Real cost estimates, top Burlington movers, and an honest look at life in Illinois — everything you need to plan a Burlington VT to Illinois move.
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If you're moving from Burlington, VT to Illinois, you're covering roughly 1,027 miles — that puts you firmly in long-distance mover territory. You're not renting a cargo van for the weekend. You're coordinating a multi-day transit, real cost variability based on home size, and a company that can actually handle the route without cutting corners.
I've pulled together the Burlington movers worth calling for this job, real cost ranges broken down by home size, and an honest look at what changes financially and day-to-day when you trade Vermont for Illinois.
Out of six Burlington-area movers that handle interstate jobs, these five rose to the top for a move to Illinois.
4.56 / 5 | Yelp (43 reviews) | Google (348 reviews) | BBB: A+
97% positive | 3% negative | 14 years in business | DOT #: 2162841 | (802) 899-0908
7 Ambrose Pl, Burlington, VT 05401
Across 267 reviews, Local Muscle Movers pulls 96.6% positive feedback — which is genuinely hard to maintain at that volume. What customers keep coming back to: crews that show up on time, transparent pricing, and moves that finish ahead of schedule. The complaints are few and center on occasional item damage and some estimate inconsistency — not dealbreakers, but worth asking about upfront. For a Burlington-area mover that's both affordable and reliable, these guys are the strongest local starting point.
Services: Local moves, packing/unpacking, offices, pianos, hot tubs, pool tables, crating, safes
4.44 / 5 | Yelp (42 reviews) | Google (117 reviews) | BBB: A+
72% positive | 26% negative | 78 years in business | DOT #: 786533 | (802) 864-5115
430 Meadowland Drive South, Burlington, VT 05403
78 years in business carries real weight — Booska has institutional knowledge most movers don't. Positive reviewers point to efficient crews, careful handling, and reliable long-distance execution. Here's my honest flag: 26% of reviews report final bills that came in significantly higher than the estimate. That's a notable pattern. It doesn't mean you shouldn't use them, but it does mean you need a detailed written quote before anything gets loaded. Get that locked in and the experience tends to match the five-star reviews.
Services: Local and interstate moves, international moves, offices, pianos, full-valuation coverage, storage, cash and credit card accepted
4.34 / 5 | Yelp (13 reviews) | Google (29 reviews) | BBB: A+
59% positive | 35% negative | 18 years in business | DOT #: 1596307 | (802) 527-8200
276 East Allen Street, Suite 6, Winooski, VT 05404
Vermont Moving & Storage offers one of the broader specialty service lists in Burlington — pianos, antiques, art, fragile-only packing, crating — so if you have pieces that require more than a moving blanket, they have the capability. The reviews split noticeably though: 59% positive customers describe courteous, efficient crews; 35% negative reviewers flag property damage, unexpected charges, and last-minute cancellations without compensation. I wouldn't rule them out, but I'd ask directly about their damage claims process and get everything in writing if you're trusting them with anything valuable.
Services: Local and interstate moves, packing/unpacking, offices, pianos, art, antiques, crating, full-valuation coverage, storage, fragile-only packing, safes, cash and credit card accepted
4.26 / 5 | Yelp (2 reviews) | BBB: F
95% positive | 5% negative | 17 years in business | DOT #: 2527384 | (802) 239-1354
1860 Williston Rd, Suite 4, South Burlington, VT 05403
The Burlington franchise of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK runs a 95% positive satisfaction rate — that's strong by any measure. Customers credit the crew's professionalism, punctuality, and fair pricing. I'll address the BBB F-rating directly: it's tied to the national corporate entity, not the franchise-level operation in South Burlington. I wouldn't let it override nearly unanimous positive customer reviews, but it's worth knowing. The only recurring criticism is occasional cancellations — rare, but documented.
Services: Local and interstate moves, packing/unpacking, pianos, storage, safes, credit card accepted
4.26 / 5 | Yelp (3 reviews) | BBB: A+
85% positive | 8% negative | 109 years in business | DOT #: 86305 | (802) 878-5344
167 Colchester Rd., Rt. 2A, Essex Junction, VT 05452
Mclure has been operating since 1915. That's not a marketing line — it reflects genuine institutional consistency in a market that churns through moving companies constantly. Among reviews, 84.6% are positive and highlight careful crews, organized workflows, and positive attitudes. Complaints — about 7.7% of reviews — focus on inaccurate estimates and occasional professionalism issues. Praise outpaces criticism at better than 10-to-1. If you have a large home with specialty items that need to make it intact across 1,000 miles, Mclure belongs on your shortlist.
Services: Local and interstate moves, international moves, offices, pianos, hot tubs, pool tables, full-valuation coverage, storage, cash and credit card accepted
Here's a quick look at specialty service availability across Burlington movers for your Illinois move:
| Service | Availability |
|---|---|
| Interstate moves | 5 of 6 movers (83%) |
| Piano moving | 6 of 6 movers (100%) |
| Antiques | 2 of 6 movers (33%) |
| Art | 2 of 6 movers (33%) |
| Fragile-only packing | 2 of 6 movers (33%) |
| Small moves | 0 of 6 movers (0%) |
At 1,027 miles, this is a legitimate long haul. The table below gives you a working range by home size and service type. These are real-world estimates — not aspirational lows — but your specific number depends on what you're moving and what services you add. To get a sharper figure before you start calling, use our moving cost calculator.
| Move Size | Full-Service Movers | Moving Containers | Rental Truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,268 – $5,465 | $843 – $2,036 | $642 – $1,195 |
| 2–3 bedrooms | $2,596 – $6,605 | $1,454 – $2,725 | $729 – $1,508 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,321 – $8,691 | $1,846 – $3,740 | $889 – $1,729 |
Estimates based on a 1,027-mile Burlington, VT to Illinois move, updated January 2026. Final pricing varies based on home size, services selected, access conditions, fuel rates, and scheduling. Compare quotes from multiple movers before committing.
For a studio or one-bedroom, plan on $1,268 to $5,465. Two- to three-bedroom homes typically land in the $2,596–$6,605 range. Four or more bedrooms runs $4,321 to $8,691. The spread within each tier is wide for a reason — full-service pricing is sensitive to access issues, packing services, floor-level delivery, and how busy your mover is when you book. Getting three quotes is worth the hour it takes.
Moving containers split the difference between full-service and full DIY — you do the loading and unloading, the company moves the container. For a studio or small one-bedroom, you're typically looking at $843 to $2,036. A two- to three-bedroom home runs $1,454 to $2,725. Large four-plus bedroom homes generally fall in the $1,846–$3,740 range. Pricing varies meaningfully between container companies, so compare a few if your move date has any flexibility.
Rental trucks are the most cost-effective option — but you're driving a 1,027-mile route through New York and Pennsylvania before you hit the Illinois border. That's real labor. For a studio or one-bedroom, expect $642 to $1,195 (fuel included in the estimate). Two to three bedrooms: $729 to $1,508. Four-plus bedrooms: $889 to $1,729. If you have the physical capacity, a capable crew to help load, and tolerance for a long drive, the savings are real. If not, the math changes quickly.
Three variables have the biggest impact on your final bill:
Burlington is one of the more expensive cities in an already expensive state. Illinois resets almost every financial metric in your favor — with one meaningful trade-off worth knowing about.
| Burlington, VT | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent | $2,200/mo | $1,179/mo |
| Average home price | $495,758 | $249,224 |
| Per capita income | $66,546 | $78,433 |
| Cost of living index | 112 | 90 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 5.3% |
| State income tax | 8.75% | 4.95% |
Sources: World Population Review, Zillow, US Census Bureau, BLS, Tax Foundation, Zumper, Numbeo
What the numbers mean in practice:
| Burlington, VT | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,743 | 12,549,689 |
| Political lean | Democratic 76–21 | Democratic 55–45 |
| Summer high | 81°F | 86°F |
| Winter low | 9°F | 17°F |
| Annual rain | 36″ | 40″ |
| Annual snow | 72″ | 22″ |
| Crime index | 43.33 | 19.7 |
Sources: US Census Bureau, 270toWin, NeighborhoodScout, BestPlaces, Wikipedia
A few things worth calling out specifically:
Beyond finding movers and boxing everything up, a few practical items need attention:
Illinois has a lot going on beyond Chicago — though Chicago alone could keep you occupied indefinitely.
Museums
Parks
Sports Teams
Universities
Typically two to eight days, depending on your mover and service type. Summer moves run toward the longer end — carriers are busier and scheduling gets compressed. Ask any mover you're seriously considering for a delivery window in writing before you book. "A few days" isn't a real answer for a move this distance.
Yes — two of the Burlington movers listed here offer custom crating. If you have art, antiques, or anything fragile making a 1,027-mile trip, it's worth asking about. When you request a quote, get specifics on crate materials, padding, and how far in advance they need to build.
Auto transport makes more sense than driving two vehicles on a move this long. See our guide to car shipping to compare carriers, understand pricing, and know what to look for when you're booking. You can also get an auto transport estimate through our car shipping calculator.
Cost is the main driver. Lower housing prices, a lower income tax rate, higher average salaries, and significantly more economic activity — especially in the Chicago metro — make Illinois appealing for Burlington residents who want more financial room to work with. The job market is more competitive, but the opportunity pool is also larger.
The Burlington companies profiled above are your strongest local starting point for this route. You can also browse vetted long-distance movers at MoveFinders to compare options across national carriers and regional operators.
Four of the Burlington movers above accept cash. That said, cash is increasingly uncommon in the moving industry — most carriers prefer credit card, ACH, or cashier's check for documentation and traceability. Typical structure is a deposit at booking and the balance collected at pickup or delivery, depending on the company. Always confirm accepted payment methods and the exact payment timeline before you sign anything.
Ready to get real numbers for your move? Compare moving quotes or estimate your costs before you start calling companies — it'll make every conversation more efficient.
