Moving from Cleveland, OH to Madison, WI
About 475 miles across a state line, from Ohio into Wisconsin, 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 Madison, WI covers about 475 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $2,138 – $2,850 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. About 57 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 475 miles between Ohio and Wisconsin, 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 $2,138 – $2,850 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 Cleveland to Madison
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,603 – $2,138 | $1,154 – $1,539 | $770 – $1,026 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,924 – $2,565 | $1,385 – $1,847 | $923 – $1,231 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,138 – $2,850 | $1,539 – $2,052 | $1,026 – $1,368 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,458 – $3,278 | $1,770 – $2,360 | $1,180 – $1,573 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,779 – $3,705 | $2,001 – $2,668 | $1,334 – $1,778 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $3,206 – $4,275 | $2,309 – $3,078 | $1,539 – $2,052 |
Transport only, for an estimated 475 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 Madison
475 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $2,375. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $2,138 to $2,850, 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 Madison
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 57 people a year (±76) moved from Cuyahoga County, OH, home to Cleveland, to Dane County, WI, home to Madison. The margin of error is as large as the estimate, so read it as a handful of households rather than a count. Going the other way: about 41 people a year (±55). Movers from Cuyahoga County make up 0.2% of the 32,725 people a year who moved into Dane County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 1,259 people a year (±657) moving from Ohio to Wisconsin and about 2,621 people a year (±1,299) from Wisconsin to Ohio — a net gain for Ohio of about 1,362 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 |
|---|---|
| Waukesha County, WI | 2,207 ±488 |
| Cook County, IL | 1,714 ±376 |
| Milwaukee County, WI | 1,494 ±310 |
| Rock County, WI | 1,194 ±389 |
| Columbia County, WI | 675 ±326 |
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 Madison end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Madison: Reynolds Transfer & Storage Inc (Madison, 34 trucks), O'Mara Moving Systems Inc (Madison, 18 trucks), Mad City Moving (McFarland, 14 trucks), Yerges Van Liners Inc (Fort Atkinson, 12 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Ohio into Wisconsin, 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 Madison
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 475 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
Arriving in Madison
A local move inside Madison later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $515 – $845 for a two-bedroom home and $867 – $1,560 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Madison are Milwaukee (about 87 mi), Green Bay (about 141 mi), Chicago (about 142 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 Madison: from Milwaukee, WI, from Green Bay, WI, from Chicago, IL, from Saint Paul, MN.
Cleveland to Madison moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Cleveland to Madison?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 475 miles cost about $1,603 – $2,138 for a studio, $2,138 – $2,850 for a two-bedroom home and $2,458 – $3,278 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Cleveland to Madison 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 Cleveland to Madison?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $1,026 – $1,368 for a two-bedroom home, against $2,138 – $2,850 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,539 – $2,052.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Cleveland to Madison?
Yes. Cleveland is in Ohio and Madison is in Wisconsin, 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 Madison each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 57 people a year (margin of error ±76) moved from Cuyahoga County, which contains Cleveland, to Dane County, which contains Madison.
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.