Moving from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Washington, DC
About 1,050 miles across a state line, from Florida into District of Columbia, 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 Washington, DC covers about 1,050 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $4,725 – $6,300 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. About 267 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 1,050 miles between Florida and District of Columbia, this sits in the range where carriers differ most. Some run it dedicated with a firm date; others consolidate it with other shipments and quote a window of 3 to 7 days. The price gap between those two is real — a two-bedroom home runs $4,725 – $6,300 full-service — so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 3 days on the road (about 19 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load
- Book ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of moving from Fort Lauderdale to Washington
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,544 – $4,725 | $2,552 – $3,402 | $1,701 – $2,268 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,253 – $5,670 | $3,062 – $4,082 | $2,041 – $2,722 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,725 – $6,300 | $3,402 – $4,536 | $2,268 – $3,024 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,434 – $7,245 | $3,912 – $5,216 | $2,608 – $3,478 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,143 – $8,190 | $4,423 – $5,897 | $2,948 – $3,931 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,088 – $9,450 | $5,103 – $6,804 | $3,402 – $4,536 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,050 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 Washington
1,050 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $5,250. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $4,725 to $6,300, 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 Washington
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 267 people a year (±226) moved from Broward County, FL, home to Fort Lauderdale, to District of Columbia, DC, home to Washington. Going the other way: about 107 people a year (±89). Movers from Broward County make up 0.5% of the 56,680 people a year who moved into District of Columbia from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 1,174 people a year (±578) moving from Florida to District of Columbia and about 1,878 people a year (±889) from District of Columbia to Florida — a net gain for Florida of about 704 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 |
|---|---|
| Prince George's County, MD | 5,604 ±979 |
| Montgomery County, MD | 4,380 ±582 |
| Arlington County, VA | 2,881 ±512 |
| Fairfax County, VA | 2,217 ±690 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 1,538 ±527 |
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 Washington end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Washington: 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
Because the truck crosses from Florida into District of Columbia, 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 Washington
Ask: dedicated or consolidated?
This is the distance where carriers split. A dedicated truck costs more and delivers on a date; a consolidated load costs less and delivers in a window. Decide which you are buying before you compare prices.
Get it binding or not-to-exceed
A non-binding estimate is a guess with no ceiling. On 1,050 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
Arriving in Washington
A local move inside Washington later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $525 – $873 for a two-bedroom home and $885 – $1,614 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Washington are Arlington (about 4 mi), Annapolis (about 35 mi), Baltimore (about 42 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 Washington: from Arlington, VA, from Annapolis, MD, from Baltimore, MD, from Richmond, VA.
Fort Lauderdale to Washington moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Fort Lauderdale to Washington?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,050 miles cost about $3,544 – $4,725 for a studio, $4,725 – $6,300 for a two-bedroom home and $5,434 – $7,245 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Fort Lauderdale to Washington take?
The drive is 3 days on the road (about 19 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 3 to 7 days because it moves on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Fort Lauderdale to Washington?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $2,268 – $3,024 for a two-bedroom home, against $4,725 – $6,300 with full-service movers; a moving container is $3,402 – $4,536.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Fort Lauderdale to Washington?
Yes. Fort Lauderdale is in Florida and Washington is in District of Columbia, 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 Washington each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 267 people a year (margin of error ±226) moved from Broward County, which contains Fort Lauderdale, to District of Columbia, which contains Washington.
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.