Moving from Arlington, TX to Houston, TX
About 268 miles inside Texas. 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 Texas, 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 Arlington, TX to Houston, TX covers about 268 miles and is a move within Texas. Full-service movers cost $1,206 – $1,608 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 3,076 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 268 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 $1,206 – $1,608. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Texas
- Driving
- about 5 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Arlington to Houston
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $905 – $1,206 | $651 – $868 | $434 – $579 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,085 – $1,447 | $781 – $1,042 | $521 – $695 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,206 – $1,608 | $868 – $1,158 | $579 – $772 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,387 – $1,849 | $999 – $1,331 | $666 – $888 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,568 – $2,090 | $1,129 – $1,505 | $753 – $1,003 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,809 – $2,412 | $1,302 – $1,737 | $868 – $1,158 |
Transport only, for an estimated 268 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, Arlington to Houston
268 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,340. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,206 to $1,608, 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 Arlington to Houston
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 3,076 people a year (±918) moved from Tarrant County, TX, home to Arlington, to Harris County, TX, home to Houston. Going the other way: about 3,480 people a year (±615). Movers from Tarrant County make up 1.9% of the 161,852 people a year who moved into Harris County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Dallas County, TX | 15,770 ±1,727 |
| Denton County, TX | 8,269 ±1,288 |
| Parker County, TX | 4,115 ±1,045 |
| Harris County, TX | 3,076 ±918 |
| Johnson County, TX | 2,998 ±637 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Fort Bend County, TX | 18,579 ±2,596 |
| Montgomery County, TX | 10,582 ±1,455 |
| Galveston County, TX | 8,597 ±1,326 |
| Brazoria County, TX | 8,258 ±1,347 |
| Bexar County, TX | 4,773 ±970 |
Licensed movers at each end
555 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Arlington. 75 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 22.9% of their 236 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Relocation SystemsUSDOT 2008806 | Carrollton · 20 mi | 72 trucks | 3 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Suddath Moving & StorageUSDOT 1038245 | Coppell · 17 mi | 65 trucks | 1 | — |
| Armstrong RelocationUSDOT 449294 | Carrollton · 20 mi | 54 trucks | 6 | 16.7% of 6 |
| Midland Van LinesUSDOT 3516489 | Alvarado · 23 mi | 29 trucks | 33 | 45.5% of 22 |
| Two Men and A TruckUSDOT 3051005 | Arlington · 2 mi | 22 trucks | 17 | 7.7% of 13 |
| Daryl Flood Moving & StorageUSDOT 2453189 | Coppell · 17 mi | 21 trucks | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Houston end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Houston: 3 Men Movers (Houston, 95 trucks), G and S Moving & Storage (Houston, 35 trucks), Max Movers Inc (Houston, 32 trucks), K C Salley Relocation (Houston, 23 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Texas, so Texas rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Texas 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 Texas, so your protection on this 268-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 Arlington to Houston
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 268 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 Houston
A local move inside Houston later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $445 – $733 for a two-bedroom home and $741 – $1,344 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Houston are Austin (about 171 mi), Corpus Christi (about 216 mi), San Antonio (about 221 mi).
Other routes from Arlington
All routes from Arlington, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington to Fort Worth, TX | ~15 mi | $445 – $733 |
| Arlington to McKinney, TX | ~48 mi | $445 – $733 |
| Arlington to Austin, TX | ~203 mi | $914 – $1,218 |
| Arlington to San Antonio, TX | ~283 mi | $1,274 – $1,698 |
| Arlington to Lubbock, TX | ~329 mi | $1,481 – $1,974 |
| Arlington to Corpus Christi, TX | ~401 mi | $1,805 – $2,406 |
| Arlington to Laredo, TX | ~449 mi | $2,021 – $2,694 |
| Arlington to McAllen, TX | ~531 mi | $2,390 – $3,186 |
Also moving to Houston: from Austin, TX, from San Antonio, TX, from Corpus Christi, TX, from Lafayette, LA.
Arlington to Houston moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Arlington, TX to Houston?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 268 miles cost about $905 – $1,206 for a studio, $1,206 – $1,608 for a two-bedroom home and $1,387 – $1,849 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Arlington, TX to Houston 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 Arlington, TX to Houston?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $579 – $772 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,206 – $1,608 with full-service movers; a moving container is $868 – $1,158.
Is Arlington, TX to Houston an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Texas, so the move is regulated by Texas rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Texas 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 Arlington, TX to Houston each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 3,076 people a year (margin of error ±918) moved from Tarrant County, which contains Arlington, to Harris County, which contains Houston.
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.