($1,373+) Tampa, FL to Long Beach, CA Movers
Moving from Tampa, FL, to Long Beach, CA, runs anywhere from $1,373 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,866 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 2,533 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 7 to 21 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 $2,167, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $9,866 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,781 - $6,465, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,373 - $3,763.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Tampa, FL, to Long Beach, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,227 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Tampa, FL to Long Beach, CA
Moving options from Tampa to Long Beach fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. The most hands-off option, full-service, runs $3,227 - $6,776 for a 2-3 bedroom home and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers cost about 31% less than full-service for the same size, and rental trucks land around 53% less, with both DIY options requiring you to load yourself. Covering 2,533 miles, this route usually takes 7 to 21 days from pickup to delivery.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,533-mile route from Tampa to Long Beach, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $2,167 - $4,864 | $1,781 - $3,383 | $1,373 - $2,630 | $1,604 - $3,170 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,227 - $6,776 | $2,239 - $4,997 | $1,532 - $3,260 | $1,903 - $3,726 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $5,884 - $9,866 | $3,115 - $6,465 | $1,821 - $3,763 | $2,518 - $5,384 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Tampa, FL to Long Beach, CA
Hiring full-service movers from Tampa, Florida, to Long Beach, California, costs between $2,167 and $9,866. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 2,533-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $382 - $2,544, 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 Tampa and Long Beach. For a rough baseline, movers based in Tampa tend to start around $266 plus $84/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 Tampa to Long Beach:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,167 - $4,864
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,227 - $6,776
- 4+ bedrooms: $5,884 - $9,866
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 Tampa to Long Beach.
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 Tampa, FL to Long Beach, CA
Specialty needs vary by market: 55% of Tampa movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Long Beach, 55% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing75% of local movers | $636 - $6,360 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready55% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: 2 College Brothers Moving and Storage | $254 - $1,526/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $382 - $3,053 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage10% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs52% of local movers | $1,272 - $3,816 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,180 - $12,720 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $953 - $1,810 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items30% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: 3 Guys Moving | $1,272 - $3,180 |
| Piano | Any piano type41% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Golden Movers LLC | $1,018 - $4,452 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling9% of local movers | $382 - $1,908 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect10% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $827 - $2,544 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $382 - $19,080+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $382 - $4,452+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Tampa to Long Beach?
All three below meet the standards set by the California Moving & Storage Association, the group most California movers are affiliated with.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in Tampa, FL. 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 Tampa, FL to Long Beach, CA
Moving containers from Tampa, Florida, to Long Beach, California, cost between $1,781 and $6,465. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Long Beach. If you go over that window, storage in Tampa adds around $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Tampa to Long Beach:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,781 - $3,383
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,239 - $4,997
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,115 - $6,465
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Access: Most major container brands operate in both Tampa, FL and Long Beach, CA. Still, double-check that a nearby facility is available if you need to access your belongings before delivery.
- Moving labor: Because containers are self-loaded, many customers hire hourly help. Two movers for about 5 hours typically cost around $890 in Tampa, FL, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $95 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $191 for larger ones (12 - 16 feet).
- Added contents protection: For more coverage beyond the standard minimum, full-value protection is the typical upgrade, generally 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value. On a $50,000 household, that's roughly $500 - $1,000 as a one-time fee.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Florida 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 $1,781. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $2,239 - $4,997.
What are the best moving containers Tampa to Long Beach?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- 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 Tampa 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 Tampa:
- Strong College Students Moving (4.7/5), 21 years in business
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.8/5), 13 years in business
- Flex Moving & Storage (4.9/5), 4 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Tampa, FL to Long Beach, CA
A rental truck for this 2,533-mile move from Tampa, Florida, to Long Beach, California, costs between $1,373 and $3,763. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $1,025 - $1,172
- Daily insurance: $38/day
- Equipment rentals: $9 - $25
- Tampa daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.60 - $0.99
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Tampa to Long Beach based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,373 - $2,630
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,532 - $3,260
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,821 - $3,763
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $1,373 - $3,763 does not include fuel ($1,025 - $1,172), lodging ($191/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Tampa to Long Beach typically runs more than the base rate alone, with meals, equipment, and other extras adding roughly $600 - $1,200 on top of fuel and lodging.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $95 and $445.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $191.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $1,025 and $1,172 for the 2,533-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $890 for 2 movers in Tampa, Florida, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Tampa to Long Beach?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- 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 Tampa, FL to Long Beach, CA
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Tampa, Florida, to Long Beach, California. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.
Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $1,145 and $3,726.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Tampa to Long Beach:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,604 - $3,170
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,903 - $3,726
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,518 - $5,384
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Tampa, Florida, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $890.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $95 - $191 per additional foot to your total.
- Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.
What are the best freight companies from Tampa to Long Beach?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are one of the fastest ways to move your belongings interstate, often beating full-service movers on delivery time. If getting your stuff to Long Beach quickly is a priority, freight is worth a hard look. That said, freight carriers typically require you to be available to receive your shipment within a set window, so if you need short-term storage or your new place won't be ready right away, a container or full-service mover may give you more flexibility.
Cost of living: Tampa, FL vs Long Beach, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Long Beach, side by side with Tampa on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Tampa, FL | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 104 | 162 |
| Average rent | $1,930/mo | $2,075/mo |
| Median home value | $372,114 | $762,188 |
| Average income | $71,302/yr | $83,969/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| State income tax | None | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 51/100 | 73/100 |
| Safety index | 53.85/100 | 41.42/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
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 Long Beach, CA to Tampa, FL guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Florida to California, so we know current pricing better than most. Checking our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates. Florida alone has 885 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 2,533-mile move like this one.
Our take
The 2,533-mile move from Tampa, FL, to Long Beach, CA, costs between $2,167 and $9,866 with full-service movers, $1,781 - $6,465 with a moving container, and $1,373 - $3,763 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $3,227 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include UTi Worldwide and Molina Healthcare.
FAQs: Moving from Tampa, FL, to Long Beach, CA
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Tampa, FL to Long Beach, 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 do local movers charge in Tampa?
Local movers based in Tampa typically start around $266 as a base rate, plus $84/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Long Beach run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How long does a move from Tampa, FL to Long Beach, CA take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 7 to 21 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are often one of the faster options outside of driving yourself, 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 are the best neighborhoods in Long Beach?
For families, Bixby Village, Los Altos, and Wrigley Heights are worth a look in Long Beach. If you're moving solo or without kids, Belmont Shore, Recreation Park, and Carroll Park tend to be popular picks instead.
What is the cheapest way to move from Tampa, FL to Long Beach, 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 $1,532 - $3,260. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What percentage of Tampa movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 41% of movers in Tampa handle piano moves, and 30% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.