Moving from Memphis, TN to Columbus, GA
About 406 miles across a state line, from Tennessee into Georgia, 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 Columbus, GA covers about 406 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,827 – $2,436 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. About 38 people a year move between the two metro areas (Census).
The route
At 406 miles between Tennessee and Georgia, 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 $1,827 – $2,436 full-service — so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- 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 Memphis to Columbus
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,370 – $1,827 | $987 – $1,315 | $658 – $877 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,644 – $2,192 | $1,184 – $1,579 | $789 – $1,052 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,827 – $2,436 | $1,315 – $1,754 | $877 – $1,169 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,101 – $2,801 | $1,513 – $2,017 | $1,009 – $1,345 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,375 – $3,167 | $1,710 – $2,280 | $1,140 – $1,520 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $2,741 – $3,654 | $1,973 – $2,631 | $1,315 – $1,754 |
Transport only, for an estimated 406 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 Columbus
406 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $2,030. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,827 to $2,436, 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 Columbus
The county-to-county table of the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) has no estimate for Shelby County, TN to Muscogee County, GA, but the wider metro table does: about 38 people a year (±44) moved from the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area to the Columbus, GA-AL metro area. The margin of error is as large as the estimate, so read it as a handful of households rather than a count.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 10,017 people a year (±2,556) moving from Tennessee to Georgia and about 10,786 people a year (±2,605) from Georgia to Tennessee — a net gain for Tennessee of about 769 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 |
|---|---|
| Russell County, AL | 868 ±365 |
| Chattahoochee County, GA | 649 ±342 |
| Dougherty County, GA | 494 ±323 |
| Marion County, GA | 461 ±413 |
| Spalding County, GA | 424 ±534 |
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 Columbus end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Columbus: McCarley Moving and Storage Company Inc (Columbus, 12 trucks), Coleman American Moving Services Inc (Columbus, 12 trucks), Als Van Line Services Inc (Columbus, 8 trucks), Phelps Moving & Storage Inc (Columbus, 3 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Tennessee into Georgia, 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 Columbus
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 406 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
Arriving in Columbus
A local move inside Columbus later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $455 – $747 for a two-bedroom home and $759 – $1,371 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Columbus are Montgomery (about 98 mi), Atlanta (about 105 mi), Birmingham (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 Birmingham, AL | ~253 mi | $1,139 – $1,518 |
| 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 |
Also moving to Columbus: from Montgomery, AL, from Atlanta, GA, from Augusta, GA, from Savannah, GA.
Memphis to Columbus moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Memphis to Columbus, GA?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 406 miles cost about $1,370 – $1,827 for a studio, $1,827 – $2,436 for a two-bedroom home and $2,101 – $2,801 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Memphis to Columbus, GA 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 Memphis to Columbus, GA?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $877 – $1,169 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,827 – $2,436 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,315 – $1,754.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Memphis to Columbus, GA?
Yes. Memphis is in Tennessee and Columbus is in Georgia, 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 Columbus, GA each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 38 people a year (margin of error ±44) moved from the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area to the Columbus, GA-AL metro area. Its county table has no estimate for this pair, so the metro figure is the finest available.
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.