Chicago apartments are weird. Some come with freight elevators that get reserved two weeks in advance. Some have three flights of stairs and a landlord who won't answer texts about parking the truck. Packing services here have adapted to that mess, which is honestly why hiring one makes more sense in this city than in a lot of others.
Most companies in the city charge by the hour, per packer, plus materials on top. A one-bedroom unit in Lakeview usually takes two packers about four to six hours. Boxes, tape, and paper get tacked on too — that's not always bundled in, so ask before you commit. I've seen estimates that seemed low until the materials charge arrived separately and pushed the total way up.
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It's not just someone shoving stuff into boxes. Skilled packers know how to load a truck so nothing slides around on Lake Shore Drive during rush hour stops. They wrap mirrors and art properly. They label boxes by room instead of just writing "misc," which — if you've ever unpacked a stack of unmarked boxes in a new kitchen at 9pm — you know matters more than it sounds.
People tend to skip unpacking help and regret it soon after. You cover the cost of packing, settle in, and then spend three weeks living around boxes because nobody has energy left after the move. A lot of Chicago movers now offer unpacking as an add-on, and it's usually cheaper than you'd think since they're already there with the truck.
Where you live actually changes things
Downtown high-rises often require certificates of insurance from the moving company before they'll even let them in the building. Some packing services keep this on hand automatically, others charge separately for it. Ask about it before you book, not after a doorman refuses entry to the crew.
South Loop, West Loop, Wicker Park — these areas have tighter street parking, which affects how long a job takes and sometimes what you're charged. A company that's worked the area before knows to plan around alleys or loading zones. A crew unfamiliar with it will lose an extra hour just circling for a spot.
Getting the timing right
End of month is brutal for availability, especially May through September when most Chicago leases turn over. If your move falls on the 1st, line up packing help at least three weeks in advance. Off-cycle moving dates, like an ordinary Tuesday in February, tend to bring lower rates and more scheduling flexibility, sometimes within days.