Moving from Saint Louis, MO to Kansas City, MO
About 278 miles inside Missouri. Past the 100-mile local band movers price on distance and weight, but because the truck never crosses a state line the move is regulated by Missouri, not by the federal FMCSA. That changes which licence to check and which estimate rules protect you.
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 Kansas City, MO covers about 278 miles and is a move within Missouri. Full-service movers cost $1,251 – $1,668 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 345 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 278 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 $1,251 – $1,668. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Missouri
- Driving
- about 5 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Saint Louis to Kansas City
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $938 – $1,251 | $676 – $901 | $450 – $600 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,126 – $1,501 | $811 – $1,081 | $540 – $721 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,251 – $1,668 | $901 – $1,201 | $600 – $801 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,439 – $1,918 | $1,036 – $1,381 | $691 – $921 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,626 – $2,168 | $1,171 – $1,561 | $781 – $1,041 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,877 – $2,502 | $1,351 – $1,801 | $901 – $1,201 |
Transport only, for an estimated 278 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 Kansas City
278 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,390. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,251 to $1,668, 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 Kansas City
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 345 people a year (±153) moved from St. Louis city, MO, home to Saint Louis, to Jackson County, MO, home to Kansas City. Going the other way: about 494 people a year (±157). Movers from St. Louis city make up 1.0% of the 35,887 people a year who moved into Jackson County from another county or state.
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Johnson County, KS | 6,448 ±989 |
| Cass County, MO | 2,382 ±515 |
| Clay County, MO | 2,326 ±431 |
| Wyandotte County, KS | 1,218 ±327 |
| Greene County, MO | 1,208 ±277 |
Licensed movers at each end
95 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Saint Louis. 23 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 23.8% of their 1,153 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 |
| A-Mrazek Moving Systems IncUSDOT 1274574 | Saint Louis · 13 mi | 21 trucks | 0 | — |
| McGuire Moving &Storage IncUSDOT 543880 | Saint Louis · 6 mi | 16 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 2 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Kansas City end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Kansas City: Studdard Moving and Storage (Leavenworth, 22 trucks), Century Van Lines Inc (Leavenworth, 20 trucks), Gerber Transfer LLC (Bonner Springs, 17 trucks), Centurion Moving & Storage LLC (Kansas City, 15 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Missouri, so Missouri rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Missouri 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 Missouri, so your protection on this 278-mile job is the estimate you sign; ask for it binding or not-to-exceed. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Saint Louis to Kansas City
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 278 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 Kansas City
A local move inside Kansas City later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $465 – $761 for a two-bedroom home and $777 – $1,398 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Kansas City are Kansas City (about 3 mi), Overland Park (about 12 mi), Columbia (about 141 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 Louisville, KY | ~281 mi | $1,265 – $1,686 |
| Saint Louis to Overland Park, KS | ~284 mi | $1,278 – $1,704 |
| Saint Louis to Chicago, IL | ~306 mi | $1,377 – $1,836 |
| 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 Kansas City: from Kansas City, KS, from Overland Park, KS, from Columbia, MO, from Springfield, MO.
Saint Louis to Kansas City moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Saint Louis to Kansas City, MO?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 278 miles cost about $938 – $1,251 for a studio, $1,251 – $1,668 for a two-bedroom home and $1,439 – $1,918 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Saint Louis to Kansas City, MO 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 Saint Louis to Kansas City, MO?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $600 – $801 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,251 – $1,668 with full-service movers; a moving container is $901 – $1,201.
Is Saint Louis to Kansas City, MO an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Missouri, so the move is regulated by Missouri rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Missouri 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 Saint Louis to Kansas City, MO each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 345 people a year (margin of error ±153) moved from St. Louis city, which contains Saint Louis, to Jackson County, which contains Kansas City.
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.