Moving from Norfolk, VA to Arlington, VA
About 171 miles inside Virginia. 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 Virginia, 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 Norfolk, VA to Arlington, VA covers about 171 miles and is a move within Virginia. Full-service movers cost $770 – $1,026 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 268 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 171 miles, about 3 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 $770 – $1,026. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Virginia
- Driving
- about 3 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Norfolk to Arlington
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $577 – $770 | $416 – $554 | $277 – $369 |
| 1 bedroom | $693 – $923 | $499 – $665 | $332 – $443 |
| 2 bedrooms | $770 – $1,026 | $554 – $739 | $369 – $492 |
| 3 bedrooms | $885 – $1,180 | $637 – $850 | $425 – $566 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,000 – $1,334 | $720 – $960 | $480 – $640 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,154 – $1,539 | $831 – $1,108 | $554 – $739 |
Transport only, for an estimated 171 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, Norfolk to Arlington
171 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $855. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $770 to $1,026, 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 Norfolk to Arlington
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 268 people a year (±227) moved from Norfolk city, VA, home to Norfolk, to Arlington County, VA, home to Arlington. Going the other way: about 75 people a year (±79). Movers from Norfolk city make up 1.1% of the 25,426 people a year who moved into Arlington County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Virginia Beach City, VA | 4,796 ±895 |
| Chesapeake City, VA | 3,152 ±786 |
| Hampton City, VA | 1,179 ±627 |
| Portsmouth City, VA | 1,102 ±334 |
| San Diego County, CA | 568 ±333 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Fairfax County, VA | 4,513 ±933 |
| District of Columbia, DC | 3,566 ±703 |
| Alexandria City, VA | 1,960 ±485 |
| Montgomery County, MD | 685 ±201 |
| Loudoun County, VA | 435 ±164 |
Licensed movers at each end
57 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Norfolk. 12 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 22.7% of their 321 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Transfer IncUSDOT 139659 | Chesapeake · 4 mi | 240 trucks | 426 | 20.2% of 247 |
| Apple MovingUSDOT 163678 | Chesapeake · 12 mi | 44 trucks | 40 | 18.2% of 22 |
| Hampton Roads Moving & StorageUSDOT 1581633 | Suffolk · 10 mi | 43 trucks | 46 | 40.0% of 25 |
| Apple MovingUSDOT 795385 | Norfolk · 1 mi | 21 trucks | 12 | 0.0% of 3 |
| Monroe Transfer & Storage Co IncUSDOT 169188 | Norfolk · 5 mi | 18 trucks | 0 | — |
| Brooks Transfer & Storage CoincUSDOT 120995 | Virginia Beach · 13 mi | 17 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: 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
Both ends are in Virginia, so Virginia rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Virginia 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 Virginia, so your protection on this 171-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 Norfolk to Arlington
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 171 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 Arlington
A local move inside Arlington later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $465 – $761 for a two-bedroom home and $777 – $1,398 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Arlington are Washington (about 4 mi), Annapolis (about 38 mi), Baltimore (about 45 mi).
Other routes from Norfolk
All routes from Norfolk, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk to Chesapeake, VA | ~14 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Norfolk to Virginia Beach, VA | ~20 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Norfolk to Richmond, VA | ~92 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Norfolk to Washington, DC | ~172 mi | $774 – $1,032 |
| Norfolk to Chapel Hill, NC | ~193 mi | $869 – $1,158 |
| Norfolk to Charlotte, NC | ~324 mi | $1,458 – $1,944 |
| Norfolk to Albany, NY | ~493 mi | $2,219 – $2,958 |
| Norfolk to Knoxville, TN | ~500 mi | $2,250 – $3,000 |
Also moving to Arlington: from Washington, DC, from Annapolis, MD, from Baltimore, MD, from Frederick, MD.
Norfolk to Arlington moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Norfolk to Arlington, VA?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 171 miles cost about $577 – $770 for a studio, $770 – $1,026 for a two-bedroom home and $885 – $1,180 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Norfolk to Arlington, VA take?
The drive is about 3 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 Norfolk to Arlington, VA?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $369 – $492 for a two-bedroom home, against $770 – $1,026 with full-service movers; a moving container is $554 – $739.
Is Norfolk to Arlington, VA an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Virginia, so the move is regulated by Virginia rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Virginia 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 Norfolk to Arlington, VA each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 268 people a year (margin of error ±227) moved from Norfolk city, which contains Norfolk, to Arlington 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.