Moving from Memphis, TN to Birmingham, AL
About 253 miles across a state line, from Tennessee into Alabama, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Memphis, TN to Birmingham, AL covers about 253 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,139 – $1,518 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 144 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 253 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 $1,139 – $1,518. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 5 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Memphis to Birmingham
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $854 – $1,139 | $615 – $820 | $410 – $546 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,025 – $1,366 | $738 – $984 | $492 – $656 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,139 – $1,518 | $820 – $1,093 | $546 – $729 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,309 – $1,746 | $943 – $1,257 | $628 – $838 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,480 – $1,973 | $1,066 – $1,421 | $710 – $947 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,708 – $2,277 | $1,230 – $1,639 | $820 – $1,093 |
Transport only, for an estimated 253 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, Memphis to Birmingham
253 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,265. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,139 to $1,518, 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 Memphis to Birmingham
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 144 people a year (±109) moved from Shelby County, TN, home to Memphis, to Jefferson County, AL, home to Birmingham. Going the other way: about 284 people a year (±163). Movers from Shelby County make up 0.5% of the 28,651 people a year who moved into Jefferson County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 11,339 people a year (±2,639) moving from Tennessee to Alabama and about 9,789 people a year (±2,113) from Alabama to Tennessee — a net gain for Alabama of about 1,550 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DeSoto County, MS | 3,849 ±780 |
| Davidson County, TN | 1,795 ±546 |
| Tipton County, TN | 1,536 ±551 |
| Fayette County, TN | 1,060 ±318 |
| Knox County, TN | 699 ±232 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Shelby County, AL | 3,930 ±713 |
| Tuscaloosa County, AL | 1,489 ±342 |
| St. Clair County, AL | 1,342 ±476 |
| Walker County, AL | 959 ±600 |
| Houston County, AL | 799 ±446 |
Licensed movers at each end
33 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Memphis (45 counting those licensed only inside Tennessee). 20 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 21.3% of their 80 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lanigan Worldwide Moving & Warehousing IncUSDOT 296790 | Memphis · 5 mi | 20 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Big League Movers IncUSDOT 1999318 | Memphis · 10 mi | 20 trucks | 31 | 15.0% of 20 |
| Guardian Moving Systems IncUSDOT 534684 | Memphis · 14 mi | 17 trucks | 3 | 100.0% of 1 |
| Cooper & Cooper Moving IncUSDOT 501893 | Memphis · 11 mi | 13 trucks | 7 | 33.3% of 6 |
| Ewing Moving Service IncUSDOT 435272 | Memphis · 9 mi | 11 trucks | 9 | 33.3% of 6 |
| My Town Movers IncUSDOT 2434252 | Collierville · 23 mi | 10 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 4 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Birmingham end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Birmingham: New Latitude Moving Admiral Movers Motivated Movers (Birmingham, 52 trucks), Thompson Delivery Services Colwright (Birmingham, 31 trucks), Two Men and A Truck (Irondale, 21 trucks), Changing Spaces Moving Inc (Birmingham, 20 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Tennessee into Alabama, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book Memphis to Birmingham
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 253 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 Birmingham
A local move inside Birmingham later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $435 – $719 for a two-bedroom home and $723 – $1,317 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Birmingham are Huntsville (about 98 mi), Montgomery (about 98 mi), Columbus (about 154 mi).
Other routes from Memphis
All routes from Memphis, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis to Little Rock, AR | ~151 mi | $680 – $906 |
| Memphis to Jackson, MS | ~229 mi | $1,031 – $1,374 |
| Memphis to Nashville, TN | ~230 mi | $1,035 – $1,380 |
| Memphis to Huntsville, AL | ~231 mi | $1,040 – $1,386 |
| Memphis to Chattanooga, TN | ~313 mi | $1,409 – $1,878 |
| Memphis to Louisville, KY | ~374 mi | $1,683 – $2,244 |
| Memphis to Baton Rouge, LA | ~386 mi | $1,737 – $2,316 |
| Memphis to Atlanta, GA | ~392 mi | $1,764 – $2,352 |
Also moving to Birmingham: from Huntsville, AL, from Montgomery, AL, from Atlanta, GA, from Nashville, TN.
Memphis to Birmingham moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Memphis to Birmingham?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 253 miles cost about $854 – $1,139 for a studio, $1,139 – $1,518 for a two-bedroom home and $1,309 – $1,746 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Memphis to Birmingham 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 Memphis to Birmingham?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $546 – $729 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,139 – $1,518 with full-service movers; a moving container is $820 – $1,093.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Memphis to Birmingham?
Yes. Memphis is in Tennessee and Birmingham is in Alabama, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 33 listed movers within 30 miles of Memphis hold it.
How many people move from Memphis to Birmingham each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 144 people a year (margin of error ±109) moved from Shelby County, which contains Memphis, to Jefferson County, which contains Birmingham.
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.