Moving from Washington, DC to Wilmington, DE
About 115 miles across a state line, from District of Columbia into Delaware, 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 Wilmington, DE covers about 115 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $518 – $690 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 134 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 115 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 $518 – $690. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 2 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Washington to Wilmington
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $450 – $600 | $315 – $420 | $225 – $300 |
| 1 bedroom | $466 – $621 | $335 – $447 | $225 – $300 |
| 2 bedrooms | $518 – $690 | $373 – $497 | $248 – $331 |
| 3 bedrooms | $595 – $794 | $428 – $571 | $286 – $381 |
| 4 bedrooms | $673 – $897 | $484 – $646 | $323 – $431 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $776 – $1,035 | $559 – $745 | $373 – $497 |
Transport only, for an estimated 115 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 Wilmington
115 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $575. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $518 to $690, 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 Wilmington
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 134 people a year (±87) moved from District of Columbia, DC, home to Washington, to New Castle County, DE, home to Wilmington. Going the other way: about 71 people a year (±71). Movers from District of Columbia make up 0.6% of the 23,632 people a year who moved into New Castle County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 526 people a year (±456) moving from District of Columbia to Delaware and about 679 people a year (±520) from Delaware to District of Columbia — a net gain for District of Columbia of about 153 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 |
|---|---|
| Kent County, DE | 3,023 ±854 |
| Philadelphia County, PA | 2,250 ±626 |
| Delaware County, PA | 2,203 ±704 |
| Chester County, PA | 1,122 ±321 |
| Cecil County, MD | 1,114 ±415 |
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 Wilmington end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Wilmington: Flower Transfer Logistics (Sewell, 134 trucks), Wayne Moving and Storage (West Chester, 28 trucks), Delaware Moving & Storage Inc (Bear, 20 trucks), Isaac's Moving and Storage Inc (Philadelphia, 12 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from District of Columbia into Delaware, 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 Wilmington
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 115 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 Wilmington
A local move inside Wilmington later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $445 – $719 for a two-bedroom home and $741 – $1,317 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Wilmington are Philadelphia (about 29 mi), Dover (about 47 mi), Allentown (about 69 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 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 Wilmington: from Philadelphia, PA, from Dover, DE, from Harrisburg, PA, from Jersey City, NJ.
Washington to Wilmington moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Washington to Wilmington?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 115 miles cost about $450 – $600 for a studio, $518 – $690 for a two-bedroom home and $595 – $794 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Washington to Wilmington 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 Washington to Wilmington?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $248 – $331 for a two-bedroom home, against $518 – $690 with full-service movers; a moving container is $373 – $497.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Washington to Wilmington?
Yes. Washington is in District of Columbia and Wilmington is in Delaware, 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 Wilmington each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 134 people a year (margin of error ±87) moved from District of Columbia, which contains Washington, to New Castle County, which contains Wilmington.
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.