How Chicago moving prices come together
At Forrester Moving we write down one flat rate before a single box leaves the building, and that number holds. Our own W-2 crew and our own trucks handle the whole job, from a three-flat in Logan Square to a unit high above River North, and the rate we hand you is built from your inventory, the access at both addresses, and the date you pick. Want a figure in ten seconds? Run the estimator. Want the real one? Send us the two addresses and a binding flat rate comes back in writing.
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Flat-rate ranges sorted by how big the home is
Below are the set prices we work from for local jobs starting anywhere in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs. Bundled into each figure: a truck and crew, padding blankets, dollies, runners for the floors, and the standard hand tools. The hourly column reflects the full crew assigned, scaled to the size of your home.
| Home size | Crew | Est. hours | Hourly rate | Flat-rate range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Room | 2 movers | 2–3 hrs | $150/hr | $405 – $610 |
| 1 Bedroom | 2 movers | 3–4 hrs | $150/hr | $505 – $730 |
| 2 Bedrooms | 2–3 movers | 4–5 hrs | $210/hr | $610 – $1055 |
| 3 Bedrooms | 3 movers | 5–7 hrs | $230/hr | $890 – $1,330 |
| 4+ Bedrooms | 3–4 movers | 7–10 hrs | $255/hr | $1,230 – $1,880 |
The Chicago conditions that move your rate
Home size sets the floor. From there, a handful of things particular to moving in this city decide whether your flat rate lands low in a band or high:
- Stairs and the climb. A second- or third-floor walk-up in a classic Chicago three-flat or a Pilsen greystone keeps the crew on the staircase longer than a garden unit you can wheel a dolly straight into. We never bill per flight, but the climb shapes the number.
- Alley access and street width. Plenty of our loads happen off the alley behind the building rather than the curb. A wide alley with room to back in is fast; the tight one-ways of Oak Park, Wicker Park, and parts of Pilsen force a longer carry, and the rate reflects it.
- Permit-zone long carries. On residential-permit blocks where the truck can’t sit at the door, the crew walks farther every trip. That distance is folded into the quote up front, never tacked on after.
- Square footage in the new-build suburbs. The larger homes going up around Naperville and Schaumburg hold more than their listing photos let on, so they call for more hands and more hours.
- Heavy and awkward pieces. Upright pianos, gun safes, treadmills, a sectional that fights the doorway — our crew brings the straps and skid boards. No outside subcontractor ever touches your things.
How the number shifts by neighborhood
A downtown high-rise with a dock to reserve and a knot of one-ways runs a bit longer than a bungalow on the Northwest Side with a driveway and an open alley. Here’s roughly where a 2-bedroom local job lands depending on where you start:
| Origin | 2BR flat-rate range | Avg. hourly | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loop / River North | $610 – $1055 | $210/hr | Dock scheduling, building COIs, tight one-ways, metered parking right out front |
| Lincoln Park / Lakeview | $640 – $990 | $220/hr | Three-flats, permit blocks, tight tree-lined streets |
| Naperville / Schaumburg | $590 – $910 | $200/hr | Newer subdivisions, wide driveways, easy truck access |
| Berwyn / Cicero | $580 – $880 | $190/hr | Brick two-flats with alley loading, straightforward jobs |
| Oak Park (historic district) | $630 – $970 | $215/hr | Narrow side streets, limited staging room |
Because our fleet and movers already operate out of the city itself, your bill never carries the dead-head miles a truck would rack up driving in from a distant suburb before work begins.
Picking a date that keeps the rate down
- January through March. The quiet stretch. Rates bottom out and the calendar is wide open — just keep a path shoveled and salted from the door to the truck.
- April and May. Demand starts climbing as the weather turns, but weekdays still book without a fight.
- June through August. The peak. Lease ends, school breaks, and relocations all pile up, and weekends go first. Aim to give us a two- to three-week head start.
- September and October. The summer crush eases and fall is about as good as it gets for moving in Chicago. A genuine sweet spot.
- November and December. Slow outside the holidays, with solid rates — just watch the forecast for early ice and lake-effect snow.
The flat rate stands all twelve months, so you always know the cost before you commit; a calmer window just keeps that cost lower. Send your date in a quote request and we lock it on the spot.
Questions we hear about local pricing
Will the price change after move day?
No. The flat number on your quote is the number you pay. The one thing that can move it is if the real inventory on move day turns out far larger than what you described when we quoted you.
What’s already inside the flat rate?
The truck, fuel, the crew, blankets, dollies, shrink wrap, floor runners, and hand tools — none of it shows up as a surprise line item later.
How do you build the quote in the first place?
We weigh your inventory (rooms, heavy pieces, box count), both addresses (distance, stairs, elevator, parking, alley access), and the season. Send the form or call, and a written quote comes back inside one business hour.
Is a weekday really cheaper?
Usually, yes. A Tuesday-to-Thursday move usually lands a touch below a Saturday, and we hold more crew open through midweek. Reach us at (888) 711-4778 to check open dates.