Moving from Nashville, TN to Chattanooga, TN
About 132 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 Nashville, TN to Chattanooga, TN covers about 132 miles and is a move within Tennessee. Full-service movers cost $594 – $792 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 1,037 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 132 miles, about 2 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 $594 – $792. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Tennessee
- Driving
- about 2 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Nashville to Chattanooga
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $450 – $600 | $321 – $428 | $225 – $300 |
| 1 bedroom | $535 – $713 | $385 – $513 | $257 – $342 |
| 2 bedrooms | $594 – $792 | $428 – $570 | $285 – $380 |
| 3 bedrooms | $683 – $911 | $492 – $656 | $328 – $437 |
| 4 bedrooms | $772 – $1,030 | $556 – $741 | $371 – $494 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $891 – $1,188 | $642 – $855 | $428 – $570 |
Transport only, for an estimated 132 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, Nashville to Chattanooga
132 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $660. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $594 to $792, 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 Nashville to Chattanooga
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 1,037 people a year (±435) moved from Davidson County, TN, home to Nashville, to Hamilton County, TN, home to Chattanooga. Going the other way: about 514 people a year (±179). Movers from Davidson County make up 4.9% of the 21,324 people a year who moved into Hamilton County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Rutherford County, TN | 6,406 ±1,207 |
| Williamson County, TN | 4,517 ±825 |
| Sumner County, TN | 3,677 ±744 |
| Wilson County, TN | 3,082 ±699 |
| Robertson County, TN | 1,441 ±433 |
| 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
86 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Nashville. 16 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 22.5% of their 40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ted R Sanders Moving & Warehouse IncUSDOT 975147 | Nashville · 10 mi | 31 trucks | 0 | — |
| Sixth Man Movers IncUSDOT 2315850 | Nashville · 7 mi | 18 trucks | 3 | — |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Nashville LLCUSDOT 825563 | Nashville · 5 mi | 15 trucks | 7 | 0.0% of 4 |
| True Friends Moving Company LLCUSDOT 2629977 | Madison · 8 mi | 15 trucks | 15 | 28.6% of 7 |
| Black Tie Moving Nashville LLCUSDOT 3086498 | Nashville · 2 mi | 14 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Class Pays Moving and StorageUSDOT 2951148 | Springfield · 27 mi | 13 trucks | 1 | 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 132-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 Nashville to Chattanooga
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 132 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 Nashville
All routes from Nashville, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville to Huntsville, AL | ~116 mi | $522 – $696 |
| Nashville to Louisville, KY | ~181 mi | $815 – $1,086 |
| Nashville to Knoxville, TN | ~187 mi | $842 – $1,122 |
| Nashville to Lexington, KY | ~211 mi | $950 – $1,266 |
| Nashville to Birmingham, AL | ~213 mi | $959 – $1,278 |
| Nashville to Memphis, TN | ~230 mi | $1,035 – $1,380 |
| Nashville to Atlanta, GA | ~250 mi | $1,125 – $1,500 |
| Nashville to Saint Louis, MO | ~295 mi | $1,328 – $1,770 |
Also moving to Chattanooga: from Knoxville, TN, from Atlanta, GA, from Memphis, TN, from Chicago, IL.
Nashville to Chattanooga moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Nashville to Chattanooga?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 132 miles cost about $450 – $600 for a studio, $594 – $792 for a two-bedroom home and $683 – $911 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Nashville to Chattanooga take?
The drive is about 2 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 Nashville to Chattanooga?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $285 – $380 for a two-bedroom home, against $594 – $792 with full-service movers; a moving container is $428 – $570.
Is Nashville 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 Nashville to Chattanooga each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 1,037 people a year (margin of error ±435) moved from Davidson County, which contains Nashville, 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.