Moving from Portland, OR to Seattle, WA
174 miles across a state line, from Oregon into Washington, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Measured driving distance. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Portland, OR to Seattle, WA covers 174 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $783 – $1,044 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 1,552 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 174 miles, about 3 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 $783 – $1,044. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 3 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Portland to Seattle
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $587 – $783 | $423 – $564 | $282 – $376 |
| 1 bedroom | $705 – $940 | $507 – $677 | $338 – $451 |
| 2 bedrooms | $783 – $1,044 | $564 – $752 | $376 – $501 |
| 3 bedrooms | $900 – $1,201 | $648 – $864 | $432 – $576 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,018 – $1,357 | $733 – $977 | $489 – $651 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,175 – $1,566 | $846 – $1,128 | $564 – $752 |
Transport only, for 174 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, Portland to Seattle
174 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $870. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $783 to $1,044, 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 Portland to Seattle
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 1,552 people a year (±436) moved from Multnomah County, OR, home to Portland, to King County, WA, home to Seattle. Going the other way: about 1,703 people a year (±303). Movers from Multnomah County make up 1.3% of the 120,669 people a year who moved into King County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 32,341 people a year (±4,186) moving from Oregon to Washington and about 20,388 people a year (±3,359) from Washington to Oregon — a net gain for Washington of about 11,953 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Clackamas County, OR | 9,470 ±1,192 |
| Washington County, OR | 8,650 ±1,135 |
| Clark County, WA | 5,403 ±773 |
| King County, WA | 1,552 ±436 |
| Lane County, OR | 1,425 ±453 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Snohomish County, WA | 11,035 ±1,105 |
| Pierce County, WA | 10,614 ±1,241 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 5,175 ±949 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 3,095 ±777 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | 2,717 ±795 |
Licensed movers at each end
59 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Portland (111 counting those licensed only inside Oregon). 43 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 16.2% of their 216 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Service MovingUSDOT 1863079 | Portland · 2 mi | 100 trucks | 78 | 17.4% of 46 |
| Suddath Moving & StorageUSDOT 2482348 | Portland · 5 mi | 29 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Terminal Transfer IncUSDOT 59571 | Portland · 7 mi | 25 trucks | 22 | 25.0% of 16 |
| PDX Movers LLCUSDOT 2353055 | Tualatin · 12 mi | 15 trucks | 34 | 10.3% of 29 |
| Rose City Moving & StorageUSDOT 295098 | Portland · 5 mi | 13 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| A-1 Premium Moving LLCUSDOT 2033832 | Portland · 7 mi | 12 trucks | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Seattle end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Seattle: American Relocation Services Aff Aes Transportation (Fife, 86 trucks), Hogland Transfer Co (Everett, 67 trucks), CMS Relocation & Logistics (Kent, 59 trucks), Hansen Bros Moving & Storage (Bellevue, 46 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Oregon into Washington, 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 Portland to Seattle
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 174 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 Seattle
A local move inside Seattle later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $535 – $873 for a two-bedroom home and $903 – $1,614 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Seattle are Tacoma (about 29 mi), Olympia (about 55 mi), Vancouver (about 160 mi).
Other routes from Portland
All routes from Portland, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Portland to Vancouver, WA | ~9 mi | $515 – $859 |
| Portland to Salem, OR | ~51 mi | $515 – $859 |
| Portland to Eugene, OR | ~121 mi | $545 – $726 |
| Portland to Olympia, WA | ~123 mi | $554 – $738 |
| Portland to Tacoma, WA | ~140 mi | $630 – $840 |
| Portland to Spokane, WA | ~338 mi | $1,521 – $2,028 |
| Portland to Boise, ID | ~402 mi | $1,809 – $2,412 |
| Portland to Sacramento, CA | ~563 mi | $2,534 – $3,378 |
Also moving to Seattle: from Tacoma, WA, from Olympia, WA, from Vancouver, WA, from Salem, OR.
Portland to Seattle moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Portland, OR to Seattle?
From our published model, full-service movers over 174 miles cost about $587 – $783 for a studio, $783 – $1,044 for a two-bedroom home and $900 – $1,201 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Portland, OR to Seattle take?
The drive is about 3 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 Portland, OR to Seattle?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $376 – $501 for a two-bedroom home, against $783 – $1,044 with full-service movers; a moving container is $564 – $752.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Portland, OR to Seattle?
Yes. Portland is in Oregon and Seattle is in Washington, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 59 listed movers within 30 miles of Portland hold it.
How many people move from Portland, OR to Seattle each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 1,552 people a year (margin of error ±436) moved from Multnomah County, which contains Portland, to King County, which contains Seattle.
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.