If you're comparing quotes from moving companies around Chicago and the north suburbs, it helps to know what a "normal" number actually looks like before you start calling around.
Average cost by home size
The average cost of hiring movers for a Chicago-area move runs around $1,800, with most local moves landing between $1,020 and $2,600. Broken down by home size: a studio or 1-bedroom move typically runs $300-$800, a 2-bedroom move runs $500-$900, and a 3-bedroom home runs $800-$1,500. Larger 4-bedroom relocations can reach $4,000 or more.
Hourly rates you should expect
Movers in the Chicago area charge roughly $85 per hour per mover, slightly above the national average of about $80. In practical crew terms, that's around $150/hour for a standard two-person crew with one truck, $200-$250/hour for a three-person crew, and $280-$350/hour for a four-person crew on a larger move.
What actually moves these numbers
Home size and total item volume are the biggest factors, but stairs, elevator access (or lack of it), distance between the truck and the door, and how much packing the movers are doing themselves versus how much you've already handled all shift the final bill meaningfully. Getting your own packing done ahead of time — rather than paying movers to pack — is one of the most direct ways to keep the hourly clock shorter.
Where tote rental fits into the budget
Doing your own packing with rented totes instead of buying and hauling cardboard cuts two costs at once: no box-buying trip, and faster loading on moving day since uniform totes stack and load quicker than mismatched boxes — which matters directly if you're paying movers by the hour.
See exactly what a tote package costs by home size — free delivery and pickup included either way.
View Residential PricingComparing DIY vs. hiring movers? Read Moving Tote Rental vs. Hiring Movers.