10 Best Moving Companies in California (2025 Reviews)
Quick answer: We recommend Rockstar Pro Movers for local moves in California based on their professionalism and transparent pricing. If you’re leaving California, Safeway Moving is our pick for best interstate moving company, thanks to their balance of affordability and quality service.
- Best CA-based mover: Rockstar Pro Movers
- Best interstate mover: Safeway Moving
- Best moving container: PODS
- Best labor-only mover: HireAHelper
- Best rental truck: U-Haul Truck Rental
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4.25 / 5
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Our track record
Each year, 400,000+ people trust our moving recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:
- Founded in 2015
- 2,500+ moving companies analyzed
- $50,000 in moving & auto transport grants delivered
- Up-to-date pricing info & industry data
- Fact-checked for accuracy
Best movers for those moving locally in California
If you are moving within Adelanto, Agoura Hills, or another California city — or relocating to a nearby town 50 miles away or less — check out these top local companies:
- Rockstar Pro Movers: 4.86 out of 5 stars
- Eagle Moving & Storage, Inc.: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- Perfectly Fast Moving: 4.62 out of 5 stars
- US Pro Logistics: 4.42 out of 5 stars
- All Star Movers & Storage: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- Efficient service (29%)
- Professional and polite staff (27%)
- Careful handling (25%)
- Damage to items (32%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (29%)
- Lack of communication (26%)
Company Info
State license #: 0190673
Years in Business: 14
DOT #: 3670248
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
- Efficient service (29%)
- Professional and polite staff (26%)
- Careful handling (24%)
- Damage to items (17%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (14%)
- Unexpected charges (11%)
Company Info
State license #: 0191302
Years in Business: 8
DOT #: 2971368
All Star Movers & Storage, serving Dublin, CA and surrounding areas since 2016, is a reputable choice for local residential moves. Praised for their exceptional service with an average Yelp rating of 4.8 from 152 reviews and a BBB rating of A+, they stand out among local competitors. They offer a comprehensive array of services including packing, unpacking, crating, and can even handle delicate items such as pianos and art. Unlike many movers, All Star Movers & Storage accepts credit cards and requires no deposit, making the process easier for their clients.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Pay by credit card
Best movers for those moving out of California
If you’re leaving the Golden State altogether for a different state, we recommend these top-rated interstate moving companies:
- 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
Best moving containers in California
If you want to save some money, need storage, or just prefer to move at your own pace, moving containers can be an ideal alternative to full-service movers. You’ll have to load your moving container yourself — but you’ll have multiple days to do so. When you’re ready, the container company will pick up your container and transport it to your new home.
Here are our favorite moving containers in California:
- 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
Best rental trucks for your California move
Rental trucks are the most cost-effective method of moving… and the most labor-intensive. You’ll need to do the packing, loading, driving, unloading, and unpacking, but doing it all yourself means you’ll be paying significantly less, particularly on local moves.
While moving trucks are certainly a thrifty option for long-distance moves, keep in mind that related expenses like mileage fees and gas can add up quickly the further you have to go. Be sure to factor in these often overlooked charges to see if this really is your cheapest option.
These are our picks for best rental moving trucks in California:
- 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
Labor-only movers in California
Want a hand with the heavy lifting without having to hire a full-service mover? Labor-only companies can send crews to help you with loading, packing, and even disassembly and reassembly of furniture and electronics. However, you’ll still need to rent a moving truck and handle the driving.
Take a look at these highly rated labor-only movers for your California move:
- 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
Top-rated movers in nearby cities
How we chose the best moving companies in California
moveBuddha’s expert team analyzed moving rates from 280 California movers and listed the top movers based on customer satisfaction, reviews, and cost.
Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.
Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry. We look for companies that own their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.
Industry reputation (15%): The company is well-regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.
Online reputation (15%): The company maintains a professional website with accurate information. The company promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.
Service options (10%): We look for companies with a deep breadth of services including full packing, storage, specialty item handling, and expedited delivery.
Here is our full moving company rating methodology.
Average cost of moving companies in California
The pricing table below shows ballpark moving costs for local moves within California. For more pricing information, check out our post on the cost to move in California.
Keep in mind the price ranges listed are only averages. Actual moving costs can vary greatly depending on the specific requirements of your move and whether the moving company offers flat-rate pricing.
You can also check out our free moving cost calculator for more accurate moving cost estimates.
Home size | Avg. total cost | Cost/hour | # of movers | # hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $410 | $171 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
1 bedroom | $581 | $171 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
2 bedroom | $958 | $240 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
3 bedroom | $2,255 | $336 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
4 bedroom | $2,591 | $336 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
5+ bedroom | $4,001 | $470 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
- California moving companies will cost about $410 to move a studio locally.
- If you're moving one bedroom, a moving company in California will charge about $581.
- A two-bedroom move in California will cost about $958.
- A three-bedroom move costs $2,255 on average in California.
- To move a four-bedroom house in California, you should expect to pay $2,591.
- For a house that's five bedrooms or larger, your move will cost $4,001 in California.
Factors that affect moving costs in California
Getting an online moving quote can lead to confusion, but these factors will affect the cost of your California move.
- Distance: The time and fuel can affect local moves, but if you’re moving out of California you may see additional fees
- Size: Larger homes with more belongings require more labor and larger trucks, resulting in higher costs
- Time of year: Peak moving seasons in California, like summer or around holidays, often come with higher rates due to increased demand
- Additional services: Services like packing, unpacking, or assembly/disassembly of furniture will add to the total cost
If you’re moving from California to a different state, make sure your mover is equipped and licensed to handle your move.
If you’re not sure, check out our list of the
best long distance moving companies.
Things to keep in mind when moving
Whether you are moving one town over in California or are making a big cross-country relocation, here are some common considerations:
- Weather: California has a great Mediterranean climate throughout most of the state. In the Southeast, you may experience colder winters and hotter summers. The northern part of California experiences more rain than the rest of the state. Before your move be sure to check for rain or very hot days.
- HOA rules: If you are moving to or from a neighborhood that has an HOA, it’s a good idea to brush up on the handbook. Many HOAs have established restrictions on which days and/or times moving is allowed, as well as guidelines on permissible truck sizes, parking, and notifying residents about when your move will occur. Checking the rules before moving day will ensure you won’t get hit with fines — or end up with angry neighbors!
- Elevator reservation: If you're moving to or from a multi-level building with an elevator, property management may require you to you a service elevator or reserve an elevator ahead of time. You may also have some restrictions on when you can move, so be sure to check on the guidelines ahead of time.
- Parking permits: California does not require special permits for moving rental trucks and vans or moving containers, but your destination state and/or city might. You can visit the municipal website for your new location for a list of parking rules and restrictions, or a contact number to call for additional help.
- Licensing and compliance: All the movers on our list are verified as licensed and insured, but you can check licensing, USDOT status, and safety violations for a mover in Arizona or any other U.S. state, by searching by their name in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration database.
- Change of address: You should submit your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. This will notify the postal service of your official moving date and help ensure all of your mail is forwarded to your new California or out-of-state residence. .
- Moving insurance: Federal law mandates that movers provide basic coverage — known as released value protection — at no charge to customers. While it is free, this insurance offers very minimal coverage, however — just $0.60 per pound per item. So, if a 25-pound TV valued at $2,000 is lost or damaged, your compensation would only be $15 ($0.60 x 25 pounds). For high-value items, you may want to consider purchasing more comprehensive protection directly through your moving company or with a third-party insurance provider.
FAQs
What should I look for when choosing a moving company in California?
When choosing a moving company in California, you should look for a solid reputation, fair and transparent pricing, a variety of services, and multiple insurance options. We consider those key factors, among others, in our analysis and rating of moving companies, so you can find the best moving companies in California by reading our top picks.
We recommend obtaining quotes from at least three moving companies — including a top flat-rate mover — in California to compare prices and services.
Do California moving companies offer services for long-distance or interstate moves?
Yes, many moving companies in California offer long-distance or interstate moving services. These companies should have a USDOT number from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for interstate moves.
For more information, check out our guide on the best long-distance movers in California.
How can I see all moving companies in California?
You can see all moving companies in California in our comprehensive list of California movers.
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