Moving from Illinois to California
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Chicago and Los Angeles it is 2,019 miles and 5 days on the road (about 37 hours of driving); the 75 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,829 to 2,153 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.
- 2,019 miChicago → Los Angeles
- 7–14 daysTypical transit
- $9,086+2-bedroom, movers
- 75City routes priced
In short
About 19,953 people moved from Illinois to California in 2024 (Census estimate, ±5,236), and about 15,128 went the other way. Between Chicago and Los Angeles it is 2,019 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $9,086 – $12,114 in our model, delivered in 7–14 days. 216 movers based in Illinois hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Illinois to California
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 19,953 people a year (±5,236), against about 15,128 (±2,843) from California to Illinois, so California gains about 4,825 people a year on this exchange. Illinois is the 6th-largest of the 50 states sending people to California; California took in about 406,873 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Cook County | Los Angeles County | 3,701 ±605 |
| Cook County | San Diego County | 1,608 ±518 |
| Cook County | Santa Clara County | 1,505 ±398 |
| Cook County | Alameda County | 1,248 ±439 |
| Cook County | Orange County | 1,114 ±361 |
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.
Chicago to Los Angeles, 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 California.
Cost of moving from Illinois to California
At 2,019 miles, full-service movers should land around $9,086 – $12,114 for a two-bedroom home and $10,448 – $13,931 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $6,542 – $8,722; a freight trailer is $4,361 – $5,815.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $6,814 – $9,086 | $4,906 – $6,542 | $3,271 – $4,361 |
| 1 bedroom | $8,177 – $10,903 | $5,887 – $7,850 | $3,925 – $5,233 |
| 2 bedrooms | $9,086 – $12,114 | $6,542 – $8,722 | $4,361 – $5,815 |
| 3 bedrooms | $10,448 – $13,931 | $7,523 – $10,030 | $5,015 – $6,687 |
| 4 bedrooms | $11,811 – $15,748 | $8,504 – $11,339 | $5,669 – $7,559 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $13,628 – $18,171 | $9,812 – $13,083 | $6,542 – $8,722 |
Transport only, for 2,019 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 California
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 9 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield to San Bernardino | ~1,829 mi | 7–14 days | $8,231 – $10,974 | $9,465 – $12,620 |
| Springfield to Moreno Valley | ~1,830 mi | 7–14 days | $8,235 – $10,980 | $9,470 – $12,627 |
| Peoria to San Bernardino | ~1,841 mi | 7–14 days | $8,285 – $11,046 | $9,527 – $12,703 |
| Springfield to Fontana | ~1,841 mi | 7–14 days | $8,285 – $11,046 | $9,527 – $12,703 |
| Springfield to Riverside | ~1,842 mi | 7–14 days | $8,289 – $11,052 | $9,532 – $12,710 |
| Peoria to Moreno Valley | ~1,843 mi | 7–14 days | $8,294 – $11,058 | $9,538 – $12,717 |
| Springfield to Ontario | ~1,851 mi | 7–14 days | $8,330 – $11,106 | $9,579 – $12,772 |
| Peoria to Fontana | ~1,852 mi | 7–14 days | $8,334 – $11,112 | $9,584 – $12,779 |
| Peoria to Riverside | ~1,854 mi | 7–14 days | $8,343 – $11,124 | $9,594 – $12,793 |
| Springfield to Chula Vista | ~1,862 mi | 7–14 days | $8,379 – $11,172 | $9,636 – $12,848 |
| Peoria to Ontario | ~1,863 mi | 7–14 days | $8,384 – $11,178 | $9,641 – $12,855 |
| Springfield to Anaheim | ~1,867 mi | 7–14 days | $8,402 – $11,202 | $9,662 – $12,882 |
| Springfield to Lancaster | ~1,867 mi | 7–14 days | $8,402 – $11,202 | $9,662 – $12,882 |
| Springfield to San Diego | ~1,868 mi | 7–14 days | $8,406 – $11,208 | $9,667 – $12,889 |
| Springfield to Irvine | ~1,873 mi | 7–14 days | $8,429 – $11,238 | $9,693 – $12,924 |
| Peoria to Lancaster | ~1,876 mi | 7–14 days | $8,442 – $11,256 | $9,708 – $12,944 |
| Peoria to Chula Vista | ~1,878 mi | 7–14 days | $8,451 – $11,268 | $9,719 – $12,958 |
| Springfield to Santa Ana | ~1,878 mi | 7–14 days | $8,451 – $11,268 | $9,719 – $12,958 |
| Peoria to Anaheim | ~1,879 mi | 7–14 days | $8,456 – $11,274 | $9,724 – $12,965 |
| Peoria to San Diego | ~1,884 mi | 7–14 days | $8,478 – $11,304 | $9,750 – $13,000 |
| Peoria to Irvine | ~1,886 mi | 7–14 days | $8,487 – $11,316 | $9,760 – $13,013 |
| Peoria to Santa Ana | ~1,890 mi | 7–14 days | $8,505 – $11,340 | $9,781 – $13,041 |
| Springfield to Los Angeles | ~1,890 mi | 7–14 days | $8,505 – $11,340 | $9,781 – $13,041 |
| Springfield to Santa Clarita | ~1,895 mi | 7–14 days | $8,528 – $11,370 | $9,807 – $13,076 |
| Springfield to Long Beach | ~1,896 mi | 7–14 days | $8,532 – $11,376 | $9,812 – $13,082 |
| Peoria to Los Angeles | ~1,901 mi | 7–14 days | $8,555 – $11,406 | $9,838 – $13,117 |
| Springfield to Bakersfield | ~1,902 mi | 7–14 days | $8,559 – $11,412 | $9,843 – $13,124 |
| Peoria to Santa Clarita | ~1,905 mi | 7–14 days | $8,573 – $11,430 | $9,858 – $13,145 |
| Peoria to Bakersfield | ~1,908 mi | 7–14 days | $8,586 – $11,448 | $9,874 – $13,165 |
| Peoria to Long Beach | ~1,908 mi | 7–14 days | $8,586 – $11,448 | $9,874 – $13,165 |
| Springfield to Fresno | ~1,913 mi | 7–14 days | $8,609 – $11,478 | $9,900 – $13,200 |
| Peoria to Fresno | ~1,915 mi | 7–14 days | $8,618 – $11,490 | $9,910 – $13,214 |
| Springfield to Oxnard | ~1,945 mi | 7–14 days | $8,753 – $11,670 | $10,065 – $13,421 |
| Peoria to Oxnard | ~1,955 mi | 7–14 days | $8,798 – $11,730 | $10,117 – $13,490 |
| Peoria to Roseville | ~1,961 mi | 7–14 days | $8,825 – $11,766 | $10,148 – $13,531 |
| Peoria to Modesto | ~1,967 mi | 7–14 days | $8,852 – $11,802 | $10,179 – $13,572 |
| Springfield to Roseville | ~1,967 mi | 7–14 days | $8,852 – $11,802 | $10,179 – $13,572 |
| Springfield to Modesto | ~1,969 mi | 7–14 days | $8,861 – $11,814 | $10,190 – $13,586 |
| Chicago to San Bernardino | ~1,972 mi | 7–14 days | $8,874 – $11,832 | $10,205 – $13,607 |
| Chicago to Moreno Valley | ~1,975 mi | 7–14 days | $8,888 – $11,850 | $10,221 – $13,628 |
| Peoria to Sacramento | ~1,976 mi | 7–14 days | $8,892 – $11,856 | $10,226 – $13,634 |
| Peoria to Stockton | ~1,978 mi | 7–14 days | $8,901 – $11,868 | $10,236 – $13,648 |
| Springfield to Sacramento | ~1,981 mi | 7–14 days | $8,915 – $11,886 | $10,252 – $13,669 |
| Springfield to Stockton | ~1,981 mi | 7–14 days | $8,915 – $11,886 | $10,252 – $13,669 |
| Chicago to Fontana | ~1,983 mi | 7–14 days | $8,924 – $11,898 | $10,262 – $13,683 |
| Chicago to Riverside | ~1,986 mi | 7–14 days | $8,937 – $11,916 | $10,278 – $13,703 |
| Chicago to Ontario | ~1,994 mi | 7–14 days | $8,973 – $11,964 | $10,319 – $13,759 |
| Chicago to Lancaster | ~2,005 mi | 7–14 days | $9,023 – $12,030 | $10,376 – $13,835 |
| Chicago to Anaheim | ~2,010 mi | 7–14 days | $9,045 – $12,060 | $10,402 – $13,869 |
| Chicago to Chula Vista | ~2,014 mi | 7–14 days | $9,063 – $12,084 | $10,422 – $13,897 |
| Chicago to Irvine | ~2,018 mi | 7–14 days | $9,081 – $12,108 | $10,443 – $13,924 |
| Chicago to Los Angeles | 2,019 mi | 7–14 days | $9,086 – $12,114 | $10,448 – $13,931 |
| Chicago to Santa Ana | ~2,022 mi | 7–14 days | $9,099 – $12,132 | $10,464 – $13,952 |
| Peoria to Fremont | ~2,028 mi | 7–14 days | $9,126 – $12,168 | $10,495 – $13,993 |
| Peoria to San Jose | ~2,028 mi | 7–14 days | $9,126 – $12,168 | $10,495 – $13,993 |
| Springfield to Fremont | ~2,030 mi | 7–14 days | $9,135 – $12,180 | $10,505 – $14,007 |
| Springfield to San Jose | ~2,030 mi | 7–14 days | $9,135 – $12,180 | $10,505 – $14,007 |
| Chicago to Bakersfield | ~2,034 mi | 7–14 days | $9,153 – $12,204 | $10,526 – $14,035 |
| Chicago to Santa Clarita | ~2,034 mi | 7–14 days | $9,153 – $12,204 | $10,526 – $14,035 |
| Chicago to Fresno | ~2,035 mi | 7–14 days | $9,158 – $12,210 | $10,531 – $14,042 |
| Chicago to Long Beach | ~2,039 mi | 7–14 days | $9,176 – $12,234 | $10,552 – $14,069 |
| Peoria to Oakland | ~2,040 mi | 7–14 days | $9,180 – $12,240 | $10,557 – $14,076 |
| Springfield to Oakland | ~2,043 mi | 7–14 days | $9,194 – $12,258 | $10,573 – $14,097 |
| Peoria to San Francisco | ~2,049 mi | 7–14 days | $9,221 – $12,294 | $10,604 – $14,138 |
| Springfield to San Francisco | ~2,052 mi | 7–14 days | $9,234 – $12,312 | $10,619 – $14,159 |
| Chicago to Roseville | ~2,071 mi | 7–14 days | $9,320 – $12,426 | $10,717 – $14,290 |
| Chicago to Modesto | ~2,082 mi | 7–14 days | $9,369 – $12,492 | $10,774 – $14,366 |
| Chicago to Oxnard | ~2,084 mi | 7–14 days | $9,378 – $12,504 | $10,785 – $14,380 |
| Chicago to Sacramento | ~2,086 mi | 7–14 days | $9,387 – $12,516 | $10,795 – $14,393 |
| Chicago to Stockton | ~2,091 mi | 7–14 days | $9,410 – $12,546 | $10,821 – $14,428 |
| Chicago to San Francisco | 2,135 mi | 7–14 days | $9,608 – $12,810 | $11,049 – $14,732 |
| Chicago to Fremont | ~2,142 mi | 7–14 days | $9,639 – $12,852 | $11,085 – $14,780 |
| Chicago to San Jose | ~2,143 mi | 7–14 days | $9,644 – $12,858 | $11,090 – $14,787 |
| Chicago to San Diego | 2,146 mi | 7–14 days | $9,657 – $12,876 | $11,106 – $14,807 |
| Chicago to Oakland | ~2,153 mi | 7–14 days | $9,689 – $12,918 | $11,142 – $14,856 |
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 California end, 1,592 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in California, moving costs in California, or the reverse trip, California 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 California moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to California?
Between the two states' main cities, Chicago and Los Angeles, the distance is 2,019 miles. From our model that is $9,086 – $12,114 for a two-bedroom home and $10,448 – $13,931 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $6,542 – $8,722 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $4,361 – $5,815. Across the 75 city pairs we price between Illinois and California, distances run from 1,829 to 2,153 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Illinois to California take?
Chicago to Los Angeles is 5 days on the road (about 37 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 7 to 14 days, because at this distance it usually travels on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Illinois to California?
Yes. A move from Illinois into California 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 California?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $4,361 – $5,815 for a two-bedroom home over 2,019 miles against $9,086 – $12,114 with full-service movers. A container, about $6,542 – $8,722, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Illinois to California each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 19,953 people (±5,236) moved from Illinois to California that year, against about 15,128 (±2,843) from California to Illinois. That makes Illinois the 6th-largest source of new residents for California among the states.