Moving from Knoxville, TN to Nashville, TN
About 187 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 Nashville, TN covers about 187 miles and is a move within Tennessee. Full-service movers cost $842 – $1,122 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 890 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 187 miles, about 3 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 $842 – $1,122. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Tennessee
- Driving
- about 3 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Knoxville to Nashville
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $631 – $842 | $454 – $606 | $303 – $404 |
| 1 bedroom | $757 – $1,010 | $545 – $727 | $364 – $485 |
| 2 bedrooms | $842 – $1,122 | $606 – $808 | $404 – $539 |
| 3 bedrooms | $968 – $1,290 | $697 – $929 | $465 – $619 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,094 – $1,459 | $788 – $1,050 | $525 – $700 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,262 – $1,683 | $909 – $1,212 | $606 – $808 |
Transport only, for an estimated 187 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 Nashville
187 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $935. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $842 to $1,122, 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 Nashville
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 890 people a year (±271) moved from Knox County, TN, home to Knoxville, to Davidson County, TN, home to Nashville. Going the other way: about 1,325 people a year (±385). Movers from Knox County make up 1.8% of the 49,730 people a year who moved into Davidson 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 |
|---|---|
| Rutherford County, TN | 3,207 ±737 |
| Williamson County, TN | 2,940 ±573 |
| Sumner County, TN | 2,188 ±488 |
| Shelby County, TN | 1,795 ±546 |
| Wilson County, TN | 1,629 ±469 |
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 Nashville end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Nashville: Ted R Sanders Moving & Warehouse Inc (Nashville, 31 trucks), Sixth Man Movers Inc (Nashville, 18 trucks), All My Sons Moving & Storage of Nashville LLC (Nashville, 15 trucks), True Friends Moving Company LLC (Madison, 15 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 187-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 Nashville
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 187 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 Nashville
A local move inside Nashville 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 Nashville are Huntsville (about 116 mi), Chattanooga (about 132 mi), Evansville (about 154 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 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 |
| Knoxville to Evansville, IN | ~285 mi | $1,283 – $1,710 |
Also moving to Nashville: from Huntsville, AL, from Chattanooga, TN, from Louisville, KY, from Lexington, KY.
Knoxville to Nashville moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Knoxville to Nashville?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 187 miles cost about $631 – $842 for a studio, $842 – $1,122 for a two-bedroom home and $968 – $1,290 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Knoxville to Nashville take?
The drive is about 3 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 Knoxville to Nashville?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $404 – $539 for a two-bedroom home, against $842 – $1,122 with full-service movers; a moving container is $606 – $808.
Is Knoxville to Nashville 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 Nashville each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 890 people a year (margin of error ±271) moved from Knox County, which contains Knoxville, to Davidson County, which contains Nashville.
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.