Moving from Pittsburgh, PA to Allentown, PA
About 278 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 Pittsburgh, PA to Allentown, PA covers about 278 miles and is a move within Pennsylvania. Full-service movers cost $1,251 – $1,668 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 68 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 278 miles, about 5 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 $1,251 – $1,668. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Pennsylvania
- Driving
- about 5 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Pittsburgh to Allentown
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $938 – $1,251 | $676 – $901 | $450 – $600 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,126 – $1,501 | $811 – $1,081 | $540 – $721 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,251 – $1,668 | $901 – $1,201 | $600 – $801 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,439 – $1,918 | $1,036 – $1,381 | $691 – $921 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,626 – $2,168 | $1,171 – $1,561 | $781 – $1,041 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,877 – $2,502 | $1,351 – $1,801 | $901 – $1,201 |
Transport only, for an estimated 278 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, Pittsburgh to Allentown
278 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,390. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,251 to $1,668, 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 Pittsburgh to Allentown
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 68 people a year (±62) moved from Allegheny County, PA, home to Pittsburgh, to Lehigh County, PA, home to Allentown. Going the other way: about 324 people a year (±144). Movers from Allegheny County make up 0.3% of the 19,465 people a year who moved into Lehigh County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Westmoreland County, PA | 3,747 ±578 |
| Washington County, PA | 3,204 ±590 |
| Beaver County, PA | 2,589 ±467 |
| Butler County, PA | 2,538 ±394 |
| Berks County, PA | 1,862 ±649 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Northampton County, PA | 4,199 ±774 |
| Berks County, PA | 1,092 ±332 |
| Carbon County, PA | 836 ±430 |
| Kings County, NY | 815 ±386 |
| Hartford County, CT | 782 ±912 |
Licensed movers at each end
50 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Pittsburgh. 20 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 14.7% of their 75 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Hills Movers IncUSDOT 98045 | Bethel Park · 8 mi | 42 trucks | 26 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Weleski Transfer IncUSDOT 681016 | Tarentum · 17 mi | 36 trucks | 7 | 0.0% of 4 |
| George Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 880213 | Freedom · 20 mi | 32 trucks | 14 | 0.0% of 8 |
| Parks Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 46028 | Warrendale · 17 mi | 31 trucks | 0 | — |
| Forest Hills Transfer & Storage IncUSDOT 85531 | Greensburg · 26 mi | 25 trucks | 35 | 15.0% of 20 |
| Allegheny Valley Transfer CompanyUSDOT 376847 | Pittsburgh · 7 mi | 23 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Allentown end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Allentown: O'Briens Moving and Storage (Allentown, 21 trucks), Hughes Relocation Services Inc (Lansdale, 21 trucks), Reads Moving Systems Inc (Montgomeryville, 19 trucks), Clemmer Moving & Storage Inc (Telford, 17 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 278-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 Pittsburgh to Allentown
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 278 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 Allentown
A local move inside Allentown 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 Allentown are Philadelphia (about 56 mi), Wilmington (about 69 mi), Newark (about 80 mi).
Other routes from Pittsburgh
All routes from Pittsburgh, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh to Akron, OH | ~106 mi | $477 – $636 |
| Pittsburgh to Cleveland, OH | ~134 mi | $603 – $804 |
| Pittsburgh to Erie, PA | ~136 mi | $612 – $816 |
| Pittsburgh to Frederick, MD | ~180 mi | $810 – $1,080 |
| Pittsburgh to Columbus, OH | ~188 mi | $846 – $1,128 |
| Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, PA | ~192 mi | $864 – $1,152 |
| Pittsburgh to Arlington, VA | ~220 mi | $990 – $1,320 |
| Pittsburgh to Washington, DC | ~222 mi | $999 – $1,332 |
Also moving to Allentown: from Philadelphia, PA.
Pittsburgh to Allentown moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Pittsburgh to Allentown?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 278 miles cost about $938 – $1,251 for a studio, $1,251 – $1,668 for a two-bedroom home and $1,439 – $1,918 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Pittsburgh to Allentown take?
The drive is about 5 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 Pittsburgh to Allentown?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $600 – $801 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,251 – $1,668 with full-service movers; a moving container is $901 – $1,201.
Is Pittsburgh to Allentown 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 Pittsburgh to Allentown each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 68 people a year (margin of error ±62) moved from Allegheny County, which contains Pittsburgh, to Lehigh County, which contains Allentown.
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.