Moving from Illinois to Alabama
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Chicago and Birmingham it is about 675 miles and 2 days on the road (about 12 hours of driving); the 12 city pairs we price between the two states run from 453 to 901 miles.
Prices from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Carriers: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot 2026-09-24. We do not move anyone.
- ~675 miChicago → Birmingham
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,038+2-bedroom, movers
- 12City routes priced
In short
About 5,231 people moved from Illinois to Alabama in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,900), and about 859 went the other way. Between Chicago and Birmingham it is about 675 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,038 – $4,050 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 216 movers based in Illinois hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Illinois to Alabama
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 5,231 people a year (±1,900), against about 859 (±465) from Alabama to Illinois, so Alabama gains about 4,372 people a year on this exchange. Illinois is the 7th-largest of the 48 states sending people to Alabama; Alabama took in about 119,767 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Cook County | Montgomery County | 188 ±176 |
| Cook County | Tuscaloosa County | 167 ±93 |
| DuPage County | Baldwin County | 155 ±140 |
| Cook County | Madison County | 143 ±97 |
| Madison County | Marshall County | 116 ±160* |
US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 state-to-state migration and ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county flows; people a year with a 90% margin of error. County names link to their cost guides. * Margin as large as the estimate.
Chicago to Birmingham, the representative route
Each state is represented by its largest city we cover. The map shows that corridor; the table further down prices every city pair between Illinois and Alabama.
Cost of moving from Illinois to Alabama
At about 675 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,038 – $4,050 for a two-bedroom home and $3,493 – $4,657 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,187 – $2,916; a freight trailer is $1,458 – $1,944.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,278 – $3,038 | $1,640 – $2,187 | $1,094 – $1,458 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,734 – $3,645 | $1,968 – $2,624 | $1,312 – $1,750 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,038 – $4,050 | $2,187 – $2,916 | $1,458 – $1,944 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,493 – $4,657 | $2,515 – $3,353 | $1,677 – $2,236 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,949 – $5,265 | $2,843 – $3,791 | $1,895 – $2,527 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $4,556 – $6,075 | $3,281 – $4,374 | $2,187 – $2,916 |
Transport only, for an estimated 675 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.
City-to-city routes from Illinois to Alabama
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 3 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield to Huntsville | ~453 mi | 3–7 days | $2,039 – $2,718 | $2,344 – $3,126 |
| Peoria to Huntsville | ~517 mi | 3–7 days | $2,327 – $3,102 | $2,675 – $3,567 |
| Springfield to Birmingham | ~538 mi | 3–7 days | $2,421 – $3,228 | $2,784 – $3,712 |
| Chicago to Huntsville | ~579 mi | 3–7 days | $2,606 – $3,474 | $2,996 – $3,995 |
| Peoria to Birmingham | ~605 mi | 3–7 days | $2,723 – $3,630 | $3,131 – $4,175 |
| Springfield to Montgomery | ~636 mi | 3–7 days | $2,862 – $3,816 | $3,291 – $4,388 |
| Chicago to Birmingham | ~675 mi | 3–7 days | $3,038 – $4,050 | $3,493 – $4,657 |
| Peoria to Montgomery | ~703 mi | 3–7 days | $3,164 – $4,218 | $3,638 – $4,851 |
| Springfield to Mobile | ~741 mi | 3–7 days | $3,335 – $4,446 | $3,835 – $5,113 |
| Chicago to Montgomery | ~770 mi | 3–7 days | $3,465 – $4,620 | $3,985 – $5,313 |
| Peoria to Mobile | ~812 mi | 3–7 days | $3,654 – $4,872 | $4,202 – $5,603 |
| Chicago to Mobile | ~901 mi | 3–7 days | $4,055 – $5,406 | $4,663 – $6,217 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Illinois
122 of the 216 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 1,617 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 202 of 873 vehicle inspections (23.1%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 173 of 1,617 driver inspections (10.7%, against 13.0%). None has an acute or critical violation from an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risinger Bros Transfer IncMorton, IL · USDOT 244981 | 417 | 57 of 160 | 4 of 417 |
| Complete Moving IncArlington Heights, IL · USDOT 4017704 | 240 | 37 of 186 | 22 of 240 |
| New World Van Lines IncChicago, IL · USDOT 258748 | 201 | 19 of 129 | 6 of 201 |
| National Van Lines IncBroadview, IL · USDOT 76628 | 143 | 25 of 78 | 6 of 143 |
| Em Transfer Services IncAddison, IL · USDOT 2914046 | 41 | 5 of 15 | 0 of 41 |
| Shur-Way Moving & Cartage CompanyLibertyville, IL · USDOT 172887 | 38 | 3 of 17 | 1 of 38 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
341 listed household-goods carriers are based in Illinois, 216 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Illinois directory ranks them. At the Alabama end, 168 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Alabama, moving costs in Alabama, or the reverse trip, Alabama to Illinois. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Illinois
Illinois to Alabama moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Alabama?
Between the two states' main cities, Chicago and Birmingham, the distance is about 675 miles. From our model that is $3,038 – $4,050 for a two-bedroom home and $3,493 – $4,657 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,187 – $2,916 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,458 – $1,944. Across the 12 city pairs we price between Illinois and Alabama, distances run from 453 to 901 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Illinois to Alabama take?
Chicago to Birmingham is 2 days on the road (about 12 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Illinois to Alabama?
Yes. A move from Illinois into Alabama is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 341 listed movers based in Illinois, 216 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Illinois.
What is the cheapest way to move from Illinois to Alabama?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,458 – $1,944 for a two-bedroom home over 675 miles against $3,038 – $4,050 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,187 – $2,916, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Illinois to Alabama each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 5,231 people (±1,900) moved from Illinois to Alabama that year, against about 859 (±465) from Alabama to Illinois. That makes Illinois the 7th-largest source of new residents for Alabama among the states.