A full-service move from Illinois to Texas costs $2,620 to $6,060 for a typical two- to three-bedroom home in 2026, according to a moveBuddha analysis of 1,208 real Illinois-to-Texas quotes over an average distance of 994 miles. Illinois is one of Texas’s five largest sources of new residents, and the corridor links two of the country’s biggest metro economies: Chicago on one end and Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston on the other. This report breaks down the cost by home size and method, the add-ons that inflate the final bill, and what Census and IRS data say about the people making the move.
Quick answer: Moving from Illinois to Texas with full-service movers typically costs $1,140 to $4,980 for a studio or one-bedroom, $2,620 to $6,060 for a two- to three-bedroom home, and $4,020 to $7,750 for four bedrooms or more. Moving containers cost $1,480 to $3,180 and rental trucks $760 to $1,460 for a mid-size home.
Illinois to Texas moving costs by home size (2026)
The table below combines the three main moving methods from moveBuddha’s Illinois-to-Texas route data, based on quotes its users received over the past 90 days.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck (DIY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,140 – $4,980 | $900 – $2,110 | $690 – $1,330 |
| 2–3 bedrooms | $2,620 – $6,060 | $1,480 – $3,180 | $760 – $1,460 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,020 – $7,750 | $2,030 – $4,260 | $940 – $1,790 |
Texas is a big state, so the destination city shifts the price. Two of the most common lanes from Chicago show how much.
Chicago to Dallas vs. Chicago to Houston
moveBuddha’s Chicago-to-Dallas route page lists a distance of 926 miles and full-service pricing of $2,592 to $5,740 for a two- to three-bedroom home. moveBuddha’s Chicago-to-Houston route page lists 1,083 miles and $2,528 to $5,887 for the same home size, with four-bedroom-plus moves reaching $8,551 at the top of the range.
| Route | Distance | 2–3 BR full service | 4+ BR full service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois → Texas (statewide average) | 994 miles | $2,620 – $6,060 | $4,020 – $7,750 |
| Chicago → Dallas | 926 miles | $2,592 – $5,740 | $4,305 – $7,820 |
| Chicago → Houston | 1,083 miles | $2,528 – $5,887 | $4,374 – $8,551 |
The city-pair pages are based on small samples (10 quotes each), so the differences between them are directional rather than exact. The main point holds: moving to Houston, Austin or San Antonio adds mileage compared with Dallas-Fort Worth, and larger households feel that difference most.
As an independent benchmark, HireAHelper’s 2026 moving cost calculator prices a generic 1,200-mile full-service move at $6,261 for a three-bedroom apartment or two-bedroom house. That is a little farther than the average Illinois-to-Texas move, and it lands just above the top of moveBuddha’s two- to three-bedroom range for this corridor.
What drives the price on this route
Interstate movers price by shipment weight and distance. With the distance fairly fixed (roughly 900 to 1,100 miles for most Chicago-area moves to Texas’s big metros), the weight of your household is the variable you control.
Here is an illustrative calculation using moveBuddha’s figures. The midpoint of the two- to three-bedroom full-service range is $4,340 ($2,620 plus $6,060, divided by two). Over 994 miles, that is about $4.37 per mile. The per-mile rate drops on longer moves because fixed costs such as loading labor and truck positioning are spread over more miles, which is why this corridor’s total price is close to much longer routes.
Full service, container or rental truck?
Using the two- to three-bedroom midpoints, a moving container ($2,330) costs about 46% less than full service ($4,340), and a rental truck ($1,110) costs about 74% less. A rental truck means roughly 1,000 miles of driving, usually over two days via I-55 and I-44 or I-57 and I-30, with fuel, lodging and insurance on top of the rental price. A container avoids the drive but still leaves the packing and loading to you.
How Texas compares with Illinois’ other top destinations
Texas is not the priciest move out of Illinois. moveBuddha’s Illinois-to-Florida route data puts a two- to three-bedroom full-service move at $2,780 to $6,330 over an average of 1,183 miles, about 190 miles farther than the average Illinois-to-Texas move. For Illinois households weighing the two Sun Belt states, the moving bill itself is usually a difference of a few hundred dollars; housing, taxes and jobs at the destination will matter far more over time.
Indiana and Wisconsin, the other big destinations for Illinois residents, are much shorter moves and often fall closer to regional pricing. That is one reason Texas and Florida stand out in the data: in the IRS data they are the only long-distance states among the top three destinations for Illinois tax filers.
Add-on costs that are not in the base quote
moveBuddha lists these common extras for Illinois-to-Texas moves:
| Add-on service | Typical cost on this route |
|---|---|
| Full packing service | $960 – $2,500 |
| Packing materials only | $140 – $380 |
| Storage-in-transit (per month) | $160 – $400 |
| Shuttle service at delivery | $190 – $530 |
| Specialty items (piano, safe, pool table) | $300 – $820 |
| Appliance disconnect / reconnect | $90 – $250 |
| Stair or elevator carry | $70 – $230 |
| Auto transport (one vehicle) | $540 – $810 |
| Full-value protection | 1% – 2% of shipment value |
The same source says accessorial charges commonly add 10% to 22% to the final invoice. On the $4,340 two- to three-bedroom midpoint, that is an illustrative $434 to $955 extra.
Full packing is notably expensive on this route, at up to $2,500. Chicago’s large stock of walk-up apartments and high-rises also makes stair and elevator carry charges common at pickup, so ask for them to be listed on the estimate rather than discovered on moving day.
Who is making this move: the migration data
Illinois ranks among the states losing the most residents to domestic migration, and Texas is one of its top long-distance destinations. According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates compiled by USAFacts, about 23,500 people moved from Illinois to Texas in 2024, making Illinois the fifth-largest source of new Texas residents behind California (77,200), Florida (52,200), New York (28,200) and Louisiana (24,200).
The flow also runs the other way. USAFacts’ Illinois migration page lists Texas as the single largest source of people moving into Illinois in 2024, at about 18,200. That leaves a net flow of roughly 5,300 people from Illinois to Texas, a smaller gap than many people assume.
| Measure | IL → TX | TX → IL | Net to Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (Census, 2024) | 23,500 | 18,200 | +5,300 |
| Tax returns (IRS, 2022–23) | 12,078 | 8,236 | +3,842 |
| People on those returns (IRS) | 21,406 | 13,611 | +7,795 |
| Adjusted gross income (IRS) | $1.25 billion | $0.76 billion | +$0.49 billion |
The IRS figures come from the IRS Statistics of Income state-to-state migration data for 2022–2023; the net column is a simple subtraction of the published flows. In that file, Texas was the third-largest destination for Illinois tax returns, after Florida and Indiana.
Illinois movers bring above-average incomes
The IRS data also shows the income attached to this corridor. The 12,078 Illinois returns that moved to Texas reported $1.25 billion in adjusted gross income, or about $103,000 per return on average, compared with about $84,000 across all returns that moved to Texas from other states. By total AGI, Illinois was the third-largest source of income moving into Texas that year, behind California ($4.76 billion) and Florida ($1.69 billion) and ahead of Washington ($1.18 billion) and New York ($1.17 billion), even though Louisiana, New York and Colorado each sent more returns.
The bigger picture: Illinois outflow is slowing
The newest Census estimates suggest the Illinois exodus is easing. The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 state population estimates put Illinois’ net domestic migration at −40,017 for the year to July 1, 2025, compared with −53,080 a year earlier. Texas added 67,299 people through net domestic migration in 2025, second only to North Carolina, down from 86,067 the year before.
Moving-industry studies show the same cooling. United Van Lines’ 2025 National Movers Study reported that Illinois dropped off its top outbound list for the first time in more than a decade, and described Texas and Florida as now showing balanced migration as housing costs rise. On the other hand, the U-Haul Growth Index for 2025 ranked Texas the No. 1 growth state, with arrivals making up 50.7% of its one-way traffic, while Illinois ranked 49th of 50.
Why Illinois residents choose Texas
Taxes are part of the story, but not in a simple way. The Tax Foundation’s Illinois profile lists a flat 4.95% individual income tax and a 1.88% effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing, which the Tax Foundation’s state property tax table ranks second-highest in the country, behind only New Jersey. The Tax Foundation’s Texas profile notes that Texas has no individual income tax, but its effective property tax rate is still a relatively high 1.40%, seventh-highest among the states in the same table.
In practice, that means the savings depend on your situation. A high-earning renter gains the most from dropping Illinois income tax, while a homeowner buying a large house in a Texas suburb may find property taxes eat into the savings. The Tax Foundation ranks Texas 7th and Illinois 38th on its 2026 State Tax Competitiveness Index.
Jobs and family also matter. The United Van Lines study found the most common reasons Americans moved in 2025 were being closer to family (29%), a new job or company transfer (26%) and retirement (14%). The IRS income figures above suggest this corridor skews toward higher-income households.
Best time to move from Illinois to Texas
Peak moving season runs from mid-May to mid-September, and moveBuddha recommends booking 4 to 12 weeks ahead depending on the season. Winter moves can be cheaper, but a January departure from Chicago means snow and ice risk on the first day of the drive. Summer arrival in Texas brings intense heat for loading and unloading. Spring and fall are generally the most comfortable windows on this corridor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Texas?
Based on moveBuddha’s 2026 route data, full-service movers typically charge $1,140 to $4,980 for a studio or one-bedroom, $2,620 to $6,060 for two to three bedrooms, and $4,020 to $7,750 for four bedrooms or more, over an average distance of 994 miles.
How much does it cost to move from Chicago to Dallas?
moveBuddha’s route page for the 926-mile Chicago-to-Dallas move lists $2,592 to $5,740 for a two- to three-bedroom full-service move.
What is the cheapest way to move from Illinois to Texas?
A rental truck is cheapest, at $760 to $1,460 for a two- to three-bedroom home before fuel, lodging and insurance. A moving container costs $1,480 to $3,180 and saves you the 1,000-mile drive.
How many people move from Illinois to Texas each year?
Census estimates compiled by USAFacts show about 23,500 people moved from Illinois to Texas in 2024, while about 18,200 moved from Texas to Illinois.
Will I save on taxes by moving from Illinois to Texas?
You will stop paying Illinois’ 4.95% income tax, since Texas has none. Texas property taxes are lower than Illinois’ on average (1.40% vs. 1.88% effective rates, per the Tax Foundation) but still above many states, so homeowners should compare specific counties.
How much do add-on services add to an Illinois-to-Texas move?
Accessorial charges commonly add 10% to 22% to the final invoice. Full packing costs $960 to $2,500, storage-in-transit $160 to $400 per month and car shipping $540 to $810.
How far in advance should I book movers?
moveBuddha recommends booking 4 to 12 weeks in advance, with the longer lead time for summer moves.
Planning your Illinois to Texas move
For most households on this corridor, the biggest savings come from shipping less and booking outside peak summer weeks. Take a room-by-room inventory, decide what is worth hauling 1,000 miles, and ask at least three movers for written estimates that separately list packing, stair carries, shuttle service and storage. A binding written estimate based on an in-home or video survey is the best way to know your price before the truck is loaded.
If you would like a written estimate for your Illinois-to-Texas move, Interstate Moving and Relocation Group can provide an itemized quote so you can compare it line by line with others.
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