Moving from Olympia, WA to Tacoma, WA
At about 30 miles, Olympia to Tacoma is a local move. Movers bill it by the hour — crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee — so the bill depends on how long loading and unloading take more than on the miles.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Olympia, WA to Tacoma, WA covers about 30 miles and is a local move. Full-service movers cost $535 – $873 for a two-bedroom home in our model, done in one day. About 2,445 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 30 miles, crews cover Olympia to Tacoma in a single day — under an hour on the road — so there is no delivery window to negotiate. What matters is access at both ends — stairs, elevators, how far the truck can park from the door — because every extra hour is billed.
- Move type
- Local move
- Driving
- under an hour
- Usually moves on
- an hourly crew with one truck
- Book ahead
- 1 to 2 weeks
Cost of moving from Olympia to Tacoma
Priced by the hour; the container and freight columns show what the same hours cost with a lower-rate crew.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $235 – $375 | $195 – $315 | $175 – $285 |
| 1 bedroom | $315 – $575 | $255 – $475 | $225 – $425 |
| 2 bedrooms | $475 – $775 | $375 – $635 | $325 – $565 |
| 3 bedrooms | $795 – $1,425 | $615 – $1,155 | $525 – $1,020 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,355 – $2,075 | $1,035 – $1,675 | $875 – $1,475 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,675 – $2,475 | $1,275 – $1,995 | $1,075 – $1,755 |
Inside the 100-mile local band, so these are hourly figures: crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee. Container and freight columns show the same job done by a lower-cost crew. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Olympia to Tacoma
2 movers × 5–7 hours × $46–$57 an hour, plus a $75 travel fee = $535 to $873. The 30 miles only enter through the travel fee and drive time. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Olympia to Tacoma
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 2,445 people a year (±553) moved from Thurston County, WA, home to Olympia, to Pierce County, WA, home to Tacoma. Going the other way: about 4,280 people a year (±881). Movers from Thurston County make up 3.7% of the 66,251 people a year who moved into Pierce County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Pierce County, WA | 2,445 ±553 |
| King County, WA | 1,964 ±486 |
| Mason County, WA | 872 ±317 |
| Lewis County, WA | 754 ±278 |
| Grays Harbor County, WA | 678 ±209 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| King County, WA | 21,425 ±1,746 |
| Kitsap County, WA | 3,431 ±792 |
| Thurston County, WA | 2,445 ±553 |
| Snohomish County, WA | 1,887 ±733 |
| Honolulu County, HI | 1,137 ±524 |
Licensed movers at each end
67 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Olympia. 31 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 19.8% of their 243 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Relocation Services Aff Aes TransportationUSDOT 340754 | Fife · 29 mi | 86 trucks | 184 | 12.0% of 108 |
| Move Northwest Olympic Move GroupUSDOT 2308242 | Lakewood · 20 mi | 26 trucks | 0 | — |
| Tacoma Motorfreight Servicetms TMS Motorfreight ServiceUSDOT 312895 | Tacoma · 28 mi | 26 trucks | 16 | 42.9% of 7 |
| Continental Van Lines IncUSDOT 11997 | Tacoma · 29 mi | 26 trucks | 18 | 18.2% of 11 |
| Coleman American Moving Services of Washington LLCUSDOT 1891374 | Lakewood · 20 mi | 25 trucks | 2 | 100.0% of 1 |
| Olympic Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 586615 | Olympia · 4 mi | 21 trucks | 23 | 31.3% of 16 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Tacoma end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Tacoma: American Relocation Services Aff Aes Transportation (Fife, 86 trucks), CMS Relocation & Logistics (Kent, 59 trucks), Hansen Bros Moving & Storage (Bellevue, 46 trucks), Graebel Moving Services (Kent, 39 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Washington, so Washington rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Washington 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 Washington, so your protection on this 30-mile job is the estimate you sign, which on an hourly job means the rate, the minimum hours and the travel fee in writing. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Olympia to Tacoma
Get the hourly rate, minimum and travel fee in writing
Local quotes hide in three numbers: the rate per mover per hour (about $46 to $57 for a full-service crew), a minimum number of hours, and a travel or "truck" fee of around $75. Ask for all three before you compare two movers.
Describe the access honestly
A third-floor walk-up, a long carry from the truck, an elevator that needs booking — each adds an hour or more, and on an hourly job that is the whole bill. Tell the mover before they quote, not on the day.
Arriving in Tacoma
A local move inside Tacoma later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $535 – $873 for a two-bedroom home and $903 – $1,614 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Tacoma are Seattle (about 29 mi), Olympia (about 30 mi), Vancouver (about 131 mi).
Other routes from Olympia
All routes from Olympia, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Olympia to Seattle, WA | ~55 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Olympia to Vancouver, WA | ~114 mi | $513 – $684 |
| Olympia to Portland, OR | ~123 mi | $554 – $738 |
| Olympia to Eugene, OR | ~241 mi | $1,085 – $1,446 |
| Olympia to Spokane, WA | ~303 mi | $1,364 – $1,818 |
| Olympia to Fresno, CA | ~850 mi | $3,825 – $5,100 |
| Olympia to North Las Vegas, NV | ~984 mi | $4,428 – $5,904 |
| Olympia to Paradise, NV | ~998 mi | $4,491 – $5,988 |
Also moving to Tacoma: from Seattle, WA, from Vancouver, WA, from Portland, OR, from Salem, OR.
Olympia to Tacoma moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Olympia to Tacoma?
It is billed by the hour. A two-bedroom home with a crew of 2 for 5 to 7 hours comes to about $535 – $873; a three-bedroom home with a crew of 3 for 6 to 9 hours is about $903 – $1,614. Both include a travel fee of around $75. The 30 miles between the two cities barely matter — hours on site do.
How long does a move from Olympia to Tacoma take?
One day. The drive is under an hour, and a local crew loads, drives and unloads in a single shift. Book ahead: 1 to 2 weeks, 3 to 4 in summer or at a month-end.
What is the cheapest way to move from Olympia to Tacoma?
Do the packing yourself and hire the crew only for loading, driving and unloading. On an hourly job every hour you save is money off the bill, and packing is the slowest part. A container is rarely worth it under 30 miles because the container fee replaces very little labour.
Is Olympia to Tacoma an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Washington, so the move is regulated by Washington rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Washington 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 Olympia to Tacoma each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 2,445 people a year (margin of error ±553) moved from Thurston County, which contains Olympia, to Pierce County, which contains Tacoma.
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.