Moving from Washington, DC to Arlington, VA
At about 4 miles, Washington to Arlington is a local move. Movers bill it by the hour — crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee — so the bill depends on how long loading and unloading take more than on the miles. It does cross a state line, so the federal interstate rules apply even though the job is priced like a local one.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Washington, DC to Arlington, VA covers about 4 miles and is a local move. Full-service movers cost $525 – $873 for a two-bedroom home in our model, done in one day. About 3,566 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 4 miles, crews cover Washington to Arlington in a single day — under an hour on the road — so there is no delivery window to negotiate. What matters is access at both ends — stairs, elevators, how far the truck can park from the door — because every extra hour is billed.
- Move type
- Local move
- Driving
- under an hour
- Usually moves on
- an hourly crew with one truck
- Book ahead
- 1 to 2 weeks
Cost of moving from Washington to Arlington
Priced by the hour; the container and freight columns show what the same hours cost with a lower-rate crew.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $235 – $375 | $195 – $315 | $175 – $285 |
| 1 bedroom | $315 – $575 | $255 – $475 | $225 – $425 |
| 2 bedrooms | $475 – $775 | $375 – $635 | $325 – $565 |
| 3 bedrooms | $795 – $1,425 | $615 – $1,155 | $525 – $1,020 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,355 – $2,075 | $1,035 – $1,675 | $875 – $1,475 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,675 – $2,475 | $1,275 – $1,995 | $1,075 – $1,755 |
Inside the 100-mile local band, so these are hourly figures: crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee. Container and freight columns show the same job done by a lower-cost crew. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Washington to Arlington
2 movers × 5–7 hours × $45–$57 an hour, plus a $75 travel fee = $525 to $873. The 4 miles only enter through the travel fee and drive time. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Washington to Arlington
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 3,566 people a year (±703) moved from District of Columbia, DC, home to Washington, to Arlington County, VA, home to Arlington. Going the other way: about 2,881 people a year (±512). Movers from District of Columbia make up 14.0% of the 25,426 people a year who moved into Arlington County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Prince George's County, MD | 10,730 ±1,168 |
| Montgomery County, MD | 5,618 ±673 |
| Arlington County, VA | 3,566 ±703 |
| Fairfax County, VA | 2,910 ±534 |
| New York County, NY | 1,703 ±345 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Fairfax County, VA | 4,513 ±933 |
| District of Columbia, DC | 3,566 ±703 |
| Alexandria City, VA | 1,960 ±485 |
| Montgomery County, MD | 685 ±201 |
| Loudoun County, VA | 435 ±164 |
Licensed movers at each end
481 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Washington. 194 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 17.8% of their 989 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JK Moving ServicesUSDOT 1065394 | Sterling · 24 mi | 173 trucks | 107 | 12.3% of 57 |
| Eagle Van Lines IncUSDOT 388638 | Temple Hills · 8 mi | 72 trucks | 94 | 37.7% of 53 |
| Town and Country Movers IncUSDOT 418499 | Gaithersburg · 20 mi | 64 trucks | 75 | 18.9% of 53 |
| A&A Transfer LLCUSDOT 503883 | Chantilly · 26 mi | 62 trucks | 9 | 33.3% of 3 |
| MG Moving ServicesUSDOT 2455961 | Sterling · 24 mi | 58 trucks | 38 | 11.1% of 18 |
| Executive Moving Systems IncUSDOT 487595 | Woodbridge · 22 mi | 34 trucks | 20 | 33.3% of 12 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Arlington end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Arlington: JK Moving Services (Sterling, 173 trucks), Eagle Van Lines Inc (Temple Hills, 72 trucks), Town and Country Movers Inc (Gaithersburg, 64 trucks), A&A Transfer LLC (Chantilly, 62 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in District of Columbia, so District of Columbia rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia, so your protection on this 4-mile job is the estimate you sign, which on an hourly job means the rate, the minimum hours and the travel fee in writing. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Washington to Arlington
Get the hourly rate, minimum and travel fee in writing
Local quotes hide in three numbers: the rate per mover per hour (about $45 to $57 for a full-service crew), a minimum number of hours, and a travel or "truck" fee of around $75. Ask for all three before you compare two movers.
Describe the access honestly
A third-floor walk-up, a long carry from the truck, an elevator that needs booking — each adds an hour or more, and on an hourly job that is the whole bill. Tell the mover before they quote, not on the day.
Arriving in Arlington
A local move inside Arlington later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $465 – $761 for a two-bedroom home and $777 – $1,398 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Arlington are Washington (about 4 mi), Annapolis (about 38 mi), Baltimore (about 45 mi).
Other routes from Washington
All routes from Washington, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington to Annapolis, MD | ~35 mi | $525 – $873 |
| Washington to Baltimore, MD | ~42 mi | $525 – $873 |
| Washington to Frederick, MD | ~48 mi | $525 – $873 |
| Washington to Richmond, VA | ~112 mi | $504 – $672 |
| Washington to Wilmington, DE | ~115 mi | $518 – $690 |
| Washington to Philadelphia, PA | ~144 mi | $648 – $864 |
| Washington to Norfolk, VA | ~172 mi | $774 – $1,032 |
| Washington to Pittsburgh, PA | ~222 mi | $999 – $1,332 |
Also moving to Arlington: from Annapolis, MD, from Baltimore, MD, from Frederick, MD, from Richmond, VA.
Washington to Arlington moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Washington to Arlington, VA?
It is billed by the hour. A two-bedroom home with a crew of 2 for 5 to 7 hours comes to about $525 – $873; a three-bedroom home with a crew of 3 for 6 to 9 hours is about $885 – $1,614. Both include a travel fee of around $75. The 4 miles between the two cities barely matter — hours on site do.
How long does a move from Washington to Arlington, VA take?
One day. The drive is under an hour, and a local crew loads, drives and unloads in a single shift. Book ahead: 1 to 2 weeks, 3 to 4 in summer or at a month-end.
What is the cheapest way to move from Washington to Arlington, VA?
Do the packing yourself and hire the crew only for loading, driving and unloading. On an hourly job every hour you save is money off the bill, and packing is the slowest part. A container is rarely worth it under 4 miles because the container fee replaces very little labour.
Is Washington to Arlington, VA an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in District of Columbia, so the move is regulated by District of Columbia rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever District of Columbia 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 Washington to Arlington, VA each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 3,566 people a year (margin of error ±703) moved from District of Columbia, which contains Washington, to Arlington County, which contains Arlington.
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.