Moving from Knoxville, TN to Memphis, TN
About 407 miles inside Tennessee. 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 Tennessee, 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 Knoxville, TN to Memphis, TN covers about 407 miles and is a move within Tennessee. Full-service movers cost $1,832 – $2,442 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. About 283 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 407 miles between Tennessee and Tennessee, this sits in the range where carriers differ most. Some run it dedicated with a firm date; others consolidate it with other shipments and quote a window of 3 to 7 days. The price gap between those two is real — a two-bedroom home runs $1,832 – $2,442 full-service — so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Within Tennessee
- Driving
- about 7 hours
- Usually moves on
- either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load
- Book ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of moving from Knoxville to Memphis
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,374 – $1,832 | $989 – $1,319 | $659 – $879 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,648 – $2,198 | $1,187 – $1,582 | $791 – $1,055 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,832 – $2,442 | $1,319 – $1,758 | $879 – $1,172 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,106 – $2,808 | $1,516 – $2,022 | $1,011 – $1,348 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,381 – $3,175 | $1,714 – $2,286 | $1,143 – $1,524 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $2,747 – $3,663 | $1,978 – $2,637 | $1,319 – $1,758 |
Transport only, for an estimated 407 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, Knoxville to Memphis
407 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $2,035. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,832 to $2,442, 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 Knoxville to Memphis
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 283 people a year (±103) moved from Knox County, TN, home to Knoxville, to Shelby County, TN, home to Memphis. Going the other way: about 699 people a year (±232). Movers from Knox County make up 0.8% of the 33,594 people a year who moved into Shelby County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Anderson County, TN | 2,034 ±555 |
| Blount County, TN | 1,005 ±294 |
| Davidson County, TN | 890 ±271 |
| Williamson County, TN | 693 ±335 |
| Loudon County, TN | 662 ±264 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DeSoto County, MS | 2,448 ±743 |
| Rutherford County, TN | 1,527 ±362 |
| Crittenden County, AR | 1,270 ±538 |
| Davidson County, TN | 1,190 ±425 |
| Jefferson County, KY | 819 ±698 |
Licensed movers at each end
34 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Knoxville. 9 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 22.9% of their 35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gouffon Moving & Storage Company IncUSDOT 553340 | Knoxville · 5 mi | 17 trucks | 7 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Rowe Transfer IncUSDOT 1079919 | Knoxville · 7 mi | 17 trucks | 25 | 23.1% of 13 |
| Fox Moving and Storage of East Tennessee LLCUSDOT 2500143 | Knoxville · 5 mi | 16 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Carey Moving & Storage of Knoxville IncUSDOT 1701097 | Knoxville · 5 mi | 9 trucks | 0 | — |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Knoxville LLCUSDOT 2087637 | Knoxville · 16 mi | 9 trucks | 7 | 0.0% of 5 |
| Dodson's Moving and Storage Co IncUSDOT 1002164 | Oak Ridge · 21 mi | 7 trucks | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Memphis end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Memphis: Lanigan Worldwide Moving & Warehousing Inc (Memphis, 20 trucks), Big League Movers Inc (Memphis, 20 trucks), Guardian Moving Systems Inc (Memphis, 17 trucks), Cooper & Cooper Moving Inc (Memphis, 13 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Tennessee, so Tennessee rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Tennessee 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 Tennessee, so your protection on this 407-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 Knoxville to Memphis
Ask: dedicated or consolidated?
This is the distance where carriers split. A dedicated truck costs more and delivers on a date; a consolidated load costs less and delivers in a window. Decide which you are buying before you compare prices.
Get it binding or not-to-exceed
A non-binding estimate is a guess with no ceiling. On 407 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
Arriving in Memphis
A local move inside Memphis 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 Memphis are Little Rock (about 151 mi), Jackson (about 229 mi), Nashville (about 230 mi).
Other routes from Knoxville
All routes from Knoxville, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville to Chattanooga, TN | ~117 mi | $527 – $702 |
| Knoxville to Atlanta, GA | ~180 mi | $810 – $1,080 |
| Knoxville to Nashville, TN | ~187 mi | $842 – $1,122 |
| Knoxville to Charlotte, NC | ~210 mi | $945 – $1,260 |
| Knoxville to Louisville, KY | ~219 mi | $986 – $1,314 |
| Knoxville to Augusta, GA | ~238 mi | $1,071 – $1,428 |
| Knoxville to Columbia, SC | ~247 mi | $1,112 – $1,482 |
| Knoxville to Cincinnati, OH | ~256 mi | $1,152 – $1,536 |
Also moving to Memphis: from Little Rock, AR, from Jackson, MS, from Nashville, TN, from Birmingham, AL.
Knoxville to Memphis moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Knoxville to Memphis?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 407 miles cost about $1,374 – $1,832 for a studio, $1,832 – $2,442 for a two-bedroom home and $2,106 – $2,808 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Knoxville to Memphis take?
The drive is about 7 hours, but the move usually takes 3 to 7 days because it moves on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Knoxville to Memphis?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $879 – $1,172 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,832 – $2,442 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,319 – $1,758.
Is Knoxville to Memphis an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Tennessee, so the move is regulated by Tennessee rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Tennessee 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 Knoxville to Memphis each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 283 people a year (margin of error ±103) moved from Knox County, which contains Knoxville, to Shelby County, which contains Memphis.
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.