Moving from Illinois to Tennessee
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Chicago and Nashville it is about 463 miles and about 8 hours; the 12 city pairs we price between the two states run from 345 to 569 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.
- ~463 miChicago → Nashville
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $2,084+2-bedroom, movers
- 12City routes priced
In short
About 10,866 people moved from Illinois to Tennessee in 2024 (Census estimate, ±3,232), and about 3,992 went the other way. Between Chicago and Nashville it is about 463 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $2,084 – $2,778 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 216 movers based in Illinois hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Illinois to Tennessee
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 10,866 people a year (±3,232), against about 3,992 (±1,354) from Tennessee to Illinois, so Tennessee gains about 6,874 people a year on this exchange. Illinois is the 5th-largest of the 46 states sending people to Tennessee; Tennessee took in about 191,844 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Cook County | Davidson County | 900 ±328 |
| Cook County | Shelby County | 607 ±382 |
| Cook County | Williamson County | 589 ±458 |
| Kane County | Shelby County | 314 ±503* |
| Cook County | Knox County | 230 ±145 |
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 Nashville, 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 Tennessee.
Cost of moving from Illinois to Tennessee
At about 463 miles, full-service movers should land around $2,084 – $2,778 for a two-bedroom home and $2,396 – $3,195 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $1,500 – $2,000; a freight trailer is $1,000 – $1,333.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,563 – $2,084 | $1,125 – $1,500 | $750 – $1,000 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,875 – $2,500 | $1,350 – $1,800 | $900 – $1,200 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,084 – $2,778 | $1,500 – $2,000 | $1,000 – $1,333 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,396 – $3,195 | $1,725 – $2,300 | $1,150 – $1,533 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,709 – $3,611 | $1,950 – $2,600 | $1,300 – $1,733 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $3,125 – $4,167 | $2,250 – $3,000 | $1,500 – $2,000 |
Transport only, for an estimated 463 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 Tennessee
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 4 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield to Nashville | ~345 mi | 1–3 days | $1,553 – $2,070 | $1,785 – $2,380 |
| Springfield to Memphis | ~376 mi | 1–3 days | $1,692 – $2,256 | $1,946 – $2,594 |
| Peoria to Nashville | ~406 mi | 3–7 days | $1,827 – $2,436 | $2,101 – $2,801 |
| Peoria to Memphis | ~448 mi | 3–7 days | $2,016 – $2,688 | $2,318 – $3,091 |
| Chicago to Nashville | ~463 mi | 3–7 days | $2,084 – $2,778 | $2,396 – $3,195 |
| Springfield to Chattanooga | ~473 mi | 3–7 days | $2,129 – $2,838 | $2,448 – $3,264 |
| Springfield to Knoxville | ~477 mi | 3–7 days | $2,147 – $2,862 | $2,468 – $3,291 |
| Peoria to Knoxville | ~523 mi | 3–7 days | $2,354 – $3,138 | $2,707 – $3,609 |
| Chicago to Knoxville | ~530 mi | 3–7 days | $2,385 – $3,180 | $2,743 – $3,657 |
| Peoria to Chattanooga | ~530 mi | 3–7 days | $2,385 – $3,180 | $2,743 – $3,657 |
| Chicago to Memphis | ~563 mi | 3–7 days | $2,534 – $3,378 | $2,914 – $3,885 |
| Chicago to Chattanooga | ~569 mi | 3–7 days | $2,561 – $3,414 | $2,945 – $3,926 |
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 Tennessee end, 266 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Tennessee, moving costs in Tennessee, or the reverse trip, Tennessee 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 Tennessee moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Tennessee?
Between the two states' main cities, Chicago and Nashville, the distance is about 463 miles. From our model that is $2,084 – $2,778 for a two-bedroom home and $2,396 – $3,195 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $1,500 – $2,000 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,000 – $1,333. Across the 12 city pairs we price between Illinois and Tennessee, distances run from 345 to 569 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Illinois to Tennessee take?
Chicago to Nashville is about 8 hours. 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 Tennessee?
Yes. A move from Illinois into Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,000 – $1,333 for a two-bedroom home over 463 miles against $2,084 – $2,778 with full-service movers. A container, about $1,500 – $2,000, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Illinois to Tennessee each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 10,866 people (±3,232) moved from Illinois to Tennessee that year, against about 3,992 (±1,354) from Tennessee to Illinois. That makes Illinois the 5th-largest source of new residents for Tennessee among the states.