Moving from Boston, MA to Albany, NY
About 162 miles across a state line, from Massachusetts into New York, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Boston, MA to Albany, NY covers about 162 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $729 – $972 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 239 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 162 miles, about 3 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 $729 – $972. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 3 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Boston to Albany
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $547 – $729 | $394 – $525 | $262 – $350 |
| 1 bedroom | $656 – $875 | $472 – $630 | $315 – $420 |
| 2 bedrooms | $729 – $972 | $525 – $700 | $350 – $467 |
| 3 bedrooms | $838 – $1,118 | $604 – $805 | $402 – $537 |
| 4 bedrooms | $948 – $1,264 | $682 – $910 | $455 – $607 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,094 – $1,458 | $787 – $1,050 | $525 – $700 |
Transport only, for an estimated 162 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, Boston to Albany
162 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $810. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $729 to $972, 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 Boston to Albany
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 239 people a year (±200) moved from Suffolk County, MA, home to Boston, to Albany County, NY, home to Albany. Going the other way: about 100 people a year (±68). Movers from Suffolk County make up 1.2% of the 20,743 people a year who moved into Albany County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 17,862 people a year (±2,974) moving from Massachusetts to New York and about 18,697 people a year (±3,077) from New York to Massachusetts — a net gain for Massachusetts of about 835 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Middlesex County, MA | 17,104 ±1,315 |
| Norfolk County, MA | 10,905 ±1,500 |
| Essex County, MA | 4,501 ±942 |
| Plymouth County, MA | 3,190 ±733 |
| Worcester County, MA | 2,085 ±401 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Rensselaer County, NY | 2,443 ±535 |
| Schenectady County, NY | 1,786 ±543 |
| Saratoga County, NY | 1,684 ±464 |
| Bronx County, NY | 1,036 ±392 |
| Erie County, NY | 750 ±490 |
Licensed movers at each end
174 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Boston (246 counting those licensed only inside Massachusetts). 120 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 12.0% of their 368 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gentle Giant Moving CompanyUSDOT 373544 | Winchester · 8 mi | 88 trucks | 78 | 4.9% of 41 |
| Olympia Moving & StorageUSDOT 597632 | Watertown Town · 6 mi | 70 trucks | 30 | 5.3% of 19 |
| DN Van Lines Moving & StorageUSDOT 1141917 | Northborough · 30 mi | 32 trucks | 95 | 10.8% of 37 |
| Stairhopper Movers LLCUSDOT 1696867 | Everett · 3 mi | 31 trucks | 54 | 0.0% of 16 |
| ABC Moving Services IncUSDOT 279719 | Somerville · 3 mi | 23 trucks | 0 | — |
| Tobin ScientificUSDOT 342626 | Beverly · 18 mi | 22 trucks | 21 | 10.0% of 10 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Albany end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Albany: Mabey's Moving & Storage Inc (Rensselaer, 32 trucks), Arnoff Moving & Storage (Malta, 22 trucks), Schaap Moving Systems Inc (Albany, 10 trucks), Clark Moving and Storage of Albany Inc (Schenectady, 7 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Massachusetts into New York, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book Boston to Albany
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 162 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 Albany
A local move inside Albany later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $515 – $845 for a two-bedroom home and $867 – $1,560 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Albany are Schenectady (about 17 mi), Springfield (about 82 mi), Utica (about 94 mi).
Other routes from Boston
All routes from Boston, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Boston to Worcester, MA | ~45 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Nashua, NH | 45 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Providence, RI | ~48 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Warwick, RI | ~58 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Springfield, MA | ~94 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Hartford, CT | ~108 mi | $486 – $648 |
| Boston to Portland, ME | ~115 mi | $518 – $690 |
| Boston to New Haven, CT | ~140 mi | $630 – $840 |
Also moving to Albany: from Schenectady, NY, from Utica, NY, from Mount Vernon, NY, from Syracuse, NY.
Boston to Albany moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Boston to Albany?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 162 miles cost about $547 – $729 for a studio, $729 – $972 for a two-bedroom home and $838 – $1,118 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Boston to Albany take?
The drive is about 3 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 Boston to Albany?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $350 – $467 for a two-bedroom home, against $729 – $972 with full-service movers; a moving container is $525 – $700.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Boston to Albany?
Yes. Boston is in Massachusetts and Albany is in New York, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 174 listed movers within 30 miles of Boston hold it.
How many people move from Boston to Albany each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 239 people a year (margin of error ±200) moved from Suffolk County, which contains Boston, to Albany County, which contains Albany.
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.