Moving from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Chicago, IL
About 1,363 miles across a state line, from Florida into Illinois, 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 Fort Lauderdale, FL to Chicago, IL covers about 1,363 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $6,134 – $8,178 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 916 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,363 miles from Florida 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 $6,134 – $8,178 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 3 days on the road (about 25 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 Fort Lauderdale to Chicago
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,600 – $6,134 | $3,312 – $4,416 | $2,208 – $2,944 |
| 1 bedroom | $5,520 – $7,360 | $3,975 – $5,299 | $2,650 – $3,533 |
| 2 bedrooms | $6,134 – $8,178 | $4,416 – $5,888 | $2,944 – $3,925 |
| 3 bedrooms | $7,054 – $9,405 | $5,079 – $6,771 | $3,386 – $4,514 |
| 4 bedrooms | $7,974 – $10,631 | $5,741 – $7,655 | $3,827 – $5,103 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $9,200 – $12,267 | $6,624 – $8,832 | $4,416 – $5,888 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,363 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, Fort Lauderdale to Chicago
1,363 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $6,815. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $6,134 to $8,178, 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 Fort Lauderdale to Chicago
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 916 people a year (±613) moved from Broward County, FL, home to Fort Lauderdale, to Cook County, IL, home to Chicago. Going the other way: about 1,154 people a year (±603). Movers from Broward County make up 0.7% 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 12,751 people a year (±2,882) moving from Florida to Illinois and about 24,410 people a year (±4,381) from Illinois to Florida — a net gain for Florida of about 11,659 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Palm Beach County, FL | 13,389 ±1,322 |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | 10,416 ±1,160 |
| Orange County, FL | 4,137 ±961 |
| Hillsborough County, FL | 2,254 ±545 |
| Lee County, FL | 1,635 ±532 |
| 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
206 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Fort Lauderdale (623 counting those licensed only inside Florida). 128 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 22.1% of their 511 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Van Lines IncUSDOT 614506 | Pompano Beach · 8 mi | 81 trucks | 104 | 22.2% of 54 |
| Armstrong Relocation Florida LLCUSDOT 1894774 | Pompano Beach · 11 mi | 46 trucks | 14 | 22.2% of 9 |
| Blvd Moving LLCUSDOT 2892909 | Pompano Beach · 8 mi | 35 trucks | 90 | 23.9% of 67 |
| Colonial Van Lines IncUSDOT 1434373 | Pompano Beach · 8 mi | 25 trucks | 4 | — |
| Top 10 Van Lines IncUSDOT 1151019 | Miami · 12 mi | 20 trucks | 26 | 23.1% of 13 |
| International Van Lines IncUSDOT 2293832 | Coral Springs · 13 mi | 20 trucks | 31 | 36.4% of 11 |
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 Florida 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 Fort Lauderdale to Chicago
Insist on a survey
Over 1,363 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 1,363 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 Fort Lauderdale
All routes from Fort Lauderdale, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale to Miami, FL | ~28 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Fort Lauderdale to Port Saint Lucie, FL | ~95 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Fort Lauderdale to Cape Coral, FL | ~140 mi | $630 – $840 |
| Fort Lauderdale to Orlando, FL | ~214 mi | $963 – $1,284 |
| Fort Lauderdale to Tampa, FL | ~222 mi | $999 – $1,332 |
| Fort Lauderdale to Saint Petersburg, FL | ~223 mi | $1,004 – $1,338 |
| Fort Lauderdale to Gainesville, FL | ~327 mi | $1,472 – $1,962 |
| Fort Lauderdale to Jacksonville, FL | ~355 mi | $1,598 – $2,130 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
Fort Lauderdale to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Fort Lauderdale to Chicago?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,363 miles cost about $4,600 – $6,134 for a studio, $6,134 – $8,178 for a two-bedroom home and $7,054 – $9,405 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Fort Lauderdale to Chicago take?
The drive is 3 days on the road (about 25 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 Fort Lauderdale to Chicago?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $2,944 – $3,925 for a two-bedroom home, against $6,134 – $8,178 with full-service movers; a moving container is $4,416 – $5,888.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Fort Lauderdale to Chicago?
Yes. Fort Lauderdale is in Florida and Chicago is in Illinois, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 206 listed movers within 30 miles of Fort Lauderdale hold it.
How many people move from Fort Lauderdale to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 916 people a year (margin of error ±613) moved from Broward County, which contains Fort Lauderdale, 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.