Moving from Seattle, WA to Chicago, IL
2,065 miles across a state line, from Washington into Illinois, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Measured driving distance. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Seattle, WA to Chicago, IL covers 2,065 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $9,293 – $12,390 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 958 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,065 miles from Washington 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 $9,293 – $12,390 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 5 days on the road (about 38 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 Seattle to Chicago
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $6,969 – $9,293 | $5,018 – $6,691 | $3,345 – $4,460 |
| 1 bedroom | $8,363 – $11,151 | $6,022 – $8,029 | $4,014 – $5,352 |
| 2 bedrooms | $9,293 – $12,390 | $6,691 – $8,921 | $4,460 – $5,947 |
| 3 bedrooms | $10,686 – $14,249 | $7,694 – $10,259 | $5,129 – $6,839 |
| 4 bedrooms | $12,080 – $16,107 | $8,698 – $11,597 | $5,799 – $7,731 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $13,939 – $18,585 | $10,036 – $13,381 | $6,691 – $8,921 |
Transport only, for 2,065 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, Seattle to Chicago
2,065 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $10,325. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $9,293 to $12,390, 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 Seattle to Chicago
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 958 people a year (±295) moved from King County, WA, home to Seattle, to Cook County, IL, home to Chicago. Going the other way: about 2,485 people a year (±521). Movers from King County make up 0.7% 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 4,302 people a year (±1,779) moving from Washington to Illinois and about 5,719 people a year (±2,534) from Illinois to Washington — a net gain for Washington of about 1,417 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Snohomish County, WA | 21,771 ±1,735 |
| Pierce County, WA | 21,425 ±1,746 |
| Kitsap County, WA | 3,349 ±699 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | 3,295 ±699 |
| Spokane County, WA | 3,045 ±593 |
| 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
79 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Seattle (299 counting those licensed only inside Washington). 48 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 16.1% of their 274 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 · 25 mi | 86 trucks | 184 | 12.0% of 108 |
| Hogland Transfer CoUSDOT 8264 | Everett · 24 mi | 67 trucks | 44 | 26.7% of 15 |
| CMS Relocation & LogisticsUSDOT 505087 | Kent · 15 mi | 59 trucks | 8 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Hansen Bros Moving & StorageUSDOT 8257 | Bellevue · 9 mi | 46 trucks | 10 | 16.7% of 6 |
| Hill Moving Services IncUSDOT 534666 | Poulsbo · 17 mi | 34 trucks | 10 | 33.3% of 3 |
| 4252510911USDOT 153161 | Kent · 15 mi | 31 trucks | 22 | 37.5% of 8 |
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 Washington 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 Seattle to Chicago
Insist on a survey
Over 2,065 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 2,065 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 Seattle
All routes from Seattle, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle to Tacoma, WA | ~29 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Seattle to Olympia, WA | ~55 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Seattle to Vancouver, WA | ~160 mi | $720 – $960 |
| Seattle to Portland, OR | 174 mi | $783 – $1,044 |
| Seattle to Salem, OR | ~218 mi | $981 – $1,308 |
| Seattle to Spokane, WA | ~266 mi | $1,197 – $1,596 |
| Seattle to Eugene, OR | ~289 mi | $1,301 – $1,734 |
| Seattle to Missoula, MT | ~460 mi | $2,070 – $2,760 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
Seattle to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Seattle to Chicago?
From our published model, full-service movers over 2,065 miles cost about $6,969 – $9,293 for a studio, $9,293 – $12,390 for a two-bedroom home and $10,686 – $14,249 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Seattle to Chicago take?
The drive is 5 days on the road (about 38 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 Seattle to Chicago?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $4,460 – $5,947 for a two-bedroom home, against $9,293 – $12,390 with full-service movers; a moving container is $6,691 – $8,921.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Seattle to Chicago?
Yes. Seattle is in Washington and Chicago is in Illinois, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 79 listed movers within 30 miles of Seattle hold it.
How many people move from Seattle to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 958 people a year (margin of error ±295) moved from King County, which contains Seattle, 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.