Moving from Allentown, PA to Philadelphia, PA
At about 56 miles, Allentown to Philadelphia 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 56 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 Allentown, PA to Philadelphia, PA covers about 56 miles and is a local move. Full-service movers cost $495 – $817 for a two-bedroom home in our model, done in one day. About 1,269 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 56 miles, crews cover Allentown to Philadelphia 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 Allentown to Philadelphia
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, Allentown to Philadelphia
2 movers × 5–7 hours × $42–$53 an hour, plus a $75 travel fee = $495 to $817. The 56 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 Allentown to Philadelphia
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 1,269 people a year (±432) moved from Lehigh County, PA, home to Allentown, to Philadelphia County, PA, home to Philadelphia. Going the other way: about 509 people a year (±219). Movers from Lehigh County make up 1.9% of the 67,261 people a year who moved into Philadelphia County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Northampton County, PA | 4,467 ±690 |
| Philadelphia County, PA | 1,269 ±432 |
| Berks County, PA | 1,046 ±292 |
| Luzerne County, PA | 780 ±255 |
| Bucks County, PA | 642 ±305 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Montgomery County, PA | 6,964 ±711 |
| Delaware County, PA | 5,131 ±857 |
| Bucks County, PA | 4,654 ±928 |
| Camden County, NJ | 3,114 ±777 |
| Kings County, NY | 2,379 ±681 |
Licensed movers at each end
64 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Allentown. 33 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 18.6% of their 86 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O'Briens Moving and StorageUSDOT 268267 | Allentown · 6 mi | 21 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Hughes Relocation Services IncUSDOT 110502 | Lansdale · 27 mi | 21 trucks | 5 | 50.0% of 2 |
| Reads Moving Systems IncUSDOT 113600 | Montgomeryville · 29 mi | 19 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Clemmer Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 85504 | Telford · 20 mi | 17 trucks | 24 | 8.3% of 12 |
| College Hunks Hauling Junk and MovingUSDOT 2579109 | Hatfield · 24 mi | 14 trucks | 5 | 0.0% of 3 |
| Frick Transfer IncUSDOT 110515 | Easton · 16 mi | 13 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 3 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Philadelphia end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Philadelphia: Flower Transfer Logistics (Sewell, 134 trucks), Wayne Moving and Storage (West Chester, 28 trucks), ABC Pro Movers Inc (Philadelphia, 26 trucks), Hughes Relocation Services Inc (Lansdale, 21 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Pennsylvania, so Pennsylvania rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, so your protection on this 56-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 Allentown to Philadelphia
Get the hourly rate, minimum and travel fee in writing
Local quotes hide in three numbers: the rate per mover per hour (about $42 to $53 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 Philadelphia
A local move inside Philadelphia later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $495 – $817 for a two-bedroom home and $831 – $1,506 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Philadelphia are Wilmington (about 29 mi), Allentown (about 56 mi), Dover (about 68 mi).
Other routes from Allentown
All routes from Allentown, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Allentown to Harrisburg, PA | ~91 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Allentown to Pittsburgh, PA | ~278 mi | $1,251 – $1,668 |
| Allentown to Los Angeles, CA | ~2,763 mi | $12,434 – $16,578 |
Also moving to Philadelphia: from Wilmington, DE, from Dover, DE, from Newark, NJ, from Jersey City, NJ.
Allentown to Philadelphia moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Allentown to Philadelphia?
It is billed by the hour. A two-bedroom home with a crew of 2 for 5 to 7 hours comes to about $495 – $817; a three-bedroom home with a crew of 3 for 6 to 9 hours is about $831 – $1,506. Both include a travel fee of around $75. The 56 miles between the two cities barely matter — hours on site do.
How long does a move from Allentown to Philadelphia 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 Allentown to Philadelphia?
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 56 miles because the container fee replaces very little labour.
Is Allentown to Philadelphia an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Pennsylvania, so the move is regulated by Pennsylvania rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Pennsylvania 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 Allentown to Philadelphia each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 1,269 people a year (margin of error ±432) moved from Lehigh County, which contains Allentown, to Philadelphia County, which contains Philadelphia.
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.