
Illinois to Florida
Moving from Illinois to Florida
Reviewers who moved from Illinois to Florida paid a median $4,000. 24,410 people made the move in 2024, and 12,751 went the other way. Chicago to Tampa, the most common run in our file, is 1,140 miles.
Anthony BaleMoving industry professional, author and writerReviewed 23 September 2026
Reviewers paid
$4,000
median, 96 priced reviews
Moved last year
24,410
IL to FL, 2024
Typical drive
1,140 mi
Chicago to Tampa
Cost of living
+3.5%
FL vs IL, US = 100
Sources: Haulest licensed review file (MoveAdvisor), 3 Nov 2026 (reviewer-reported); US Census Bureau, ACS state-to-state migration, 2024; OSRM on OpenStreetMap data (driving route); BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
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Now tap where you are moving to.
Illinois to Florida · median paid
$3,955
94 reviewed moves
1,140 road miles
Median and middle half of what 94 reviewers paid on this lane. A mover's written estimate is what counts.
What it costs
Illinois to Florida moving cost
Across 96 priced reviews of moves from Illinois to Florida, the median was $4,000 and the middle half paid $2,500 to $6,800. Home sizes and distances are mixed; the table below is by size.
Planning ranges for 1,000 to 2,000 miles moves, by home size, as of September 2026. Research fallback, not a first-party median and not a bid.
| Home size | Full-service range |
|---|---|
| Studio | $2,200 to $4,000 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,000 to $5,200 |
| 2 bedroom | $4,000 to $7,200 |
| 3 bedroom | $5,400 to $9,400 |
| 4+ bedroom | $7,000 to $12,000 |
Source: Haulest research bands, September 2026 (band set by the Chicago to Tampa drive).
Live numbers: US on-highway diesel $6.29 per gallon for the week of 2026-11-02 (EIA weekly US on-highway diesel via FRED GASDESW). A fuel surcharge on a long lane follows the diesel line; ask how the mover sets it.
From the review file
Movers with reviews on the Illinois to Florida run
How this list was made. Every mover here has at least two reviews in our file for a move from Illinois to Florida. Sorted by how many matching reviews each mover has, not by rating. Corpus as of 3 Nov 2026. Not a ranking and not a recommendation.
| Mover | Based | Record | Matching reviews | All reviews | Median reported, this run | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interstate Direct Movers LLC | Des Plaines, IL | CarrierUSDOT 3560320 | 4 | 175.0 mean, dated | $9,400 | 28 Jun 2025 |
| Household Hauling | Hallandale, FL | No FMCSA match | 3 | 291.0 mean, dated | $6,800 | 28 Feb 2020 |
| 3 Brothers Moving & Storage | Maitland, FL | BrokerUSDOT 3840883 | 2 | 841.0 mean, dated | $26,883 | 8 Jan 2025 |
| Premier Chicago Movers | Chicago, IL | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 3393121 | 2 | 444.0 mean, dated | $4,165 | 14 Aug 2021 |
| David and Goliath Moving | Norcross, GA | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 2568518 | 2 | 402.0 mean, dated | $6,500 | 6 Jul 2016 |
| STI Moving and Storage | Skokie, IL | CarrierUSDOT 1308599 | 2 | 383.0 mean, dated | $4,500 | 7 Jul 2021 |
| Gulf Coast Vanlines | Tampa, FL | CarrierUSDOT 2268216 | 2 | 314.0 mean, dated | $5,000 | 13 Oct 2025 |
| Franklin Van Lines | Aurora, CO | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 1010835 | 2 | 211.0 mean, dated | $10,600 | 16 Mar 2018 |
| Blue Sky Van Lines | Reisterstown, MD | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 2590566 | 2 | 182.0 mean, dated | $2,100 | 31 Oct 2017 |
| Encore Moving | San Jose, CA | No FMCSA match | 2 | 73.0 mean, dated | $11,000 | 14 Oct 2021 |
| Advantage Moving and Storage | Algonquin, IL | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 1614994 | 2 | 23.0 mean, dated | $11,600 | 5 Nov 2019 |
Sources: Haulest licensed review file (MoveAdvisor), 3 Nov 2026; FMCSA Licensing and Insurance, household-goods authority (record column).
Recent reviews
People who moved Illinois to Florida
5 of 5 · 3 Oct 2026 · reported $4,630
“Ryan Days was super helpful in explaining the moving and storage services from beginning to end. He was extremely patient and ensured that all our questions were answered. In addition, he went above and beyond to ensure that the job was completed without issues and that he was made available even…”
5 of 5 · 23 Sept 2026 · reported $3,500
“The staff here is very welcoming and friendly, made everything super easy, fast and simple. 10/10 recommend them, other places you have to worry about items being lost or broke on the move but not here! Thinking about moving again just to rehire them!”
5 of 5 · 28 Jun 2026 · reported $6,200
“I’ve used Zip to Zip Moving multiple times and they continue to impress me. The team was friendly, punctual, and stayed right on schedule from start to finish. The estimate was accurate, and the movers worked efficiently while handling everything carefully. I appreciate how smooth and organized the…”
What went wrong on this run: of 96 reviews, 27% mention damage and 17% a delay or a no-show. Reviewer-reported, counted by phrase.
Who makes this move
Illinois taxes wages. Florida has no tax on wages.
Census counts the move. In 2024, 24,410 people moved from Illinois to Florida, with a margin of plus or minus 4,381. In the other direction, 12,751 people moved from Florida to Illinois. Those figures count people who changed states. They are not a count of households, and they are not a count of trucks.
Price parity and wage tax. BEA regional price parity for 2024 sets the United States at 100. Illinois is 100.0 and Florida is 103.4. Illinois taxes wages. Florida has no tax on wages. The parity figures describe statewide price levels. They do not set a rent or a grocery bill for any one address.
What the job looks like
Plan around days on the road, because delivery is a window set on the order for service.
The usual run is long. The most common trip in our file is Chicago to Tampa, 1,140 miles, about 22 hours of driving. Plan around days on the road, because delivery is a window set on the order for service. A long-distance household move on this lane is priced by weight and miles.
What the reviews report. Our file has 96 reviews for this run. The median reported price is $4,000 across 96 priced reviews, and the middle half runs from $2,500 to $6,800. Prices mix home sizes and distances. 27% of the reviews mention damage, and 17% mention a delay or a no-show.
Before you book
On a non-binding estimate, the mover must deliver once you pay 110 percent of the estimate.
Check the license first. An interstate household move needs a mover with an active USDOT number and FMCSA household-goods authority. Use the license lookup and confirm both before you pay anyone. Haulest is not a carrier and does not haul the load for you.
Get the estimate type in writing. Ask for a binding estimate or a not-to-exceed estimate if you want a ceiling. On a non-binding estimate, the mover must deliver once you pay 110 percent of the estimate. Read the 110 percent rule before you sign, and keep the delivery window in the order.
Write down the window and the deposit. Put the delivery window in the order for service, in writing, before pickup day. Ask how the deposit is handled, what is refundable, and when the balance is due. The deposit guide is the short version of those questions.
Leaving Illinois, arriving in Florida.
| Illinois | Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living (US = 100) | 100.0 | 103.4 |
| Median home sale price | $337,900 | $421,500 |
| Median days on market | 43 | 66 |
| State income tax on wages | Taxes wages | No tax on wages |
| People who moved in 2024 | 12,751 arrived from Florida | 24,410 arrived from Illinois |
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024; Data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage, read 1 Oct 2026; State revenue departments (wage tax, 2026); US Census Bureau, ACS, 2024.
When to go: in Illinois, the busiest month for home sales over the last year was Jun 2025 and the quietest was Jan 2026. Movers fill up on the same calendar. Check your date.
Source: Data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage (Illinois homes sold by month).
Doing it yourself
Driving a rental truck from Illinois to Florida
1,140 road miles, about 22 hours at the wheel (3 driving days at nine hours a day). Fuel below uses this week's EIA price and the low end of each brand's mpg, because a loaded truck does worse than the brochure.
- Studio10 to 12 ft truckFuel $406 to $608gasoline
- 1 or 2 bedroom15 to 16 ft truckFuel $406 to $811gasoline
- 3 bedroom20 to 22 ft truckFuel $487 to $557gas or diesel, by brand
- 4 bedroom26 ft truckFuel $557 to $905gas or diesel, by brand
For comparison: reviewers who hired full-service movers on Illinois to Florida moves paid a median $4,000 (96 priced reviews). The truck line above is fuel only: add the rental, mileage or days, coverage, equipment, tolls, a night on the road, and your time.
Sources: Brand spec pages (U-Haul, Penske, Budget) (mpg and fuel type); US EIA weekly retail prices (week of 26 Oct 2026); OSRM on OpenStreetMap data (road miles).
Ask out loud
Questions people ask
- How many people moved from Illinois to Florida?
- Census ACS 2024 counts 24,410 people moving from Illinois to Florida, with a margin of plus or minus 4,381. The other way, 12,751 people moved from Florida to Illinois. The figures count people, not trucks.
- What price do reviews report for this run?
- Across 96 priced reviews, the median reported price is $4,000. The middle half of reported prices runs from $2,500 to $6,800. Those prices mix home sizes and distances, so the median is not a quote for your load.
- How far is the most common Illinois to Florida run?
- The most common run in our file is Chicago to Tampa. It is 1,140 miles, about 22 hours of driving. Delivery is a window set on the order for service, not a single clock time.
- How often do reviews mention damage or a delay?
- Of 96 reviews in our file, 27% mention damage. 17% mention a delay or a no-show. A mention is not a finding that every move on the lane goes wrong.
- What should I confirm before I book?
- Confirm an active USDOT number and FMCSA household-goods authority. Ask whether the estimate is binding or not-to-exceed, and get the delivery window and deposit terms in writing. On a non-binding estimate, the mover must deliver on payment of 110 percent of the estimate.
Next
Keep going
- Florida to IllinoisThe same run the other way.
- Moving in IllinoisWho regulates the move, and the top-rated movers there.
- Moving in FloridaWho regulates the move, and the top-rated movers there.
- Long distance moversWeight, miles, and where the bill grows.
- What movers costNational medians by year and lane.
- The 110% ruleWhat you can be made to pay on delivery day.

About Anthony Bale
A moving industry professional, author and writer. Anthony has been at different positions in the industry for the last 10 years, gaining significant knowledge on the relocation process. He himself has moved 6 times already, which helped him explore the other side of the moving process.
At Haulest he writes the US cost, hiring, and rights pages, reading the licensed review file every week so the numbers on the page are the numbers people reported.
Call for a written Illinois to Florida quote
From, then To. Date and home size after that. A person on the phone is faster if you already know the dates.
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