Illinois has some of the highest moving demand in the United States. Nearly three million people move in or out of the state each year. The best moving company in Illinois is International Van Lines. The professional moving service has decades of experience providing long-distance relocation, packing services, and more. It’s not your only option for moving to a new city. We’ve put together a list of the five best Illinois movers, whether you’re in the Chicago area, Rockford, or Decatur.
Are you moving to Chicago?
This article shows you the best statewide Illinois movers. However, we’ve also researched the top Chicago movers.
Compare Illinois moving companies
Moving company | Move type | Move.org rating | Cost | Learn more |
| Full-service (long distance) | 
| $$$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Full-service (local) | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Moving container | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Truck rental | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Hourly labor | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices |
Best Movers in Illinois
International Van Lines—Best long-distance moving company
International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving company. It can move you anywhere in the country and is upfront about its prices (most moving companies aren’t). IVL also offers substantial discounts if you’re a senior or need to ship a car. Plus, the moving company provides 30 days of free storage to provide a buffer when moving into your new home. On the downside, it has below-average customer reviews and annoying website pop-up ads.
Pros
Transparent pricing
Local and long-distance moving
15% car shipping discount
15% senior discount
30 days of free storage 
Cons
Below-average customer reviews
Annoying pop-up ads First National Van Lines—Best local moving company
First National Van Lines is our pick for the best local moving company. While most moving brokers focus on helping you move between states, FNVL’s expertise enables you to move within the same state. It has a network of movers in nearly all US cities and receives above-average customer reviews. First National Van Lines can also give you a quote virtually or in person and provides attractive storage options. For example, it offers all customers a free month of storage and a remote video stream of their storage space. On the downside, FNVL’s website isn’t always up-to-date.
Pros
Services most U.S. cities
Excellent customer reviews
In-home and virtual quotes
30 days of free storage
Remote video storage Cons
Out-of-date website PODS—Best moving container company
PODS is one of your best moving options. Think of the company’s containers as storage units that you can hang onto until you've set a date with a driver to pick up and hook onto the back of a specialized truck. A PODS truck drops off a moving container at your home. Once you load it, PODS picks the container up and transports it to your new home, where you unload it. The container company has top-notch customer reviews, excellent storage options, and nationwide availability. And despite confusing invoices, PODS has some of the lowest rates for moving containers in the United States. In some cases, it's even more convenient and cheaper than rental trucks.
Pros
Low prices
Multiple container sizes
Lots of storage options
Positive customer reviews
46-state availability Cons
Confusing prices Penske—Best moving truck company
Penske Truck Rental is our pick for the best moving truck company. Renting a truck is the cheapest way to move, and Penske brings a lot to the table. It offers local and long-distance moving services everywhere in the country (except Alaska), provides reliable reservations, and has moving discounts. In addition, Penske has the highest customer satisfaction rating of any rental truck company. So if you’re able to pack, load, and drive, there’s no better option than Penske Truck Rental.
Pros
Lowest moving prices
Local and long-distance rentals
Excellent customer reviews
Moving discounts
Reliable reservations Cons
No service in Alaska HireAHelper—Best hourly moving labor company
HireAHelper is an excellent solution if you need help with only a few parts of the moving process. The company’s professional contractors can help you with everything from packing and loading to furniture assembly and junk removal. It’s also easy to find, with nearly 5,000 locations in all 50 states. Plus, HireAHelper movers get excellent customer reviews. Just be aware that you must hire your workers for at least two hours. It’s not cheap compared to other hourly moving labor companies, but customer reviews suggest the premium price is worth it.
Pros
Professional contractors
Packing and loading services
4,750+ locations
50-state availability
Positive customer reviews Cons
High prices
Two-hour minimum Move.org's top pick
International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving service. It has a vast network of cross-country movers, provides one month of free storage, and offers military and senior discounts. Want to move with Move.org's #1 pick?
What type of moving company is right for you?
Professional movers
They handle it all.
Professional movers load your stuff, ship it to your new home, and unload it all for you. It’s the easiest—but most expensive—option. Learn more.
Containers
You load, they ship.
You load up all your belongings, but the movers transport your container to your new home. It’s the middle road for effort and cost. Learn more.
Moving truck rentals
You do all the work.
Worried about costs? Rent a truck, load it yourself, drive it to your new home, and unload all your things. You do it all—and save a lot. Learn more.
What to know about living in Illinois
Population
Illinois is the sixth most populated state in the country.1 It is located in the Midwest and has a population of approximately 12.7 million.2 The median age is 38,3 the largest ethnic groups are Whites, African Americans, and Latinos, and about one-fifth of the state was born in another country.2 Roughly one-third of the population has a college degree. The average household comprises 2.5 people, and about 10% of the population lives in a different home than last year.
Are you moving to Texas?
Many Illinois residents are moving to the Lone Star State. Check out our list of the best Texas moving companies to see your options.
Employment
The median income in Illinois is approximately $68,430. About 65% of the population participates in the labor force,2 and the state added about 240,000 payroll jobs last year.4 The most popular occupations are food services, education, and construction, while the highest-paying non-medical jobs are in the finance, legal, and internet industries. Similarly, the wealthiest counties in the state are Kendall County, DuPage County, and Lake County.3
Cost of living
Illinois is one of the 15 most expensive states in the nation. Transportation costs are especially high compared to the rest of the United States,5 and the average resident has a daily one-way commute of roughly 29 minutes.2 Illinois utility bills are more comparably affordable,5 and our research shows that monthly costs add up to approximately $380 monthly. That includes roughly $110 for phones, $90 for electricity, and $60 for broadband internet.
Do you want to save money on internet service?
Our Best High-Speed Internet Deals list helps you save money on web services. In particular, we explain how to find promotional gift cards, sign up for bundle packages, and even how to get free installation.
Politics
Illinois is a heavily-Democratic region. As the home state of Barack Obama, roughly 58% of the population voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election (compared to 41% for Donald Trump).3 Interestingly, about one-fifth of the state doesn’t affiliate with either party.6 Both of the state’s senators are Democrats, and all but 5 of its 18 members of the House of Representatives. The most Democratic counties include Cook County, Lake County, and Champaign County, while Wayne County, Edwards County, and Clay County lean right.3
Did you know?
Chicago is big. Like, really big. The Chicago metro area has a population of nearly 10 million residents and includes suburbs such as Arlington Heights, West Chicago, and Naperville.
Best movers Illinois FAQ
Who are the best Illinois-to-Wisconsin movers?
International Van Lines and PODS are the best movers to go from Illinois to Wisconsin. IVL tops our list of the best long-distance movers, while PODS moving containers are an affordable alternative.
What are the best ways to move between Illinois and another state?
The best ways to move between Illinois and another state are with a professional moving specialist, rental truck, or moving container. The cheapest moving companies are rental truck franchises like Penske, Budget, and U-Haul.
Can your estimate be guaranteed by Illinois movers?
All of the best professional movers offer guaranteed quotes (sometimes called binding estimates). You should consider it a red flag if a commercial mover asks you to sign a contract without guaranteeing the price.
What are people saying about moving services in Chicago, IL?
Chicago customers love First National Van Lines, which offers price-matching, optional packing services, and top-notch customer service. They also like New City Moving in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago moving company has an average customer review rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars and offers packing services, storage options, and both local and interstate moves.
What are the factors that decide the moving cost to Illinois?
Home size and trip distance are the most significant cost factors for moving to Illinois. In general, moving costs are higher the more belongings you have and the farther you need to travel.
Methodology
We conducted intensive research to identify the best moving companies for long-distance moves and local moves, in addition to container moves, truck rentals, and hourly moving labor:
- Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each moving company’s prices are trustworthy.
- Review accreditation. We check every company’s records in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to confirm companies are properly authorized to transport household goods.
- Mystery shopping. We review every company’s website, pose as customers in calls to companies, and read customer reviews to analyze every company’s moving services, transit protection, and customer service. We also interview actual customers to learn how their moves went from start to finish.
- Site visits. We invite moving companies to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, to share data and expertise. We verify the information they provide by comparing it to data gathered through independent research and interviews with other movers.
- Regular review. We routinely repeat this process to update our recommendations to reflect current data and trends. We also revise each review annually and make updates throughout the year.
Recommended resources
People also asked . . .
Sources
- United States Census Bureau, October 11, 2022, “U.S. and World Population Clock,” Accessed October 12, 2022.
- United States Census Bureau, “Quick Facts: Illinois,” Accessed October 12, 2022.
- Deloitte, “Data USA: Illinois,” Accessed October 12, 2022.
- United States Congress Joint Economic Committee, September 16, 2022, “Illinois Employment Report,” Accessed October 12, 2022.
- Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, “Cost of Living Data Series,” Accessed October 12, 2022.
- Pew Research Center, “Religious Landscape Study: Party Affiliation among Adults in Illinois,” Accessed October 12, 2022.
- United States Census Bureau, March 2020, “Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019 [Excel Sheet],” Accessed October 12, 2022.
