Moving from Minneapolis, MN to Madison, WI
About 272 miles across a state line, from Minnesota into Wisconsin, 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 Minneapolis, MN to Madison, WI covers about 272 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,224 – $1,632 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 629 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 272 miles, about 5 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 $1,224 – $1,632. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 5 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Minneapolis to Madison
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $918 – $1,224 | $661 – $881 | $441 – $588 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,102 – $1,469 | $793 – $1,058 | $529 – $705 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,224 – $1,632 | $881 – $1,175 | $588 – $783 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,408 – $1,877 | $1,013 – $1,351 | $676 – $901 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,591 – $2,122 | $1,146 – $1,528 | $764 – $1,018 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,836 – $2,448 | $1,322 – $1,763 | $881 – $1,175 |
Transport only, for an estimated 272 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, Minneapolis to Madison
272 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,360. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,224 to $1,632, 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 Minneapolis to Madison
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 629 people a year (±149) moved from Hennepin County, MN, home to Minneapolis, to Dane County, WI, home to Madison. Going the other way: about 628 people a year (±212). Movers from Hennepin County make up 1.9% of the 32,725 people a year who moved into Dane County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 23,463 people a year (±3,257) moving from Minnesota to Wisconsin and about 20,316 people a year (±3,235) from Wisconsin to Minnesota — a net gain for Wisconsin of about 3,147 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Ramsey County, MN | 12,138 ±1,365 |
| Anoka County, MN | 8,764 ±1,203 |
| Dakota County, MN | 6,506 ±899 |
| Carver County, MN | 2,839 ±475 |
| Washington County, MN | 2,544 ±572 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Waukesha County, WI | 2,207 ±488 |
| Cook County, IL | 1,714 ±376 |
| Milwaukee County, WI | 1,494 ±310 |
| Rock County, WI | 1,194 ±389 |
| Columbia County, WI | 675 ±326 |
Licensed movers at each end
56 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Minneapolis (187 counting those licensed only inside Minnesota). 34 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 17.5% of their 715 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay and BayUSDOT 125630 | Eagan · 10 mi | 360 trucks | 954 | 15.8% of 507 |
| Berger Transfer & Storage IncUSDOT 125665 | Saint Paul · 6 mi | 221 trucks | 63 | 13.9% of 36 |
| Manning Transfer IncUSDOT 116111 | Blaine · 14 mi | 60 trucks | 104 | 23.5% of 51 |
| AAA Movers IncUSDOT 1140502 | Brooklyn Park · 11 mi | 44 trucks | 7 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Matt's Moving LLCUSDOT 1704106 | Saint Paul · 10 mi | 32 trucks | 15 | 25.0% of 4 |
| Twin Cities Moving Systems IncUSDOT 1273556 | Prior Lake · 22 mi | 30 trucks | 47 | 25.0% of 24 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Madison end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Madison: Reynolds Transfer & Storage Inc (Madison, 34 trucks), O'Mara Moving Systems Inc (Madison, 18 trucks), Mad City Moving (McFarland, 14 trucks), Yerges Van Liners Inc (Fort Atkinson, 12 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Minnesota into Wisconsin, 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 Minneapolis to Madison
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 272 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 Madison
A local move inside Madison 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 Madison are Milwaukee (about 87 mi), Green Bay (about 141 mi), Chicago (about 142 mi).
Other routes from Minneapolis
All routes from Minneapolis, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis to Saint Paul, MN | ~10 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Minneapolis to Rochester, MN | ~90 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Minneapolis to Sioux Falls, SD | ~231 mi | $1,040 – $1,386 |
| Minneapolis to Fargo, ND | ~250 mi | $1,125 – $1,500 |
| Minneapolis to Des Moines, IA | ~274 mi | $1,233 – $1,644 |
| Minneapolis to Omaha, NE | ~338 mi | $1,521 – $2,028 |
| Minneapolis to Milwaukee, WI | ~347 mi | $1,562 – $2,082 |
| Minneapolis to Chicago, IL | ~414 mi | $1,863 – $2,484 |
Also moving to Madison: from Milwaukee, WI, from Green Bay, WI, from Chicago, IL, from Saint Paul, MN.
Minneapolis to Madison moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Minneapolis to Madison?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 272 miles cost about $918 – $1,224 for a studio, $1,224 – $1,632 for a two-bedroom home and $1,408 – $1,877 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Minneapolis to Madison take?
The drive is about 5 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 Minneapolis to Madison?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $588 – $783 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,224 – $1,632 with full-service movers; a moving container is $881 – $1,175.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Minneapolis to Madison?
Yes. Minneapolis is in Minnesota and Madison is in Wisconsin, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 56 listed movers within 30 miles of Minneapolis hold it.
How many people move from Minneapolis to Madison each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 629 people a year (margin of error ±149) moved from Hennepin County, which contains Minneapolis, to Dane County, which contains Madison.
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.