Moving from McAllen, TX to Houston, TX
About 351 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 Houston, TX covers about 351 miles and is a move within Texas. Full-service movers cost $1,580 – $2,106 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 1,515 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 351 miles, about 6 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 $1,580 – $2,106. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Texas
- Driving
- about 6 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from McAllen to Houston
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,185 – $1,580 | $853 – $1,137 | $569 – $758 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,422 – $1,895 | $1,024 – $1,365 | $682 – $910 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,580 – $2,106 | $1,137 – $1,516 | $758 – $1,011 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,816 – $2,422 | $1,308 – $1,744 | $872 – $1,163 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,053 – $2,738 | $1,478 – $1,971 | $986 – $1,314 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $2,369 – $3,159 | $1,706 – $2,274 | $1,137 – $1,516 |
Transport only, for an estimated 351 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 Houston
351 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,755. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,580 to $2,106, 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 Houston
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 1,515 people a year (±558) moved from Hidalgo County, TX, home to McAllen, to Harris County, TX, home to Houston. Going the other way: about 2,052 people a year (±713). Movers from Hidalgo County make up 0.9% of the 161,852 people a year who moved into Harris 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 |
|---|---|
| Fort Bend County, TX | 18,579 ±2,596 |
| Montgomery County, TX | 10,582 ±1,455 |
| Galveston County, TX | 8,597 ±1,326 |
| Brazoria County, TX | 8,258 ±1,347 |
| Bexar County, TX | 4,773 ±970 |
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 Houston end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Houston: 3 Men Movers (Houston, 95 trucks), G and S Moving & Storage (Houston, 35 trucks), Max Movers Inc (Houston, 32 trucks), K C Salley Relocation (Houston, 23 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 351-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 Houston
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 351 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 Houston
A local move inside Houston 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 Houston are Austin (about 171 mi), Corpus Christi (about 216 mi), San Antonio (about 221 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 Arlington, TX | ~531 mi | $2,390 – $3,186 |
| 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 Houston: from Austin, TX, from San Antonio, TX, from Corpus Christi, TX, from Lafayette, LA.
McAllen to Houston moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from McAllen to Houston?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 351 miles cost about $1,185 – $1,580 for a studio, $1,580 – $2,106 for a two-bedroom home and $1,816 – $2,422 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from McAllen to Houston take?
The drive is about 6 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 McAllen to Houston?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $758 – $1,011 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,580 – $2,106 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,137 – $1,516.
Is McAllen to Houston 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 Houston each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 1,515 people a year (margin of error ±558) moved from Hidalgo County, which contains McAllen, to Harris County, which contains Houston.
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.