How Much Does It Cost To Move From Atlanta to Philadelphia?

Moving from Atlanta, Georgia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a major interstate move of roughly 750–800 miles, and the price can vary a lot depending on how much you’re moving and how you choose to move it.

For most people leaving Atlanta, a realistic range for a standard apartment or small home is:

• DIY truck rental: about $800–$2,000
• Moving container: about $1,500–$3,000
• Full-service movers: about $2,500–$7,000+

Below is a clear breakdown tailored to someone planning a move from Atlanta—what affects the price, how to estimate your specific cost, and what to expect at each step.

Typical Price Ranges to Move Atlanta → Philadelphia

Quick cost snapshot

These ranges assume:

• You’re moving from the Atlanta metro area (city neighborhoods like Midtown, Buckhead, or suburbs such as Sandy Springs or Decatur).
• You’re going to a typical residential neighborhood in the Philadelphia area.
• You’re moving a 1–3 bedroom home or apartment.

Very small moves (a studio with minimal furniture) can be cheaper, and large households (3–5+ bedrooms, garage, storage unit) will be on the higher end or above.

Key Factors That Affect Your Atlanta-to-Philadelphia Moving Cost

1. Size and weight of your move

Interstate movers usually price based on weight (or in some cases volume) and distance.

From Atlanta, common ranges:

• Studio or small 1-bedroom:
  Roughly $1,200–$3,000 depending on method.
• Typical 1–2 bedroom apartment:
  Roughly $1,800–$4,500.
• 3+ bedroom house:
  Often $4,000–$8,000+, especially with heavy items (piano, large sectional, gym equipment).

If you’re currently in a larger Atlanta home—say in East Atlanta, Kirkwood, or the northern suburbs—downsizing before you move can noticeably lower the price.

2. Move type (DIY vs. container vs. full-service)

DIY truck rental

You:

• Pick up a truck from an Atlanta location (for example, near Hartsfield-Jackson, in West Midtown, or on major corridors like Buford Highway).
• Load everything yourself.
• Drive to Philadelphia.
• Unload on your own.

Typical costs:

• Truck rental (3–5 days): $300–$900
• Mileage (approx. 750–800 miles + return or one-way fee): often included in a long-distance rate, but may add fees
• Fuel: $200–$400, depending on gas prices and truck size
• Tolls, parking, moving supplies: $100–$300

👉 Realistic total: $800–$2,000 for most Atlanta → Philadelphia DIY moves.

This is often the cheapest, but most physically demanding and time-consuming.

Moving container

A container company drops off a portable unit at your Atlanta address, you load it, they drive it to Philadelphia, and you unload at your new place.

Typical costs:

• Container(s) rental + transport: $1,200–$2,800
• Optional storage in Atlanta or Philadelphia: $100–$300 per month
• Packing materials and equipment: $100–$300

👉 Realistic total: $1,500–$3,000 for many 1–2 bedroom moves.

Good if you want to avoid driving a truck yourself or need flexibility with move-in dates.

Full-service movers

A moving crew comes to your place in Atlanta, loads the truck, drives everything to Philadelphia, and unloads there. You can add optional packing, unpacking, furniture assembly, and other services.

Typical costs:

• 1-bedroom: about $2,000–$3,500
• 2–3 bedrooms: about $3,000–$6,000
• 4+ bedrooms or heavy/specialty items:$5,000–$8,000+

Expect higher quotes if:

• You need packing service from your Atlanta home.
• You have stairs, elevators, or long walks in buildings (common in some Midtown and downtown properties).
• You’re moving during busy summer months or around the start/end of the month.

3. Timing: When You Move From Atlanta Matters

Atlanta has distinct moving “seasons,” and pricing can change accordingly.

• Peak season (late spring through early fall):
  Higher demand, especially May–August when many Atlantans move for school, new jobs, or to avoid winter weather. Rates tend to be higher then.

• Weekends vs. weekdays:
  Friday–Sunday and end-of-month dates often cost more than a Tuesday or Wednesday mid-month.

If you have flexibility, consider:

• Moving October–March for potentially lower pricing.
• Scheduling pickup in Atlanta on a weekday to reduce labor and truck availability surcharges.

4. Atlanta-Specific Home Access Issues

Your exact address in the Atlanta area can affect the cost, because access to your home or building changes how much work the movers must do.

Common Atlanta factors:

• High-rise or mid-rise buildings (Midtown, Downtown, Buckhead):

  • Freight elevator reservations may be required.
  • Long walks from the loading dock.
  • Movers may charge elevator fees or long-carry fees.

• Tight streets and driveways (older in-town neighborhoods like Virginia-Highland, Grant Park, Inman Park):

  • A full-size truck might not fit easily.
  • Movers may need a shuttle truck, which can add a few hundred dollars.

• Suburbs and exurbs (Alpharetta, Marietta, Stone Mountain, etc.):

  • Usually easier truck access.
  • But longer drive for the crew across metro Atlanta can still factor into labor time.

The same considerations can show up on the Philadelphia side too—rowhouse streets, limited street parking, or tight alleys may add to the final bill.

5. Extra Services That Add to Your Moving Cost

When budgeting from Atlanta, ask whether your quote includes or excludes:

• Packing services:

  • Partial packing (kitchen, fragile items): $200–$600+
  • Full packing: often $500–$2,000+, depending on home size and how much stuff you have.

• Packing supplies:
  Boxes, tape, shrink wrap, mattress bags, TV boxes. Buying supplies on your own in Atlanta big-box stores and reuse centers can trim costs.

• Furniture disassembly/assembly:
  Beds, tables, large sectionals, gym equipment. Sometimes included, sometimes extra.

• Insurance / valuation coverage:
  Basic coverage is often minimal. Upgrading to full value protection adds cost but can be worth considering for long-distance moves.

• Storage in Atlanta or Philadelphia:
  If there’s a gap between move-out in Atlanta and move-in up north, you might need short-term storage.

  • Self-storage units: prices vary based on unit size, but a typical 10x10 in metro Atlanta can run $80–$200+ per month.
  • Storage with your mover: usually charged per month based on volume or weight.

Sample Budgets by Move Type (Atlanta → Philadelphia)

These examples assume a move from a typical Atlanta apartment/home to an average residential area in Philadelphia.

Example 1: 1-bedroom apartment in Midtown Atlanta

• Option A – DIY truck:

  • Truck + mileage: $500–$900
  • Fuel + tolls: $250–$350
  • Supplies: $100–$150
  • Total: roughly $850–$1,400

• Option B – Container:

  • One container and transport: $1,300–$2,000
  • Supplies: $100–$200
  • Total: roughly $1,400–$2,200

• Option C – Full-service movers:

  • Loading in Midtown, transport, unloading in Philadelphia: $2,000–$3,500
  • Optional packing: $200–$600
  • Total: roughly $2,000–$4,100

Example 2: 3-bedroom house in a north Atlanta suburb

• Option A – DIY truck (large truck):

  • Truck + mileage: $700–$1,200
  • Fuel + tolls: $300–$500
  • Supplies and maybe a local helper crew in Atlanta or Philadelphia: $200–$500
  • Total: roughly $1,200–$2,200

• Option B – Container(s):

  • One large or multiple containers: $2,000–$3,000+
  • Supplies: $150–$300
  • Total: roughly $2,200–$3,300+

• Option C – Full-service movers:

  • 3-bedroom household, furniture, boxes: $3,500–$7,000+ depending on weight and services
  • Optional packing: $500–$1,500
  • Total: roughly $3,500–$8,500+

How to Get a More Precise Moving Cost From Atlanta

Because every Atlanta home and household is different, the most accurate way to know how much it is to move from Atlanta to Philadelphia is to get detailed, written estimates.

Steps to estimate your cost

1. Create a home inventory.
   List furniture, large items, and an approximate number of boxes for each room in your Atlanta place.

2. Measure access at your current home.

   • Are there stairs or elevators?
   • Can a large truck park near your entrance?
   • Is there a loading dock or need to reserve an elevator (common in Midtown/Downtown)?

3. Decide who will do what.

   • Will you pack everything yourself?
   • Do you want movers to pack only fragile items or the entire home?

4. Get at least 2–3 quotes.

   • Provide the same details to each company: your Atlanta address, move date, inventory, and desired services.
   • Ask whether the quote is binding, non-binding, or binding not-to-exceed, as this affects the final cost.

5. Ask what’s not included.

   • Long-carry fees, shuttle truck fees, stair or elevator fees, storage, insurance, and packing materials can all affect the final bill.

Atlanta-Specific Tips to Keep Costs Down

Here are some ways Atlanta residents often lower their Atlanta-to-Philadelphia moving cost:

• Declutter before you move.
  Donate or sell furniture and items through local options in Atlanta so you’re not paying to haul what you don’t need:

  • Thrift and donation centers around West End, Decatur, Buckhead, and other neighborhoods.
  • Community sales or online marketplaces for metro Atlanta.

• Schedule smart.
  Try to avoid the very end of the month and major moving weekends when Atlanta movers are busiest, especially during:

  • Late spring and summer
  • University move-in/move-out times (e.g., Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Emory calendars)

• Pack as much as you can.
  Doing your own packing in your Atlanta home can cut labor costs significantly. Focus on:

  • Books, clothing, linens
  • Non-fragile kitchen items
    Leave only delicate or complex items for the pros if needed.

• Check parking and access on both ends.
  In Atlanta, talk to your property manager or landlord about:

  • Reserving loading zones or freight elevators
  • Where large trucks can park legally
    Setting this up can help avoid extra labor charges due to long carries or delays.

Other Costs to Plan for When Leaving Atlanta

Beyond the moving truck or company itself, there are related costs Atlantans often encounter when relocating to Philadelphia:

• Security deposit / application fees for your new place.
• Utility setup and deposits (electric, gas, water, internet) in Philadelphia.
• Travel costs for you and your family:
  • Gas, flights, or hotels between Atlanta and Philadelphia
  • Meals on the road
• Cleaning or repairs at your Atlanta residence if required by your lease or sale agreement.
• Vehicle considerations:
  • If you drive, budget fuel, potential hotel, and tolls between Georgia and Pennsylvania.
  • If you ship a vehicle instead, that often runs $700–$1,200+ from the Atlanta area to the Northeast.

Bottom Line: What You Should Expect to Pay

For most people moving from Atlanta to Philadelphia:

• A tight-budget, DIY move can be done for around $800–$2,000.
• A container or hybrid approach usually lands around $1,500–$3,000.
• A full-service move, where a crew handles loading, transport, and unloading, typically runs from about $2,500–$7,000+, depending on how much you’re moving and which extras you choose.

The more clearly you define:

• How much you’re taking from Atlanta,
• When you’re moving, and
• How much help you want,

the more accurate your price estimates will be—and the easier it will be to choose the option that fits your budget and comfort level for the Atlanta-to-Philadelphia move.