086 to $12,114, 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 Los Angeles to Chicago
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 2,622 people a year (±589) moved from Los Angeles County, CA, home to Los Angeles, to Cook County, IL, home to Chicago. Going the other way: about 3,701 people a year (±605). Movers from Los Angeles County make up 2.1% of the 127,735 people a year who moved into Cook County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 15,128 people a year (±2,843) moving from California to Illinois and about 19,953 people a year (±5,236) from Illinois to California — a net gain for California of about 4,825 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Orange County, CA | 38,761 ±2,562 |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 34,920 ±2,839 |
| Riverside County, CA | 23,292 ±2,434 |
| Clark County, NV | 12,873 ±1,782 |
| Kern County, CA | 10,503 ±1,253 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DuPage County, IL | 13,206 ±1,320 |
| Lake County, IL | 6,678 ±1,090 |
| Will County, IL | 6,454 ±1,007 |
| Kane County, IL | 4,555 ±770 |
| Lake County, IN | 3,835 ±861 |
Licensed movers at each end
163 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Los Angeles (524 counting those licensed only inside California). 106 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 12.9% of their 738 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move Happy AcmeUSDOT 3136064 | Los Angeles · 2 mi | 31 trucks | 61 | 20.5% of 39 |
| Best California MoversUSDOT 3489907 | North Hollywood · 14 mi | 22 trucks | 91 | 1.4% of 70 |
| Wetzel & Sons Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 2275944 | Pacoima · 17 mi | 17 trucks | 9 | 0.0% of 7 |
| Altar Boys MovingUSDOT 2824890 | Pacoima · 17 mi | 15 trucks | 63 | 9.1% of 33 |
| Pro Movers IncUSDOT 2211293 | Anaheim · 26 mi | 13 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Lucky Transportation CompanyUSDOT 586392 | City Industry · 20 mi | 12 trucks | 21 | 0.0% of 14 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Chicago end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Chicago: New World Van Lines Inc (Chicago, 204 trucks), National Van Lines Inc (Broadview, 174 trucks), New City Moving & Storage LLC (Chicago, 82 trucks), Complete Moving Inc (Arlington Heights, 80 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from California into Illinois, 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 Los Angeles to Chicago
Insist on a survey
Over 2,019 miles the price is driven almost entirely by weight. A quote given without a video or in-home survey is a guess that gets revised upward on loading day, and at this distance the revision is expensive.
Keep full-value protection
It is the default on an interstate move. Signing it away for released value means 60 cents per pound, about $18 for a 30 lb television, after 2,019 miles of handling.
Arriving in Chicago
A local move inside Chicago later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $475 – $775 for a two-bedroom home and $795 – $1,425 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Chicago are Milwaukee (about 95 mi), Madison (about 142 mi), Grand Rapids (about 146 mi).
Other routes from Los Angeles
All routes from Los Angeles, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles to Oxnard, CA | ~65 mi | $515 – $859 |
| Los Angeles to Bakersfield, CA | ~117 mi | $527 – $702 |
| Los Angeles to San Diego, CA | 126 mi | $567 – $756 |
| Los Angeles to Las Vegas, NV | 271 mi | $1,220 – $1,626 |
| Los Angeles to Modesto, CA | ~340 mi | $1,530 – $2,040 |
| Los Angeles to Phoenix, AZ | 374 mi | $1,683 – $2,244 |
| Los Angeles to San Francisco, CA | 383 mi | $1,724 – $2,298 |
| Los Angeles to Saint George, UT | ~391 mi | $1,760 – $2,346 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
Los Angeles to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Los Angeles to Chicago?
From our published model, full-service movers over 2,019 miles cost about $6,814 – $9,086 for a studio, $9,086 – $12,114 for a two-bedroom home and $10,448 – $13,931 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Los Angeles to Chicago take?
The drive is 5 days on the road (about 37 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 7 to 14 days because it moves on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Los Angeles to Chicago?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $4,361 – $5,815 for a two-bedroom home, against $9,086 – $12,114 with full-service movers; a moving container is $6,542 – $8,722.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Los Angeles to Chicago?
Yes. Los Angeles is in California and Chicago is in Illinois, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 163 listed movers within 30 miles of Los Angeles hold it.
How many people move from Los Angeles to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 2,622 people a year (margin of error ±589) moved from Los Angeles County, which contains Los Angeles, to Cook County, which contains Chicago.
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.