Moving from Chicago, IL to Fort Wayne, IN
About 163 miles across a state line, from Illinois into Indiana, 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 Chicago, IL to Fort Wayne, IN covers about 163 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $734 – $978 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 390 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 163 miles, about 3 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 $734 – $978. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 3 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Chicago to Fort Wayne
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $550 – $734 | $396 – $528 | $264 – $352 |
| 1 bedroom | $660 – $880 | $475 – $634 | $317 – $422 |
| 2 bedrooms | $734 – $978 | $528 – $704 | $352 – $469 |
| 3 bedrooms | $844 – $1,125 | $607 – $810 | $405 – $540 |
| 4 bedrooms | $954 – $1,271 | $687 – $915 | $458 – $610 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,100 – $1,467 | $792 – $1,056 | $528 – $704 |
Transport only, for an estimated 163 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, Chicago to Fort Wayne
163 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $815. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $734 to $978, 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 Chicago to Fort Wayne
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 390 people a year (±342) moved from Cook County, IL, home to Chicago, to Allen County, IN, home to Fort Wayne. Going the other way: about 178 people a year (±107). Movers from Cook County make up 2.7% of the 14,572 people a year who moved into Allen County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 25,727 people a year (±3,764) moving from Illinois to Indiana and about 14,098 people a year (±3,099) from Indiana to Illinois — a net gain for Indiana of about 11,629 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DuPage County, IL | 21,050 ±1,662 |
| Will County, IL | 12,267 ±1,138 |
| Lake County, IL | 11,414 ±1,215 |
| Lake County, IN | 9,145 ±1,341 |
| Kane County, IL | 8,885 ±1,239 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DeKalb County, IN | 1,069 ±473 |
| Marion County, IN | 696 ±223 |
| Cook County, IL | 390 ±342 |
| Elkhart County, IN | 379 ±190 |
| Whitley County, IN | 354 ±184 |
Licensed movers at each end
154 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Chicago (245 counting those licensed only inside Illinois). 81 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 20.3% of their 615 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New World Van Lines IncUSDOT 258748 | Chicago · 11 mi | 204 trucks | 201 | 14.7% of 129 |
| National Van Lines IncUSDOT 76628 | Broadview · 12 mi | 174 trucks | 143 | 32.1% of 78 |
| New City Moving & Storage LLCUSDOT 4020807 | Chicago · 6 mi | 82 trucks | 17 | 25.0% of 8 |
| Complete Moving IncUSDOT 4017704 | Arlington Heights · 25 mi | 80 trucks | 240 | 19.9% of 186 |
| Em Transfer Services IncUSDOT 2914046 | Addison · 20 mi | 36 trucks | 41 | 33.3% of 15 |
| Hollander International Storage and Moving Company IncUSDOT 131735 | Elk Grove Village · 22 mi | 23 drivers | 5 | 0.0% of 1 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Fort Wayne end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Fort Wayne: North American Moving & Storage (Fort Wayne, 1,333 trucks), Allied Van Lines Inc (Fort Wayne, 1,056 trucks), Hoover the Mover (Fort Wayne, 16 trucks), Two Men and A Truck Fort Wayne (Fort Wayne, 7 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Illinois into Indiana, 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 Chicago to Fort Wayne
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 163 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 Fort Wayne
A local move inside Fort Wayne later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $485 – $789 for a two-bedroom home and $813 – $1,452 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Fort Wayne are Toledo (about 107 mi), Dayton (about 119 mi), Indianapolis (about 123 mi).
Other routes from Chicago
All routes from Chicago, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago to Milwaukee, WI | ~95 mi | $475 – $775 |
| Chicago to Madison, WI | ~142 mi | $639 – $852 |
| Chicago to Grand Rapids, MI | ~146 mi | $657 – $876 |
| Chicago to Peoria, IL | ~152 mi | $684 – $912 |
| Chicago to Indianapolis, IN | ~192 mi | $864 – $1,152 |
| Chicago to Lansing, MI | ~195 mi | $878 – $1,170 |
| Chicago to Springfield, IL | ~208 mi | $936 – $1,248 |
| Chicago to Ann Arbor, MI | ~234 mi | $1,053 – $1,404 |
Also moving to Fort Wayne: from Indianapolis, IN, from Columbus, OH, from Cincinnati, OH, from Nashville, TN.
Chicago to Fort Wayne moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Chicago to Fort Wayne?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 163 miles cost about $550 – $734 for a studio, $734 – $978 for a two-bedroom home and $844 – $1,125 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Chicago to Fort Wayne take?
The drive is about 3 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 Chicago to Fort Wayne?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $352 – $469 for a two-bedroom home, against $734 – $978 with full-service movers; a moving container is $528 – $704.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Chicago to Fort Wayne?
Yes. Chicago is in Illinois and Fort Wayne is in Indiana, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 154 listed movers within 30 miles of Chicago hold it.
How many people move from Chicago to Fort Wayne each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 390 people a year (margin of error ±342) moved from Cook County, which contains Chicago, to Allen County, which contains Fort Wayne.
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.