Moving from McAllen, TX to Arlington, TX
About 531 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 McAllen, TX to Arlington, TX covers about 531 miles and is a move within Texas. Full-service movers cost $2,390 – $3,186 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. About 487 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 531 miles between Texas and Texas, this sits in the range where carriers differ most. Some run it dedicated with a firm date; others consolidate it with other shipments and quote a window of 3 to 7 days. The price gap between those two is real — a two-bedroom home runs $2,390 – $3,186 full-service — so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Within Texas
- Driving
- about 10 hours
- Usually moves on
- either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load
- Book ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of moving from McAllen to Arlington
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,792 – $2,390 | $1,290 – $1,720 | $860 – $1,147 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,151 – $2,867 | $1,548 – $2,065 | $1,032 – $1,376 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,390 – $3,186 | $1,720 – $2,294 | $1,147 – $1,529 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,748 – $3,664 | $1,979 – $2,638 | $1,319 – $1,759 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,106 – $4,142 | $2,237 – $2,982 | $1,491 – $1,988 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $3,584 – $4,779 | $2,581 – $3,441 | $1,720 – $2,294 |
Transport only, for an estimated 531 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, McAllen to Arlington
531 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $2,655. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $2,390 to $3,186, 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 McAllen to Arlington
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 487 people a year (±425) moved from Hidalgo County, TX, home to McAllen, to Tarrant County, TX, home to Arlington. Going the other way: about 116 people a year (±111). Movers from Hidalgo County make up 0.4% of the 109,016 people a year who moved into Tarrant County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Bexar County, TX | 2,105 ±631 |
| Harris County, TX | 1,515 ±558 |
| Nueces County, TX | 1,459 ±698 |
| Cameron County, TX | 1,219 ±964 |
| Lubbock County, TX | 840 ±673 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Dallas County, TX | 20,890 ±2,269 |
| Denton County, TX | 5,076 ±835 |
| Johnson County, TX | 3,920 ±824 |
| Harris County, TX | 3,480 ±615 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 2,984 ±1,066 |
Licensed movers at each end
18 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of McAllen. 1 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 0.0% of their 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chapa's Moving Express LLCUSDOT 2161288 | McAllen · 4 mi | 6 trucks | 0 | — |
| Lui Lui Moving Service LLCUSDOT 2018219 | Edimburg · 16 mi | 6 trucks | 0 | — |
| Lone Star Moving ServiceUSDOT 1943924 | McAllen · 4 mi | 4 trucks | 0 | — |
| Cantu Moving ServiceUSDOT 3616187 | Edinburg · 5 mi | 3 trucks | 0 | — |
| Rockstar Moving Company LLCUSDOT 2823206 | McAllen · 4 mi | 2 trucks | 0 | — |
| A 1 Macias Movers LLCUSDOT 3245721 | Donna · 12 mi | 2 trucks | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Arlington end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Arlington: Atlantic Relocation Systems (Carrollton, 72 trucks), Suddath Moving & Storage (Coppell, 65 trucks), Armstrong Relocation (Carrollton, 54 trucks), Midland Van Lines (Alvarado, 29 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 531-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 McAllen to Arlington
Ask: dedicated or consolidated?
This is the distance where carriers split. A dedicated truck costs more and delivers on a date; a consolidated load costs less and delivers in a window. Decide which you are buying before you compare prices.
Get it binding or not-to-exceed
A non-binding estimate is a guess with no ceiling. On 531 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
Arriving in Arlington
A local move inside Arlington 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 Arlington are Irving (about 14 mi), Fort Worth (about 15 mi), Dallas (about 21 mi).
Other routes from McAllen
All routes from McAllen, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| McAllen to Corpus Christi, TX | ~138 mi | $621 – $828 |
| McAllen to Laredo, TX | ~140 mi | $630 – $840 |
| McAllen to San Antonio, TX | ~258 mi | $1,161 – $1,548 |
| McAllen to Austin, TX | ~328 mi | $1,476 – $1,968 |
| McAllen to Houston, TX | ~351 mi | $1,580 – $2,106 |
| McAllen to Dallas, TX | ~537 mi | $2,417 – $3,222 |
| McAllen to Lubbock, TX | ~643 mi | $2,894 – $3,858 |
| McAllen to Phoenix, AZ | ~1,126 mi | $5,067 – $6,756 |
Also moving to Arlington: from Dallas, TX, from Austin, TX, from San Antonio, TX, from Lubbock, TX.
McAllen to Arlington moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from McAllen to Arlington, TX?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 531 miles cost about $1,792 – $2,390 for a studio, $2,390 – $3,186 for a two-bedroom home and $2,748 – $3,664 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from McAllen to Arlington, TX take?
The drive is about 10 hours, but the move usually takes 3 to 7 days because it moves on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from McAllen to Arlington, TX?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $1,147 – $1,529 for a two-bedroom home, against $2,390 – $3,186 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,720 – $2,294.
Is McAllen to Arlington, TX 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 McAllen to Arlington, TX each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 487 people a year (margin of error ±425) moved from Hidalgo County, which contains McAllen, to Tarrant County, which contains Arlington.
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.