The BEST Moving Companies in Oakland, CA
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: Our top pick for local moves in Oakland, CA, is Got2Move Moving and Storage, thanks to their reputation for quality customer service and specialized handling of pianos and antiques. If you’re moving out of California to another state, we recommend Safeway Moving in terms of overall value.
- Best Oakland-based mover: Got2Move Moving and Storage
- 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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rating
Our track record
Best movers for those moving locally in Oakland, CA
- Got2Move Moving and Storage: 4.72 out of 5 stars
- NorthStar Moving Company : 4.72 out of 5 stars
- West Coast Moving Systems, Inc: 4.66 out of 5 stars
- Sweet Lemon Moving Services: 4.62 out of 5 stars
- Efficient service (38%)
- Professional and polite staff (31%)
- Good communication (29%)
- Damage to items (24%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (19%)
- Lack of communication (17%)
Company Info
State license #: 0191707
Years in Business: 18
DOT #: 3070307
Alternate Names: Got2Move
Got2Move Moving and Storage, based in San Leandro, CA, has been a trusted local residential moving service since 2007. With an impressive consumer review profile boasting a 4.6 average rating on Yelp and a 4.7 average on Google, the company stands out for its customer satisfaction, reinforced by an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Offering a comprehensive range of services, including packing, unpacking, and specialty item moves such as pianos and antiques, Got2Move outshines many nearby competitors. Additionally, they provide full valuation insurance coverage and accept credit cards, although a deposit is required.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by money order
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- Excellent Service
- Professional Staff
- Reasonable Prices
- No Major Issues Reported
Company Info
State license #: 0182466
Years in Business: 30
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
- Professional and polite staff (40%)
- Efficient service (38%)
- Careful handling (35%)
- Damage to items (15%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (10%)
- Lack of communication (9%)
Company Info
State license #: 0192456
Years in Business: 18
DOT #: 3071646
Alternate Names: West Coast Movers, West Coast Moving Systems
West Coast Moving Systems, Inc, a reputable local moving company serving Oakland, CA, has been easing moves since 2007. Unlike many competitors, they offer an extensive range of services, including office moving, packing, unpacking, and specialized care for fragile items and art. Their strong consumer feedback, with 476 Yelp reviews averaging 4.8 stars and 51 Google reviews at 4.7 stars, highlights their commitment to quality service. Additionally, an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau underscores their reliability and customer satisfaction.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- Efficient service (30%)
- Professional and polite staff (27%)
- Careful handling (25%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (18%)
- Unexpected charges (15%)
- Damage to items (12%)
Company Info
State license #: 0191518
Years in Business: 8
DOT #: 3277021
Alternate Names: Bay Investment Group, Inc., Bay Moving Services
Sweet Lemon Moving Services, based in Alameda, CA, has been providing outstanding local residential moving services since 2017. Known for their reliability and professionalism, they stand out from other nearby moving companies with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating and near-perfect scores on Yelp and Google. Their range of services includes packing, unpacking, and specialized moves for pianos and antiques, making them a versatile choice for any local move. With no deposit required and flexible payment options, Sweet Lemon Moving Services consistently earns high praise from satisfied customers.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
Best movers for those moving out of California
As you may guess, interstate — or out-of-state — moves are those that cross state lines. Movers must meet certain federal licensing requirements and standards to handle interstate moves. Consider one of these highly rated, fully licensed interstate moving companies if you’re leaving California for a new state:
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- PODS: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- International Van Lines: 4.45 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
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- 10% discount for veterans and seniors
- Very competitive rates due to their national coverage
- Services local, long-distance, and international moves
- Can service most domestic moves within 48 hours
- 24/7 customer service
Best moving containers in Oakland, CA
Moving containers offer a hybrid DIY solution that falls somewhere between a full-service moving company and a rental truck. With moving containers, you won’t have the help of a moving crew (you’ll have to do the loading and unloading) but you will get the benefit of a professional driver — a perk that doesn’t come with renting a truck.
Container costs in Oakland vary depending on how many containers you need and how far you’re moving. Be sure to get moving quotes from multiple companies so you can best compare prices and services.
We recommend starting with these two top-tier moving container companies:
- 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 Oakland, CA move
If you’re looking for the cheapest way to move out of state or locally in Oakland, a moving truck rental is your best option. On average, a truck rental in California costs a base rate of $19–$39 a day and a fee of $0.79–$1.39 per mile.
While you’ll certainly save money by renting a truck rather than hiring full-service movers or using a moving container, you will ultimately be responsible for every aspect of your move — including the driving.
We recommend these top truck rental companies for a full DIY move:
- 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 Oakland, CA
Labor-only companies can be helpful if you are using a moving container or rental truck but still want some assistance with the heavy lifting. A labor-only mover will provide you with a moving crew to load and unload your items, and you can also pay for additional packing support, as well as disassembly and reassembly of furniture, fitness equipment, and electronics.
Check out our picks for labor-only companies in Oakland:
- 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 movers in Oakland
How do I find a reputable Oakland mover?
If you’re looking for the best movers in Oakland, here’s what you should look for:
- A good reputation: Whether they’re a new family-owned business in Oakland or a large van lines company with years of experience operating all over California, a good reputation is absolutely essential. Watch out for red flags and common moving scams.
- Look into dispute resolution: All businesses may have some hiccups, but it's how they handle these incidents that shows the company’s true colors. If a mover in Oakland has a history of unresolved customer complaints, it might be best to look elsewhere.
- Ensure experience aligns with your move: A mover with excellent reviews for local moves in Oakland may not be the best interstate moving company. Verify that the company has adequate experience with the type of move you're planning.
- Get multiple estimates: Reputable Oakland movers should provide a free estimate for your move. Getting moving quotes from multiple companies will give you a good idea of a fair price for the services you need.
Fortunately, the Oakland movers on this list all pass this checklist with flying colors and have been hand selected by our experts at moveBuddha.
If you want to broaden your search to the whole state, check out the best moving companies in California.
Average cost of movers in Oakland, California
The pricing table below shows ballpark costs for local moves within the Oakland area and its surrounding suburbs. Or check out our post on the cost to move in California for more pricing info.
Keep in mind the price ranges listed are only averages. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the specific requirements of your move.
You can also check out our moving cost calculator for more accurate moving cost estimate.
Local moving costs in Oakland
If you’re moving within 50 miles of Oakland, it’s considered a local move. The cost of a rental truck combines a base fee and the mileage fees. In Oakland, the base fee ranges from $19 to $39 while the mileage ranges from $0.79 per mile to $1.39 per mile.
And if you’re looking for some labor help, the average cost for movers in Oakland is $147 per hour.
| Home Size | Avg. Total Cost | Cost/hour | # of Movers | # Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $476 | $206 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
| 1 Bedroom | $682 | $206 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,134 | $288 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,688 | $403 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
| 4 Bedroom | $3,091 | $403 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
| 5+ Bedroom | $4,790 | $565 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
Interstate moving costs out of Oakland
The cost to move from Oakland to a different state is determined by how much you’re moving and how far away the new state is from California. Here are a few examples:
- Oakland to New York Movers: $1,722 to $8,329
- Oakland to Illinois Movers: $1,282 to $7,505
- Oakland to Texas Movers: $1,033 to $7,010
- Oakland to Arizona Movers: $662 to $5,874
Don’t see your new home state? Check out these popular moving routes.
Factors that affect the cost of your move
- Distance: Your moving costs in Oakland will be determined in large part by where you are relocating. A local move within 50 miles of Oakland will be less expensive than moving 450 miles across California state lines.
- Move size: The more stuff you have, the more your move will cost, since moving companies determine price based on how large your truck and moving truck need to be. For long-distance and interstate relocations out of Oakland, a moving company will base your price on the total estimated weight and volume of your belongings. Decluttering and downsizing to reduce those total measurements can help you keep costs down.
- Moving method: A full-service mover will likely be the most expensive option, and renting a truck will save you the most money. Just make sure you are factoring in services with pricing, so you don’t end up skimping on the help you need for your specific move just to cut costs.
- Additional services: No matter what kind of move you opt for, extra options like packing, labor, and comprehensive insurance will all come with added fees.
- The time of the year: Relocating during peak moving season (May–September) will cost you more because demand is higher and availability is lower. If possible, plan your move between October and April for a lower rate.
FAQs
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