Moving from Saint Louis, MO to Chicago, IL
About 306 miles across a state line, from Missouri into Illinois, 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 Saint Louis, MO to Chicago, IL covers about 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 676 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 Saint Louis to Chicago
| 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.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Saint Louis to Chicago
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 Saint Louis to Chicago
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 676 people a year (±251) moved from St. Louis city, MO, home to Saint Louis, to Cook County, IL, home to Chicago. Going the other way: about 682 people a year (±258). Movers from St. Louis city make up 0.5% of the 127,735 people a year who moved into Cook County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 10,892 people a year (±2,510) moving from Missouri to Illinois and about 18,362 people a year (±3,110) from Illinois to Missouri — a net gain for Missouri of about 7,470 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| St. Louis County, MO | 11,953 ±1,596 |
| Jefferson County, MO | 1,408 ±550 |
| St. Clair County, IL | 1,099 ±517 |
| St. Charles County, MO | 1,050 ±480 |
| Cook County, IL | 676 ±251 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DuPage County, IL | 13,206 ±1,320 |
| Lake County, IL | 6,678 ±1,090 |
| Will County, IL | 6,454 ±1,007 |
| Kane County, IL | 4,555 ±770 |
| Lake County, IN | 3,835 ±861 |
Licensed movers at each end
55 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Saint Louis (95 counting those licensed only inside Missouri). 22 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 23.7% of their 1,152 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Van LinesUSDOT 77949 | Fenton · 17 mi | 4,731 trucks | 2,112 | 24.3% of 1,102 |
| Aero Mayflower Transit CompanyUSDOT 73351 | Earth City · 18 mi | 42 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Cord Moving and Storage CompanyUSDOT 181102 | Earth City · 18 mi | 35 trucks | 2 | 50.0% of 2 |
| World Class Moving & StorageUSDOT 3295868 | Saint Louis · 4 mi | 21 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 3 |
| McGuire Moving &Storage IncUSDOT 543880 | Saint Louis · 6 mi | 16 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 2 |
| College Hunks Hauling Junk & MovingUSDOT 3729289 | Saint Louis · 11 mi | 10 trucks | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Chicago end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Chicago: New World Van Lines Inc (Chicago, 204 trucks), National Van Lines Inc (Broadview, 174 trucks), New City Moving & Storage LLC (Chicago, 82 trucks), Complete Moving Inc (Arlington Heights, 80 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Missouri into Illinois, 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 Saint Louis to Chicago
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 Chicago
A local move inside Chicago later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $475 – $775 for a two-bedroom home and $795 – $1,425 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Chicago are Milwaukee (about 95 mi), Madison (about 142 mi), Grand Rapids (about 146 mi).
Other routes from Saint Louis
All routes from Saint Louis, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis to Springfield, IL | ~101 mi | $455 – $606 |
| Saint Louis to Columbia, MO | ~137 mi | $617 – $822 |
| Saint Louis to Springfield, MO | ~228 mi | $1,026 – $1,368 |
| Saint Louis to Kansas City, MO | ~278 mi | $1,251 – $1,668 |
| Saint Louis to Louisville, KY | ~281 mi | $1,265 – $1,686 |
| Saint Louis to Overland Park, KS | ~284 mi | $1,278 – $1,704 |
| Saint Louis to Little Rock, AR | ~341 mi | $1,535 – $2,046 |
| Saint Louis to Lexington, KY | ~363 mi | $1,634 – $2,178 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
Saint Louis to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Saint Louis to Chicago?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 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 Saint Louis to Chicago 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 Saint Louis to Chicago?
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 Saint Louis to Chicago?
Yes. Saint Louis is in Missouri and Chicago is in Illinois, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 55 listed movers within 30 miles of Saint Louis hold it.
How many people move from Saint Louis to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 676 people a year (margin of error ±251) moved from St. Louis city, which contains Saint Louis, to Cook County, which contains Chicago.
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.