Moving from Illinois to Texas
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Chicago and Houston it is 1,113 miles and 3 days on the road (about 20 hours of driving); the 48 city pairs we price between the two states run from 699 to 1,459 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.
- 1,113 miChicago → Houston
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $5,009+2-bedroom, movers
- 48City routes priced
In short
About 23,509 people moved from Illinois to Texas in 2024 (Census estimate, ±4,417), and about 18,189 went the other way. Between Chicago and Houston it is 1,113 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $5,009 – $6,678 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 216 movers based in Illinois hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Illinois to Texas
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 23,509 people a year (±4,417), against about 18,189 (±3,474) from Texas to Illinois, so Texas gains about 5,320 people a year on this exchange. Illinois is the 5th-largest of the 50 states sending people to Texas; Texas took in about 556,156 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Cook County | Harris County | 1,491 ±537 |
| Cook County | Dallas County | 1,175 ±297 |
| Cook County | Denton County | 895 ±769 |
| Cook County | Tarrant County | 809 ±424 |
| Cook County | Collin County | 692 ±414 |
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 Houston, 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 Texas.
Cost of moving from Illinois to Texas
At 1,113 miles, full-service movers should land around $5,009 – $6,678 for a two-bedroom home and $5,760 – $7,680 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,606 – $4,808; a freight trailer is $2,404 – $3,205.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,756 – $5,009 | $2,705 – $3,606 | $1,803 – $2,404 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,508 – $6,010 | $3,246 – $4,327 | $2,164 – $2,885 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,009 – $6,678 | $3,606 – $4,808 | $2,404 – $3,205 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,760 – $7,680 | $4,147 – $5,529 | $2,765 – $3,686 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,511 – $8,681 | $4,688 – $6,251 | $3,125 – $4,167 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,513 – $10,017 | $5,409 – $7,212 | $3,606 – $4,808 |
Transport only, for 1,113 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 Texas
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 7 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield to McKinney | ~699 mi | 3–7 days | $3,146 – $4,194 | $3,617 – $4,823 |
| Springfield to Plano | ~712 mi | 3–7 days | $3,204 – $4,272 | $3,685 – $4,913 |
| Springfield to Garland | ~716 mi | 3–7 days | $3,222 – $4,296 | $3,705 – $4,940 |
| Springfield to Dallas | ~731 mi | 3–7 days | $3,290 – $4,386 | $3,783 – $5,044 |
| Springfield to Irving | ~733 mi | 3–7 days | $3,299 – $4,398 | $3,793 – $5,058 |
| Springfield to Arlington | ~747 mi | 3–7 days | $3,362 – $4,482 | $3,866 – $5,154 |
| Springfield to Fort Worth | ~755 mi | 3–7 days | $3,398 – $4,530 | $3,907 – $5,209 |
| Peoria to McKinney | ~756 mi | 3–7 days | $3,402 – $4,536 | $3,912 – $5,216 |
| Peoria to Plano | ~769 mi | 3–7 days | $3,461 – $4,614 | $3,980 – $5,306 |
| Peoria to Garland | ~774 mi | 3–7 days | $3,483 – $4,644 | $4,005 – $5,341 |
| Peoria to Dallas | ~789 mi | 3–7 days | $3,551 – $4,734 | $4,083 – $5,444 |
| Peoria to Irving | ~790 mi | 3–7 days | $3,555 – $4,740 | $4,088 – $5,451 |
| Peoria to Arlington | ~804 mi | 3–7 days | $3,618 – $4,824 | $4,161 – $5,548 |
| Peoria to Fort Worth | ~811 mi | 3–7 days | $3,650 – $4,866 | $4,197 – $5,596 |
| Springfield to Amarillo | ~862 mi | 3–7 days | $3,879 – $5,172 | $4,461 – $5,948 |
| Springfield to Houston | ~893 mi | 3–7 days | $4,019 – $5,358 | $4,621 – $6,162 |
| Peoria to Amarillo | ~894 mi | 3–7 days | $4,023 – $5,364 | $4,626 – $6,169 |
| Chicago to McKinney | ~905 mi | 3–7 days | $4,073 – $5,430 | $4,683 – $6,245 |
| Chicago to Plano | ~919 mi | 3–7 days | $4,136 – $5,514 | $4,756 – $6,341 |
| Chicago to Garland | ~923 mi | 3–7 days | $4,154 – $5,538 | $4,777 – $6,369 |
| Springfield to Austin | ~934 mi | 3–7 days | $4,203 – $5,604 | $4,833 – $6,445 |
| Springfield to Lubbock | ~936 mi | 3–7 days | $4,212 – $5,616 | $4,844 – $6,458 |
| Chicago to Irving | ~940 mi | 3–7 days | $4,230 – $5,640 | $4,865 – $6,486 |
| Chicago to Arlington | ~953 mi | 3–7 days | $4,289 – $5,718 | $4,932 – $6,576 |
| Peoria to Houston | ~959 mi | 3–7 days | $4,316 – $5,754 | $4,963 – $6,617 |
| Chicago to Fort Worth | ~962 mi | 3–7 days | $4,329 – $5,772 | $4,978 – $6,638 |
| Chicago to Dallas | 969 mi | 3–7 days | $4,361 – $5,814 | $5,015 – $6,686 |
| Peoria to Lubbock | ~975 mi | 3–7 days | $4,388 – $5,850 | $5,046 – $6,728 |
| Peoria to Austin | ~995 mi | 3–7 days | $4,478 – $5,970 | $5,149 – $6,866 |
| Springfield to San Antonio | ~1,020 mi | 3–7 days | $4,590 – $6,120 | $5,279 – $7,038 |
| Chicago to Amarillo | ~1,043 mi | 3–7 days | $4,694 – $6,258 | $5,398 – $7,197 |
| Peoria to San Antonio | ~1,080 mi | 3–7 days | $4,860 – $6,480 | $5,589 – $7,452 |
| Springfield to Corpus Christi | ~1,099 mi | 3–7 days | $4,946 – $6,594 | $5,687 – $7,583 |
| Chicago to Houston | 1,113 mi | 3–7 days | $5,009 – $6,678 | $5,760 – $7,680 |
| Chicago to Lubbock | ~1,127 mi | 3–7 days | $5,072 – $6,762 | $5,832 – $7,776 |
| Chicago to Austin | ~1,142 mi | 3–7 days | $5,139 – $6,852 | $5,910 – $7,880 |
| Peoria to Corpus Christi | ~1,163 mi | 3–7 days | $5,234 – $6,978 | $6,019 – $8,025 |
| Springfield to Laredo | ~1,185 mi | 3–7 days | $5,333 – $7,110 | $6,132 – $8,177 |
| Springfield to McAllen | ~1,237 mi | 7–14 days | $5,567 – $7,422 | $6,401 – $8,535 |
| Peoria to Laredo | ~1,245 mi | 7–14 days | $5,603 – $7,470 | $6,443 – $8,591 |
| Chicago to San Antonio | 1,262 mi | 7–14 days | $5,679 – $7,572 | $6,531 – $8,708 |
| Springfield to El Paso | ~1,274 mi | 7–14 days | $5,733 – $7,644 | $6,593 – $8,791 |
| Peoria to McAllen | ~1,301 mi | 7–14 days | $5,855 – $7,806 | $6,733 – $8,977 |
| Chicago to Corpus Christi | ~1,306 mi | 7–14 days | $5,877 – $7,836 | $6,759 – $9,011 |
| Peoria to El Paso | ~1,309 mi | 7–14 days | $5,891 – $7,854 | $6,774 – $9,032 |
| Chicago to Laredo | ~1,392 mi | 7–14 days | $6,264 – $8,352 | $7,204 – $9,605 |
| Chicago to McAllen | ~1,444 mi | 7–14 days | $6,498 – $8,664 | $7,473 – $9,964 |
| Chicago to El Paso | ~1,459 mi | 7–14 days | $6,566 – $8,754 | $7,550 – $10,067 |
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 Texas end, 2,409 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Texas, moving costs in Texas, or the reverse trip, Texas 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 Texas moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Texas?
Between the two states' main cities, Chicago and Houston, the distance is 1,113 miles. From our model that is $5,009 – $6,678 for a two-bedroom home and $5,760 – $7,680 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,606 – $4,808 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,404 – $3,205. Across the 48 city pairs we price between Illinois and Texas, distances run from 699 to 1,459 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Illinois to Texas take?
Chicago to Houston is 3 days on the road (about 20 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 Texas?
Yes. A move from Illinois into Texas 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 Texas?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,404 – $3,205 for a two-bedroom home over 1,113 miles against $5,009 – $6,678 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,606 – $4,808, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Illinois to Texas each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 23,509 people (±4,417) moved from Illinois to Texas that year, against about 18,189 (±3,474) from Texas to Illinois. That makes Illinois the 5th-largest source of new residents for Texas among the states.