Moving from Salt Lake City, UT to Chicago, IL
About 1,466 miles across a state line, from Utah into Illinois, 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 Salt Lake City, UT to Chicago, IL covers about 1,466 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $6,597 – $8,796 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 637 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,466 miles from Utah to Illinois. 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 $6,597 – $8,796 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 27 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 Salt Lake City to Chicago
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,948 – $6,597 | $3,562 – $4,750 | $2,375 – $3,167 |
| 1 bedroom | $5,937 – $7,916 | $4,275 – $5,700 | $2,850 – $3,800 |
| 2 bedrooms | $6,597 – $8,796 | $4,750 – $6,333 | $3,167 – $4,222 |
| 3 bedrooms | $7,587 – $10,115 | $5,462 – $7,283 | $3,642 – $4,855 |
| 4 bedrooms | $8,576 – $11,435 | $6,175 – $8,233 | $4,117 – $5,489 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $9,896 – $13,194 | $7,125 – $9,500 | $4,750 – $6,333 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,466 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, Salt Lake City to Chicago
1,466 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $7,330. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $6,597 to $8,796, 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 Salt Lake City to Chicago
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 637 people a year (±400) moved from Salt Lake County, UT, home to Salt Lake City, to Cook County, IL, home to Chicago. Going the other way: about 471 people a year (±185). Movers from Salt Lake County make up 0.5% of the 127,735 people a year who moved into Cook County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 311 people a year (±332) moving from Utah to Illinois and about 2,280 people a year (±1,181) from Illinois to Utah — a net gain for Utah of about 1,969 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Utah County, UT | 9,919 ±1,024 |
| Davis County, UT | 6,567 ±1,253 |
| Weber County, UT | 2,099 ±552 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | 2,075 ±621 |
| Tooele County, UT | 1,959 ±628 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DuPage County, IL | 13,206 ±1,320 |
| Lake County, IL | 6,678 ±1,090 |
| Will County, IL | 6,454 ±1,007 |
| Kane County, IL | 4,555 ±770 |
| Lake County, IN | 3,835 ±861 |
Licensed movers at each end
32 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Salt Lake City (82 counting those licensed only inside Utah). 14 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 15.4% of their 39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Other Side MoversUSDOT 2834693 | Salt Lake City · 1 mi | 35 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Equus Long DistanceUSDOT 2893666 | Lehi · 24 mi | 30 trucks | 0 | — |
| Best of Utah Moving Company LLCUSDOT 2920944 | Sandy · 13 mi | 19 trucks | 10 | 14.3% of 7 |
| Two Men and A TruckUSDOT 3356449 | Salt Lake City · 7 mi | 15 trucks | 2 | 50.0% of 2 |
| Quick Transportation LLCUSDOT 1157455 | West Valley City · 5 mi | 14 trucks | 0 | — |
| Rocky Mountain MoversUSDOT 4509308 | Salt Lake City · 7 mi | 12 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Chicago end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Chicago: New World Van Lines Inc (Chicago, 204 trucks), National Van Lines Inc (Broadview, 174 trucks), New City Moving & Storage LLC (Chicago, 82 trucks), Complete Moving Inc (Arlington Heights, 80 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Utah into Illinois, 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 Salt Lake City to Chicago
Insist on a survey
Over 1,466 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 1,466 miles of handling.
Arriving in Chicago
A local move inside Chicago later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $475 – $775 for a two-bedroom home and $795 – $1,425 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Chicago are Milwaukee (about 95 mi), Madison (about 142 mi), Grand Rapids (about 146 mi).
Other routes from Salt Lake City
All routes from Salt Lake City, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City to Ogden, UT | ~38 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Salt Lake City to Provo, UT | ~45 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Salt Lake City to Saint George, UT | ~315 mi | $1,418 – $1,890 |
| Salt Lake City to Boise, ID | ~345 mi | $1,553 – $2,070 |
| Salt Lake City to Fort Collins, CO | ~417 mi | $1,877 – $2,502 |
| Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, NV | ~423 mi | $1,904 – $2,538 |
| Salt Lake City to Denver, CO | ~432 mi | $1,944 – $2,592 |
| Salt Lake City to Reno, NV | ~498 mi | $2,241 – $2,988 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
Salt Lake City to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Salt Lake City to Chicago?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,466 miles cost about $4,948 – $6,597 for a studio, $6,597 – $8,796 for a two-bedroom home and $7,587 – $10,115 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Salt Lake City to Chicago take?
The drive is 3 days on the road (about 27 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 Salt Lake City to Chicago?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $3,167 – $4,222 for a two-bedroom home, against $6,597 – $8,796 with full-service movers; a moving container is $4,750 – $6,333.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Salt Lake City to Chicago?
Yes. Salt Lake City is in Utah and Chicago is in Illinois, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 32 listed movers within 30 miles of Salt Lake City hold it.
How many people move from Salt Lake City to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 637 people a year (margin of error ±400) moved from Salt Lake County, which contains Salt Lake City, to Cook County, which contains Chicago.
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.