Moving from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA
About 144 miles across a state line, from District of Columbia into Pennsylvania, 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 Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA covers about 144 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $648 – $864 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 581 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 144 miles, about 3 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 $648 – $864. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 3 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Washington to Philadelphia
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $486 – $648 | $350 – $467 | $233 – $311 |
| 1 bedroom | $583 – $778 | $420 – $560 | $280 – $373 |
| 2 bedrooms | $648 – $864 | $467 – $622 | $311 – $415 |
| 3 bedrooms | $745 – $994 | $537 – $715 | $358 – $477 |
| 4 bedrooms | $842 – $1,123 | $607 – $809 | $404 – $539 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $972 – $1,296 | $700 – $933 | $467 – $622 |
Transport only, for an estimated 144 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, Washington to Philadelphia
144 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $720. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $648 to $864, 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 Washington to Philadelphia
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 581 people a year (±209) moved from District of Columbia, DC, home to Washington, to Philadelphia County, PA, home to Philadelphia. Going the other way: about 394 people a year (±151). Movers from District of Columbia make up 0.9% of the 67,261 people a year who moved into Philadelphia County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 2,360 people a year (±1,347) moving from District of Columbia to Pennsylvania and about 3,843 people a year (±2,232) from Pennsylvania to District of Columbia — a net gain for District of Columbia of about 1,483 people a year.
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Montgomery County, PA | 6,964 ±711 |
| Delaware County, PA | 5,131 ±857 |
| Bucks County, PA | 4,654 ±928 |
| Camden County, NJ | 3,114 ±777 |
| Kings County, NY | 2,379 ±681 |
Licensed movers at each end
299 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Washington (481 counting those licensed only inside District of Columbia). 168 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 16.8% of their 949 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 Philadelphia end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Philadelphia: Flower Transfer Logistics (Sewell, 134 trucks), Wayne Moving and Storage (West Chester, 28 trucks), ABC Pro Movers Inc (Philadelphia, 26 trucks), Hughes Relocation Services Inc (Lansdale, 21 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from District of Columbia into Pennsylvania, 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 Washington to Philadelphia
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 144 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 Philadelphia
A local move inside Philadelphia later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $495 – $817 for a two-bedroom home and $831 – $1,506 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Philadelphia are Wilmington (about 29 mi), Allentown (about 56 mi), Dover (about 68 mi).
Other routes from Washington
All routes from Washington, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington to Arlington, VA | ~4 mi | $525 – $873 |
| 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 Norfolk, VA | ~172 mi | $774 – $1,032 |
| Washington to Pittsburgh, PA | ~222 mi | $999 – $1,332 |
Also moving to Philadelphia: from Wilmington, DE, from Allentown, PA, from Dover, DE, from Newark, NJ.
Washington to Philadelphia moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Washington to Philadelphia?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 144 miles cost about $486 – $648 for a studio, $648 – $864 for a two-bedroom home and $745 – $994 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Washington to Philadelphia take?
The drive is about 3 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 Washington to Philadelphia?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $311 – $415 for a two-bedroom home, against $648 – $864 with full-service movers; a moving container is $467 – $622.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Washington to Philadelphia?
Yes. Washington is in District of Columbia and Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 299 listed movers within 30 miles of Washington hold it.
How many people move from Washington to Philadelphia each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 581 people a year (margin of error ±209) moved from District of Columbia, which contains Washington, to Philadelphia County, which contains Philadelphia.
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.