Moving from Houston, TX to Washington, DC
About 1,420 miles across a state line, from Texas into District of Columbia, 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 Washington, DC covers about 1,420 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $6,390 – $8,520 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 477 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,420 miles from Texas to District of Columbia. Almost all of these move as consolidated freight: your goods share a trailer and the carrier quotes 7 to 14 days rather than a date. It is why a two-bedroom home here runs $6,390 – $8,520 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 3 days on the road (about 26 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households
- Book ahead
- 6 to 8 weeks
Cost of moving from Houston to Washington
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,793 – $6,390 | $3,451 – $4,601 | $2,300 – $3,067 |
| 1 bedroom | $5,751 – $7,668 | $4,141 – $5,521 | $2,760 – $3,681 |
| 2 bedrooms | $6,390 – $8,520 | $4,601 – $6,134 | $3,067 – $4,090 |
| 3 bedrooms | $7,348 – $9,798 | $5,291 – $7,055 | $3,527 – $4,703 |
| 4 bedrooms | $8,307 – $11,076 | $5,981 – $7,975 | $3,987 – $5,316 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $9,585 – $12,780 | $6,901 – $9,202 | $4,601 – $6,134 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,420 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 Washington
1,420 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $7,100. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $6,390 to $8,520, 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 Washington
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 477 people a year (±179) moved from Harris County, TX, home to Houston, to District of Columbia, DC, home to Washington. Going the other way: about 329 people a year (±196). Movers from Harris County make up 0.8% of the 56,680 people a year who moved into District of Columbia from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 1,447 people a year (±800) moving from Texas to District of Columbia and about 2,287 people a year (±1,387) from District of Columbia to Texas — a net gain for Texas of about 840 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 |
|---|---|
| Prince George's County, MD | 5,604 ±979 |
| Montgomery County, MD | 4,380 ±582 |
| Arlington County, VA | 2,881 ±512 |
| Fairfax County, VA | 2,217 ±690 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 1,538 ±527 |
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 Washington end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Washington: JK Moving Services (Sterling, 173 trucks), Eagle Van Lines Inc (Temple Hills, 72 trucks), Town and Country Movers Inc (Gaithersburg, 64 trucks), A&A Transfer LLC (Chantilly, 62 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Texas into District of Columbia, 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 Washington
Insist on a survey
Over 1,420 miles the price is driven almost entirely by weight. A quote given without a video or in-home survey is a guess that gets revised upward on loading day, and at this distance the revision is expensive.
Keep full-value protection
It is the default on an interstate move. Signing it away for released value means 60 cents per pound, about $18 for a 30 lb television, after 1,420 miles of handling.
Arriving in Washington
A local move inside Washington later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $525 – $873 for a two-bedroom home and $885 – $1,614 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Washington are Arlington (about 4 mi), Annapolis (about 35 mi), Baltimore (about 42 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 Washington: from Arlington, VA, from Annapolis, MD, from Baltimore, MD, from Richmond, VA.
Houston to Washington moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Houston to Washington?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,420 miles cost about $4,793 – $6,390 for a studio, $6,390 – $8,520 for a two-bedroom home and $7,348 – $9,798 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Houston to Washington take?
The drive is 3 days on the road (about 26 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 7 to 14 days because it moves on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Houston to Washington?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $3,067 – $4,090 for a two-bedroom home, against $6,390 – $8,520 with full-service movers; a moving container is $4,601 – $6,134.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Houston to Washington?
Yes. Houston is in Texas and Washington is in District of Columbia, 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 Washington each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 477 people a year (margin of error ±179) moved from Harris County, which contains Houston, to District of Columbia, which contains Washington.
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.