Moving from Dayton, OH to Columbus, OH
At about 75 miles, Dayton to Columbus is a local move. Movers bill it by the hour — crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee — so the bill depends on how long loading and unloading take more than on the miles. At 75 miles the drive is on the clock too — about an hour each way — so expect travel time billed above the flat fee.
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 Columbus, OH covers about 75 miles and is a local move. Full-service movers cost $465 – $761 for a two-bedroom home in our model, done in one day. About 1,377 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 75 miles, crews cover Dayton to Columbus in a single day — about an hour on the road — so there is no delivery window to negotiate. What matters is access at both ends — stairs, elevators, how far the truck can park from the door — because every extra hour is billed.
- Move type
- Local move
- Driving
- about an hour
- Usually moves on
- an hourly crew with one truck
- Book ahead
- 1 to 2 weeks
Cost of moving from Dayton to Columbus
Priced by the hour; the container and freight columns show what the same hours cost with a lower-rate crew.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $235 – $375 | $195 – $315 | $175 – $285 |
| 1 bedroom | $315 – $575 | $255 – $475 | $225 – $425 |
| 2 bedrooms | $475 – $775 | $375 – $635 | $325 – $565 |
| 3 bedrooms | $795 – $1,425 | $615 – $1,155 | $525 – $1,020 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,355 – $2,075 | $1,035 – $1,675 | $875 – $1,475 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,675 – $2,475 | $1,275 – $1,995 | $1,075 – $1,755 |
Inside the 100-mile local band, so these are hourly figures: crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee. Container and freight columns show the same job done by a lower-cost crew. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Dayton to Columbus
2 movers × 5–7 hours × $39–$49 an hour, plus a $75 travel fee = $465 to $761. The 75 miles only enter through the travel fee and drive time. 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 Columbus
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 1,377 people a year (±352) moved from Montgomery County, OH, home to Dayton, to Franklin County, OH, home to Columbus. Going the other way: about 1,228 people a year (±376). Movers from Montgomery County make up 2.1% of the 66,840 people a year who moved into Franklin County from another county or state.
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Delaware County, OH | 4,474 ±930 |
| Cuyahoga County, OH | 3,430 ±684 |
| Licking County, OH | 2,662 ±570 |
| Fairfield County, OH | 2,541 ±524 |
| Hamilton County, OH | 2,222 ±466 |
Licensed movers at each end
47 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Dayton. 16 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 16.7% of their 48 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 Columbus end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Columbus: Leaders Moving and Storage (Worthington, 40 trucks), Planes Moving & Storage Company of Columbus (Columbus, 31 trucks), E E Ward Moving & Storage Co LLC (Grove City, 20 trucks), Midland Vanlines (Columbus, 16 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Ohio, so Ohio rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Ohio licence or registration it holds and check it with the state. The federal 110% cap on non-binding estimates does not reach a move inside Ohio, so your protection on this 75-mile job is the estimate you sign, which on an hourly job means the rate, the minimum hours and the travel fee in writing. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Dayton to Columbus
Get the hourly rate, minimum and travel fee in writing
Local quotes hide in three numbers: the rate per mover per hour (about $39 to $49 for a full-service crew), a minimum number of hours, and a travel or "truck" fee of around $75. Ask for all three before you compare two movers.
Describe the access honestly
A third-floor walk-up, a long carry from the truck, an elevator that needs booking — each adds an hour or more, and on an hourly job that is the whole bill. Tell the mover before they quote, not on the day.
Arriving in Columbus
A local move inside Columbus 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 Columbus are Dayton (about 75 mi), Cincinnati (about 117 mi), Akron (about 128 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 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 Chicago, IL | ~268 mi | $1,206 – $1,608 |
| Dayton to Greenville, SC | ~414 mi | $1,863 – $2,484 |
Also moving to Columbus: from Cincinnati, OH, from Akron, OH, from Huntington, WV, from Toledo, OH.
Dayton to Columbus moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Dayton to Columbus, OH?
It is billed by the hour. A two-bedroom home with a crew of 2 for 5 to 7 hours comes to about $465 – $761; a three-bedroom home with a crew of 3 for 6 to 9 hours is about $777 – $1,398. Both include a travel fee of around $75. The 75 miles between the two cities barely matter — hours on site do.
How long does a move from Dayton to Columbus, OH take?
One day. The drive is about an hour, and a local crew loads, drives and unloads in a single shift. Book ahead: 1 to 2 weeks, 3 to 4 in summer or at a month-end.
What is the cheapest way to move from Dayton to Columbus, OH?
Do the packing yourself and hire the crew only for loading, driving and unloading. On an hourly job every hour you save is money off the bill, and packing is the slowest part. A container is rarely worth it under 75 miles because the container fee replaces very little labour.
Is Dayton to Columbus, OH an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Ohio, so the move is regulated by Ohio rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Ohio requires of household-goods movers; interstate authority (an MC number) is not required for this job. The federal 110% rule on non-binding estimates does not apply either, which is a good reason to ask for a binding estimate.
How many people move from Dayton to Columbus, OH each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 1,377 people a year (margin of error ±352) moved from Montgomery County, which contains Dayton, to Franklin County, which contains Columbus.
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.