Moving from Philadelphia, PA to Durham, NC
About 397 miles across a state line, from Pennsylvania into North Carolina, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
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 Durham, NC covers about 397 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,787 – $2,382 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 159 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 397 miles, about 7 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 $1,787 – $2,382. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 7 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Philadelphia to Durham
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,340 – $1,787 | $965 – $1,286 | $643 – $858 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,608 – $2,144 | $1,158 – $1,544 | $772 – $1,029 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,787 – $2,382 | $1,286 – $1,715 | $858 – $1,143 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,054 – $2,739 | $1,479 – $1,972 | $986 – $1,315 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,322 – $3,097 | $1,672 – $2,230 | $1,115 – $1,486 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $2,680 – $3,573 | $1,929 – $2,573 | $1,286 – $1,715 |
Transport only, for an estimated 397 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, Philadelphia to Durham
397 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,985. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,787 to $2,382, 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 Philadelphia to Durham
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 159 people a year (±129) moved from Philadelphia County, PA, home to Philadelphia, to Durham County, NC, home to Durham. Going the other way: about 145 people a year (±138). Movers from Philadelphia County make up 0.6% of the 27,422 people a year who moved into Durham County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 13,261 people a year (±3,306) moving from Pennsylvania to North Carolina and about 7,838 people a year (±2,108) from North Carolina to Pennsylvania — a net gain for North Carolina of about 5,423 people a year.
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Wake County, NC | 4,673 ±905 |
| Orange County, NC | 2,544 ±637 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC | 798 ±386 |
| Davidson County, NC | 743 ±281 |
| Granville County, NC | 625 ±362 |
Licensed movers at each end
131 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Philadelphia (196 counting those licensed only inside Pennsylvania). 78 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 6.8% of their 382 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 |
| 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 |
| Riley and Sons Moving & StorageUSDOT 85429 | Philadelphia · 12 mi | 15 trucks | 9 | 20.0% of 5 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Durham end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Durham: All American Relocation (Raleigh, 41 trucks), Zippy Shell (Wake Forest, 35 trucks), Trosa Moving (Durham, 32 trucks), Excel Moving & Storage Inc (Raleigh, 32 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Pennsylvania into North Carolina, 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 Philadelphia to Durham
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 397 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 Durham
A local move inside Durham later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $455 – $733 for a two-bedroom home and $759 – $1,344 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Durham are Chapel Hill (about 11 mi), Raleigh (about 24 mi), Greensboro (about 58 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 Dover, DE | ~68 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 |
Also moving to Durham: from Chapel Hill, NC, from Raleigh, NC, from Greensboro, NC, from Fayetteville, NC.
Philadelphia to Durham moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Philadelphia to Durham?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 397 miles cost about $1,340 – $1,787 for a studio, $1,787 – $2,382 for a two-bedroom home and $2,054 – $2,739 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Philadelphia to Durham take?
The drive is about 7 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 Philadelphia to Durham?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $858 – $1,143 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,787 – $2,382 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,286 – $1,715.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Philadelphia to Durham?
Yes. Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania and Durham is in North Carolina, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 131 listed movers within 30 miles of Philadelphia hold it.
How many people move from Philadelphia to Durham each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 159 people a year (margin of error ±129) moved from Philadelphia County, which contains Philadelphia, to Durham County, which contains Durham.
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.