Moving from Illinois to New Jersey
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Chicago and Newark it is about 818 miles and 2 days on the road (about 15 hours of driving); the 9 city pairs we price between the two states run from 816 to 960 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.
- ~818 miChicago → Newark
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,681+2-bedroom, movers
- 9City routes priced
In short
About 2,836 people moved from Illinois to New Jersey in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,283), and about 2,490 went the other way. Between Chicago and Newark it is about 818 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,681 – $4,908 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 216 movers based in Illinois hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Illinois to New Jersey
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 2,836 people a year (±1,283), against about 2,490 (±788) from New Jersey to Illinois, so New Jersey gains about 346 people a year on this exchange. Illinois is the 10th-largest of the 41 states sending people to New Jersey; New Jersey took in about 149,816 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Cook County | Mercer County | 222 ±149 |
| DuPage County | Essex County | 167 ±145 |
| Cook County | Middlesex County | 130 ±116 |
| Cook County | Morris County | 122 ±75 |
| Cook County | Essex County | 100 ±81 |
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 Newark, 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 New Jersey.
Cost of moving from Illinois to New Jersey
At about 818 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,681 – $4,908 for a two-bedroom home and $4,233 – $5,644 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,650 – $3,534; a freight trailer is $1,767 – $2,356.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,761 – $3,681 | $1,988 – $2,650 | $1,325 – $1,767 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,313 – $4,417 | $2,385 – $3,180 | $1,590 – $2,120 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,681 – $4,908 | $2,650 – $3,534 | $1,767 – $2,356 |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,233 – $5,644 | $3,048 – $4,064 | $2,032 – $2,709 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,785 – $6,380 | $3,445 – $4,594 | $2,297 – $3,063 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $5,522 – $7,362 | $3,975 – $5,301 | $2,650 – $3,534 |
Transport only, for an estimated 818 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 New Jersey
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 1 has a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago to Paterson | ~816 mi | 3–7 days | $3,672 – $4,896 | $4,223 – $5,630 |
| Chicago to Newark | ~818 mi | 3–7 days | $3,681 – $4,908 | $4,233 – $5,644 |
| Chicago to Jersey City | ~826 mi | 3–7 days | $3,717 – $4,956 | $4,275 – $5,699 |
| Peoria to Paterson | ~939 mi | 3–7 days | $4,226 – $5,634 | $4,859 – $6,479 |
| Peoria to Newark | ~940 mi | 3–7 days | $4,230 – $5,640 | $4,865 – $6,486 |
| Peoria to Jersey City | ~948 mi | 3–7 days | $4,266 – $5,688 | $4,906 – $6,541 |
| Springfield to Newark | ~953 mi | 3–7 days | $4,289 – $5,718 | $4,932 – $6,576 |
| Springfield to Paterson | ~953 mi | 3–7 days | $4,289 – $5,718 | $4,932 – $6,576 |
| Springfield to Jersey City | ~960 mi | 3–7 days | $4,320 – $5,760 | $4,968 – $6,624 |
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 New Jersey end, 558 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in New Jersey, moving costs in New Jersey, or the reverse trip, New Jersey 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 New Jersey moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to New Jersey?
Between the two states' main cities, Chicago and Newark, the distance is about 818 miles. From our model that is $3,681 – $4,908 for a two-bedroom home and $4,233 – $5,644 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,650 – $3,534 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,767 – $2,356. Across the 9 city pairs we price between Illinois and New Jersey, distances run from 816 to 960 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Illinois to New Jersey take?
Chicago to Newark is 2 days on the road (about 15 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 New Jersey?
Yes. A move from Illinois into New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,767 – $2,356 for a two-bedroom home over 818 miles against $3,681 – $4,908 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,650 – $3,534, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Illinois to New Jersey each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 2,836 people (±1,283) moved from Illinois to New Jersey that year, against about 2,490 (±788) from New Jersey to Illinois. That makes Illinois the 10th-largest source of new residents for New Jersey among the states.