Moving from Houston, TX to New Orleans, LA
About 370 miles across a state line, from Texas into Louisiana, 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 Houston, TX to New Orleans, LA covers about 370 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,665 – $2,220 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 662 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 370 miles, about 7 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 $1,665 – $2,220. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 7 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Houston to New Orleans
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,249 – $1,665 | $899 – $1,199 | $599 – $799 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,499 – $1,998 | $1,079 – $1,439 | $719 – $959 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,665 – $2,220 | $1,199 – $1,598 | $799 – $1,066 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,915 – $2,553 | $1,379 – $1,838 | $919 – $1,225 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,165 – $2,886 | $1,558 – $2,078 | $1,039 – $1,385 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $2,498 – $3,330 | $1,798 – $2,398 | $1,199 – $1,598 |
Transport only, for an estimated 370 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 New Orleans
370 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,850. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,665 to $2,220, 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 New Orleans
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 662 people a year (±203) moved from Harris County, TX, home to Houston, to Orleans Parish, LA, home to New Orleans. Going the other way: about 885 people a year (±545). Movers from Harris County make up 3.2% of the 20,749 people a year who moved into Orleans Parish from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 19,850 people a year (±3,560) moving from Texas to Louisiana and about 24,170 people a year (±5,369) from Louisiana to Texas — a net gain for Texas of about 4,320 people a year.
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Jefferson Parish, LA | 4,817 ±679 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish, LA | 1,172 ±390 |
| Harris County, TX | 662 ±203 |
| St. Tammany Parish, LA | 630 ±272 |
| Lafayette Parish, LA | 451 ±173 |
Licensed movers at each end
82 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Houston (570 counting those licensed only inside Texas). 35 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 27.3% of their 110 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 |
| 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 |
| Cajun MoversUSDOT 752804 | Fresno · 17 mi | 16 trucks | 4 | 50.0% of 4 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Houston LLCUSDOT 1296282 | Houston · 15 mi | 15 trucks | 7 | 0.0% of 6 |
How these figures are calculated
At the New Orleans end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of New Orleans: American Machinery Movers Inc (Jefferson, 24 trucks), Hug-Condon Moving & Storage Co Inc (Harahan, 8 trucks), Lee Moving and Storage Inc (New Orleans, 5 trucks), Atmosphere Movers (Mandeville, 5 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Texas into Louisiana, 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 Houston to New Orleans
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 370 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 New Orleans
A local move inside New Orleans later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $425 – $691 for a two-bedroom home and $705 – $1,263 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from New Orleans are Gulfport (about 76 mi), Baton Rouge (about 87 mi), Lafayette (about 138 mi).
Other routes from Houston
All routes from Houston, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Houston to Austin, TX | 162 mi | $729 – $972 |
| 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 |
Also moving to New Orleans: from Baton Rouge, LA, from Lafayette, LA, from Shreveport, LA, from Atlanta, GA.
Houston to New Orleans moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Houston to New Orleans?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 370 miles cost about $1,249 – $1,665 for a studio, $1,665 – $2,220 for a two-bedroom home and $1,915 – $2,553 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Houston to New Orleans take?
The drive is about 7 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 New Orleans?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $799 – $1,066 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,665 – $2,220 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,199 – $1,598.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Houston to New Orleans?
Yes. Houston is in Texas and New Orleans is in Louisiana, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 82 listed movers within 30 miles of Houston hold it.
How many people move from Houston to New Orleans each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 662 people a year (margin of error ±203) moved from Harris County, which contains Houston, to Orleans Parish, which contains New Orleans.
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.