Moving from Norfolk, VA to Washington, DC
About 172 miles across a state line, from Virginia into District of Columbia, 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 Norfolk, VA to Washington, DC covers about 172 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $774 – $1,032 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 119 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 172 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 $774 – $1,032. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 3 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Norfolk to Washington
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $581 – $774 | $418 – $557 | $279 – $372 |
| 1 bedroom | $697 – $929 | $502 – $669 | $334 – $446 |
| 2 bedrooms | $774 – $1,032 | $557 – $743 | $372 – $495 |
| 3 bedrooms | $890 – $1,187 | $641 – $854 | $427 – $570 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,006 – $1,342 | $724 – $966 | $483 – $644 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,161 – $1,548 | $836 – $1,115 | $557 – $743 |
Transport only, for an estimated 172 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 Washington
172 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $860. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $774 to $1,032, 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 Washington
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 119 people a year (±106) moved from Norfolk city, VA, home to Norfolk, to District of Columbia, DC, home to Washington. Going the other way: about 138 people a year (±70). Movers from Norfolk city make up 0.2% of the 56,680 people a year who moved into District of Columbia from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 7,200 people a year (±2,204) moving from Virginia to District of Columbia and about 9,953 people a year (±2,300) from District of Columbia to Virginia — a net gain for Virginia of about 2,753 people a year.
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Prince George's County, MD | 5,604 ±979 |
| Montgomery County, MD | 4,380 ±582 |
| Arlington County, VA | 2,881 ±512 |
| Fairfax County, VA | 2,217 ±690 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 1,538 ±527 |
Licensed movers at each end
37 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Norfolk (57 counting those licensed only inside Virginia). 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 Washington end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Washington: 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
Because the truck crosses from Virginia into District of Columbia, 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 Norfolk to Washington
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 172 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 Washington
A local move inside Washington later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $525 – $873 for a two-bedroom home and $885 – $1,614 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Washington are Arlington (about 4 mi), Annapolis (about 35 mi), Baltimore (about 42 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 Arlington, VA | ~171 mi | $770 – $1,026 |
| 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 Washington: from Arlington, VA, from Annapolis, MD, from Baltimore, MD, from Richmond, VA.
Norfolk to Washington moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Norfolk to Washington?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 172 miles cost about $581 – $774 for a studio, $774 – $1,032 for a two-bedroom home and $890 – $1,187 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Norfolk to Washington 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 Washington?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $372 – $495 for a two-bedroom home, against $774 – $1,032 with full-service movers; a moving container is $557 – $743.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Norfolk to Washington?
Yes. Norfolk is in Virginia and Washington is in District of Columbia, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 37 listed movers within 30 miles of Norfolk hold it.
How many people move from Norfolk to Washington each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 119 people a year (margin of error ±106) moved from Norfolk city, which contains Norfolk, to District of Columbia, which contains Washington.
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.