Moving from Durham, NC to Philadelphia, PA
About 397 miles across a state line, from North Carolina into Pennsylvania, 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 Durham, NC to Philadelphia, PA covers about 397 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,787 – $2,382 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 145 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 397 miles, about 7 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 $1,787 – $2,382. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 7 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Durham to Philadelphia
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,340 – $1,787 | $965 – $1,286 | $643 – $858 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,608 – $2,144 | $1,158 – $1,544 | $772 – $1,029 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,787 – $2,382 | $1,286 – $1,715 | $858 – $1,143 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,054 – $2,739 | $1,479 – $1,972 | $986 – $1,315 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,322 – $3,097 | $1,672 – $2,230 | $1,115 – $1,486 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $2,680 – $3,573 | $1,929 – $2,573 | $1,286 – $1,715 |
Transport only, for an estimated 397 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, Durham to Philadelphia
397 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,985. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,787 to $2,382, 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 Durham to Philadelphia
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 145 people a year (±138) moved from Durham County, NC, home to Durham, to Philadelphia County, PA, home to Philadelphia. Going the other way: about 159 people a year (±129). Movers from Durham County make up 0.2% of the 67,261 people a year who moved into Philadelphia County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 7,838 people a year (±2,108) moving from North Carolina to Pennsylvania and about 13,261 people a year (±3,306) from Pennsylvania to North Carolina — a net gain for North Carolina of about 5,423 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Wake County, NC | 6,396 ±1,096 |
| Orange County, NC | 2,251 ±561 |
| Guilford County, NC | 1,001 ±369 |
| Forsyth County, NC | 801 ±322 |
| Alamance County, NC | 792 ±501 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Montgomery County, PA | 6,964 ±711 |
| Delaware County, PA | 5,131 ±857 |
| Bucks County, PA | 4,654 ±928 |
| Camden County, NJ | 3,114 ±777 |
| Kings County, NY | 2,379 ±681 |
Licensed movers at each end
51 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Durham (99 counting those licensed only inside North Carolina). 24 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 27.4% of their 62 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All American RelocationUSDOT 917428 | Raleigh · 26 mi | 41 trucks | 4 | 33.3% of 3 |
| Zippy ShellUSDOT 2574332 | Wake Forest · 20 mi | 35 trucks | 4 | 33.3% of 3 |
| Trosa MovingUSDOT 675014 | Durham · 0 mi | 32 trucks | 11 | 0.0% of 5 |
| Miracle Movers RaleighUSDOT 3139734 | Durham · 6 mi | 20 trucks | 2 | — |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of RaleighUSDOT 906054 | Raleigh · 9 mi | 16 trucks | 1 | 100.0% of 1 |
| Dba Armstrong Relocation Co Inc Raleigh NCUSDOT 1071807 | Durham · 6 mi | 15 trucks | 10 | 40.0% of 5 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Philadelphia end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Philadelphia: Flower Transfer Logistics (Sewell, 134 trucks), Wayne Moving and Storage (West Chester, 28 trucks), ABC Pro Movers Inc (Philadelphia, 26 trucks), Hughes Relocation Services Inc (Lansdale, 21 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from North Carolina into Pennsylvania, 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 Durham to Philadelphia
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 397 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 Philadelphia
A local move inside Philadelphia later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $495 – $817 for a two-bedroom home and $831 – $1,506 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Philadelphia are Wilmington (about 29 mi), Allentown (about 56 mi), Dover (about 68 mi).
Other routes from Durham
All routes from Durham, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham to Chapel Hill, NC | ~11 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Raleigh, NC | ~24 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Greensboro, NC | ~58 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Fayetteville, NC | ~74 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Winston-Salem, NC | ~89 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Charlotte, NC | ~141 mi | $635 – $846 |
| Durham to Richmond, VA | ~156 mi | $702 – $936 |
| Durham to Washington, DC | ~262 mi | $1,179 – $1,572 |
Also moving to Philadelphia: from Wilmington, DE, from Allentown, PA, from Dover, DE, from Newark, NJ.
Durham to Philadelphia moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Durham to Philadelphia?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 397 miles cost about $1,340 – $1,787 for a studio, $1,787 – $2,382 for a two-bedroom home and $2,054 – $2,739 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Durham to Philadelphia take?
The drive is about 7 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 Durham to Philadelphia?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $858 – $1,143 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,787 – $2,382 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,286 – $1,715.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Durham to Philadelphia?
Yes. Durham is in North Carolina and Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 51 listed movers within 30 miles of Durham hold it.
How many people move from Durham to Philadelphia each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 145 people a year (margin of error ±138) moved from Durham County, which contains Durham, to Philadelphia County, which contains Philadelphia.
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.