Moving from Dayton, OH to Chicago, IL
About 268 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 Dayton, OH to Chicago, IL covers about 268 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,206 – $1,608 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 117 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 268 miles, about 5 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 $1,206 – $1,608. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 5 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Dayton to Chicago
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $905 – $1,206 | $651 – $868 | $434 – $579 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,085 – $1,447 | $781 – $1,042 | $521 – $695 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,206 – $1,608 | $868 – $1,158 | $579 – $772 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,387 – $1,849 | $999 – $1,331 | $666 – $888 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,568 – $2,090 | $1,129 – $1,505 | $753 – $1,003 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,809 – $2,412 | $1,302 – $1,737 | $868 – $1,158 |
Transport only, for an estimated 268 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, Dayton to Chicago
268 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,340. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,206 to $1,608, 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 Dayton to Chicago
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 117 people a year (±98) moved from Montgomery County, OH, home to Dayton, to Cook County, IL, home to Chicago. Going the other way: about 432 people a year (±175). Movers from Montgomery County make up 0.1% 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 |
|---|---|
| Greene County, OH | 4,376 ±801 |
| Warren County, OH | 2,134 ±524 |
| Miami County, OH | 1,607 ±482 |
| Hamilton County, OH | 1,470 ±334 |
| Franklin County, OH | 1,377 ±352 |
| 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
24 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Dayton (47 counting those licensed only inside Ohio). 14 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 17.0% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affordablemovers Biz LLCUSDOT 3417348 | Dayton · 4 mi | 37 trucks | 8 | 0.0% of 3 |
| Piqua Transfer & Storage CompanyUSDOT 81418 | Piqua · 26 mi | 30 trucks | 49 | 27.8% of 18 |
| Planes Moving & Storage of Dayton IncUSDOT 1459201 | Miamisburg · 11 mi | 16 trucks | 0 | — |
| Rollins Moving and Storage IncUSDOT 316436 | Springfield · 25 mi | 13 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Lincoln Storage and MovingUSDOT 1008646 | Dayton · 2 mi | 12 trucks | 0 | — |
| Daniel & Son MovingUSDOT 1518631 | Dayton · 3 mi | 10 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 2 |
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 Dayton to Chicago
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 268 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 Dayton
All routes from Dayton, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Dayton to Cincinnati, OH | ~58 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Dayton to Columbus, OH | ~75 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Dayton to Indianapolis, IN | ~121 mi | $545 – $726 |
| Dayton to Lexington, KY | ~141 mi | $635 – $846 |
| Dayton to Toledo, OH | ~156 mi | $702 – $936 |
| Dayton to Akron, OH | ~195 mi | $878 – $1,170 |
| Dayton to Cleveland, OH | ~206 mi | $927 – $1,236 |
| Dayton to Greenville, SC | ~414 mi | $1,863 – $2,484 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
Dayton to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Dayton to Chicago?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 268 miles cost about $905 – $1,206 for a studio, $1,206 – $1,608 for a two-bedroom home and $1,387 – $1,849 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Dayton to Chicago take?
The drive is about 5 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 Dayton to Chicago?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $579 – $772 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,206 – $1,608 with full-service movers; a moving container is $868 – $1,158.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Dayton to Chicago?
Yes. Dayton 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. 24 listed movers within 30 miles of Dayton hold it.
How many people move from Dayton to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 117 people a year (margin of error ±98) moved from Montgomery County, which contains Dayton, 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.