Dover, DE → Philadelphia, PA · Short-haul move

Movers from Dover to Philadelphia

About 73 road miles heading north. Typical two-bedroom cost $1,380–$2,050, delivery in 1–2 days, 143 carriers on the Dover side and 1,658 in Philadelphia.

73 miroad distance
1 h 58 mindriving time
1–2 daysdelivery window
$1,380–$2,0502-bedroom estimate

Photo: 颐园居 · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Dover, Delaware
To: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Road distance: ≈ 73 miles (62 straight-line)
Drive time: 1 h 58 min
Delivery window: 1–2 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 143 (103 interstate)
Movers at destination: 1,658 (1,138 interstate)

Reverse: Philadelphia → Dover

Philadelphia sits about 73 miles north of Dover, which makes this an interstate relocation from Delaware to Pennsylvania that most movers classify as a short-haul move.

Because the two cities are close together, most companies quote this move by the hour: a crew of two to four movers plus a truck, with the drive of about 1 h 58 min counted as billable travel time. A typical two-bedroom household lands between $1,380 and $2,050, before packing or storage.

On the Dover side there are 143 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (103 of them authorized for interstate work), and 1,658 around Philadelphia (1,138 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 Philadelphia.

Dover has a population of about 40,000 and Philadelphia about 1.6 million. Philadelphia is the denser city (11,933 people per square mile versus 1,654 in Dover), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day.

Cost of moving from Dover to Philadelphia

Full-service estimate for 73 miles, by home size
Home size	Crew	Hours	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2 movers	3–5 h	$780	$950	$1,150
1 Bedroom	2 movers	4–6 h	$880	$1,080	$1,310
2 Bedrooms	3 movers	5–8 h	$1,380	$1,680	$2,050
3 Bedrooms	4 movers	7–10 h	$2,080	$2,540	$3,100
4+ Bedrooms	5 movers	9–13 h	$3,040	$3,710	$4,530

Rental truck (DIY)

$220–$320

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

Portable container

$1,090–$1,600

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

Full-service mover

$1,380–$2,050

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Dover, DE → Philadelphia, PA. 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 Dover (origin)

Em Way INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1934741
MC: 690698
Based in: Dover, DE 19904 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 100 trucks, 50 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (302) 450-3272 Route Verify on FMCSA

Tri-Coast Carriers LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1510668
MC: 566208
Based in: Dover, DE 19904 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 66 trucks, 60 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (713) 451-8884 Route Verify on FMCSA

Two Men And A Truck

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Jkb Corp

USDOT: 2546977
MC: 886752
Based in: Dover, DE 19901 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 17 trucks, 24 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (302) 734-5017 Route Verify on FMCSA

Collett & Son Welding INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 872818
MC: 903323
Based in: Smyrna, DE 19977 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 15 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2000

Call (302) 376-1830 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mom Transportation LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3876998
MC: 1421184
Based in: Dover, DE 19901 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 2022

Call (302) 264-0450 Route Verify on FMCSA

Benjamin Mast

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4262251
MC: 1653912
Based in: Dover, DE 19904 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 9 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (302) 632-7389 Route Verify on FMCSA

A & D Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3100720
MC: 77314
Based in: Dover, DE 19904 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 5 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (609) 816-6185 Route Verify on FMCSA

R Gill USA Corporation

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3621695
MC: 1237363
Based in: Smyrna, DE 19977 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 5 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (610) 477-5003 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 143 movers in Dover

Near Philadelphia (destination)

Elite Express

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Finster Courier Incorporated

USDOT: 751209
MC: 339982
Based in: Pennsauken, NJ 08110 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 199 trucks, 168 drivers
USDOT registered: 1998

Call (856) 663-8844 Route Verify on FMCSA

Veltri INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 398991
MC: 481594
Based in: Trevose, PA 19053 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 151 trucks, 210 drivers
USDOT registered: 1990

Call (215) 946-6400 Route Verify on FMCSA

Uniquality INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2784879
MC: 927952
Based in: Bensalem, PA 19020 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 135 trucks, 130 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (267) 297-2900 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dream Trans

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Dream Transportation LLC

USDOT: 3020074
MC: 37720
Based in: Feasterville Trevose, PA 19053 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 124 trucks, 124 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (833) 777-8778 Route Verify on FMCSA

Silkroad Tranz INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2318392
MC: 936900
Based in: Warmminster, PA 18974 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 107 trucks, 40 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (412) 522-2222 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mirage Logistics INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3815917
MC: 1378977
Based in: Southampton, PA 18966 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 90 trucks, 95 drivers
USDOT registered: 2022

Call (925) 474-4510 Route Verify on FMCSA

Relentless Strength LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4570815
MC: 1818083
Based in: Bensalem, PA 19020 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 86 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (267) 965-1042 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sls Group Worldwide LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3383225
MC: 1086171
Based in: Southampton, PA 18966 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 83 trucks, 88 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (484) 966-8888 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 1,658 movers in Philadelphia

Tips for this move

Check Delaware intrastate mover rules; many states require a state permit in addition to a USDOT number.
Group fragile items and tell the crew which boxes go in the cab or on top.
For a move under about 150 miles you can often choose between an hourly and a flat rate—ask for both.
Confirm whether travel time between Dover and Philadelphia is billed one way or round trip.

Near Dover

Near Philadelphia

Related routes

Other destinations from Dover

Other origins to Philadelphia

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Dover to Philadelphia?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $780 to $1,150 for a studio, $880 to $1,310 for a one-bedroom, $1,380 to $2,050 for a two-bedroom, $2,080 to $3,100 for a three-bedroom and $3,040 to $4,530 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Philadelphia from Dover?

About 73 road miles (62 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 1 h 58 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

For a move this short, loading and delivery normally happen on the same day. Most crews finish a two-bedroom home in 5 to 8 hours plus the drive.

Does my mover need interstate authority for this move?

Yes. Crossing from Delaware into Pennsylvania 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 Dover to Philadelphia?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $220 to $320 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,090 to $1,600. 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 Dover–Philadelphia corridor.