Moving from Tacoma, WA to Olympia, WA
At about 30 miles, Tacoma to Olympia 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 Tacoma, WA to Olympia, 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 4,280 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 30 miles, crews cover Tacoma to Olympia 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 Tacoma to Olympia
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, Tacoma to Olympia
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 Tacoma to Olympia
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 4,280 people a year (±881) moved from Pierce County, WA, home to Tacoma, to Thurston County, WA, home to Olympia. Going the other way: about 2,445 people a year (±553). Movers from Pierce County make up 18.8% of the 22,757 people a year who moved into Thurston County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| King County, WA | 10,614 ±1,241 |
| Thurston County, WA | 4,280 ±881 |
| Kitsap County, WA | 2,173 ±637 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | 1,389 ±683 |
| Snohomish County, WA | 1,366 ±400 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Pierce County, WA | 4,280 ±881 |
| King County, WA | 2,209 ±523 |
| Spokane County, WA | 1,067 ±439 |
| Lewis County, WA | 763 ±322 |
| Grays Harbor County, WA | 668 ±253 |
Licensed movers at each end
233 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Tacoma. 86 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 19.6% of their 367 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 · 4 mi | 86 trucks | 184 | 12.0% of 108 |
| CMS Relocation & LogisticsUSDOT 505087 | Kent · 16 mi | 59 trucks | 8 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Hansen Bros Moving & StorageUSDOT 8257 | Bellevue · 22 mi | 46 trucks | 10 | 16.7% of 6 |
| Graebel Moving ServicesUSDOT 2105002 | Kent · 13 mi | 39 trucks | 0 | — |
| 4252510911USDOT 153161 | Kent · 13 mi | 31 trucks | 22 | 37.5% of 8 |
| Eco-MoversUSDOT 3227005 | Seattle · 27 mi | 30 trucks | 19 | 12.5% of 8 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Olympia end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Olympia: American Relocation Services Aff Aes Transportation (Fife, 86 trucks), Move Northwest Olympic Move Group (Lakewood, 26 trucks), Tacoma Motorfreight Servicetms TMS Motorfreight Service (Tacoma, 26 trucks), Continental Van Lines Inc (Tacoma, 26 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 Tacoma to Olympia
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 Olympia
A local move inside Olympia 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 Olympia are Tacoma (about 30 mi), Seattle (about 55 mi), Vancouver (about 114 mi).
Other routes from Tacoma
All routes from Tacoma, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Tacoma to Seattle, WA | ~29 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Tacoma to Vancouver, WA | ~131 mi | $590 – $786 |
| Tacoma to Portland, OR | ~140 mi | $630 – $840 |
| Tacoma to Eugene, OR | ~260 mi | $1,170 – $1,560 |
| Tacoma to Spokane, WA | ~275 mi | $1,238 – $1,650 |
| Tacoma to Boise, ID | ~458 mi | $2,061 – $2,748 |
| Tacoma to Reno, NV | ~641 mi | $2,885 – $3,846 |
| Tacoma to Sacramento, CA | ~700 mi | $3,150 – $4,200 |
Also moving to Olympia: from Seattle, WA, from Vancouver, WA, from Portland, OR, from Spokane, WA.
Tacoma to Olympia moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Tacoma to Olympia?
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 Tacoma to Olympia 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 Tacoma to Olympia?
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 Tacoma to Olympia 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 Tacoma to Olympia each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 4,280 people a year (margin of error ±881) moved from Pierce County, which contains Tacoma, to Thurston County, which contains Olympia.
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.