Moving from Newark, NJ to Washington, DC
About 231 miles across a state line, from New Jersey into District of Columbia, 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 Newark, NJ to Washington, DC covers about 231 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,040 – $1,386 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 246 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 231 miles, about 4 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 $1,040 – $1,386. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 4 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Newark to Washington
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $780 – $1,040 | $561 – $748 | $374 – $499 |
| 1 bedroom | $936 – $1,247 | $674 – $898 | $449 – $599 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,040 – $1,386 | $748 – $998 | $499 – $665 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,195 – $1,594 | $861 – $1,148 | $574 – $765 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,351 – $1,802 | $973 – $1,297 | $649 – $865 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,559 – $2,079 | $1,123 – $1,497 | $748 – $998 |
Transport only, for an estimated 231 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, Newark to Washington
231 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,155. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,040 to $1,386, 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 Newark to Washington
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 246 people a year (±129) moved from Essex County, NJ, home to Newark, to District of Columbia, DC, home to Washington. Going the other way: about 110 people a year (±83). Movers from Essex County make up 0.4% of the 56,680 people a year who moved into District of Columbia from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 2,547 people a year (±899) moving from New Jersey to District of Columbia and about 304 people a year (±237) from District of Columbia to New Jersey — a net gain for District of Columbia of about 2,243 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Union County, NJ | 5,365 ±874 |
| Hudson County, NJ | 2,777 ±643 |
| Morris County, NJ | 2,393 ±502 |
| Passaic County, NJ | 2,180 ±581 |
| Middlesex County, NJ | 1,890 ±526 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Prince George's County, MD | 5,604 ±979 |
| Montgomery County, MD | 4,380 ±582 |
| Arlington County, VA | 2,881 ±512 |
| Fairfax County, VA | 2,217 ±690 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 1,538 ±527 |
Licensed movers at each end
517 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Newark (922 counting those licensed only inside New Jersey). 317 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 15.1% of their 1,846 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piece of Cake MovingUSDOT 3066988 | New York City · 10 mi | 340 trucks | 383 | 10.2% of 246 |
| Roadway MovingUSDOT 1854436 | New York City · 17 mi | 190 trucks | 236 | 12.0% of 166 |
| Budd Van Lines IncUSDOT 185771 | Somerset · 25 mi | 124 trucks | 107 | 7.1% of 56 |
| Great Moving IncUSDOT 2180117 | Staten Island · 9 mi | 70 trucks | 5 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Great Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 3547419 | South Plainfiel · 17 mi | 70 trucks | 20 | 21.4% of 14 |
| Oz Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 1058063 | Yonkers · 21 mi | 35 trucks | 27 | 13.3% of 15 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Washington end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Washington: JK Moving Services (Sterling, 173 trucks), Eagle Van Lines Inc (Temple Hills, 72 trucks), Town and Country Movers Inc (Gaithersburg, 64 trucks), A&A Transfer LLC (Chantilly, 62 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from New Jersey into District of Columbia, 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 Newark to Washington
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 231 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 Washington
A local move inside Washington later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $525 – $873 for a two-bedroom home and $885 – $1,614 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Washington are Arlington (about 4 mi), Annapolis (about 35 mi), Baltimore (about 42 mi).
Other routes from Newark
All routes from Newark, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Newark to Jersey City, NJ | ~8 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Newark to New York City, NY | ~10 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Newark to Paterson, NJ | ~15 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Newark to Mount Vernon, NY | ~25 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Newark to Bridgeport, CT | ~70 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Newark to Philadelphia, PA | 85 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Newark to Providence, RI | ~189 mi | $851 – $1,134 |
| Newark to Baltimore, MD | ~190 mi | $855 – $1,140 |
Also moving to Washington: from Arlington, VA, from Annapolis, MD, from Baltimore, MD, from Richmond, VA.
Newark to Washington moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Newark to Washington?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 231 miles cost about $780 – $1,040 for a studio, $1,040 – $1,386 for a two-bedroom home and $1,195 – $1,594 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Newark to Washington take?
The drive is about 4 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 Newark to Washington?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $499 – $665 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,040 – $1,386 with full-service movers; a moving container is $748 – $998.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Newark to Washington?
Yes. Newark is in New Jersey and Washington is in District of Columbia, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 517 listed movers within 30 miles of Newark hold it.
How many people move from Newark to Washington each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 246 people a year (margin of error ±129) moved from Essex County, which contains Newark, to District of Columbia, which contains Washington.
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.