Moving from Illinois to Pennsylvania
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Chicago and Philadelphia it is 761 miles and 2 days on the road (about 14 hours of driving); the 15 city pairs we price between the two states run from 452 to 894 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.
- 761 miChicago → Philadelphia
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,425+2-bedroom, movers
- 15City routes priced
In short
About 5,267 people moved from Illinois to Pennsylvania in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,510), and about 4,420 went the other way. Between Chicago and Philadelphia it is 761 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,425 – $4,566 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 216 movers based in Illinois hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Illinois to Pennsylvania
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 5,267 people a year (±1,510), against about 4,420 (±1,679) from Pennsylvania to Illinois, so Pennsylvania gains about 847 people a year on this exchange. Illinois is the 12th-largest of the 49 states sending people to Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania took in about 234,568 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Cook County | Allegheny County | 512 ±213 |
| Cook County | Philadelphia County | 456 ±206 |
| Cook County | Montgomery County | 281 ±155 |
| Cook County | Chester County | 263 ±178 |
| Lake County | Washington County | 159 ±174* |
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. * Margin as large as the estimate.
Chicago to Philadelphia, 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 Pennsylvania.
Cost of moving from Illinois to Pennsylvania
At 761 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,425 – $4,566 for a two-bedroom home and $3,938 – $5,251 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,466 – $3,288; a freight trailer is $1,644 – $2,192.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,568 – $3,425 | $1,849 – $2,466 | $1,233 – $1,644 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,082 – $4,109 | $2,219 – $2,959 | $1,479 – $1,973 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,425 – $4,566 | $2,466 – $3,288 | $1,644 – $2,192 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,938 – $5,251 | $2,835 – $3,781 | $1,890 – $2,520 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,452 – $5,936 | $3,205 – $4,274 | $2,137 – $2,849 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $5,137 – $6,849 | $3,698 – $4,931 | $2,466 – $3,288 |
Transport only, for 761 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 Pennsylvania
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 2 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago to Erie | ~452 mi | 3–7 days | $2,034 – $2,712 | $2,339 – $3,119 |
| Chicago to Pittsburgh | ~476 mi | 3–7 days | $2,142 – $2,856 | $2,463 – $3,284 |
| Peoria to Erie | ~585 mi | 3–7 days | $2,633 – $3,510 | $3,027 – $4,037 |
| Peoria to Pittsburgh | ~587 mi | 3–7 days | $2,642 – $3,522 | $3,038 – $4,050 |
| Springfield to Pittsburgh | ~596 mi | 3–7 days | $2,682 – $3,576 | $3,084 – $4,112 |
| Springfield to Erie | ~611 mi | 3–7 days | $2,750 – $3,666 | $3,162 – $4,216 |
| Chicago to Harrisburg | ~664 mi | 3–7 days | $2,988 – $3,984 | $3,436 – $4,582 |
| Chicago to Allentown | ~743 mi | 3–7 days | $3,344 – $4,458 | $3,845 – $5,127 |
| Chicago to Philadelphia | 761 mi | 3–7 days | $3,425 – $4,566 | $3,938 – $5,251 |
| Peoria to Harrisburg | ~778 mi | 3–7 days | $3,501 – $4,668 | $4,026 – $5,368 |
| Springfield to Harrisburg | ~787 mi | 3–7 days | $3,542 – $4,722 | $4,073 – $5,430 |
| Peoria to Allentown | ~862 mi | 3–7 days | $3,879 – $5,172 | $4,461 – $5,948 |
| Springfield to Allentown | ~874 mi | 3–7 days | $3,933 – $5,244 | $4,523 – $6,031 |
| Peoria to Philadelphia | ~887 mi | 3–7 days | $3,992 – $5,322 | $4,590 – $6,120 |
| Springfield to Philadelphia | ~894 mi | 3–7 days | $4,023 – $5,364 | $4,626 – $6,169 |
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 Pennsylvania end, 355 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Pennsylvania, moving costs in Pennsylvania, or the reverse trip, Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Pennsylvania?
Between the two states' main cities, Chicago and Philadelphia, the distance is 761 miles. From our model that is $3,425 – $4,566 for a two-bedroom home and $3,938 – $5,251 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,466 – $3,288 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,644 – $2,192. Across the 15 city pairs we price between Illinois and Pennsylvania, distances run from 452 to 894 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Illinois to Pennsylvania take?
Chicago to Philadelphia is 2 days on the road (about 14 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 Pennsylvania?
Yes. A move from Illinois into Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,644 – $2,192 for a two-bedroom home over 761 miles against $3,425 – $4,566 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,466 – $3,288, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Illinois to Pennsylvania each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 5,267 people (±1,510) moved from Illinois to Pennsylvania that year, against about 4,420 (±1,679) from Pennsylvania to Illinois. That makes Illinois the 12th-largest source of new residents for Pennsylvania among the states.