Moving from Boston, MA to Portland, ME
About 115 miles across a state line, from Massachusetts into Maine, 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 Portland, ME covers about 115 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $518 – $690 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 416 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 115 miles, about 2 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 $518 – $690. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 2 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Boston to Portland
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $450 – $600 | $315 – $420 | $225 – $300 |
| 1 bedroom | $466 – $621 | $335 – $447 | $225 – $300 |
| 2 bedrooms | $518 – $690 | $373 – $497 | $248 – $331 |
| 3 bedrooms | $595 – $794 | $428 – $571 | $286 – $381 |
| 4 bedrooms | $673 – $897 | $484 – $646 | $323 – $431 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $776 – $1,035 | $559 – $745 | $373 – $497 |
Transport only, for an estimated 115 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 Portland
115 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $575. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $518 to $690, 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 Portland
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 416 people a year (±181) moved from Suffolk County, MA, home to Boston, to Cumberland County, ME, home to Portland. Going the other way: about 178 people a year (±93). Movers from Suffolk County make up 2.7% of the 15,393 people a year who moved into Cumberland County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 6,723 people a year (±2,509) moving from Massachusetts to Maine and about 6,746 people a year (±2,201) from Maine to Massachusetts — a net gain for Massachusetts of about 23 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 |
|---|---|
| York County, ME | 1,799 ±379 |
| Androscoggin County, ME | 1,445 ±352 |
| Penobscot County, ME | 726 ±337 |
| Kennebec County, ME | 542 ±262 |
| Oxford County, ME | 536 ±187 |
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 Portland end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Portland: Bisson Moving LLC (Westbrook, 20 trucks), Earle W Noyes & Sons Moving Specialists (Portland, 14 trucks), Integrity Movers (Scarborough, 5 trucks), Reds Moving Inc (Lewiston, 5 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Massachusetts into Maine, 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 Portland
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 115 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 Portland
A local move inside Portland 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 Portland are Manchester (about 88 mi), Nashua (about 101 mi), Boston (about 115 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 New Haven, CT | ~140 mi | $630 – $840 |
| Boston to Bridgeport, CT | ~159 mi | $716 – $954 |
Also moving to Portland: from Manchester, NH, from Bangor, ME, from Hartford, CT, from Bridgeport, CT.
Boston to Portland moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Boston to Portland, ME?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 115 miles cost about $450 – $600 for a studio, $518 – $690 for a two-bedroom home and $595 – $794 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Boston to Portland, ME take?
The drive is about 2 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 Portland, ME?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $248 – $331 for a two-bedroom home, against $518 – $690 with full-service movers; a moving container is $373 – $497.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Boston to Portland, ME?
Yes. Boston is in Massachusetts and Portland is in Maine, 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 Portland, ME each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 416 people a year (margin of error ±181) moved from Suffolk County, which contains Boston, to Cumberland County, which contains Portland.
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.