What movers should charge in Illinois.
Fair billed labor here runs about $35–$57/hour, right at the median US state. Every number below comes from what movers and freight laborers actually earn in Illinois; the math is on this page, in the open.
How much should movers charge in Illinois?
In Illinois, movers and freight laborers earn $17.26–$22.87 per hour (median $19.50, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), right at the median US state for this trade. A legitimate business bills 2–2.5× wages to cover payroll taxes, insurance, equipment, overhead and profit, so fair billed labor in Illinois runs about $35–$57 per hour. For example, local move, 1-bedroom is about $140–$450 in fair labor, before materials.
Fair price by job
Local move, 1-bedroom
That assumes two movers and a truck, ground-floor to ground-floor, in-town.
Plus materials: truck fee and materials (boxes, wrap) usually appear as separate lines.
Typical labor: 4–8 hours at $35–$57/hr billed.
Local move, 3-bedroom
That assumes three movers most of a day; stairs, elevators and long carries add hours.
Typical labor: 12–24 hours at $35–$57/hr billed.
Before you hire in Illinois
No statewide general contractor license — cities license GCs (Chicago has its own system). Roofing contractors are state-licensed, and that one is worth checking every time.
How to verify a Illinois license · how to get comparable bids · track your quotes side by side (free, no account).
Find movers near you in Illinois
Other fair price checks in Illinois
Compare movers rates across all states · all fair price checks