Moving from New Jersey to Illinois
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Newark and Chicago it is about 818 miles and 2 days on the road (about 15 hours of driving); the 9 city pairs we price between the two states run from 816 to 960 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.
- ~818 miNewark → Chicago
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,681+2-bedroom, movers
- 9City routes priced
In short
About 2,490 people moved from New Jersey to Illinois in 2024 (Census estimate, ±788), and about 2,836 went the other way. Between Newark and Chicago it is about 818 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,681 – $4,908 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 424 movers based in New Jersey hold interstate authority.
Who moves from New Jersey to Illinois
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 2,490 people a year (±788), against about 2,836 (±1,283) from Illinois to New Jersey, so Illinois loses about 346 people a year on this exchange. New Jersey is the 23rd-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington County | Kane County | 287 ±364* |
| Morris County | Cook County | 229 ±132 |
| Middlesex County | Cook County | 200 ±157 |
| Camden County | Cook County | 188 ±153 |
| Hudson County | Cook County | 164 ±147 |
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.
Newark 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 New Jersey and Illinois.
Cost of moving from New Jersey to Illinois
At about 818 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,681 – $4,908 for a two-bedroom home and $4,233 – $5,644 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,650 – $3,534; a freight trailer is $1,767 – $2,356.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,761 – $3,681 | $1,988 – $2,650 | $1,325 – $1,767 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,313 – $4,417 | $2,385 – $3,180 | $1,590 – $2,120 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,681 – $4,908 | $2,650 – $3,534 | $1,767 – $2,356 |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,233 – $5,644 | $3,048 – $4,064 | $2,032 – $2,709 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,785 – $6,380 | $3,445 – $4,594 | $2,297 – $3,063 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $5,522 – $7,362 | $3,975 – $5,301 | $2,650 – $3,534 |
Transport only, for an estimated 818 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 New Jersey to Illinois
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paterson to Chicago | ~816 mi | 3–7 days | $3,672 – $4,896 | $4,223 – $5,630 |
| Newark to Chicago | ~818 mi | 3–7 days | $3,681 – $4,908 | $4,233 – $5,644 |
| Jersey City to Chicago | ~826 mi | 3–7 days | $3,717 – $4,956 | $4,275 – $5,699 |
| Paterson to Peoria | ~939 mi | 3–7 days | $4,226 – $5,634 | $4,859 – $6,479 |
| Newark to Peoria | ~940 mi | 3–7 days | $4,230 – $5,640 | $4,865 – $6,486 |
| Jersey City to Peoria | ~948 mi | 3–7 days | $4,266 – $5,688 | $4,906 – $6,541 |
| Newark to Springfield | ~953 mi | 3–7 days | $4,289 – $5,718 | $4,932 – $6,576 |
| Paterson to Springfield | ~953 mi | 3–7 days | $4,289 – $5,718 | $4,932 – $6,576 |
| Jersey City to Springfield | ~960 mi | 3–7 days | $4,320 – $5,760 | $4,968 – $6,624 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in New Jersey
255 of the 424 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 2,208 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 200 of 1,351 vehicle inspections (14.8%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 507 of 2,203 driver inspections (23.0%, against 13.0%). 2 carriers have 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flower Transfer LogisticsSewell, NJ · USDOT 346532 | 262 | 4 of 201 | 1 of 262 |
| Budd Van Lines IncSomerset, NJ · USDOT 185771 | 107 | 4 of 56 | 9 of 107 |
| Cross Country Long Distance MoversClifton, NJ · USDOT 3051646 | 80 | 11 of 52 | 56 of 80 |
| Moving Express & Storage IncPassaic, NJ · USDOT 2055103 | 62 | 8 of 38 | 14 of 62 |
| Cobra Van Lines Moving SystemHackensack, NJ · USDOT 4309696 | 51 | 6 of 29 | 15 of 51 |
| Imovers LLCEdgewater, NJ · USDOT 3513866 | 47 | 5 of 19 | 16 of 47 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
558 listed household-goods carriers are based in New Jersey, 424 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the New Jersey 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 New Jersey. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from New Jersey
New Jersey to Illinois moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from New Jersey to Illinois?
Between the two states' main cities, Newark and Chicago, the distance is about 818 miles. From our model that is $3,681 – $4,908 for a two-bedroom home and $4,233 – $5,644 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,650 – $3,534 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,767 – $2,356. Across the 9 city pairs we price between New Jersey and Illinois, distances run from 816 to 960 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from New Jersey to Illinois take?
Newark to Chicago is 2 days on the road (about 15 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 New Jersey to Illinois?
Yes. A move from New Jersey into Illinois is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 558 listed movers based in New Jersey, 424 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within New Jersey.
What is the cheapest way to move from New Jersey to Illinois?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,767 – $2,356 for a two-bedroom home over 818 miles against $3,681 – $4,908 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,650 – $3,534, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from New Jersey to Illinois each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 2,490 people (±788) moved from New Jersey to Illinois that year, against about 2,836 (±1,283) from Illinois to New Jersey. That makes New Jersey the 23rd-largest source of new residents for Illinois among the states.