Moving from Albany, NY to Norfolk, VA
About 493 miles across a state line, from New York into Virginia, 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 Albany, NY to Norfolk, VA covers about 493 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $2,219 – $2,958 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. About 388 people a year move between the two metro areas (Census).
The route
At 493 miles between New York and Virginia, this sits in the range where carriers differ most. Some run it dedicated with a firm date; others consolidate it with other shipments and quote a window of 3 to 7 days. The price gap between those two is real — a two-bedroom home runs $2,219 – $2,958 full-service — so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 9 hours
- Usually moves on
- either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load
- Book ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of moving from Albany to Norfolk
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,664 – $2,219 | $1,198 – $1,597 | $799 – $1,065 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,997 – $2,662 | $1,438 – $1,917 | $958 – $1,278 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,219 – $2,958 | $1,597 – $2,130 | $1,065 – $1,420 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,551 – $3,402 | $1,837 – $2,449 | $1,225 – $1,633 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,884 – $3,845 | $2,077 – $2,769 | $1,384 – $1,846 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $3,328 – $4,437 | $2,396 – $3,195 | $1,597 – $2,130 |
Transport only, for an estimated 493 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, Albany to Norfolk
493 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $2,465. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $2,219 to $2,958, 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 Albany to Norfolk
The county-to-county table of the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) has no estimate for Albany County, NY to Norfolk city, VA, but the wider metro table does: about 388 people a year (±193) moved from the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area to the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC metro area. The other way: about 458 people a year (±270).
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 16,364 people a year (±3,786) moving from New York to Virginia and about 10,310 people a year (±2,359) from Virginia to New York — a net gain for Virginia of about 6,054 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Rensselaer County, NY | 3,421 ±767 |
| Schenectady County, NY | 2,286 ±578 |
| Saratoga County, NY | 1,889 ±586 |
| Suffolk County, NY | 563 ±276 |
| Bronx County, NY | 549 ±216 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Virginia Beach City, VA | 4,962 ±856 |
| Chesapeake City, VA | 2,233 ±508 |
| Hampton City, VA | 1,371 ±424 |
| Portsmouth City, VA | 1,256 ±373 |
| Newport News City, VA | 1,143 ±349 |
Licensed movers at each end
14 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Albany (52 counting those licensed only inside New York). 11 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 14.8% of their 61 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnoff Moving & StorageUSDOT 1041699 | Malta · 25 mi | 22 trucks | 52 | 3.3% of 30 |
| Schaap Moving Systems IncUSDOT 31675 | Albany · 6 mi | 10 trucks | 11 | 14.3% of 7 |
| Don's Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 134890 | Albany · 0 mi | 6 trucks | 3 | 0.0% of 3 |
| Protocol Van Lines IncUSDOT 3736265 | Albany · 6 mi | 6 trucks | 14 | 25.0% of 8 |
| All-Ways Moving & Storage CompanyUSDOT 55254 | Pittsfield · 28 mi | 6 trucks | 5 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Liedkie Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 1207788 | Schenectady · 11 mi | 5 trucks | 4 | 100.0% of 2 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Norfolk end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Norfolk: Service Transfer Inc (Chesapeake, 240 trucks), Apple Moving (Chesapeake, 44 trucks), Hampton Roads Moving & Storage (Suffolk, 43 trucks), Apple Moving (Norfolk, 21 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from New York into Virginia, 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 Albany to Norfolk
Ask: dedicated or consolidated?
This is the distance where carriers split. A dedicated truck costs more and delivers on a date; a consolidated load costs less and delivers in a window. Decide which you are buying before you compare prices.
Get it binding or not-to-exceed
A non-binding estimate is a guess with no ceiling. On 493 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
Arriving in Norfolk
A local move inside Norfolk later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $465 – $761 for a two-bedroom home and $777 – $1,398 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Norfolk are Chesapeake (about 14 mi), Virginia Beach (about 20 mi), Richmond (about 92 mi).
Other routes from Albany
All routes from Albany, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Albany to Schenectady, NY | ~17 mi | $515 – $845 |
| Albany to Utica, NY | ~94 mi | $515 – $845 |
| Albany to Hartford, CT | ~96 mi | $515 – $845 |
| Albany to Bridgeport, CT | ~123 mi | $554 – $738 |
| Albany to Mount Vernon, NY | ~140 mi | $630 – $840 |
| Albany to Syracuse, NY | ~145 mi | $653 – $870 |
| Albany to Providence, RI | ~155 mi | $698 – $930 |
| Albany to New York City, NY | ~157 mi | $707 – $942 |
Also moving to Norfolk: from Chesapeake, VA, from Virginia Beach, VA, from Richmond, VA, from Washington, DC.
Albany to Norfolk moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Albany to Norfolk?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 493 miles cost about $1,664 – $2,219 for a studio, $2,219 – $2,958 for a two-bedroom home and $2,551 – $3,402 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Albany to Norfolk take?
The drive is about 9 hours, but the move usually takes 3 to 7 days because it moves on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Albany to Norfolk?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $1,065 – $1,420 for a two-bedroom home, against $2,219 – $2,958 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,597 – $2,130.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Albany to Norfolk?
Yes. Albany is in New York and Norfolk is in Virginia, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 14 listed movers within 30 miles of Albany hold it.
How many people move from Albany to Norfolk each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 388 people a year (margin of error ±193) moved from the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area to the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC metro area. Its county table has no estimate for this pair, so the metro figure is the finest available.
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.