Moving from New Jersey to Michigan
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Newark and Detroit it is about 550 miles and about 10 hours; the 12 city pairs we price between the two states run from 546 to 720 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.
- ~550 miNewark → Detroit
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $2,475+2-bedroom, movers
- 12City routes priced
In short
About 2,646 people moved from New Jersey to Michigan in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,670), and about 1,831 went the other way. Between Newark and Detroit it is about 550 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $2,475 – $3,300 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 424 movers based in New Jersey hold interstate authority.
Who moves from New Jersey to Michigan
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 2,646 people a year (±1,670), against about 1,831 (±810) from Michigan to New Jersey, so Michigan gains about 815 people a year on this exchange. New Jersey is the 13th-largest of the 49 states sending people to Michigan; Michigan took in about 140,323 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Bergen County | Washtenaw County | 399 ±380 |
| Middlesex County | Oakland County | 101 ±90 |
| Somerset County | Washtenaw County | 97 ±84 |
| Middlesex County | Kalamazoo County | 75 ±86* |
| Mercer County | Ingham County | 74 ±85* |
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 Detroit, 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 Michigan.
Cost of moving from New Jersey to Michigan
At about 550 miles, full-service movers should land around $2,475 – $3,300 for a two-bedroom home and $2,846 – $3,795 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $1,782 – $2,376; a freight trailer is $1,188 – $1,584.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,856 – $2,475 | $1,337 – $1,782 | $891 – $1,188 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,228 – $2,970 | $1,604 – $2,138 | $1,069 – $1,426 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,475 – $3,300 | $1,782 – $2,376 | $1,188 – $1,584 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,846 – $3,795 | $2,049 – $2,732 | $1,366 – $1,822 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,218 – $4,290 | $2,317 – $3,089 | $1,544 – $2,059 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $3,713 – $4,950 | $2,673 – $3,564 | $1,782 – $2,376 |
Transport only, for an estimated 550 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 Michigan
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 2 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paterson to Detroit | ~546 mi | 3–7 days | $2,457 – $3,276 | $2,826 – $3,767 |
| Newark to Detroit | ~550 mi | 3–7 days | $2,475 – $3,300 | $2,846 – $3,795 |
| Jersey City to Detroit | ~558 mi | 3–7 days | $2,511 – $3,348 | $2,888 – $3,850 |
| Paterson to Ann Arbor | ~587 mi | 3–7 days | $2,642 – $3,522 | $3,038 – $4,050 |
| Newark to Ann Arbor | ~591 mi | 3–7 days | $2,660 – $3,546 | $3,058 – $4,078 |
| Jersey City to Ann Arbor | ~598 mi | 3–7 days | $2,691 – $3,588 | $3,095 – $4,126 |
| Paterson to Lansing | ~640 mi | 3–7 days | $2,880 – $3,840 | $3,312 – $4,416 |
| Newark to Lansing | ~644 mi | 3–7 days | $2,898 – $3,864 | $3,333 – $4,444 |
| Jersey City to Lansing | ~652 mi | 3–7 days | $2,934 – $3,912 | $3,374 – $4,499 |
| Paterson to Grand Rapids | ~708 mi | 3–7 days | $3,186 – $4,248 | $3,664 – $4,885 |
| Newark to Grand Rapids | ~712 mi | 3–7 days | $3,204 – $4,272 | $3,685 – $4,913 |
| Jersey City to Grand Rapids | ~720 mi | 3–7 days | $3,240 – $4,320 | $3,726 – $4,968 |
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 Michigan end, 376 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Michigan, moving costs in Michigan, or the reverse trip, Michigan 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 Michigan moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from New Jersey to Michigan?
Between the two states' main cities, Newark and Detroit, the distance is about 550 miles. From our model that is $2,475 – $3,300 for a two-bedroom home and $2,846 – $3,795 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $1,782 – $2,376 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,188 – $1,584. Across the 12 city pairs we price between New Jersey and Michigan, distances run from 546 to 720 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from New Jersey to Michigan take?
Newark to Detroit is about 10 hours. 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 Michigan?
Yes. A move from New Jersey into Michigan 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 Michigan?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,188 – $1,584 for a two-bedroom home over 550 miles against $2,475 – $3,300 with full-service movers. A container, about $1,782 – $2,376, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from New Jersey to Michigan each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 2,646 people (±1,670) moved from New Jersey to Michigan that year, against about 1,831 (±810) from Michigan to New Jersey. That makes New Jersey the 13th-largest source of new residents for Michigan among the states.