Moving from Texas to Illinois
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Houston and Chicago it is 1,113 miles and 3 days on the road (about 20 hours of driving); the 48 city pairs we price between the two states run from 699 to 1,459 miles.
Prices from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Carriers: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot 2026-09-24. We do not move anyone.
- 1,113 miHouston → Chicago
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $5,009+2-bedroom, movers
- 48City routes priced
In short
About 18,189 people moved from Texas to Illinois in 2024 (Census estimate, ±3,474), and about 23,509 went the other way. Between Houston and Chicago it is 1,113 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $5,009 – $6,678 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 407 movers based in Texas hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Texas to Illinois
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 18,189 people a year (±3,474), against about 23,509 (±4,417) from Illinois to Texas, so Illinois loses about 5,320 people a year on this exchange. Texas sends more people to Illinois than any other state; Illinois took in about 199,996 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Travis County | Cook County | 880 ±266 |
| Harris County | Cook County | 846 ±295 |
| Dallas County | Cook County | 771 ±237 |
| Bexar County | Lake County | 567 ±315 |
| El Paso County | Cook County | 308 ±246 |
US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 state-to-state migration and ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county flows; people a year with a 90% margin of error. County names link to their cost guides.
Houston to Chicago, the representative route
Each state is represented by its largest city we cover. The map shows that corridor; the table further down prices every city pair between Texas and Illinois.
Cost of moving from Texas to Illinois
At 1,113 miles, full-service movers should land around $5,009 – $6,678 for a two-bedroom home and $5,760 – $7,680 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,606 – $4,808; a freight trailer is $2,404 – $3,205.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,756 – $5,009 | $2,705 – $3,606 | $1,803 – $2,404 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,508 – $6,010 | $3,246 – $4,327 | $2,164 – $2,885 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,009 – $6,678 | $3,606 – $4,808 | $2,404 – $3,205 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,760 – $7,680 | $4,147 – $5,529 | $2,765 – $3,686 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,511 – $8,681 | $4,688 – $6,251 | $3,125 – $4,167 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,513 – $10,017 | $5,409 – $7,212 | $3,606 – $4,808 |
Transport only, for 1,113 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.
City-to-city routes from Texas to Illinois
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 7 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinney to Springfield | ~699 mi | 3–7 days | $3,146 – $4,194 | $3,617 – $4,823 |
| Plano to Springfield | ~712 mi | 3–7 days | $3,204 – $4,272 | $3,685 – $4,913 |
| Garland to Springfield | ~716 mi | 3–7 days | $3,222 – $4,296 | $3,705 – $4,940 |
| Dallas to Springfield | ~731 mi | 3–7 days | $3,290 – $4,386 | $3,783 – $5,044 |
| Irving to Springfield | ~733 mi | 3–7 days | $3,299 – $4,398 | $3,793 – $5,058 |
| Arlington to Springfield | ~747 mi | 3–7 days | $3,362 – $4,482 | $3,866 – $5,154 |
| Fort Worth to Springfield | ~755 mi | 3–7 days | $3,398 – $4,530 | $3,907 – $5,209 |
| McKinney to Peoria | ~756 mi | 3–7 days | $3,402 – $4,536 | $3,912 – $5,216 |
| Plano to Peoria | ~769 mi | 3–7 days | $3,461 – $4,614 | $3,980 – $5,306 |
| Garland to Peoria | ~774 mi | 3–7 days | $3,483 – $4,644 | $4,005 – $5,341 |
| Dallas to Peoria | ~789 mi | 3–7 days | $3,551 – $4,734 | $4,083 – $5,444 |
| Irving to Peoria | ~790 mi | 3–7 days | $3,555 – $4,740 | $4,088 – $5,451 |
| Arlington to Peoria | ~804 mi | 3–7 days | $3,618 – $4,824 | $4,161 – $5,548 |
| Fort Worth to Peoria | ~811 mi | 3–7 days | $3,650 – $4,866 | $4,197 – $5,596 |
| Amarillo to Springfield | ~862 mi | 3–7 days | $3,879 – $5,172 | $4,461 – $5,948 |
| Houston to Springfield | ~893 mi | 3–7 days | $4,019 – $5,358 | $4,621 – $6,162 |
| Amarillo to Peoria | ~894 mi | 3–7 days | $4,023 – $5,364 | $4,626 – $6,169 |
| McKinney to Chicago | ~905 mi | 3–7 days | $4,073 – $5,430 | $4,683 – $6,245 |
| Plano to Chicago | ~919 mi | 3–7 days | $4,136 – $5,514 | $4,756 – $6,341 |
| Garland to Chicago | ~923 mi | 3–7 days | $4,154 – $5,538 | $4,777 – $6,369 |
| Austin to Springfield | ~934 mi | 3–7 days | $4,203 – $5,604 | $4,833 – $6,445 |
| Lubbock to Springfield | ~936 mi | 3–7 days | $4,212 – $5,616 | $4,844 – $6,458 |
| Irving to Chicago | ~940 mi | 3–7 days | $4,230 – $5,640 | $4,865 – $6,486 |
| Arlington to Chicago | ~953 mi | 3–7 days | $4,289 – $5,718 | $4,932 – $6,576 |
| Houston to Peoria | ~959 mi | 3–7 days | $4,316 – $5,754 | $4,963 – $6,617 |
| Fort Worth to Chicago | ~962 mi | 3–7 days | $4,329 – $5,772 | $4,978 – $6,638 |
| Dallas to Chicago | 969 mi | 3–7 days | $4,361 – $5,814 | $5,015 – $6,686 |
| Lubbock to Peoria | ~975 mi | 3–7 days | $4,388 – $5,850 | $5,046 – $6,728 |
| Austin to Peoria | ~995 mi | 3–7 days | $4,478 – $5,970 | $5,149 – $6,866 |
| San Antonio to Springfield | ~1,020 mi | 3–7 days | $4,590 – $6,120 | $5,279 – $7,038 |
| Amarillo to Chicago | ~1,043 mi | 3–7 days | $4,694 – $6,258 | $5,398 – $7,197 |
| San Antonio to Peoria | ~1,080 mi | 3–7 days | $4,860 – $6,480 | $5,589 – $7,452 |
| Corpus Christi to Springfield | ~1,099 mi | 3–7 days | $4,946 – $6,594 | $5,687 – $7,583 |
| Houston to Chicago | 1,113 mi | 3–7 days | $5,009 – $6,678 | $5,760 – $7,680 |
| Lubbock to Chicago | ~1,127 mi | 3–7 days | $5,072 – $6,762 | $5,832 – $7,776 |
| Austin to Chicago | ~1,142 mi | 3–7 days | $5,139 – $6,852 | $5,910 – $7,880 |
| Corpus Christi to Peoria | ~1,163 mi | 3–7 days | $5,234 – $6,978 | $6,019 – $8,025 |
| Laredo to Springfield | ~1,185 mi | 3–7 days | $5,333 – $7,110 | $6,132 – $8,177 |
| McAllen to Springfield | ~1,237 mi | 7–14 days | $5,567 – $7,422 | $6,401 – $8,535 |
| Laredo to Peoria | ~1,245 mi | 7–14 days | $5,603 – $7,470 | $6,443 – $8,591 |
| San Antonio to Chicago | 1,262 mi | 7–14 days | $5,679 – $7,572 | $6,531 – $8,708 |
| El Paso to Springfield | ~1,274 mi | 7–14 days | $5,733 – $7,644 | $6,593 – $8,791 |
| McAllen to Peoria | ~1,301 mi | 7–14 days | $5,855 – $7,806 | $6,733 – $8,977 |
| Corpus Christi to Chicago | ~1,306 mi | 7–14 days | $5,877 – $7,836 | $6,759 – $9,011 |
| El Paso to Peoria | ~1,309 mi | 7–14 days | $5,891 – $7,854 | $6,774 – $9,032 |
| Laredo to Chicago | ~1,392 mi | 7–14 days | $6,264 – $8,352 | $7,204 – $9,605 |
| McAllen to Chicago | ~1,444 mi | 7–14 days | $6,498 – $8,664 | $7,473 – $9,964 |
| El Paso to Chicago | ~1,459 mi | 7–14 days | $6,566 – $8,754 | $7,550 – $10,067 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Texas
190 of the 407 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 1,348 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 189 of 866 vehicle inspections (21.8%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 299 of 1,346 driver inspections (22.2%, against 13.0%). 1 carrier has an acute or critical violation found in an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Transfers IncEagle Pass, TX · USDOT 643206 | 152 | 19 of 113 | 14 of 152 |
| Next Stop Moving & StorageTaylor, TX · USDOT 3756197 | 56 | 10 of 32 | 5 of 56 |
| Scobey Moving & Storage LtdSan Antonio, TX · USDOT 1274056 | 47 | 4 of 33 | 3 of 47 |
| American Knights MovingHouston, TX · USDOT 1977907 | 39 | 7 of 26 | 4 of 39 |
| Apple MovingAustin, TX · USDOT 3538096 | 37 | 4 of 17 | 5 of 37 |
| Lone Star Van Lines IncFort Worth, TX · USDOT 601326 | 34 | 7 of 23 | 11 of 34 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
2,409 listed household-goods carriers are based in Texas, 407 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Texas directory ranks them. At the Illinois end, 341 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Illinois, moving costs in Illinois, or the reverse trip, Illinois to Texas. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Texas
Texas to Illinois moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Texas to Illinois?
Between the two states' main cities, Houston and Chicago, the distance is 1,113 miles. From our model that is $5,009 – $6,678 for a two-bedroom home and $5,760 – $7,680 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,606 – $4,808 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,404 – $3,205. Across the 48 city pairs we price between Texas and Illinois, distances run from 699 to 1,459 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Texas to Illinois take?
Houston to Chicago is 3 days on the road (about 20 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Texas to Illinois?
Yes. A move from Texas into Illinois is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 2,409 listed movers based in Texas, 407 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Texas.
What is the cheapest way to move from Texas to Illinois?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,404 – $3,205 for a two-bedroom home over 1,113 miles against $5,009 – $6,678 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,606 – $4,808, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Texas to Illinois each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 18,189 people (±3,474) moved from Texas to Illinois that year, against about 23,509 (±4,417) from Illinois to Texas. No other state sends more people to Illinois.