Moving from Missouri to Illinois
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Saint Louis and Chicago it is about 306 miles and about 6 hours; the 12 city pairs we price between the two states run from 101 to 515 miles.
Prices from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Carriers: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot 2026-09-24. We do not move anyone.
- ~306 miSaint Louis → Chicago
- 1–3 daysTypical transit
- $1,377+2-bedroom, movers
- 12City routes priced
In short
About 10,892 people moved from Missouri to Illinois in 2024 (Census estimate, ±2,510), and about 18,362 went the other way. Between Saint Louis and Chicago it is about 306 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $1,377 – $1,836 in our model, delivered in 1–3 days. 132 movers based in Missouri hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Missouri to Illinois
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 10,892 people a year (±2,510), against about 18,362 (±3,110) from Illinois to Missouri, so Illinois loses about 7,470 people a year on this exchange. Missouri is the 7th-largest of the 48 states sending people to Illinois; Illinois took in about 199,996 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis City | St. Clair County | 1,099 ±517 |
| St. Louis County | St. Clair County | 1,033 ±437 |
| St. Louis County | Madison County | 875 ±251 |
| St. Louis County | Cook County | 678 ±205 |
| St. Louis City | Cook County | 676 ±251 |
US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 state-to-state migration and ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county flows; people a year with a 90% margin of error. County names link to their cost guides.
Saint Louis to Chicago, the representative route
Each state is represented by its largest city we cover. The map shows that corridor; the table further down prices every city pair between Missouri and Illinois.
Cost of moving from Missouri to Illinois
At about 306 miles, full-service movers should land around $1,377 – $1,836 for a two-bedroom home and $1,584 – $2,111 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $991 – $1,322; a freight trailer is $661 – $881.
| 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 an estimated 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.
City-to-city routes from Missouri to Illinois
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 4 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis to Springfield | ~101 mi | 1–3 days | $455 – $606 | $523 – $697 |
| Saint Louis to Peoria | ~171 mi | 1–3 days | $770 – $1,026 | $885 – $1,180 |
| Columbia to Springfield | ~181 mi | 1–3 days | $815 – $1,086 | $937 – $1,249 |
| Columbia to Peoria | ~220 mi | 1–3 days | $990 – $1,320 | $1,138 – $1,518 |
| Saint Louis to Chicago | ~306 mi | 1–3 days | $1,377 – $1,836 | $1,584 – $2,111 |
| Springfield to Springfield | ~311 mi | 1–3 days | $1,400 – $1,866 | $1,609 – $2,146 |
| Kansas City to Springfield | ~312 mi | 1–3 days | $1,404 – $1,872 | $1,615 – $2,153 |
| Kansas City to Peoria | ~334 mi | 1–3 days | $1,503 – $2,004 | $1,728 – $2,305 |
| Springfield to Peoria | ~364 mi | 1–3 days | $1,638 – $2,184 | $1,884 – $2,512 |
| Columbia to Chicago | ~373 mi | 1–3 days | $1,679 – $2,238 | $1,930 – $2,574 |
| Kansas City to Chicago | ~481 mi | 3–7 days | $2,165 – $2,886 | $2,489 – $3,319 |
| Springfield to Chicago | ~515 mi | 3–7 days | $2,318 – $3,090 | $2,665 – $3,554 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Missouri
51 of the 132 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 2,422 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 298 of 1,266 vehicle inspections (23.5%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 131 of 2,416 driver inspections (5.4%, against 13.0%). 1 carrier has an acute or critical violation found in an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Van LinesFenton, MO · USDOT 77949 | 2,112 | 268 of 1,102 | 71 of 2,110 |
| Carlyle Van Lines IncWarrensburg, MO · USDOT 279780 | 78 | 10 of 35 | 5 of 78 |
| Day Transfer Company IncCape Girardeau, MO · USDOT 2441154 | 45 | 11 of 27 | 6 of 45 |
| Modern Piano MovingSullivan, MO · USDOT 454870 | 19 | 0 of 8 | 1 of 19 |
| Pack and Load Moving and Storage LLCSaint Louis, MO · USDOT 4345256 | 15 | 0 of 8 | 7 of 15 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Kansas LLCKansas City, MO · USDOT 1980643 | 11 | 0 of 8 | 0 of 11 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
238 listed household-goods carriers are based in Missouri, 132 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Missouri directory ranks them. At the Illinois end, 341 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Illinois, moving costs in Illinois, or the reverse trip, Illinois to Missouri. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Missouri
Missouri to Illinois moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Missouri to Illinois?
Between the two states' main cities, Saint Louis and Chicago, the distance is about 306 miles. From our model that is $1,377 – $1,836 for a two-bedroom home and $1,584 – $2,111 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $991 – $1,322 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $661 – $881. Across the 12 city pairs we price between Missouri and Illinois, distances run from 101 to 515 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Missouri to Illinois take?
Saint Louis to Chicago is about 6 hours. The move itself typically takes 1 to 3 days, because at this distance it usually travels on a dedicated truck, because the corridor is too short to be worth consolidating. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 2 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Missouri to Illinois?
Yes. A move from Missouri into Illinois is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 238 listed movers based in Missouri, 132 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Missouri.
What is the cheapest way to move from Missouri to Illinois?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $661 – $881 for a two-bedroom home over 306 miles against $1,377 – $1,836 with full-service movers. A container, about $991 – $1,322, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Missouri to Illinois each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 10,892 people (±2,510) moved from Missouri to Illinois that year, against about 18,362 (±3,110) from Illinois to Missouri. That makes Missouri the 7th-largest source of new residents for Illinois among the states.