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Moving Companies in Des Plaines, IL
Compare movers serving Des Plaines based on your route, move size, service needs, and budget.
North American Van Lines
All My Sons Moving & Storage
Allied Van Lines
U-Haul
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK
PODS
1‑800‑PACK‑RAT, LLC
U-Pack
Colonial Van Lines
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Before Hiring a Des Plaines Mover
First identify whether your move stays within the Des Plaines area, remains elsewhere in Illinois, crosses a state line, or is international. The route determines which rules and operating requirements you should verify. Then give each company the same inventory, services, dates, and property-access information so the quotes are genuinely comparable.
Des Plaines Movers
Choosing a moving company in Des Plaines depends on the route, property type, truck access, and services you need—not simply which company appears closest in a search.
Des Plaines is in Cook County, about 17 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, and combines a dense downtown, Metra station areas, apartment and condo buildings, established residential neighborhoods, commercial corridors, industrial properties, and areas close to O’Hare International Airport.
Important routes include Northwest Highway/US-14, Miner Street, Lee Street, Graceland Avenue, Oakton Street, Touhy Avenue, Mannheim Road, Wolf Road, River Road, Dempster/Thacker Street, Golf Road, Central Road, Algonquin Road, Mount Prospect Road, and nearby I-90, I-294, and IL-390.
Moving conditions can differ sharply between a downtown apartment, a single-family home, a property near the Des Plaines River, an industrial or warehouse move near the airport, and a building near the Downtown or Cumberland Metra station.
Use this page to compare companies serving Des Plaines, understand which type of mover fits your route and service needs, and know what information to verify before requesting or accepting an estimate.
Downtown Des Plaines, Metra Areas & Moving Access
Moving conditions vary across Des Plaines, so give movers the exact pickup and delivery addresses rather than simply saying the move is “in Des Plaines.”
Downtown: Miner Street and Ellinwood Street form the historic commercial core, with mixed-use buildings, apartments, businesses, the Des Plaines Theatre, City Hall, the library, public garages, street parking, Pace service, and the Downtown Metra station. A downtown move should identify the legal loading position, building entrance, elevator or stair access, and whether a rear entrance is more practical than the front door.
Downtown parking: Public options include the Metropolitan Square Parking Garage, Civic Center Parking Deck, Library Parking Deck, Metra-adjacent parking, and street parking. These facilities do not automatically function as moving-truck loading areas, so the mover should confirm where the truck can legally stage.
Cumberland station area: Des Plaines has a second Metra station near Cumberland/East Northwest Highway. Apartment, residential, and commuter traffic can affect curb availability and truck approach.
Oakton Street: Oakton is an important east-west corridor and a redevelopment area. East of River Road it is maintained by the State of Illinois, which can matter during construction or winter weather.
Northwest Highway / US-14: This corridor links downtown, the Cumberland area, Park Ridge, Mount Prospect, and regional destinations. Traffic, rail crossings, commuter activity, and closely spaced commercial entrances can affect move timing.
Lee Street & Graceland Avenue: These streets serve downtown businesses, municipal facilities, apartments, and residential areas where loading access can vary block by block.
Moving Between Des Plaines and Nearby Communities
Many Des Plaines moves stay within Cook County or the northwest suburbs, but nearby communities can have different parking, building, and truck-access rules.
Park Ridge: Moves southeast can use Northwest Highway, Oakton Street, Touhy Avenue, Dee Road, or local streets. Older neighborhoods and downtown-area properties can have narrow drives, limited curb space, or building-specific access rules.
Mount Prospect: Moves north and northwest commonly use Northwest Highway, Central Road, Golf Road, Mount Prospect Road, or local streets. Apartment communities and commercial centers may have designated loading areas.
Rosemont: Moves south can involve River Road, Mannheim Road, Higgins Road, Touhy Avenue, I-90, or I-294. Hotels, offices, convention properties, and commercial facilities can require dock appointments or security coordination.
Elk Grove Village: Moves west and southwest can use Touhy Avenue, Elmhurst Road, Higgins Road, or industrial streets. Commercial and industrial moves should confirm truck entrances, docks, and property access before dispatch.
Niles, Glenview & Morton Grove: Moves east or northeast can use Dempster Street, Golf Road, Central Road, Touhy Avenue, or local streets. Some of these roads are maintained by the State or Cook County rather than Des Plaines.
Chicago: A move from Des Plaines to Chicago remains within Illinois, but dense traffic, loading restrictions, high-rise access, elevator reservations, and parking make it operationally different from a suburban house move.
Local, Illinois, Interstate or International Move?
Your mover search should match how the shipment will actually travel.
Same city or nearby suburbs: A local move can include another Des Plaines address or nearby Park Ridge, Mount Prospect, Rosemont, Elk Grove Village, Niles, Glenview, Morton Grove, Arlington Heights, or Schaumburg. Learn about local movers.
Elsewhere in Illinois: Des Plaines to Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, Bloomington, Champaign, Carbondale, or another Illinois destination remains an intrastate move and is subject to Illinois household-goods mover rules. Learn about in-state movers.
Another state: Des Plaines to Texas, Arizona, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, Indiana, Nevada, or another state is an interstate move subject to federal household-goods rules. Learn about interstate movers.
Outside the United States: International moves may involve export packing, freight forwarding, customs, air or ocean transportation, destination handling, and final delivery. Learn about international movers.
Moving Services Available in Des Plaines
Not every Des Plaines move requires the same type of provider. Choose the service based on what is being moved, how far it is going, and how much of the work you want the company to handle.
Full-service moving: A crew handles loading, transportation, and unloading, with packing, unpacking, disassembly, reassembly, storage, and other services available depending on the company. Learn about full-service movers.
Residential moving: Household moves can include apartments, condos, single-family homes, townhomes, senior relocations, storage-unit moves, local relocations, and interstate shipments. Learn about residential movers.
Commercial moving: Offices, retail spaces, hotels, warehouses, industrial facilities, records, furniture, technology, inventory, and business equipment may require different scheduling, access, insurance, and handling than a household move. Learn about commercial movers.
Labor-only moving: Moving labor can load or unload a rental truck, moving container, trailer, storage unit, or other equipment that you arrange separately. Learn about labor-only movers.
Self-service moving: Rental trucks, trailers, moving containers, and other self-service options may work when you want to handle some or all of the loading and unloading yourself. Learn about self-service moving.
Junk removal and donation pickup: Some Des Plaines providers also offer junk removal, furniture removal, donation pickup, and cleanout services. Keep the move inventory separate from items being removed so wanted property is not hauled away by mistake.
Specialty moving: Pianos, safes, artwork, antiques, oversized furniture, fitness equipment, machinery, and specialized business items may require additional handling or custom crating. Learn about specialty movers.
Storage: Ask whether storage is short-term or long-term, where goods will be stored, how access works, whether warehouse handling charges apply, and how redelivery is priced.
Des Plaines Moving Company Licensing & Illinois Consumer Protections
Illinois has specific requirements for household-goods movers operating within the state.
Intrastate Illinois moves: A business or individual transporting household goods for hire within Illinois must have household-goods authority from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Before booking a Des Plaines mover for an in-state household move, verify the company’s Illinois authority.
Cook County pricing: Des Plaines is in Cook County. Current ICC guidance allows transportation charges for moves entirely within Cook County to be stated on an hourly basis. The ICC also explains that moves wholly within Cook County are not rate exempt and remain governed by the mover’s tariff.
Tariffs: Illinois household-goods movers must publish and file tariffs listing their services and prices. Ask which tariff rate, minimum charge, travel-time provision, and access charges apply to your move.
Written estimate: A licensed Illinois household-goods mover must provide a free written estimate of the probable cost before the move. The estimate is not necessarily the final bill because actual charges depend on the services performed under the applicable tariff or rate structure.
Bill of lading: The mover must issue a bill of lading. It is the moving contract and should identify services, charges, timing information, and carrier responsibilities. Review it before signing and keep your copy.
Interstate moves: A mover transporting household goods from Des Plaines to another state must have the applicable federal registration and household-goods operating authority for the role it performs. Interstate household-goods brokers must also be registered.
How Much Do Movers Cost in Des Plaines?
There is no single meaningful average price for a Des Plaines move. A downtown apartment, single-family home, high-rise condo, short Cook County move, industrial relocation, and interstate shipment can be priced in very different ways.
Move size: More furniture and boxes generally require more labor, truck space, packing materials, and time.
Cook County hourly pricing: Illinois rules allow moves entirely within Cook County to use hourly transportation charges under the mover’s tariff. Ask how many workers are included, when billable time starts and stops, whether travel time is charged, and whether a minimum applies.
Property access: Stairs, elevators, loading docks, long carries, narrow streets, limited curb space, parking garages, gates, and the distance from the truck to the entrance can materially affect labor.
Travel time: Northwest Highway, Miner Street, Lee Street, Oakton Street, Touhy Avenue, Mannheim Road, Wolf Road, River Road, Dempster Street, Golf Road, I-90, and I-294 can experience congestion, construction, rail delays, airport traffic, or weather-related slowdowns. Ask how travel time is treated in the estimate.
Packing and specialty handling: Full packing, custom crating, fragile-item handling, furniture disassembly, pianos, safes, artwork, antiques, machinery, and oversized items can change the estimate.
Storage, junk removal or multiple stops: Storage, split deliveries, donation pickup, junk removal, a business stop, or an additional address can add labor and handling charges.
Instead of relying on a generic citywide price range, compare written estimates based on approximately the same inventory, access conditions, route, and services. You can also review the factors that affect moving costs before comparing estimates.
Carrier, Franchise or Broker: Know Who Will Handle Your Move
The company name on a Des Plaines moving truck, estimate, website, or warehouse may represent a local carrier, a franchise location, a van-line agent, or a broker. The distinction matters most on interstate moves.
A carrier physically transports the shipment using its operating authority.
A franchise location may operate under a national brand while the local business is a separate legal entity. Both College HUNKS and Two Men and a Truck operate through local franchise locations, so ask which legal company name will appear on your paperwork.
A moving broker arranges interstate household-goods transportation with a registered carrier rather than necessarily performing the physical move itself.
Ask:
What is the legal company name on my moving agreement?
Will you physically transport my belongings?
If another carrier or van line may be involved, who is it?
Which ICC authority applies if the move stays within Illinois?
Which U.S. DOT number applies if the move crosses a state line?
Who receives my deposit and final payment?
Who handles loss, damage, delay, storage, or claims?
Do not assume a national brand name means the same legal entity will perform every stage of the move.
What to Tell a Des Plaines Mover Before Requesting an Estimate
Giving every company the same information makes moving quotes easier to compare.
Exact addresses: Provide pickup and delivery addresses or ZIP codes, including apartment, condo, unit, suite, warehouse, dock, hotel, or storage-unit information when applicable.
Property type: State whether each location is an apartment, condo, single-family home, townhome, office, hotel, warehouse, retail property, industrial facility, storage facility, or another property type.
Truck access: Describe street width, driveway access, curb restrictions, stairs, elevators, loading docks, parking limitations, gate access, low clearances, and the walking distance from the truck to the items.
Downtown access: If the property is near Miner Street, Ellinwood Street, Lee Street, Graceland Avenue, Metropolitan Square, or the Downtown Metra station, identify the legal loading location and whether commuter or business parking affects the truck.
Commercial and industrial access: For properties near O’Hare, Touhy Avenue, Mannheim Road, I-90, or industrial streets, provide dock hours, security procedures, trailer restrictions, and the correct commercial entrance.
Multiple road jurisdictions: Des Plaines contains City, State, Cook County, and neighboring-municipality roads. Roadwork or snow responsibility can change along the route, so give the mover the actual streets rather than relying only on ZIP codes.
Inventory: Give the mover an accurate list of furniture, approximate box count, appliances, outdoor items, pianos, safes, artwork, antiques, business equipment, storage-unit contents, and anything unusually heavy or fragile.
Questions to Ask Before a Local Des Plaines Move
For a local move, ask questions that reveal how the company will handle the actual job rather than relying only on a headline hourly rate.
Are you licensed by the Illinois Commerce Commission for household-goods moves within Illinois? Verify the company’s authority before booking.
Which tariff and hourly rate apply? Des Plaines is in Cook County, where in-county moves can use hourly transportation charges and are not rate exempt.
How is billable time calculated? Ask when the clock starts and stops, how travel time is treated, how many movers are included, and whether there is a minimum charge.
How are stairs, elevators, long carries, docks, garages, gates, and tight truck access handled? Make sure access charges or additional labor are explained before moving day.
What happens if the truck cannot park near the entrance? Ask how extra carry distance, a smaller truck, alternate staging, or shuttle service affects the estimate.
How is travel outside Des Plaines billed? If the move involves Park Ridge, Mount Prospect, Rosemont, Elk Grove Village, Niles, Glenview, Chicago, or another Illinois community, confirm how travel time or distance is handled.
Will any part of the job be junk removal rather than moving? If unwanted items are being hauled away, identify them separately from the shipment and confirm how those services are priced.
What is the cancellation or rescheduling policy? Get the policy in writing, especially if your closing date, lease date, elevator reservation, or possession date could change.
How to Compare Moving Estimates
Do not compare moving estimates by the total price alone. Make sure the underlying assumptions are similar.
Use the same inventory: If one mover is pricing substantially fewer items or boxes, the estimates are not comparable.
Use the same access information: Each company should know about stairs, elevators, parking limits, loading docks, garages, long carries, gates, tight streets, and commercial-property procedures.
Compare included services: Packing, materials, disassembly, reassembly, storage, junk removal, donation pickup, custom crating, specialty handling, valuation options, and other services can change the total.
Understand the tariff: For an Illinois household move, ask which filed tariff provisions apply to labor, travel, materials, minimum charges, packing, storage, and access conditions.
Compare interstate pickup and delivery expectations: For moves leaving Illinois, review pickup windows, expected delivery timing, storage terms, and how delays are handled.
Review exclusions: Ask what is not included and what circumstances can legitimately change the amount due.
Compare the company role: Know whether you are comparing a carrier, franchise location, van-line agent, or broker that will arrange transportation with another company.
Protection, Damage & Claims
Before the move, understand what happens if something is lost or damaged.
Illinois intrastate moves: ICC guidance explains that a mover’s basic liability can be based on 60 cents per pound per article unless you choose and pay for a higher valuation option. Ask the mover to explain the available protection before signing the bill of lading.
Interstate household-goods moves: Federal rules require interstate movers to offer Full Value Protection and Released Value. Released Value likewise provides very limited protection at no more than 60 cents per pound per article.
High-value items: Tell the mover in writing about fine art, antiques, electronics, collectibles, pianos, or other unusually valuable property and ask whether additional documentation is required.
Property protection: Ask how floors, doorways, elevators, stairs, railings, walls, and common areas will be protected at both addresses.
Photograph important belongings: Take clear photos or video of furniture, electronics, artwork, antiques, and other valuable possessions before loading.
Keep paperwork: Save the written estimate, bill of lading, inventory, receipts, payment records, photographs, emails, tariff or rate information, and any change orders.
Moving Internationally From Des Plaines
An international move from Des Plaines can involve local pickup, export packing, inland transportation, air or ocean freight, customs, destination handling, and final delivery.
Ask for a written breakdown covering pickup in Des Plaines, export packing if required, custom crating, inventory preparation, inland transportation, air or ocean transportation, terminal or port charges, customs-document responsibilities, destination handling, final delivery, unpacking if requested, storage if customs or delivery is delayed, and services specifically excluded from the quote.
Des Plaines is close to O’Hare International Airport, which can be useful for air-freight logistics, but proximity to an airport does not mean the local moving company itself is the international freight carrier. Ask which freight forwarder, airline, ocean carrier, van line, or destination agent is responsible for each stage.
For ocean shipments, the household goods still require inland transportation to a seaport before the ocean leg begins. Ask where responsibility transfers and who is responsible for customs paperwork.
Before packing, check the destination country’s current restrictions for medications, food, plants, alcohol, weapons, vehicles, electronics, wood products, and other regulated items. Import rules vary by country and can change.
Items Movers May Not Transport
Ask the mover for its prohibited-items list before packing. Policies differ by company and move type, but movers commonly restrict or refuse certain hazardous, perishable, valuable, or legally regulated items.
Hazardous materials: Gasoline, propane, lighter fluid, some chemicals, paints, solvents, fireworks, compressed gases, and other flammable or hazardous products may be prohibited.
Perishable items: Refrigerated or frozen food, plants, and other perishables may be restricted, especially on long-distance moves or when storage is involved.
High-value personal items: Identification, passports, medication, jewelry, cash, financial records, keys, irreplaceable photos, and critical documents are generally safer kept with you rather than placed on the moving truck.
Items marked for junk removal: When moving and junk removal happen together, physically separate what is being transported from what is being discarded or donated. Label rooms or piles clearly so wanted property is not removed by mistake.
Special batteries or equipment: Ask about e-bike batteries, large lithium batteries, fuel-powered equipment, propane tanks, and other items that may require special handling or may be refused.
International restrictions: If the shipment is leaving the United States, destination-country rules can be stricter than the mover’s own prohibited-items policy.
Moving Company Warning Signs
Slow down before booking if the company cannot clearly explain who it is, what authority it has, or how the price was calculated.
No ICC authority for an Illinois household move: Illinois requires household-goods movers operating for hire within the state to have Illinois Commerce Commission authority.
No written estimate: Be cautious if a company wants to begin an Illinois household move without providing the required written estimate of probable cost.
No bill of lading: The bill of lading is the moving contract. Do not sign blank or incomplete paperwork.
Unclear carrier, franchise, van-line agent, or broker role: For an interstate move, ask directly who will physically transport the shipment and which U.S. DOT number applies.
Calls a Cook County household move “rate exempt”: Current ICC guidance says moves wholly within Cook County are not rate exempt and remain governed by the mover’s tariff.
Promises a total without enough access information: A price based on an incomplete inventory or without understanding elevators, long carries, loading docks, garages, or difficult truck access may not reflect the actual job.
Important promises only made verbally: If a delivery commitment, storage arrangement, junk-removal scope, service, discount, or protection term matters to you, make sure it appears in the written agreement.
Before Moving Day in Des Plaines
Before the crew arrives, review the Des Plaines-specific details that are easiest to fix in advance.
Confirm the final inventory: Tell the mover about anything added or removed after the estimate and make sure requested service changes are documented.
Review the paperwork: Confirm the mover’s legal name, Illinois authority for an intrastate household move or federal registration for an interstate move, written estimate, bill of lading, pricing method, services, dates, and approved changes.
Confirm access: Recheck parking, elevators, garages, gates, stairs, docks, driveways, long carries, and whether the truck can legally and safely approach both properties.
Snow routes: During snowfall over 2 inches, vehicles must be parked away from designated snow routes until snow-removal operations are completed. Do not assume a curbside loading spot will remain available during a winter storm.
Know who maintains the road: Des Plaines roads are split among the City, State of Illinois, Cook County, and in one case Mount Prospect. For example, Oakton east of River Road and Touhy Avenue are State roads, while Mount Prospect Road and portions of Dempster/Thacker are maintained by Cook County. Snow clearing or construction conditions can therefore change along one move route.
Oversize or overweight equipment: Des Plaines requires permits for trucking that exceeds legal size or weight limits. A standard legal-size moving truck may not need one, but unusually heavy or oversized equipment should be checked before dispatch.
Check current road work: Review current conditions affecting Northwest Highway, Oakton Street, Touhy Avenue, Mannheim Road, River Road, Dempster Street, Golf Road, I-90, and I-294 shortly before dispatch.
Keep essentials with you: Carry identification, medications, important documents, keys, valuables, chargers, and anything you may need immediately. A moving checklist can help you keep track of final tasks.
Before You Book a Des Plaines Mover
Before paying a deposit or signing a moving agreement, make sure you can answer these questions:
For an Illinois move, does the mover have the required Illinois Commerce Commission authority?
Which filed tariff and hourly provisions apply to my Cook County move?
For an interstate move, is the company properly registered for the role it is performing?
Am I hiring the actual carrier, a franchise location, a van-line agent, or a moving broker?
What exactly is included in my written estimate?
What could cause the amount I pay to change?
Who will actually be responsible for transporting my belongings?
If junk removal or donation pickup is included, is that scope separated clearly from the moving inventory?
Does the estimate reflect my actual inventory, elevators, parking, garages, loading docks, gates, long carries, and Des Plaines property conditions?
A company should make it possible for you to understand who is handling the move, what authority applies, what services are included, and what you are agreeing to before you book.
Des Plaines Movers and Moving Services
College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving
Residential and commercial moving, moving labor, packing, storage, junk removal and donation pickup
Two Men and a Truck Moving
Home and apartment moving, business moving, packing, loading and unloading, storage, junk removal, moving supplies and single-item moves
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