Moving from Springfield, IL to Chicago, 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 Springfield, IL to Chicago, 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 474 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 Springfield to Chicago
| 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, Springfield to Chicago
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 Springfield to Chicago
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 474 people a year (±302) moved from Sangamon County, IL, home to Springfield, to Cook County, IL, home to Chicago. Going the other way: about 624 people a year (±191). Movers from Sangamon County make up 0.4% of the 127,735 people a year who moved into Cook County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Cook County, IL | 474 ±302 |
| Will County, IL | 401 ±346 |
| Morgan County, IL | 397 ±183 |
| McLean County, IL | 393 ±176 |
| Tazewell County, IL | 260 ±158 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DuPage County, IL | 13,206 ±1,320 |
| Lake County, IL | 6,678 ±1,090 |
| Will County, IL | 6,454 ±1,007 |
| Kane County, IL | 4,555 ±770 |
| Lake County, IN | 3,835 ±861 |
Licensed movers at each end
2 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Springfield. 1 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 33.3% of their 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillier Storage & Moving CoUSDOT 607202 | Springfield · 3 mi | 9 trucks | 0 | — |
| First Class MoversUSDOT 3846816 | Springfield · 3 mi | 1 truck | 3 | 33.3% of 3 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Chicago end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Chicago: New World Van Lines Inc (Chicago, 204 trucks), National Van Lines Inc (Broadview, 174 trucks), New City Moving & Storage LLC (Chicago, 82 trucks), Complete Moving Inc (Arlington Heights, 80 trucks).
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 Springfield to Chicago
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 Chicago
A local move inside Chicago 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 Chicago are Milwaukee (about 95 mi), Madison (about 142 mi), Grand Rapids (about 146 mi).
Other routes from Springfield
All routes from Springfield, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield to Saint Louis, MO | ~101 mi | $455 – $606 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
Springfield to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Springfield, IL to Chicago?
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 Springfield, IL to Chicago 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 Springfield, IL to Chicago?
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 Springfield, IL to Chicago 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 Springfield, IL to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 474 people a year (margin of error ±302) moved from Sangamon County, which contains Springfield, to Cook County, which contains Chicago.
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.