Moving from Chicago, IL to Madison, WI
About 142 miles across a state line, from Illinois into Wisconsin, 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 Madison, WI covers about 142 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $639 – $852 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 1,714 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 142 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 $639 – $852. 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 Madison
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $479 – $639 | $345 – $460 | $230 – $307 |
| 1 bedroom | $575 – $767 | $414 – $552 | $276 – $368 |
| 2 bedrooms | $639 – $852 | $460 – $613 | $307 – $409 |
| 3 bedrooms | $735 – $980 | $529 – $705 | $353 – $470 |
| 4 bedrooms | $831 – $1,108 | $598 – $797 | $399 – $532 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $959 – $1,278 | $690 – $920 | $460 – $613 |
Transport only, for an estimated 142 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 Madison
142 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $710. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $639 to $852, 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 Madison
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 1,714 people a year (±376) moved from Cook County, IL, home to Chicago, to Dane County, WI, home to Madison. Going the other way: about 1,074 people a year (±243). Movers from Cook County make up 5.2% of the 32,725 people a year who moved into Dane County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 24,045 people a year (±3,201) moving from Illinois to Wisconsin and about 14,131 people a year (±2,749) from Wisconsin to Illinois — a net gain for Wisconsin of about 9,914 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 |
|---|---|
| Waukesha County, WI | 2,207 ±488 |
| Cook County, IL | 1,714 ±376 |
| Milwaukee County, WI | 1,494 ±310 |
| Rock County, WI | 1,194 ±389 |
| Columbia County, WI | 675 ±326 |
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 Madison end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Madison: Reynolds Transfer & Storage Inc (Madison, 34 trucks), O'Mara Moving Systems Inc (Madison, 18 trucks), Mad City Moving (McFarland, 14 trucks), Yerges Van Liners Inc (Fort Atkinson, 12 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Illinois into Wisconsin, 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 Madison
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 142 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 Madison
A local move inside Madison later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $515 – $845 for a two-bedroom home and $867 – $1,560 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Madison are Milwaukee (about 87 mi), Green Bay (about 141 mi), Chicago (about 142 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 Grand Rapids, MI | ~146 mi | $657 – $876 |
| Chicago to Peoria, IL | ~152 mi | $684 – $912 |
| Chicago to Fort Wayne, IN | ~163 mi | $734 – $978 |
| 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 Madison: from Milwaukee, WI, from Green Bay, WI, from Saint Paul, MN, from Minneapolis, MN.
Chicago to Madison moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Chicago to Madison?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 142 miles cost about $479 – $639 for a studio, $639 – $852 for a two-bedroom home and $735 – $980 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Chicago to Madison 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 Madison?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $307 – $409 for a two-bedroom home, against $639 – $852 with full-service movers; a moving container is $460 – $613.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Chicago to Madison?
Yes. Chicago is in Illinois and Madison is in Wisconsin, 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 Madison each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 1,714 people a year (margin of error ±376) moved from Cook County, which contains Chicago, to Dane County, which contains Madison.
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.