($581+) Scottsdale, AZ to Oakland, CA Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from Scottsdale, AZ to Oakland, CA

Moving from Scottsdale, AZ, to Oakland, CA, runs anywhere from $592 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,534 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 751 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.

  • Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $1,810, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,534 or more.
  • Moving containers run $1,096 - $3,743, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $592 - $1,496.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Scottsdale, AZ, to Oakland, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,442 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from Scottsdale, AZ to Oakland, CA

Moving options from Scottsdale to Oakland fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. The most hands-off option, full-service, runs $2,442 - $5,880 for a 2-3 bedroom home and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers cost about 30% less than full-service for the same size, and rental trucks land around 60% less, with both DIY options requiring you to load yourself. Covering 751 miles, this route usually takes 2 to 7 days from pickup to delivery.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 751-mile route from Scottsdale to Oakland, broken down by home size:

Home size Full-service movers Moving container Rental truck Freight trailer
Studio / 1 bedroom $1,810 - $4,351 $1,096 - $2,073 $592 - $1,018 $986 - $1,848
2 - 3 bedrooms $2,442 - $5,880 $1,450 - $2,903 $590 - $1,272 $1,182 - $2,233
4+ bedrooms $4,240 - $8,534 $1,848 - $3,743 $754 - $1,496 $1,600 - $2,966

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.

Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental Truck
Budget Truck Rental
star star star star star 4.3 / 5
Read our full Budget review
Affordable pricing
Online estimates
Several discounts
Freight
MovingYourself
star star star star star 4.5 / 5
Read our full MovingYourself review
Fast delivery
Nationwide
100+ miles moves

Full-service moving costs from Scottsdale, AZ to Oakland, CA

Hiring full-service movers from Scottsdale, Arizona, to Oakland, California, costs between $1,810 and $8,534. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 751-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $439 - $2,924, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Scottsdale and Oakland. For a rough baseline, movers based in Scottsdale tend to start around $155 plus $85/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Scottsdale to Oakland:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,810 - $4,351
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,442 - $5,880
  • 4+ bedrooms: $4,240 - $8,534

Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Scottsdale to Oakland.

The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Arizona to California. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.

Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.

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Specialty moving services from Scottsdale, AZ to Oakland, CA

Specialty needs vary by market — 85% of Scottsdale movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Oakland, 85% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing98% of local movers$731 - $7,310
Storage in transitNew place not ready85% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Camelback Moving$292 - $1,754/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$439 - $3,509
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage38% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs59% of local movers$1,462 - $4,386
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$3,655 - $14,620
Car shippingSecond vehicle$1,095 - $2,080
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items55% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Gilbert Moving & Storage$1,462 - $3,655
PianoAny piano type77% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Mentors Moving & Storage$1,170 - $5,117
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling30% of local movers$439 - $2,193
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect30% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Mentors Moving & Storage$950 - $2,924
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$439 - $21,930+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$439 - $5,117+

What are the best full-service movers from Scottsdale to Oakland?

If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in California Moving & Storage Association is a good first thing to confirm.

  1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
  2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
  3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.

Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in Scottsdale, AZ. Local companies typically run 30% - 40% more at longer distances because they aren't set up to consolidate shipments the way national carriers do. The one case where a local mover might be worth the premium is if you want a dedicated direct-route truck, which averages a 2-day delivery time, but expect to pay more for that convenience.

Moving container costs from Scottsdale, AZ to Oakland, CA

Moving containers from Scottsdale, Arizona, to Oakland, California, cost between $1,096 and $3,743. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in Scottsdale runs about $90/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Scottsdale to Oakland:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,096 - $2,073
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,450 - $2,903
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,848 - $3,743

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $1,023 in Scottsdale, AZ. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
  • Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
  • Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $110 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $219 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
  • Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Oakland, CA, destination before booking.

Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Arizona to California move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.

Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $1,096. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,450 - $2,903, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers Scottsdale to Oakland?

  1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
  2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
  3. MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)

Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in Scottsdale to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in Scottsdale:

  • Camelback Moving (4.8/5), 21 years in business
  • Gilbert Moving & Storage (4.9/5), 9 years in business
  • Mentors Moving & Storage (4.7/5), 9 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from Scottsdale, AZ to Oakland, CA

A rental truck for this 751-mile move from Scottsdale, Arizona, to Oakland, California, costs between $592 and $1,496. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

  • Fuel for the drive: $349 - $399
  • Daily insurance: $44/day
  • Equipment rentals: $10 - $29
  • Scottsdale daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89
Home sizeTypical truck size
Studio / 1 bedroom10 - 12 ft
2 - 3 bedrooms15 - 17 ft
4+ bedrooms20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel)

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Scottsdale to Oakland based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $592 - $1,018
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $590 - $1,272
  • 4+ bedrooms: $754 - $1,496

Pro tip: A rental truck from Scottsdale to Oakland looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $592 - $1,496. But once you factor in fuel ($349 - $399) , overnight lodging ($219/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate suggests. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Gas: Fuel adds $349 - $399 for the 751-mile drive, depending on whether your rental truck runs on gas or diesel.
  • Moving labor: You'll handle the heavy lifting unless you bring in help. Two movers in Scottsdale, Arizona, for about 5 hours typically costs around $1,023.
  • Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
  • Lodging: The 751-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $219 per night, adding $439 - $658 in hotel costs total.
  • Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $73 and $439.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Scottsdale to Oakland?

  1. Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
  2. Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
  3. U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)

The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.

Freight trailer costs from Scottsdale, AZ to Oakland, CA

Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Scottsdale, Arizona, to Oakland, California. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.

Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. Most long-distance moves using this method run roughly between $1,182 and $2,233.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Scottsdale to Oakland:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $986 - $1,848
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,182 - $2,233
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,600 - $2,966

Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.

What other costs come with freight trailers?

  • More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $110 and $219.
  • Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
  • Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in Scottsdale, Arizona, for roughly five hours typically average $1,023.

What are the best freight companies from Scottsdale to Oakland?

  1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
  2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
  3. Empire Transport (4.84/5 stars): Empire Transport is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned facilities and accessible live support staff make scheduling and route coordination easier on local-area routes than what most national freight providers can offer.

Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Scottsdale to Oakland, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.

Cost of living: Scottsdale, AZ vs Oakland, CA

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Oakland, side by side with Scottsdale on housing, income, and taxes.

Measure Scottsdale, AZ Oakland, CA
Cost of living index113196
Average rent$3,300/mo$2,200/mo
Median home value$709,486$925,411
Average income$107,372/yr$97,369/yr
Unemployment rate4.7%4.5%
State income taxUp to 2.5%Up to 13.3%
Walkability score32/10075/100
Safety index74.2/10031.38/100
Air qualityGoodGood

Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.

Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Oakland, CA to Scottsdale, AZ guide.

Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:

In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from Arizona to California, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors. We track 97 movers in Arizona, so you have real options to compare for this 751-mile move.

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Our take

Full-service movers on the 751-mile route from Scottsdale, AZ, to Oakland, CA, run $1,810 - $8,534 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,096 - $3,743, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $592 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,442, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Kaiser Permanente and Dreyer's.

FAQs: Moving from Scottsdale, AZ, to Oakland, CA

What are some tips for saving money on a move from Scottsdale, AZ to Oakland, CA?

Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.

What is the best time of year to move from Scottsdale, AZ to Oakland, CA?

Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.

How long does a move from Scottsdale, AZ to Oakland, CA take?

Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.

What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?

The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($349 - $399), daily insurance ($44/day), and equipment rentals ($10 - $29) on top. Overnight stops can add another $219/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.

What is the cheapest way to move from Scottsdale, AZ to Oakland, CA?

Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $590 - $1,272. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.

What percentage of Scottsdale movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 77% of movers in Scottsdale handle piano moves, and 55% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.