Moving from Houston, TX to Austin, TX
162 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.
Measured driving distance. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Houston, TX to Austin, TX covers 162 miles and is a move within Texas. Full-service movers cost $729 – $972 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 5,495 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 162 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 $729 – $972. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Texas
- Driving
- about 3 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Houston to Austin
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $547 – $729 | $394 – $525 | $262 – $350 |
| 1 bedroom | $656 – $875 | $472 – $630 | $315 – $420 |
| 2 bedrooms | $729 – $972 | $525 – $700 | $350 – $467 |
| 3 bedrooms | $838 – $1,118 | $604 – $805 | $402 – $537 |
| 4 bedrooms | $948 – $1,264 | $682 – $910 | $455 – $607 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,094 – $1,458 | $787 – $1,050 | $525 – $700 |
Transport only, for 162 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, Houston to Austin
162 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $810. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $729 to $972, 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 Houston to Austin
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 5,495 people a year (±746) moved from Harris County, TX, home to Houston, to Travis County, TX, home to Austin. Going the other way: about 3,974 people a year (±791). Movers from Harris County make up 6.2% of the 88,034 people a year who moved into Travis County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Fort Bend County, TX | 22,603 ±2,833 |
| Montgomery County, TX | 14,783 ±1,771 |
| Galveston County, TX | 8,605 ±1,230 |
| Brazoria County, TX | 8,171 ±2,118 |
| Travis County, TX | 5,495 ±746 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Williamson County, TX | 10,828 ±1,757 |
| Harris County, TX | 5,495 ±746 |
| Hays County, TX | 4,306 ±1,049 |
| Bexar County, TX | 3,813 ±659 |
| Tarrant County, TX | 2,840 ±714 |
Licensed movers at each end
570 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Houston. 43 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 25.9% of their 139 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Men MoversUSDOT 1914113 | Houston · 10 mi | 95 trucks | 4 | 100.0% of 4 |
| G and S Moving & StorageUSDOT 511433 | Houston · 4 mi | 35 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Max Movers IncUSDOT 1939180 | Houston · 8 mi | 32 trucks | 0 | — |
| K C Salley RelocationUSDOT 1866114 | Houston · 15 mi | 23 trucks | 0 | — |
| American Knights MovingUSDOT 1977907 | Houston · 6 mi | 20 trucks | 39 | 26.9% of 26 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Woodlands LLCUSDOT 2491964 | Houston · 17 mi | 19 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Austin end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Austin: Apple Moving (Austin, 185 trucks), Einstein Moving Company LLC (Austin, 80 trucks), A-1 Freeman Moving & Storage Inc (Round Rock, 30 trucks), Next Stop Moving & Storage (Taylor, 18 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 162-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 Houston to Austin
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 162 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 Austin
A local move inside Austin 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 Austin are San Antonio (about 86 mi), Houston (about 171 mi), Fort Worth (about 202 mi).
Other routes from Houston
All routes from Houston, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Houston to San Antonio, TX | 197 mi | $887 – $1,182 |
| Houston to Corpus Christi, TX | ~216 mi | $972 – $1,296 |
| Houston to Lafayette, LA | ~236 mi | $1,062 – $1,416 |
| Houston to Dallas, TX | 239 mi | $1,076 – $1,434 |
| Houston to Fort Worth, TX | ~277 mi | $1,247 – $1,662 |
| Houston to McKinney, TX | ~291 mi | $1,310 – $1,746 |
| Houston to Baton Rouge, LA | ~297 mi | $1,337 – $1,782 |
| Houston to Laredo, TX | ~341 mi | $1,535 – $2,046 |
Also moving to Austin: from San Antonio, TX, from Dallas, TX, from Arlington, TX, from Corpus Christi, TX.
Houston to Austin moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Houston to Austin?
From our published model, full-service movers over 162 miles cost about $547 – $729 for a studio, $729 – $972 for a two-bedroom home and $838 – $1,118 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Houston to Austin 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 Houston to Austin?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $350 – $467 for a two-bedroom home, against $729 – $972 with full-service movers; a moving container is $525 – $700.
Is Houston to Austin 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 Houston to Austin each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 5,495 people a year (margin of error ±746) moved from Harris County, which contains Houston, to Travis County, which contains Austin.
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.