Moving from Montana to Washington
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Billings and Seattle it is about 777 miles and 2 days on the road (about 14 hours of driving); the 10 city pairs we price between the two states run from 198 to 805 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.
- ~777 miBillings → Seattle
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,497+2-bedroom, movers
- 10City routes priced
In short
About 6,291 people moved from Montana to Washington in 2024 (Census estimate, ±2,249), and about 3,631 went the other way. Between Billings and Seattle it is about 777 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,497 – $4,662 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 23 movers based in Montana hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Montana to Washington
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 6,291 people a year (±2,249), against about 3,631 (±1,556) from Washington to Montana, so Washington gains about 2,660 people a year on this exchange. Montana is the 9th-largest of the 48 states sending people to Washington; Washington took in about 221,646 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Flathead County | Spokane County | 297 ±272 |
| Missoula County | Spokane County | 255 ±191 |
| Gallatin County | Spokane County | 149 ±132 |
| Yellowstone County | Benton County | 148 ±149* |
| Lincoln County | Pend Oreille County | 148 ±148* |
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. * Margin as large as the estimate.
Billings to Seattle, 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 Montana and Washington.
Cost of moving from Montana to Washington
At about 777 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,497 – $4,662 for a two-bedroom home and $4,021 – $5,361 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,517 – $3,357; a freight trailer is $1,678 – $2,238.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,622 – $3,497 | $1,888 – $2,517 | $1,259 – $1,678 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,147 – $4,196 | $2,266 – $3,021 | $1,510 – $2,014 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,497 – $4,662 | $2,517 – $3,357 | $1,678 – $2,238 |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,021 – $5,361 | $2,895 – $3,860 | $1,930 – $2,573 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,545 – $6,061 | $3,273 – $4,364 | $2,182 – $2,909 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $5,245 – $6,993 | $3,776 – $5,035 | $2,517 – $3,357 |
Transport only, for an estimated 777 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 Montana to Washington
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 1 has a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula to Spokane | ~198 mi | 1–3 days | $891 – $1,188 | $1,025 – $1,366 |
| Missoula to Seattle | ~460 mi | 3–7 days | $2,070 – $2,760 | $2,381 – $3,174 |
| Missoula to Tacoma | ~464 mi | 3–7 days | $2,088 – $2,784 | $2,401 – $3,202 |
| Missoula to Olympia | ~489 mi | 3–7 days | $2,201 – $2,934 | $2,531 – $3,374 |
| Missoula to Vancouver | ~493 mi | 3–7 days | $2,219 – $2,958 | $2,551 – $3,402 |
| Billings to Spokane | ~515 mi | 3–7 days | $2,318 – $3,090 | $2,665 – $3,554 |
| Billings to Seattle | ~777 mi | 3–7 days | $3,497 – $4,662 | $4,021 – $5,361 |
| Billings to Tacoma | ~781 mi | 3–7 days | $3,515 – $4,686 | $4,042 – $5,389 |
| Billings to Vancouver | ~797 mi | 3–7 days | $3,587 – $4,782 | $4,124 – $5,499 |
| Billings to Olympia | ~805 mi | 3–7 days | $3,623 – $4,830 | $4,166 – $5,554 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Montana
6 of the 23 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 108 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 9 of 59 vehicle inspections (15.3%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 11 of 106 driver inspections (10.4%, against 13.0%). None has an acute or critical violation from an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hi-Line Moving Services IncGreat Falls, MT · USDOT 877828 | 59 | 5 of 33 | 3 of 59 |
| A Team Moving and StorageMarion, MT · USDOT 2376754 | 36 | 2 of 20 | 5 of 36 |
| All Lanes Moving & Storage IncMissoula, MT · USDOT 917105 | 9 | 1 of 4 | 3 of 9 |
| Merchants Moving & StorageHamilton, MT · USDOT 1124148 | 2 | 1 of 2 | none inspected |
| Two Men and A Truck KalispellColumbia Falls, MT · USDOT 2965219 | 1 | none inspected | 0 of 1 |
| Service Long Distance Moving LLCMissoula, MT · USDOT 4461286 | 1 | none inspected | 0 of 1 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
30 listed household-goods carriers are based in Montana, 23 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Montana directory ranks them. At the Washington end, 458 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Washington, moving costs in Washington, or the reverse trip, Washington to Montana. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Montana
Montana to Washington moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Montana to Washington?
Between the two states' main cities, Billings and Seattle, the distance is about 777 miles. From our model that is $3,497 – $4,662 for a two-bedroom home and $4,021 – $5,361 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,517 – $3,357 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,678 – $2,238. Across the 10 city pairs we price between Montana and Washington, distances run from 198 to 805 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Montana to Washington take?
Billings to Seattle is 2 days on the road (about 14 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Montana to Washington?
Yes. A move from Montana into Washington is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 30 listed movers based in Montana, 23 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Montana.
What is the cheapest way to move from Montana to Washington?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,678 – $2,238 for a two-bedroom home over 777 miles against $3,497 – $4,662 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,517 – $3,357, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Montana to Washington each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 6,291 people (±2,249) moved from Montana to Washington that year, against about 3,631 (±1,556) from Washington to Montana. That makes Montana the 9th-largest source of new residents for Washington among the states.