Moving from Memphis, TN to Chattanooga, TN
About 313 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 Memphis, TN to Chattanooga, TN covers about 313 miles and is a move within Tennessee. Full-service movers cost $1,409 – $1,878 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 186 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 313 miles, about 6 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 $1,409 – $1,878. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Tennessee
- Driving
- about 6 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Memphis to Chattanooga
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,056 – $1,409 | $761 – $1,014 | $507 – $676 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,268 – $1,690 | $913 – $1,217 | $608 – $811 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,409 – $1,878 | $1,014 – $1,352 | $676 – $901 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,620 – $2,160 | $1,166 – $1,555 | $777 – $1,037 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,831 – $2,441 | $1,318 – $1,758 | $879 – $1,172 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $2,113 – $2,817 | $1,521 – $2,028 | $1,014 – $1,352 |
Transport only, for an estimated 313 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 Chattanooga
313 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,565. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,409 to $1,878, 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 Chattanooga
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 186 people a year (±95) moved from Shelby County, TN, home to Memphis, to Hamilton County, TN, home to Chattanooga. Going the other way: about 672 people a year (±230). Movers from Shelby County make up 0.9% of the 21,324 people a year who moved into Hamilton County from another county or state.
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Bradley County, TN | 1,520 ±620 |
| Walker County, GA | 1,123 ±460 |
| Davidson County, TN | 1,037 ±435 |
| Catoosa County, GA | 883 ±477 |
| Knox County, TN | 561 ±206 |
Licensed movers at each end
45 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Memphis. 21 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 22.2% of their 81 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 |
| Black Tie Moving Memphis LPUSDOT 2782498 | Bartlett · 15 mi | 10 trucks | 2 | 100.0% of 1 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Chattanooga end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Chattanooga: Bellhop Moving (Chattanooga, 15 trucks), Good Guys Moving & Delivery (Chattanooga, 12 trucks), Armstrong Relocation (Ooltewah, 10 trucks), Boundless Moving and Storage (Cleveland, 10 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 313-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 Memphis to Chattanooga
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 313 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 Chattanooga
A local move inside Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga are Huntsville (about 88 mi), Knoxville (about 117 mi), Atlanta (about 121 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 Birmingham, AL | ~253 mi | $1,139 – $1,518 |
| 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 Chattanooga: from Knoxville, TN, from Atlanta, GA, from Nashville, TN, from Chicago, IL.
Memphis to Chattanooga moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Memphis to Chattanooga?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 313 miles cost about $1,056 – $1,409 for a studio, $1,409 – $1,878 for a two-bedroom home and $1,620 – $2,160 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Memphis to Chattanooga take?
The drive is about 6 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 Chattanooga?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $676 – $901 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,409 – $1,878 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,014 – $1,352.
Is Memphis to Chattanooga 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 Memphis to Chattanooga each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 186 people a year (margin of error ±95) moved from Shelby County, which contains Memphis, to Hamilton County, which contains Chattanooga.
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.