Moving from Boston, MA to Providence, RI
At about 48 miles, Boston to Providence is a local move. Movers bill it by the hour — crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee — so the bill depends on how long loading and unloading take more than on the miles. At 48 miles the drive is on the clock too — under an hour each way — so expect travel time billed above the flat fee. It does cross a state line, so the federal interstate rules apply even though the job is priced like a local one.
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 Providence, RI covers about 48 miles and is a local move. Full-service movers cost $525 – $859 for a two-bedroom home in our model, done in one day. About 1,043 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 48 miles, crews cover Boston to Providence in a single day — under an hour on the road — so there is no delivery window to negotiate. What matters is access at both ends — stairs, elevators, how far the truck can park from the door — because every extra hour is billed.
- Move type
- Local move
- Driving
- under an hour
- Usually moves on
- an hourly crew with one truck
- Book ahead
- 1 to 2 weeks
Cost of moving from Boston to Providence
Priced by the hour; the container and freight columns show what the same hours cost with a lower-rate crew.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $235 – $375 | $195 – $315 | $175 – $285 |
| 1 bedroom | $315 – $575 | $255 – $475 | $225 – $425 |
| 2 bedrooms | $475 – $775 | $375 – $635 | $325 – $565 |
| 3 bedrooms | $795 – $1,425 | $615 – $1,155 | $525 – $1,020 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,355 – $2,075 | $1,035 – $1,675 | $875 – $1,475 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,675 – $2,475 | $1,275 – $1,995 | $1,075 – $1,755 |
Inside the 100-mile local band, so these are hourly figures: crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee. Container and freight columns show the same job done by a lower-cost crew. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Boston to Providence
2 movers × 5–7 hours × $45–$56 an hour, plus a $75 travel fee = $525 to $859. The 48 miles only enter through the travel fee and drive time. 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 Providence
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 1,043 people a year (±354) moved from Suffolk County, MA, home to Boston, to Providence County, RI, home to Providence. Going the other way: about 842 people a year (±214). Movers from Suffolk County make up 4.1% of the 25,520 people a year who moved into Providence County from another county or state.
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Kent County, RI | 3,078 ±603 |
| Bristol County, MA | 2,172 ±493 |
| Bristol County, RI | 1,663 ±424 |
| Worcester County, MA | 1,363 ±403 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 1,310 ±405 |
Licensed movers at each end
246 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Boston. 133 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 12.1% of their 373 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 Providence end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Providence: Southcoast Moving Storage and Property Management LLC (New Bedford, 44 trucks), Gallo Moving & Storage LLC (Milford, 17 trucks), All My Sons Moving & Storage of Rhode Island LLC (North Attleboro, 12 trucks), Sterling Moving & Storage Inc (Cranston, 11 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Massachusetts, so Massachusetts rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Massachusetts licence or registration it holds and check it with the state. The federal 110% cap on non-binding estimates does not reach a move inside Massachusetts, so your protection on this 48-mile job is the estimate you sign, which on an hourly job means the rate, the minimum hours and the travel fee in writing. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Boston to Providence
Get the hourly rate, minimum and travel fee in writing
Local quotes hide in three numbers: the rate per mover per hour (about $45 to $56 for a full-service crew), a minimum number of hours, and a travel or "truck" fee of around $75. Ask for all three before you compare two movers.
Describe the access honestly
A third-floor walk-up, a long carry from the truck, an elevator that needs booking — each adds an hour or more, and on an hourly job that is the whole bill. Tell the mover before they quote, not on the day.
Arriving in Providence
A local move inside Providence later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $485 – $803 for a two-bedroom home and $813 – $1,479 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Providence are Warwick (about 10 mi), Worcester (about 42 mi), Boston (about 48 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 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 |
| Boston to Bridgeport, CT | ~159 mi | $716 – $954 |
Also moving to Providence: from Warwick, RI, from Worcester, MA, from Hartford, CT, from New Haven, CT.
Boston to Providence moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Boston to Providence?
It is billed by the hour. A two-bedroom home with a crew of 2 for 5 to 7 hours comes to about $525 – $859; a three-bedroom home with a crew of 3 for 6 to 9 hours is about $885 – $1,587. Both include a travel fee of around $75. The 48 miles between the two cities barely matter — hours on site do.
How long does a move from Boston to Providence take?
One day. The drive is under an hour, and a local crew loads, drives and unloads in a single shift. Book ahead: 1 to 2 weeks, 3 to 4 in summer or at a month-end.
What is the cheapest way to move from Boston to Providence?
Do the packing yourself and hire the crew only for loading, driving and unloading. On an hourly job every hour you save is money off the bill, and packing is the slowest part. A container is rarely worth it under 48 miles because the container fee replaces very little labour.
Is Boston to Providence an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Massachusetts, so the move is regulated by Massachusetts rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Massachusetts requires of household-goods movers; interstate authority (an MC number) is not required for this job. The federal 110% rule on non-binding estimates does not apply either, which is a good reason to ask for a binding estimate.
How many people move from Boston to Providence each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 1,043 people a year (margin of error ±354) moved from Suffolk County, which contains Boston, to Providence County, which contains Providence.
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.