Moving from Tennessee to Illinois
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Nashville and Chicago it is about 463 miles and about 8 hours; the 12 city pairs we price between the two states run from 345 to 569 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.
- ~463 miNashville → Chicago
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $2,084+2-bedroom, movers
- 12City routes priced
In short
About 3,992 people moved from Tennessee to Illinois in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,354), and about 10,866 went the other way. Between Nashville and Chicago it is about 463 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $2,084 – $2,778 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 132 movers based in Tennessee hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Tennessee to Illinois
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 3,992 people a year (±1,354), against about 10,866 (±3,232) from Illinois to Tennessee, so Illinois loses about 6,874 people a year on this exchange. Tennessee is the 19th-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Davidson County | Cook County | 564 ±208 |
| Shelby County | Cook County | 489 ±211 |
| Davidson County | DuPage County | 298 ±215 |
| Robertson County | Winnebago County | 213 ±336* |
| Knox County | Cook County | 165 ±143 |
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.
Nashville 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 Tennessee and Illinois.
Cost of moving from Tennessee to Illinois
At about 463 miles, full-service movers should land around $2,084 – $2,778 for a two-bedroom home and $2,396 – $3,195 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $1,500 – $2,000; a freight trailer is $1,000 – $1,333.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,563 – $2,084 | $1,125 – $1,500 | $750 – $1,000 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,875 – $2,500 | $1,350 – $1,800 | $900 – $1,200 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,084 – $2,778 | $1,500 – $2,000 | $1,000 – $1,333 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,396 – $3,195 | $1,725 – $2,300 | $1,150 – $1,533 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,709 – $3,611 | $1,950 – $2,600 | $1,300 – $1,733 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $3,125 – $4,167 | $2,250 – $3,000 | $1,500 – $2,000 |
Transport only, for an estimated 463 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 Tennessee to Illinois
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 3 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville to Springfield | ~345 mi | 1–3 days | $1,553 – $2,070 | $1,785 – $2,380 |
| Memphis to Springfield | ~376 mi | 1–3 days | $1,692 – $2,256 | $1,946 – $2,594 |
| Nashville to Peoria | ~406 mi | 3–7 days | $1,827 – $2,436 | $2,101 – $2,801 |
| Memphis to Peoria | ~448 mi | 3–7 days | $2,016 – $2,688 | $2,318 – $3,091 |
| Nashville to Chicago | ~463 mi | 3–7 days | $2,084 – $2,778 | $2,396 – $3,195 |
| Chattanooga to Springfield | ~473 mi | 3–7 days | $2,129 – $2,838 | $2,448 – $3,264 |
| Knoxville to Springfield | ~477 mi | 3–7 days | $2,147 – $2,862 | $2,468 – $3,291 |
| Knoxville to Peoria | ~523 mi | 3–7 days | $2,354 – $3,138 | $2,707 – $3,609 |
| Chattanooga to Peoria | ~530 mi | 3–7 days | $2,385 – $3,180 | $2,743 – $3,657 |
| Knoxville to Chicago | ~530 mi | 3–7 days | $2,385 – $3,180 | $2,743 – $3,657 |
| Memphis to Chicago | ~563 mi | 3–7 days | $2,534 – $3,378 | $2,914 – $3,885 |
| Chattanooga to Chicago | ~569 mi | 3–7 days | $2,561 – $3,414 | $2,945 – $3,926 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Tennessee
70 of the 132 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 480 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 50 of 273 vehicle inspections (18.3%), about the same as the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 105 of 479 driver inspections (21.9%, against 13.0%). None has an acute or critical violation from an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talent's Moving & Storage IncChattanooga, TN · USDOT 3854391 | 52 | 9 of 34 | 10 of 52 |
| Colonial Van Lines IncClarkrange, TN · USDOT 4071435 | 33 | 4 of 16 | 1 of 33 |
| Big League Movers IncMemphis, TN · USDOT 1999318 | 31 | 3 of 20 | 12 of 31 |
| Boundless Moving and StorageCleveland, TN · USDOT 2798532 | 27 | 1 of 16 | 6 of 27 |
| Rowe Transfer IncKnoxville, TN · USDOT 1079919 | 25 | 3 of 13 | 0 of 25 |
| Justpro Moving LLCSpring Hill, TN · USDOT 3925031 | 20 | 1 of 10 | 3 of 20 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
266 listed household-goods carriers are based in Tennessee, 132 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Tennessee 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 Tennessee. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Tennessee
Tennessee to Illinois moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Tennessee to Illinois?
Between the two states' main cities, Nashville and Chicago, the distance is about 463 miles. From our model that is $2,084 – $2,778 for a two-bedroom home and $2,396 – $3,195 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $1,500 – $2,000 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,000 – $1,333. Across the 12 city pairs we price between Tennessee and Illinois, distances run from 345 to 569 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Tennessee to Illinois take?
Nashville to Chicago is about 8 hours. 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 Tennessee to Illinois?
Yes. A move from Tennessee into Illinois is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 266 listed movers based in Tennessee, 132 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Tennessee.
What is the cheapest way to move from Tennessee to Illinois?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,000 – $1,333 for a two-bedroom home over 463 miles against $2,084 – $2,778 with full-service movers. A container, about $1,500 – $2,000, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Tennessee to Illinois each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 3,992 people (±1,354) moved from Tennessee to Illinois that year, against about 10,866 (±3,232) from Illinois to Tennessee. That makes Tennessee the 19th-largest source of new residents for Illinois among the states.