Moving from Boston, MA to Philadelphia, PA
306 miles across a state line, from Massachusetts into Pennsylvania, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Measured driving distance. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Boston, MA to Philadelphia, PA covers 306 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,377 – $1,836 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 682 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 306 miles, about 6 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 $1,377 – $1,836. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 6 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Boston to Philadelphia
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,033 – $1,377 | $744 – $991 | $496 – $661 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,239 – $1,652 | $892 – $1,190 | $595 – $793 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,377 – $1,836 | $991 – $1,322 | $661 – $881 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,584 – $2,111 | $1,140 – $1,520 | $760 – $1,013 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,790 – $2,387 | $1,289 – $1,718 | $859 – $1,146 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $2,066 – $2,754 | $1,487 – $1,983 | $991 – $1,322 |
Transport only, for 306 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 Philadelphia
306 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,530. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,377 to $1,836, 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 Philadelphia
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 682 people a year (±365) moved from Suffolk County, MA, home to Boston, to Philadelphia County, PA, home to Philadelphia. Going the other way: about 743 people a year (±270). Movers from Suffolk County make up 1.0% of the 67,261 people a year who moved into Philadelphia County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 5,948 people a year (±1,807) moving from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania and about 5,490 people a year (±1,672) from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts — a net gain for Pennsylvania of about 458 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 |
|---|---|
| Montgomery County, PA | 6,964 ±711 |
| Delaware County, PA | 5,131 ±857 |
| Bucks County, PA | 4,654 ±928 |
| Camden County, NJ | 3,114 ±777 |
| Kings County, NY | 2,379 ±681 |
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 Philadelphia end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Philadelphia: Flower Transfer Logistics (Sewell, 134 trucks), Wayne Moving and Storage (West Chester, 28 trucks), ABC Pro Movers Inc (Philadelphia, 26 trucks), Hughes Relocation Services Inc (Lansdale, 21 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Massachusetts into Pennsylvania, 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 Philadelphia
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 306 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 Philadelphia
A local move inside Philadelphia later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $495 – $817 for a two-bedroom home and $831 – $1,506 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Philadelphia are Wilmington (about 29 mi), Allentown (about 56 mi), Dover (about 68 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 Philadelphia: from Wilmington, DE, from Allentown, PA, from Dover, DE, from Newark, NJ.
Boston to Philadelphia moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Boston to Philadelphia?
From our published model, full-service movers over 306 miles cost about $1,033 – $1,377 for a studio, $1,377 – $1,836 for a two-bedroom home and $1,584 – $2,111 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Boston to Philadelphia take?
The drive is about 6 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 Philadelphia?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $661 – $881 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,377 – $1,836 with full-service movers; a moving container is $991 – $1,322.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Boston to Philadelphia?
Yes. Boston is in Massachusetts and Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania, 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 Philadelphia each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 682 people a year (margin of error ±365) moved from Suffolk County, which contains Boston, to Philadelphia County, which contains Philadelphia.
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.