Birmingham, AL → Columbia, SC · Regional long-distance move

Movers from Birmingham to Columbia

About 401 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $2,800–$4,160, delivery in 1–3 days, 395 carriers on the Birmingham side and 389 in Columbia.

401 miroad distance
7 h 37 mindriving time
1–3 daysdelivery window
$2,800–$4,1602-bedroom estimate

Photo: Akhenaton06 · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Route summary

From: Birmingham, Alabama
To: Columbia, South Carolina
Road distance: ≈ 401 miles (340 straight-line)
Drive time: 7 h 37 min
Delivery window: 1–3 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 395 (208 interstate)
Movers at destination: 389 (223 interstate)

Reverse: Columbia → Birmingham

Columbia sits about 401 miles east of Birmingham, which makes this an interstate relocation from Alabama to South Carolina that most movers classify as a regional long-distance move.

At this distance carriers price by shipment weight and mileage rather than by the hour. A two-bedroom home (around 5,000 lb of goods) typically costs $2,800 to $4,160 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 1 to 3 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 7 h 37 min.

On the Birmingham side there are 395 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (208 of them authorized for interstate work), and 389 around Columbia (223 interstate). For an interstate move you can book from either end; movers near the origin handle loading and are usually the better first call, while a destination-side company can be useful if you need storage or delivery-day help in Columbia.

Birmingham has a population of about 195,893 and Columbia about 147,035. Birmingham is considerably denser (1,366 people per square mile versus 999), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination.

Cost of moving from Birmingham to Columbia

Full-service estimate for 401 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$1,140	$1,390	$1,690
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$1,680	$2,050	$2,500
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$2,800	$3,410	$4,160
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$4,480	$5,460	$6,660
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$6,160	$7,510	$9,160

Rental truck (DIY)

$560–$790

One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.

Portable container

$1,380–$2,030

Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.

Full-service mover

$2,800–$4,160

Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Birmingham, AL → Columbia, SC. Adjust the other options to see your range.

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Typical full-service range.

Estimates use market baselines described on the cost guide; your quotes will vary by inventory, access and date.

Moving companies for this route

Near Birmingham (origin)

Buddy Moore Trucking INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 843883
MC: 370920
Based in: Birmingham, AL 35222 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 359 trucks, 354 drivers
USDOT registered: 1999

Call (205) 949-2260 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dixie Trucking Company LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 2263023
MC: 822669
Based in: Birmingham, AL 35217 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 117 trucks, 117 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (205) 841-1930 Route Verify on FMCSA

Deep South Freight

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Tvs INC

USDOT: 273403
MC: 163871
Based in: Birmingham, AL 35204 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 109 trucks, 107 drivers
USDOT registered: 1986

Call (205) 326-0490 Route Verify on FMCSA

Americas Thrift Stores INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Alabama Thrift Stores INC

USDOT: 446588
MC: 656355
Based in: Irondale, AL 35210 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 71 trucks, 71 drivers
USDOT registered: 1991

Call (205) 856-1234 Route Verify on FMCSA

New Latitude Moving Admiral Movers Motivated Movers

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Move & Store LLC

USDOT: 2179652
MC: 765956
Based in: Birmingham, AL 35211 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 52 trucks, 52 drivers
USDOT registered: 2011

Call (855) 624-4537 Route Verify on FMCSA

U-Haul

Licensed interstate

Legal name: U-Haul Company Of Alabama INC

USDOT: 428450
MC: 881025
Based in: Birmingham, AL 35216 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 52 trucks, 73 drivers
USDOT registered: 1990

Call (602) 263-6811 Route Verify on FMCSA

Associated Grocers Of The South INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 187921
MC: 432768
Based in: Birmingham, AL 35217 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 51 trucks, 48 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (205) 808-4915 Route Verify on FMCSA

Thompson Delivery Services Colwright

Licensed interstate

Legal name: McCorquodale Transfer LLC

USDOT: 713589
MC: 352161
Based in: Birmingham, AL 35203 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 31 trucks, 35 drivers
USDOT registered: 1997

Call (205) 870-7474 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 395 movers in Birmingham

Near Columbia (destination)

Nilson Van & Storage

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 122025
MC: 109331
Based in: Columbia, SC 29203 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 43 trucks, 36 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (803) 786-1090 Route Verify on FMCSA

Two Men And A Truck

Interstate carrier

Legal name: Kb Enterprises INC

USDOT: 1713552
Based in: Columbia, SC 29209 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 18 trucks, 11 drivers
USDOT registered: 2007

Call (803) 731-7775 Route Verify on FMCSA

R L Solutions Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2074562
MC: 749775
Based in: Columbia, SC 29204 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 16 trucks, 15 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Call (864) 485-3482 Route Verify on FMCSA

On Time Services

Licensed interstate

Legal name: On Time Services Incorporated

USDOT: 1290786
MC: 663927
Based in: West Columbia, SC 29169 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 9 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (803) 739-2009 Route Verify on FMCSA

Movemart Relocation INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 787737
MC: 1217231
Based in: Columbia, SC 29201 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 8 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 1998

Call (803) 256-1078 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bossman Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 3790147
MC: 1360126
Based in: Columbia, SC 29223 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 7 trucks, 7 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (704) 200-4823 Route Verify on FMCSA

Prohelp LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3304870
MC: 1048763
Based in: Columbia, SC 29201 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 7 trucks, 7 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (803) 776-4357 Route Verify on FMCSA

Johnson & Smith Global Services LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4464723
MC: 1761240
Based in: Columbia, SC 29223 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (803) 939-2014 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 389 movers in Columbia

Related routes

Other destinations from Birmingham

Other origins to Columbia

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Birmingham to Columbia?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,140 to $1,690 for a studio, $1,680 to $2,500 for a one-bedroom, $2,800 to $4,160 for a two-bedroom, $4,480 to $6,660 for a three-bedroom and $6,160 to $9,160 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Columbia from Birmingham?

About 401 road miles (340 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 7 h 37 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 1 to 3 days after pickup. Carriers give a spread rather than a fixed date because long-distance trucks carry several shipments; a dedicated truck or expedited service shortens the window for an extra fee.

Does my mover need interstate authority for this move?

Yes. Crossing from Alabama into South Carolina makes this an interstate move, so the carrier must hold active FMCSA operating authority (an MC number) in addition to its USDOT number. The company cards on this page flag which carriers are authorized for interstate work.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or use a container for Birmingham to Columbia?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $560 to $790 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,380 to $2,030. Both save money versus a full-service crew but you do the loading, and container transit can take longer than a mover's delivery window.

When is the least expensive time to book this move?

Rates are highest in summer and around the last days of any month, when demand peaks. Mid-month, mid-week and winter dates are usually quoted below the standard rate. Booking four to eight weeks ahead gives you the widest choice of carriers on the Birmingham–Columbia corridor.