Moving from Cleveland, OH to Chicago, IL
About 358 miles across a state line, from Ohio into Illinois, 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 Cleveland, OH to Chicago, IL covers about 358 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,611 – $2,148 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 831 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 358 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 $1,611 – $2,148. 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 Cleveland to Chicago
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,208 – $1,611 | $870 – $1,160 | $580 – $773 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,450 – $1,933 | $1,044 – $1,392 | $696 – $928 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,611 – $2,148 | $1,160 – $1,547 | $773 – $1,031 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,853 – $2,470 | $1,334 – $1,779 | $889 – $1,186 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,094 – $2,792 | $1,508 – $2,011 | $1,005 – $1,340 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $2,417 – $3,222 | $1,740 – $2,320 | $1,160 – $1,547 |
Transport only, for an estimated 358 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, Cleveland to Chicago
358 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,790. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,611 to $2,148, 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 Cleveland to Chicago
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 831 people a year (±206) moved from Cuyahoga County, OH, home to Cleveland, to Cook County, IL, home to Chicago. Going the other way: about 655 people a year (±213). Movers from Cuyahoga County make up 0.7% of the 127,735 people a year who moved into Cook County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 7,372 people a year (±2,025) moving from Ohio to Illinois and about 9,332 people a year (±2,186) from Illinois to Ohio — a net gain for Ohio of about 1,960 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Lorain County, OH | 5,137 ±653 |
| Summit County, OH | 3,775 ±548 |
| Franklin County, OH | 3,430 ±684 |
| Lake County, OH | 3,012 ±574 |
| Medina County, OH | 2,444 ±401 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DuPage County, IL | 13,206 ±1,320 |
| Lake County, IL | 6,678 ±1,090 |
| Will County, IL | 6,454 ±1,007 |
| Kane County, IL | 4,555 ±770 |
| Lake County, IN | 3,835 ±861 |
Licensed movers at each end
35 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Cleveland (107 counting those licensed only inside Ohio). 19 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 34.0% of their 47 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College Hunks Hauling Junk & MovingUSDOT 2966877 | Chagrin Falls · 15 mi | 30 trucks | 11 | 14.3% of 7 |
| Andrews Moving & Storage CompanyUSDOT 124171 | Streetsboro · 25 mi | 27 trucks | 4 | — |
| Two Men and A TruckclevelandUSDOT 734664 | Wickliffe · 13 mi | 19 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Moving Ahead Services LLCUSDOT 1657726 | Willoughby · 18 mi | 19 trucks | 10 | 14.3% of 7 |
| Moving SolutionsUSDOT 3665859 | Mentor · 22 mi | 16 trucks | 19 | 60.0% of 10 |
| Armbruster Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 957456 | Brunswick · 19 mi | 15 trucks | 3 | 33.3% of 3 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Chicago end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Chicago: New World Van Lines Inc (Chicago, 204 trucks), National Van Lines Inc (Broadview, 174 trucks), New City Moving & Storage LLC (Chicago, 82 trucks), Complete Moving Inc (Arlington Heights, 80 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Ohio into Illinois, 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 Cleveland to Chicago
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 358 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 Chicago
A local move inside Chicago later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $475 – $775 for a two-bedroom home and $795 – $1,425 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Chicago are Milwaukee (about 95 mi), Madison (about 142 mi), Grand Rapids (about 146 mi).
Other routes from Cleveland
All routes from Cleveland, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland to Akron, OH | ~35 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Cleveland to Detroit, MI | ~105 mi | $473 – $630 |
| Cleveland to Toledo, OH | ~112 mi | $504 – $672 |
| Cleveland to Pittsburgh, PA | ~134 mi | $603 – $804 |
| Cleveland to Ann Arbor, MI | ~138 mi | $621 – $828 |
| Cleveland to Columbus, OH | ~147 mi | $662 – $882 |
| Cleveland to Buffalo, NY | ~202 mi | $909 – $1,212 |
| Cleveland to Dayton, OH | ~206 mi | $927 – $1,236 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
Cleveland to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Cleveland to Chicago?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 358 miles cost about $1,208 – $1,611 for a studio, $1,611 – $2,148 for a two-bedroom home and $1,853 – $2,470 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Cleveland to Chicago 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 Cleveland to Chicago?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $773 – $1,031 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,611 – $2,148 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,160 – $1,547.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Cleveland to Chicago?
Yes. Cleveland is in Ohio and Chicago is in Illinois, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 35 listed movers within 30 miles of Cleveland hold it.
How many people move from Cleveland to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 831 people a year (margin of error ±206) moved from Cuyahoga County, which contains Cleveland, to Cook County, which contains Chicago.
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.