Moving from Philadelphia, PA to Harrisburg, PA
About 109 miles inside Pennsylvania. Past the 100-mile local band movers price on distance and weight, but because the truck never crosses a state line the move is regulated by Pennsylvania, not by the federal FMCSA. That changes which licence to check and which estimate rules protect you.
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 Harrisburg, PA covers about 109 miles and is a move within Pennsylvania. Full-service movers cost $491 – $654 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 604 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 109 miles, about 2 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 $491 – $654. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Pennsylvania
- Driving
- about 2 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Philadelphia to Harrisburg
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $450 – $600 | $315 – $420 | $225 – $300 |
| 1 bedroom | $450 – $600 | $318 – $424 | $225 – $300 |
| 2 bedrooms | $491 – $654 | $353 – $471 | $235 – $314 |
| 3 bedrooms | $564 – $752 | $406 – $542 | $271 – $361 |
| 4 bedrooms | $638 – $850 | $459 – $612 | $306 – $408 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $736 – $981 | $530 – $706 | $353 – $471 |
Transport only, for an estimated 109 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 Harrisburg
109 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $545. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $491 to $654, 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 Harrisburg
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 604 people a year (±264) moved from Philadelphia County, PA, home to Philadelphia, to Dauphin County, PA, home to Harrisburg. Going the other way: about 345 people a year (±152). Movers from Philadelphia County make up 3.3% of the 18,053 people a year who moved into Dauphin 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 |
|---|---|
| Cumberland County, PA | 1,781 ±391 |
| Lebanon County, PA | 1,205 ±646 |
| Montgomery County, PA | 1,150 ±1,984 |
| Lancaster County, PA | 959 ±318 |
| York County, PA | 805 ±402 |
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 Harrisburg end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Harrisburg: Harrisburg Transfer Company (New Cumberland, 31 trucks), Zeigler's Storage & Transfer Inc (Pa Corp) (Carlisle, 7 trucks), U-Relax Moving Company (Jacobus, 6 trucks), Delauters A-1 Moving Helpers (Windsor, 4 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 109-mile job is the estimate you sign; ask for it binding or not-to-exceed. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Philadelphia to Harrisburg
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 109 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 Harrisburg
A local move inside Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg are Frederick (about 77 mi), Baltimore (about 81 mi), Allentown (about 91 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 Yonkers, NY | ~111 mi | $500 – $666 |
Also moving to Harrisburg: from Baltimore, MD, from Allentown, PA, from Arlington, VA, from New York City, NY.
Philadelphia to Harrisburg moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Philadelphia to Harrisburg?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 109 miles cost about $450 – $600 for a studio, $491 – $654 for a two-bedroom home and $564 – $752 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Philadelphia to Harrisburg take?
The drive is about 2 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 Harrisburg?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $235 – $314 for a two-bedroom home, against $491 – $654 with full-service movers; a moving container is $353 – $471.
Is Philadelphia to Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 604 people a year (margin of error ±264) moved from Philadelphia County, which contains Philadelphia, to Dauphin County, which contains Harrisburg.
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.