Moving from Chicago, IL to Springfield, IL
About 208 miles inside Illinois. 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 Illinois, not by the federal FMCSA. That changes which licence to check and which estimate rules protect you.
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 Springfield, IL covers about 208 miles and is a move within Illinois. Full-service movers cost $936 – $1,248 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 624 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 208 miles, about 4 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 $936 – $1,248. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Illinois
- Driving
- about 4 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Chicago to Springfield
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $702 – $936 | $505 – $674 | $337 – $449 |
| 1 bedroom | $842 – $1,123 | $607 – $809 | $404 – $539 |
| 2 bedrooms | $936 – $1,248 | $674 – $899 | $449 – $599 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,076 – $1,435 | $775 – $1,033 | $517 – $689 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,217 – $1,622 | $876 – $1,168 | $584 – $779 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,404 – $1,872 | $1,011 – $1,348 | $674 – $899 |
Transport only, for an estimated 208 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 Springfield
208 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,040. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $936 to $1,248, 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 Springfield
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 624 people a year (±191) moved from Cook County, IL, home to Chicago, to Sangamon County, IL, home to Springfield. Going the other way: about 474 people a year (±302). Movers from Cook County make up 8.3% of the 7,533 people a year who moved into Sangamon County from another county or state.
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Cook County, IL | 624 ±191 |
| Menard County, IL | 482 ±232 |
| Christian County, IL | 306 ±162 |
| Madison County, IL | 294 ±246 |
| Peoria County, IL | 285 ±182 |
Licensed movers at each end
245 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Chicago. 86 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 20.2% of their 619 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 |
| The Professionals Moving Specialists IncUSDOT 3383907 | Chicago · 6 mi | 34 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 1 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Springfield end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Springfield: Hillier Storage & Moving Co (Springfield, 9 trucks), First Class Movers (Springfield, 1 truck).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Illinois, so Illinois rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Illinois 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 Illinois, so your protection on this 208-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 Chicago to Springfield
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 208 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 Springfield
A local move inside Springfield later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $475 – $775 for a two-bedroom home and $795 – $1,425 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Springfield are Peoria (about 72 mi), Saint Louis (about 101 mi), Columbia (about 181 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 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 Ann Arbor, MI | ~234 mi | $1,053 – $1,404 |
Also moving to Springfield: from Peoria, IL, from Saint Louis, MO.
Chicago to Springfield moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Chicago to Springfield, IL?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 208 miles cost about $702 – $936 for a studio, $936 – $1,248 for a two-bedroom home and $1,076 – $1,435 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Chicago to Springfield, IL take?
The drive is about 4 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 Springfield, IL?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $449 – $599 for a two-bedroom home, against $936 – $1,248 with full-service movers; a moving container is $674 – $899.
Is Chicago to Springfield, IL an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Illinois, so the move is regulated by Illinois rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Illinois 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 Chicago to Springfield, IL each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 624 people a year (margin of error ±191) moved from Cook County, which contains Chicago, to Sangamon County, which contains Springfield.
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.