Moving from Philadelphia, PA to Dover, DE
At about 68 miles, Philadelphia to Dover 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 68 miles the drive is on the clock too — about an hour each way — so expect travel time billed above the flat fee. It does cross a state line, so the federal interstate rules apply even though the job is priced like a local one.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Philadelphia, PA to Dover, DE covers about 68 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 276 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 68 miles, crews cover Philadelphia to Dover 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 Philadelphia to Dover
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, Philadelphia to Dover
2 movers × 5–7 hours × $42–$53 an hour, plus a $75 travel fee = $495 to $817. The 68 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 Philadelphia to Dover
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 276 people a year (±188) moved from Philadelphia County, PA, home to Philadelphia, to Kent County, DE, home to Dover. Going the other way: about 34 people a year (±34). Movers from Philadelphia County make up 2.4% of the 11,405 people a year who moved into Kent County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Montgomery County, PA | 11,698 ±1,204 |
| Delaware County, PA | 8,343 ±1,332 |
| Bucks County, PA | 5,797 ±970 |
| Camden County, NJ | 3,242 ±635 |
| Chester County, PA | 2,473 ±515 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| New Castle County, DE | 2,700 ±701 |
| Sussex County, DE | 1,339 ±369 |
| Weber County, UT | 549 ±515 |
| Delaware County, PA | 324 ±332 |
| Howard County, MD | 286 ±195 |
Licensed movers at each end
196 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Philadelphia. 90 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 7.2% of their 401 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flower Transfer LogisticsUSDOT 346532 | Sewell · 14 mi | 134 trucks | 262 | 2.0% of 201 |
| Wayne Moving and StorageUSDOT 1771238 | West Chester · 23 mi | 28 trucks | 19 | 0.0% of 8 |
| ABC Pro Movers IncUSDOT 2631702 | Philadelphia · 11 mi | 26 trucks | 6 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Hughes Relocation Services IncUSDOT 110502 | Lansdale · 21 mi | 21 trucks | 5 | 50.0% of 2 |
| Reads Moving Systems IncUSDOT 113600 | Montgomeryville · 19 mi | 19 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Clemmer Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 85504 | Telford · 28 mi | 17 trucks | 24 | 8.3% of 12 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Dover end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Dover: Jrmoving LLC (Middletown, 6 trucks), American Dream Movers (Dover, 4 trucks), Berry Van Lines Inc (Dover, 4 trucks), GW Moving & Trucking (Middletown, 3 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 68-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 Philadelphia to Dover
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 Dover
A local move inside Dover later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $445 – $719 for a two-bedroom home and $741 – $1,317 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Dover are Wilmington (about 47 mi), Annapolis (about 62 mi), Philadelphia (about 68 mi).
Other routes from Philadelphia
All routes from Philadelphia, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia to Wilmington, DE | ~29 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to Allentown, PA | ~56 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to Newark, NJ | 85 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to Jersey City, NJ | ~92 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to New York City, NY | 95 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to Baltimore, MD | ~104 mi | $468 – $624 |
| Philadelphia to Harrisburg, PA | ~109 mi | $491 – $654 |
| Philadelphia to Yonkers, NY | ~111 mi | $500 – $666 |
Also moving to Dover: from Wilmington, DE, from Annapolis, MD, from Arlington, VA.
Philadelphia to Dover moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Philadelphia to Dover?
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 68 miles between the two cities barely matter — hours on site do.
How long does a move from Philadelphia to Dover 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 Philadelphia to Dover?
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 68 miles because the container fee replaces very little labour.
Is Philadelphia to Dover 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 Philadelphia to Dover each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 276 people a year (margin of error ±188) moved from Philadelphia County, which contains Philadelphia, to Kent County, which contains Dover.
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.