Moving from Miami, FL to Tampa, FL
280 miles inside Florida. Past the 100-mile local band movers price on distance and weight, but because the truck never crosses a state line the move is regulated by Florida, not by the federal FMCSA. That changes which licence to check and which estimate rules protect you.
Measured driving distance. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Miami, FL to Tampa, FL covers 280 miles and is a move within Florida. Full-service movers cost $1,260 – $1,680 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 3,448 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 280 miles, about 5 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 $1,260 – $1,680. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Florida
- Driving
- about 5 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Miami to Tampa
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $945 – $1,260 | $680 – $907 | $454 – $605 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,134 – $1,512 | $816 – $1,089 | $544 – $726 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,260 – $1,680 | $907 – $1,210 | $605 – $806 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,449 – $1,932 | $1,043 – $1,391 | $696 – $927 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,638 – $2,184 | $1,179 – $1,572 | $786 – $1,048 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,890 – $2,520 | $1,361 – $1,814 | $907 – $1,210 |
Transport only, for 280 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, Miami to Tampa
280 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,400. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,260 to $1,680, 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 Miami to Tampa
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 3,448 people a year (±888) moved from Miami-Dade County, FL, home to Miami, to Hillsborough County, FL, home to Tampa. Going the other way: about 1,490 people a year (±495). Movers from Miami-Dade County make up 4.1% of the 85,114 people a year who moved into Hillsborough County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Broward County, FL | 23,895 ±2,535 |
| Orange County, FL | 5,872 ±1,121 |
| Palm Beach County, FL | 4,807 ±860 |
| Hillsborough County, FL | 3,448 ±888 |
| Harris County, TX | 1,761 ±683 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Pasco County, FL | 6,065 ±1,092 |
| Pinellas County, FL | 5,974 ±722 |
| Polk County, FL | 4,570 ±719 |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | 3,448 ±888 |
| Orange County, FL | 2,624 ±630 |
Licensed movers at each end
504 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Miami. 136 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 20.2% of their 307 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 10 Van Lines IncUSDOT 1151019 | Miami · 13 mi | 20 trucks | 26 | 23.1% of 13 |
| Alexis Moving & Delivery 2 IncUSDOT 2305221 | Miami · 16 mi | 20 trucks | 38 | 18.2% of 22 |
| Solomon and Sons Relocation Services IncUSDOT 2512576 | Dania Beach · 22 mi | 17 trucks | 32 | 12.5% of 16 |
| Honest Movers Moving and Storage IncUSDOT 3380519 | Miami · 9 mi | 15 trucks | 0 | — |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Orlando LLCUSDOT 904955 | Plantation · 24 mi | 15 trucks | 6 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Kushner Moving GroupUSDOT 1211137 | Pembroke Park · 17 mi | 14 trucks | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Tampa end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Tampa: First Class Moving Systems Inc (Tampa, 50 trucks), Good Greek Moving and Storage (Plant City, 34 trucks), Two Men and A Truck (Oldsmar, 10 trucks), College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (Largo, 10 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Florida, so Florida rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Florida 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 Florida, so your protection on this 280-mile job is the estimate you sign; ask for it binding or not-to-exceed. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Miami to Tampa
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 280 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 Tampa
A local move inside Tampa later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $455 – $733 for a two-bedroom home and $759 – $1,344 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Tampa are Saint Petersburg (about 20 mi), Orlando (about 90 mi), Cape Coral (about 110 mi).
Other routes from Miami
All routes from Miami, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Miami to Fort Lauderdale, FL | ~28 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Miami to Cape Coral, FL | ~148 mi | $666 – $888 |
| Miami to Orlando, FL | 235 mi | $1,058 – $1,410 |
| Miami to Saint Petersburg, FL | ~238 mi | $1,071 – $1,428 |
| Miami to Jacksonville, FL | 345 mi | $1,553 – $2,070 |
| Miami to Gainesville, FL | ~350 mi | $1,575 – $2,100 |
| Miami to Tallahassee, FL | ~475 mi | $2,138 – $2,850 |
| Miami to Charleston, SC | ~565 mi | $2,543 – $3,390 |
Also moving to Tampa: from Saint Petersburg, FL, from Orlando, FL, from Cape Coral, FL, from Gainesville, FL.
Miami to Tampa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Miami to Tampa?
From our published model, full-service movers over 280 miles cost about $945 – $1,260 for a studio, $1,260 – $1,680 for a two-bedroom home and $1,449 – $1,932 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Miami to Tampa take?
The drive is about 5 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 Miami to Tampa?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $605 – $806 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,260 – $1,680 with full-service movers; a moving container is $907 – $1,210.
Is Miami to Tampa an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Florida, so the move is regulated by Florida rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Florida 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 Miami to Tampa each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 3,448 people a year (margin of error ±888) moved from Miami-Dade County, which contains Miami, to Hillsborough County, which contains Tampa.
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.