Moving from Madison, WI to Austin, TX
About 1,163 miles across a state line, from Wisconsin into Texas, 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 Madison, WI to Austin, TX covers about 1,163 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $5,234 – $6,978 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. About 331 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 1,163 miles between Wisconsin and Texas, this sits in the range where carriers differ most. Some run it dedicated with a firm date; others consolidate it with other shipments and quote a window of 3 to 7 days. The price gap between those two is real — a two-bedroom home runs $5,234 – $6,978 full-service — so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 3 days on the road (about 21 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load
- Book ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of moving from Madison to Austin
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,925 – $5,234 | $2,826 – $3,768 | $1,884 – $2,512 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,710 – $6,280 | $3,391 – $4,522 | $2,261 – $3,014 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,234 – $6,978 | $3,768 – $5,024 | $2,512 – $3,349 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,019 – $8,025 | $4,333 – $5,778 | $2,889 – $3,852 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,804 – $9,071 | $4,899 – $6,531 | $3,266 – $4,354 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,850 – $10,467 | $5,652 – $7,536 | $3,768 – $5,024 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,163 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, Madison to Austin
1,163 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $5,815. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $5,234 to $6,978, 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 Madison to Austin
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 331 people a year (±172) moved from Dane County, WI, home to Madison, to Travis County, TX, home to Austin. Going the other way: about 101 people a year (±86). Movers from Dane County make up 0.4% of the 88,034 people a year who moved into Travis County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 5,934 people a year (±2,517) moving from Wisconsin to Texas and about 7,520 people a year (±1,983) from Texas to Wisconsin — a net gain for Wisconsin of about 1,586 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Milwaukee County, WI | 1,643 ±293 |
| Columbia County, WI | 1,125 ±315 |
| Cook County, IL | 1,074 ±243 |
| Jefferson County, WI | 888 ±258 |
| Rock County, WI | 794 ±213 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Williamson County, TX | 10,828 ±1,757 |
| Harris County, TX | 5,495 ±746 |
| Hays County, TX | 4,306 ±1,049 |
| Bexar County, TX | 3,813 ±659 |
| Tarrant County, TX | 2,840 ±714 |
Licensed movers at each end
12 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Madison (25 counting those licensed only inside Wisconsin). 10 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 22.0% of their 41 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reynolds Transfer & Storage IncUSDOT 74488 | Madison · 0 mi | 34 trucks | 6 | 25.0% of 4 |
| O'Mara Moving Systems IncUSDOT 74476 | Madison · 5 mi | 18 trucks | 36 | 16.7% of 24 |
| Mad City MovingUSDOT 699743 | McFarland · 8 mi | 14 trucks | 0 | — |
| Yerges Van Liners IncUSDOT 46561 | Fort Atkinson · 28 mi | 12 trucks | 3 | 100.0% of 2 |
| Capital City Transfer IncUSDOT 257153 | Verona · 12 mi | 8 trucks | 1 | — |
| Gorilla Movers of Wisconsin IncUSDOT 2627768 | Sun Prairie · 12 mi | 7 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 3 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Austin end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Austin: Apple Moving (Austin, 185 trucks), Einstein Moving Company LLC (Austin, 80 trucks), A-1 Freeman Moving & Storage Inc (Round Rock, 30 trucks), Next Stop Moving & Storage (Taylor, 18 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Wisconsin into Texas, 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 Madison to Austin
Ask: dedicated or consolidated?
This is the distance where carriers split. A dedicated truck costs more and delivers on a date; a consolidated load costs less and delivers in a window. Decide which you are buying before you compare prices.
Get it binding or not-to-exceed
A non-binding estimate is a guess with no ceiling. On 1,163 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
Arriving in Austin
A local move inside Austin later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $445 – $733 for a two-bedroom home and $741 – $1,344 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Austin are San Antonio (about 86 mi), Houston (about 171 mi), Fort Worth (about 202 mi).
Other routes from Madison
All routes from Madison, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Madison to Milwaukee, WI | ~87 mi | $515 – $845 |
| Madison to Green Bay, WI | ~141 mi | $635 – $846 |
| Madison to Chicago, IL | ~142 mi | $639 – $852 |
| Madison to Cedar Rapids, IA | ~162 mi | $729 – $972 |
| Madison to Grand Rapids, MI | ~219 mi | $986 – $1,314 |
| Madison to Saint Paul, MN | ~263 mi | $1,184 – $1,578 |
| Madison to Minneapolis, MN | ~272 mi | $1,224 – $1,632 |
| Madison to Des Moines, IA | ~280 mi | $1,260 – $1,680 |
Also moving to Austin: from San Antonio, TX, from Houston, TX, from Dallas, TX, from Arlington, TX.
Madison to Austin moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Madison to Austin?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,163 miles cost about $3,925 – $5,234 for a studio, $5,234 – $6,978 for a two-bedroom home and $6,019 – $8,025 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Madison to Austin take?
The drive is 3 days on the road (about 21 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 3 to 7 days because it moves on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Madison to Austin?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $2,512 – $3,349 for a two-bedroom home, against $5,234 – $6,978 with full-service movers; a moving container is $3,768 – $5,024.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Madison to Austin?
Yes. Madison is in Wisconsin and Austin is in Texas, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 12 listed movers within 30 miles of Madison hold it.
How many people move from Madison to Austin each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 331 people a year (margin of error ±172) moved from Dane County, which contains Madison, to Travis County, which contains Austin.
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.