Moving from Pennsylvania to Illinois
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Philadelphia and Chicago it is 761 miles and 2 days on the road (about 14 hours of driving); the 15 city pairs we price between the two states run from 452 to 894 miles.
Prices from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Carriers: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot 2026-09-24. We do not move anyone.
- 761 miPhiladelphia → Chicago
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,425+2-bedroom, movers
- 15City routes priced
In short
About 4,420 people moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,679), and about 5,267 went the other way. Between Philadelphia and Chicago it is 761 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,425 – $4,566 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 223 movers based in Pennsylvania hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Pennsylvania to Illinois
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 4,420 people a year (±1,679), against about 5,267 (±1,510) from Illinois to Pennsylvania, so Illinois loses about 847 people a year on this exchange. Pennsylvania is the 16th-largest of the 48 states sending people to Illinois; Illinois took in about 199,996 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Allegheny County | Cook County | 685 ±280 |
| Philadelphia County | Cook County | 604 ±265 |
| Chester County | Cook County | 274 ±297* |
| Allegheny County | DuPage County | 176 ±150 |
| Centre County | Cook County | 163 ±103 |
US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 state-to-state migration and ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county flows; people a year with a 90% margin of error. County names link to their cost guides. * Margin as large as the estimate.
Philadelphia to Chicago, the representative route
Each state is represented by its largest city we cover. The map shows that corridor; the table further down prices every city pair between Pennsylvania and Illinois.
Cost of moving from Pennsylvania to Illinois
At 761 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,425 – $4,566 for a two-bedroom home and $3,938 – $5,251 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,466 – $3,288; a freight trailer is $1,644 – $2,192.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,568 – $3,425 | $1,849 – $2,466 | $1,233 – $1,644 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,082 – $4,109 | $2,219 – $2,959 | $1,479 – $1,973 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,425 – $4,566 | $2,466 – $3,288 | $1,644 – $2,192 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,938 – $5,251 | $2,835 – $3,781 | $1,890 – $2,520 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,452 – $5,936 | $3,205 – $4,274 | $2,137 – $2,849 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $5,137 – $6,849 | $3,698 – $4,931 | $2,466 – $3,288 |
Transport only, for 761 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.
City-to-city routes from Pennsylvania to Illinois
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 2 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie to Chicago | ~452 mi | 3–7 days | $2,034 – $2,712 | $2,339 – $3,119 |
| Pittsburgh to Chicago | ~476 mi | 3–7 days | $2,142 – $2,856 | $2,463 – $3,284 |
| Erie to Peoria | ~585 mi | 3–7 days | $2,633 – $3,510 | $3,027 – $4,037 |
| Pittsburgh to Peoria | ~587 mi | 3–7 days | $2,642 – $3,522 | $3,038 – $4,050 |
| Pittsburgh to Springfield | ~596 mi | 3–7 days | $2,682 – $3,576 | $3,084 – $4,112 |
| Erie to Springfield | ~611 mi | 3–7 days | $2,750 – $3,666 | $3,162 – $4,216 |
| Harrisburg to Chicago | ~664 mi | 3–7 days | $2,988 – $3,984 | $3,436 – $4,582 |
| Allentown to Chicago | ~743 mi | 3–7 days | $3,344 – $4,458 | $3,845 – $5,127 |
| Philadelphia to Chicago | 761 mi | 3–7 days | $3,425 – $4,566 | $3,938 – $5,251 |
| Harrisburg to Peoria | ~778 mi | 3–7 days | $3,501 – $4,668 | $4,026 – $5,368 |
| Harrisburg to Springfield | ~787 mi | 3–7 days | $3,542 – $4,722 | $4,073 – $5,430 |
| Allentown to Peoria | ~862 mi | 3–7 days | $3,879 – $5,172 | $4,461 – $5,948 |
| Allentown to Springfield | ~874 mi | 3–7 days | $3,933 – $5,244 | $4,523 – $6,031 |
| Philadelphia to Peoria | ~887 mi | 3–7 days | $3,992 – $5,322 | $4,590 – $6,120 |
| Philadelphia to Springfield | ~894 mi | 3–7 days | $4,023 – $5,364 | $4,626 – $6,169 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Pennsylvania
139 of the 223 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 783 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 63 of 422 vehicle inspections (14.9%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 130 of 783 driver inspections (16.6%, against 13.0%). 1 carrier has an acute or critical violation found in an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Hills Transfer & Storage IncGreensburg, PA · USDOT 85531 | 35 | 3 of 20 | 0 of 35 |
| J Cawley Moving LLCHanover Township, PA · USDOT 2117707 | 28 | 0 of 21 | 1 of 28 |
| Bright Eye Movers and Cleaners LLCCamp Hill, PA · USDOT 3597545 | 27 | 5 of 15 | 17 of 27 |
| Superior Moving & Storage IncPhiladelphia, PA · USDOT 390115 | 26 | 2 of 14 | 4 of 26 |
| South Hills Movers IncBethel Park, PA · USDOT 98045 | 26 | 0 of 4 | 1 of 26 |
| We-Haul Moving LLCBethlehem, PA · USDOT 967376 | 25 | 2 of 12 | 2 of 25 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
355 listed household-goods carriers are based in Pennsylvania, 223 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Pennsylvania directory ranks them. At the Illinois end, 341 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Illinois, moving costs in Illinois, or the reverse trip, Illinois to Pennsylvania. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania to Illinois moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Pennsylvania to Illinois?
Between the two states' main cities, Philadelphia and Chicago, the distance is 761 miles. From our model that is $3,425 – $4,566 for a two-bedroom home and $3,938 – $5,251 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,466 – $3,288 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,644 – $2,192. Across the 15 city pairs we price between Pennsylvania and Illinois, distances run from 452 to 894 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Pennsylvania to Illinois take?
Philadelphia to Chicago is 2 days on the road (about 14 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Pennsylvania to Illinois?
Yes. A move from Pennsylvania into Illinois is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 355 listed movers based in Pennsylvania, 223 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Pennsylvania.
What is the cheapest way to move from Pennsylvania to Illinois?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,644 – $2,192 for a two-bedroom home over 761 miles against $3,425 – $4,566 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,466 – $3,288, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Pennsylvania to Illinois each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 4,420 people (±1,679) moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois that year, against about 5,267 (±1,510) from Illinois to Pennsylvania. That makes Pennsylvania the 16th-largest source of new residents for Illinois among the states.