Moving from Nashville, TN to Knoxville, 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 Nashville, TN to Knoxville, 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 1,325 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 Nashville to Knoxville
| 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, Nashville to Knoxville
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 Nashville to Knoxville
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 1,325 people a year (±385) moved from Davidson County, TN, home to Nashville, to Knox County, TN, home to Knoxville. Going the other way: about 890 people a year (±271). Movers from Davidson County make up 4.2% of the 31,755 people a year who moved into Knox 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 |
|---|---|
| Blount County, TN | 1,968 ±479 |
| Anderson County, TN | 1,759 ±392 |
| Davidson County, TN | 1,325 ±385 |
| Hamilton County, TN | 1,090 ±304 |
| Sevier County, TN | 926 ±271 |
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 Knoxville end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Knoxville: Gouffon Moving & Storage Company Inc (Knoxville, 17 trucks), Rowe Transfer Inc (Knoxville, 17 trucks), Fox Moving and Storage of East Tennessee LLC (Knoxville, 16 trucks), Carey Moving & Storage of Knoxville Inc (Knoxville, 9 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 Nashville to Knoxville
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 Knoxville
A local move inside Knoxville 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 Knoxville are Chattanooga (about 117 mi), Greenville (about 134 mi), Lexington (about 172 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 Chattanooga, TN | ~132 mi | $594 – $792 |
| Nashville to Louisville, KY | ~181 mi | $815 – $1,086 |
| 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 Knoxville: from Chattanooga, TN, from Lexington, KY, from Atlanta, GA, from Huntsville, AL.
Nashville to Knoxville moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Nashville to Knoxville?
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 Nashville to Knoxville 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 Nashville to Knoxville?
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 Nashville to Knoxville 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 Knoxville each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 1,325 people a year (margin of error ±385) moved from Davidson County, which contains Nashville, to Knox County, which contains Knoxville.
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.