Moving from Seattle, WA to Portland, OR
174 miles across a state line, from Washington into Oregon, 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 Portland, OR covers 174 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $783 – $1,044 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 1,703 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 174 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 $783 – $1,044. 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 Seattle to Portland
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $587 – $783 | $423 – $564 | $282 – $376 |
| 1 bedroom | $705 – $940 | $507 – $677 | $338 – $451 |
| 2 bedrooms | $783 – $1,044 | $564 – $752 | $376 – $501 |
| 3 bedrooms | $900 – $1,201 | $648 – $864 | $432 – $576 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,018 – $1,357 | $733 – $977 | $489 – $651 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,175 – $1,566 | $846 – $1,128 | $564 – $752 |
Transport only, for 174 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 Portland
174 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $870. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $783 to $1,044, 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 Portland
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 1,703 people a year (±303) moved from King County, WA, home to Seattle, to Multnomah County, OR, home to Portland. Going the other way: about 1,552 people a year (±436). Movers from King County make up 3.1% of the 55,253 people a year who moved into Multnomah County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 20,388 people a year (±3,359) moving from Washington to Oregon and about 32,341 people a year (±4,186) from Oregon to Washington — a net gain for Washington of about 11,953 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 |
|---|---|
| Clackamas County, OR | 7,793 ±1,103 |
| Washington County, OR | 6,561 ±680 |
| Marion County, OR | 2,754 ±746 |
| Clark County, WA | 2,375 ±452 |
| King County, WA | 1,703 ±303 |
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 Portland end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Portland: All Service Moving (Portland, 100 trucks), Suddath Moving & Storage (Portland, 29 trucks), Graebel Moving Services (Wilsonville, 29 trucks), Terminal Transfer Inc (Portland, 25 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Washington into Oregon, 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 Portland
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 174 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 Portland
A local move inside Portland later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $515 – $859 for a two-bedroom home and $867 – $1,587 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Portland are Vancouver (about 9 mi), Salem (about 51 mi), Eugene (about 121 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 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 |
| Seattle to Boise, ID | ~471 mi | $2,120 – $2,826 |
Also moving to Portland: from Vancouver, WA, from Salem, OR, from Eugene, OR, from Olympia, WA.
Seattle to Portland moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Seattle to Portland, OR?
From our published model, full-service movers over 174 miles cost about $587 – $783 for a studio, $783 – $1,044 for a two-bedroom home and $900 – $1,201 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Seattle to Portland, OR 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 Seattle to Portland, OR?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $376 – $501 for a two-bedroom home, against $783 – $1,044 with full-service movers; a moving container is $564 – $752.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Seattle to Portland, OR?
Yes. Seattle is in Washington and Portland is in Oregon, 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 Portland, OR each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 1,703 people a year (margin of error ±303) moved from King County, which contains Seattle, to Multnomah County, which contains Portland.
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.