How Much Do San Francisco, CA Movers Cost?
Quick answer: The typical cost for hiring movers in San Francisco is $150 per hour, with the total cost to move ranging from $485 to $4,883, on average. If you’re moving out of California, the cost of hiring long-distance movers in San Francisco really depends on where you’re moving.
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Average cost to hire interstate movers in San Francisco, CA
Since the cost of moving out of San Francisco depends so much on where you’re moving, we’ve included some example costs below to give you a better idea of pricing. For more detailed guides on your specific destination, find your moving route to San Francisco or use our moving cost calculator to get quotes from the top interstate movers.
Cost to move a one-bedroom home out of state from San Francisco
The cost to move a studio apartment or one-bedroom home out of state from San Francisco depends on the moving method you choose, how much stuff you have, and how far you’re moving.
Take a look at some example costs to move a one-bedroom cross-country:
- San Francisco to New York City: $2,991–$5,822
- San Francisco to Chicago: $2,687–$5,016
- San Francisco to Brooklyn: $3,050–$6,302
- San Francisco to Queens: $2,991–$6,242
- San Francisco to Houston: $2,565–$5,134
Cost to move a two- or three-bedroom home out of state from San Francisco
As with any move, the cost to relocate a two- or three-bedroom from San Francisco can vary widely based on move size, distance, and time of year.
Here is a look at some two- and three-bedroom move costs out of San Francisco:
- San Francisco to New York City: $4,121–$7,403
- San Francisco to Chicago: $3,556–$6,083
- San Francisco to Brooklyn: $4,248–$7,103
- San Francisco to Queens: $4,418–$7,477
- San Francisco to Houston: $3,249–$6,417
Cost to move a four-bedroom (or larger) home out of state from San Francisco
The cost to move a four-bedroom or larger home out of California will be significantly higher than for one- or two-bedroom houses, since a bigger house typically means more items. Movers calculate long-distance moves, in part, based on the total estimated volume and weight of your household belongings.
While moving costs can vary, take a look at these cost ranges for moving four or more bedrooms out of San Francisco:
- San Francisco to New York City: $7,992–$11,977
- San Francisco to Chicago: $6,403–$11,464
- San Francisco to Brooklyn: $7,593–$12,099
- San Francisco to Queens: $8,152–$12,710
- San Francisco to Houston: $6,234–$10,949
Best interstate moving companies in San Francisco, CA
Now that you have an idea of what your move from San Francisco should cost, it’s time to start looking at the best interstate moving companies. We vetted each one, examining their pricing, services, and our own real-life customer reviews to pick the best options for you.
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- BLVD Moving: 4.25 out of 5 stars
- PODS: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Family owned & operated
- Affordable pricing
- Binding estimates
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
Average cost to hire a local moving company in San Francisco, CA
Hiring a full-service San Francisco mover is definitely the most convenient option, but that convenience comes at a cost — professional movers tend to be more expensive than other moving options. If you want movers to do all the heavy lifting for you and you can afford it, hire a full-service moving company for your San Francisco move.
If you want to save money, you can hire a container company, where you do the packing and loading and they transport your belongings in San Francisco for you, or by renting a moving truck and handling it all on your own.
Here are the average moving costs from San Francisco to another state with different types of movers:
| Destination | Professional Movers | Containers | Rental Trucks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $2,723 - $6,225 | $1,639 - $3,154 | $776 - $1,779 |
| Omaha | $3,173 - $7,316 | $1,837 - $4,095 | $1,048 - $2,376 |
| Charlotte | $4,008 - $7,771 | $2,422 - $5,421 | $1,738 - $3,489 |
And here's how much professional movers cost in San Francisco based on your move size:
| Home size | Avg. total cost | Cost/hour | # of movers | # hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $485 | $210 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
| 1 bedroom | $695 | $210 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
| 2 bedroom | $1,157 | $294 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
| 3 bedroom | $2,747 | $412 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
| 4 bedroom | $3,159 | $412 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
| 5+ bedroom | $4,883 | $576 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
- Studio: The average cost to hire movers in San Francisco to move a studio apartment is $210 per hour for three hours using a two-person moving crew.
- One bedroom: Moving a one-bedroom San Francisco apartment or home will typically take four hours, at an hourly rate of $210, and require two movers.
- Two bedrooms: It will cost $294 an hour, on average, to hire a three-person crew in San Francisco to move a two-bedroom home. Two-bedroom moves usually take about five hours.
- Three bedrooms: Local San Francisco movers charge an average hourly rate of $412 for a three-bedroom home. A move of this size will usually take eight hours to complete using four movers.
- Four bedrooms: For a four-bedroom house in San Francisco, you can expect to pay $412 per hour for nine hours. You’ll likely need a four-person moving crew.
- Five or more bedrooms: If your San Francisco home is a five-bedroom or larger, you will pay $576 an hour, on average, for five movers. Moves this size usually take about ten hours to complete.
It's worth noting the cost per hour for San Francisco movers remains the same for all home sizes, ranging from $210 per hour for two movers to $576 per hour for five movers. As the size of your home increases, the number of movers and hours required for the move also increases, resulting in a higher total cost.
Overall, hiring local San Francisco movers is a convenient and stress-free way to move within the city. By knowing the approximate cost for your home size, you can budget accordingly and make informed decisions for your upcoming move.
Easily compare personalized moving quotes for your San Francisco move using our free and instant moving cost calculator.
Best local moving companies in San Francisco, CA
Our expert team of analysts has dug deep into licensing, insurance options, online reviews, and hundreds of other data points to find you the best local moving companies in San Francisco.
- Eagle Moving & Storage, Inc.: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- Luigy's Moving & Storage: 4.86 out of 5 stars
- Gentle Giant Moving Company: 4.72 out of 5 stars
- Jay's Small Moves: 4.66 out of 5 stars
- NorthStar Moving Company : 4.66 out of 5 stars
- Friendly and Professional Staff
- Careful Handling of Belongings
- Efficient Service
- Late Arrivals
- Lost or Damaged Items
- Poor Customer Service
Company Info
State license #: 0190673
Years in Business: 14
DOT #: 3519797
Eagle Moving & Storage, Inc. has been a trusted name for local residential moves in and around San Bruno, CA since 2010. They stand out with a solid reputation, boasting an impressive average rating of 4.4 on Yelp from 429 reviews, and a 4.6 average rating on Google from 129 reviews. With a Better Business Bureau rating of A+, customers frequently praise their professionalism and efficiency. Unlike many nearby competitors, they offer comprehensive packing and unpacking services, along with the specialized capability to move pianos, art, and antiques. Flexible payment options, including cash and credit cards, and no required deposit, further underscore their customer-first approach.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Excellent Customer Service
- Efficient and Professional Team
- Attention to Detail
- Pricing Miscommunication
- Additional Fees
- Concerns about Storage Charges
Company Info
State license #: 0192210
Years in Business: 23
DOT #: 02740355
Luigy's Moving & Storage has been a trusted name in local residential moving services in and around San Francisco, CA since 2001. Compared to other nearby companies, Luigy's stands out with their comprehensive service offerings, including packing, unpacking, and crating services, as well as specialized handling for pianos, hot tubs, art, and antiques. Boasting exceptional consumer reviews with an average rating of 4.7 on Yelp and 4.6 on Google, along with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, Luigy's reputation for reliability and quality is well-earned. While a deposit is required, they accept both cash and credit cards, ensuring flexible payment options for their clients.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- Professional
- Efficient
- Friendly Service
- Unexpected Price Increases
- Miscommunication
- Limited Customer Service Support
Company Info
State license #: 0167668
Years in Business: 44
DOT #: 373544
Alternate Names: Great Giant Moving Company
Gentle Giant Moving Company has been a trusted name in local residential moving services in South San Francisco, CA since 1981. With stellar consumer reviews reflecting an average rating of 4.6 on Yelp and 5.0 on Google My Business, as well as an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, this company stands out for its reliability and professionalism. Unlike many nearby movers, Gentle Giant also offers office moving services, comprehensive packing and unpacking services, and even storage options if needed. Additionally, they do not require a deposit and accept credit cards, making the moving process as seamless and convenient as possible for their clients.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Crane vans
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
- Professional Service
- Efficient and Fast
- Excellent Communication
- Higher-than-Expected Costs
- Minor Damage Reports
- Late Arrivals in Some Cases
Company Info
State license #: 0190688
Pricing: $140/hr
Years in Business: 17
Alternate Names: Jays Small Moves
Jay's Small Moves has been a trusted name in local residential moving services in and around Oakland, CA, since 2008. With stellar consumer reviews, boasting an average rating of 4.8 on Yelp and 4.9 on Google, coupled with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, this company stands out among nearby movers. In addition to residential moves, they offer specialized services like office moving, packing, unpacking, and handling fragile items such as art and antiques. At $140 per hour for a local move with no deposit required, Jay's Small Moves provides reliable and cost-effective solutions tailored to meet clients' needs.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Fragile-only packing
- Excellent Service
- Professional Staff
- Reasonable Prices
- No Major Issues Reported
Company Info
State license #: 0182466
Years in Business: 28
DOT #: 1836576
NorthStar Moving Company, established in 1996, offers premier local residential moving services throughout San Francisco, CA, and its surrounding areas. With an impressive track record, they boast 931 Yelp reviews averaging 4.6 stars and 701 Google My Business reviews with an average rating of 4.9 stars. Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, NorthStar stands out among local competitors. They also provide comprehensive packing, unpacking, and crating services, ensuring a seamless moving experience. Notably, NorthStar accepts both cash and credit cards, and no deposit is required, offering convenience and peace of mind for customers.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
Visit our best movers in San Francisco page to see a complete list of moving companies, including hourly rates, services, and reviews. And if you’re moving outside of San Francisco, consider one of San Francisco’s top long-distance movers.
City moving costs in California
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Average cost of PODS in San Francisco, CA
PODS will cost $220–$7,448, on average, in San Francisco. The exact PODS cost you’ll pay will depend on whether you use an eight-, 12-, or 16-foot container (note: 12-foot containers are only available for local moves). The distance of your move will also greatly impact cost.
A local San Francisco move within 50 miles of your home will run between $220 and $813, while long-distance moves (100-250 miles) will typically cost $250–$2,107. Container pricing on cross-country moves from San Francisco can cost an average range of $2,068–$7,448.
Here's a breakdown of related PODS costs:
- Storage fee: $149–$359 (first 30 days is free)
- Damage coverage: 10–$439.95 per month, depending on the protection plan. Coverage ranges from container-only (no contents protection) to $300,000. All plans have a deductible of $100.
- Door lock (if necessary): $25 (if purchased through PODS; you can also purchase from home improvement stores or online retailers)
If you’re looking for the cost-savings of a DIY move and the convenience of full-service movers, moving containers like PODS are a great option. You’ll handle loading and unloading, but they will drop off your empty container at your current home, pick it up once it’s loaded, and deliver it to your new location. This means you won’t have to worry about driving.
PODS is our overall top pick for moving containers in Phoenix based on their stellar reputation, nationwide availability, and multiple container sizes and insurance plans. But you should take a look at least two other highly rated moving container companies on our list to see which one offers the right combination of services and pricing for your move.
Best moving containers in San Francisco, CA
The best San Francisco moving container companies provide multiple container sizes, pricing transparency and deals, and secure, state-of-the-art facilities for longer-term storage needs. They should also have a solid reputation for quality customer service and efficient drop-off and pickup of containers.
Check out these highly rated moving containers:
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Long distance moves only
- Only pay for the space you use
- No deposit or initial fees
- Fast delivery time frames
Average cost to rent a moving truck in San Francisco, CA
You'll definitely have to break a sweat, but moving truck rentals in San Francisco will be much easier on your wallet than full-service movers. The average cost to rent a moving truck in San Francisco ranges from $19-$39 per day.
While cheaper than full-service moving companies, you’ll have to do all the heavy lifting yourself — from boxing up your belongings to loading them on the truck, hauling them to your new spot, and unloading everything there.
Here are the typical costs of San Francisco rental trucks:
- Base cost: $19–$39 per day
- Mileage fee: $0.79–$1.59 per mile
- Fuel cost: Depends on driving distance
- Truck coverage: $20–$55 based on coverage level
- Equipment costs (optional): Dolly, straps, blankets
The total cost to rent a truck from companies like Budget or U-Haul will depend on:
- How far you drive the truck
- How long you have the truck rental
- Additional insurance
- Parking
- Toll fees
- Fuel
- Accommodations and dining
- Moving equipment rentals
Best moving truck rentals in San Francisco, CA
The best moving truck rentals in San Francisco provide affordable rates with no hidden fees, a variety of truck sizes, and plenty of physical locations across the U.S. for convenient rental returns.
These top moving truck rentals certainly fit the bill:
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
- Limits environmental impact as part of the EPA's SmartWay Program
- Non-slip flooring makes loading and unloading easier
- Easily choose truck size with their Truck Wizard Tool
- Competitive base prices with specialized discounts
- Round-trip and one-way moves available
- User-friendly website makes it easy to book the right truck
Average cost of labor-only moving companies in San Francisco, CA
The average cost of labor-only moving companies in San Francisco is an hourly rate of $75 for each crew member. Most moves — even small one-bedroom apartments — require a crew of two movers, so plan on about $150.0 per hour to hire labor assistance in San Francisco.
Best labor-only moving companies in San Francisco
The best San Francisco labor-only movers have a reputation for professional and efficient service, but also provide reasonable hourly rates and a variety of optional services like packing that you can pick and choose from to create a customized plan suited to your specific needs.
We like these top-notch labor-only movers:
- First call quoting, get a quote in just a couple of minutes
- Rates are typically 20-40% lower than the industry averages
- $1,000 money-back service guarantee
- Fast and accurate delivery times
- Free damage coverage with additional coverage options
- Quick and easy booking process
- National 4.75/5 star rating (these guys are good at what they do)
- Dedicated move concierge specialist
- Pay as you go service. 2-hour minimum and then prorated down to the minute
- The time clock starts when the movers arrive and ends when you tell them
Factors that affect the cost of movers in San Francisco, CA
The biggest factor that affects the cost of movers in San Francisco, CA, is distance, but there are several other price considerations to keep in mind, including:
- The size of your move: The more belongings you have, the more your move will cost. Moving a four-bedroom home will typically be more expensive than moving a studio apartment.
- When you move: You’ll usually pay more to move during peak season (May–September) because demand is higher. Similarly, the time of month and day of the week you book your move will impact cost. Demand will be higher the first and last of each month, when leases change over, and on Fridays and Saturdays, the most popular moving days. To save money on your move, consider booking during the week and in the middle of one of the off-season months, if possible.
- The type of move: Professional movers are the most convenient option, but they will cost you more than going with a DIY option like moving container companies or moving truck rentals.
- Any add-on services you select: Even if you go with a DIY move, you may want to hire third-party movers to assist you with loading and unloading. And professional movers offer a variety of optional services like packing and unpacking to help customize and streamline your relocation. But these additional services will come at an extra cost.
Quick tips for a stress-free move
- Have important documentation.
Places like high rises and managed apartments will often require a copy of your mover's insurance
and elevator reservation on moving day.
- Get approval.
Check ahead with any neighborhood, community, or HOA rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Secure a parking permit (if needed). Temporary San Francisco moving permits are managed by the San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority (SFMTA), and the application process takes some time, so plan accordingly. To submit an application for a San Francisco moving permit, the SFMTA office requires a minimum of 5 business days notice, and a number of days don’t count: your application day, the first enforcement day, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays all are excluded.
- Check state licensing laws. When contacting a local moving company for an estimate in California, make sure each has a “T Number” issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC).
Moving companies with valid T Numbers have met state requirements for insurance, safety, and financial stability and have passed criminal clearance checks conducted by the California Department of Justice.
- Invest in moving insurance. Opt for Released Value Protection – a cost-free choice provided by movers with minimal coverage. The liability is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. For instance, if a 50-inch TV weighing 25 pounds is lost or damaged, your reimbursement is only $15 (60 cents x 25 pounds). To ensure comprehensive coverage for your items' full value, consult with your chosen moving company or consider third-party insurance options.
Work with your movers to ensure all these items are taken care of before moving day.
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