($628+) Denver, CO to Los Angeles, CA Movers
Moving from Denver, CO, to Los Angeles, CA, runs anywhere from $628 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,396 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,016 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 8 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 $2,168, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $8,396 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,196 - $3,874, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $628 - $1,777.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Denver, CO, to Los Angeles, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,568 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 Denver, CO to Los Angeles, CA
There are 3 main ways to move from Denver to Los Angeles: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service handles labor and transportation for you, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route costing $2,568 - $6,041. Moving containers run about 43% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 73% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 2 to 8 days for this 1,016-mile route, depending on which option you go with.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,016-mile route from Denver to Los Angeles, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $2,168 for a studio up to $8,396 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,196 - $3,874 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $628 - $1,777, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $1,025 - $3,068, billed by the space you actually use.
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 Denver, CO to Los Angeles, CA
For the 1,016-mile move from Denver, Colorado, to Los Angeles, California, full-service movers cost between $2,168 and $8,396. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $425 - $2,832 (1 - 5+ bedrooms), crews will pack your boxes. The weight of your shipment and the mileage between the two cities are what drive your final cost. For scale, local movers in Denver generally start around $262 plus $115 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Denver to Los Angeles:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,168 - $5,028
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,568 - $6,041
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,291 - $8,396
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 Denver to Los Angeles.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from Denver, CO to Los Angeles, CA
Specialty needs vary by market: 48% of Denver movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Los Angeles, 56% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing70% of local movers | $708 - $7,080 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready48% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Moving Brothers LLC | $283 - $1,699/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $425 - $3,398 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage15% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs53% of local movers | $1,416 - $4,248 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,540 - $14,160 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,061 - $2,015 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items19% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Moving Brothers LLC | $1,416 - $3,540 |
| Piano | Any piano type39% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Moving Brothers LLC | $1,133 - $4,956 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling10% of local movers | $425 - $2,124 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect8% of local movers9% nationally | $920 - $2,832 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $425 - $21,240+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $425 - $4,956+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Denver to Los Angeles?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in California Moving & Storage Association is a good first thing to confirm.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Denver, CO. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.
Moving container costs from Denver, CO to Los Angeles, CA
Moving containers from Denver, Colorado, to Los Angeles, California, cost between $1,196 and $3,874. With a moving container, you load on your own schedule. U-Haul gives you 3 days to fill yours, while PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're ready, the company transports it straight to your new place. Need more time first? Storage in Denver typically costs about $80/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Denver to Los Angeles:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,196 - $2,203
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,465 - $2,856
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,916 - $3,874
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Access: Most major container brands operate in both Denver, CO and Los Angeles, 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 $991 in Denver, CO, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $106 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $212 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 Colorado 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 $1,196. 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 $1,465 - $2,856.
What are the best moving containers Denver to Los Angeles?
- 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 Denver 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 Denver:
- Skyline Moving Company (4.9/5), 10 years in business
- Moving Brothers LLC (4.9/5), 13 years in business
- Moving Proz (4.8/5), 13 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Denver, CO to Los Angeles, CA
A rental truck for this 1,016-mile move from Denver, Colorado, to Los Angeles, California, costs between $628 and $1,777. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $458 - $523
- Daily insurance: $42/day
- Equipment rentals: $10 - $28
- Denver daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79
| 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 Denver to Los Angeles based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $628 - $1,217
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $706 - $1,416
- 4+ bedrooms: $923 - $1,777
Pro tip: The base rate of $628 - $1,777 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from Denver to Los Angeles. Fuel ($458 - $523), lodging at around $212/night, meals, and equipment rentals are all on top of that. Factor in roughly $600 - $1,200 more for meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging to get a realistic picture of what the move will actually cost.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $212 per night. Most long-distance moves with rental trucks require 1 - 3 overnight stops.
- Equipment: Tow dollies, auto trailers, and specialty moving equipment can add between $92 and $460 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $458 - $523 in fuel for the 1,016-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $991 in Denver, Colorado, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Denver to Los Angeles?
- 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 Denver, CO to Los Angeles, 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 Denver, Colorado, to Los Angeles, 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. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,124 and $2,473.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Denver to Los Angeles:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,025 - $1,944
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,124 - $2,473
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,613 - $3,068
Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
- Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in Denver, Colorado, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $991.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $106 and $212 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Denver to Los Angeles?
- 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 Los Angeles 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: Denver, CO vs Los Angeles, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Los Angeles, side by side with Denver on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Denver, CO | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 128 | 162 |
| Average rent | $1,900/mo | $2,960/mo |
| Median home value | $586,595 | $878,142 |
| Average income | $91,681/yr | $80,366/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 7.1% | 10.6% |
| State income tax | Up to 5.49% | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 95/100 | 69/100 |
| Safety index | 52.16/100 | 46.19/100 |
| Air quality | Moderate | Moderate |
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 Los Angeles, CA to Denver, CO guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Colorado to California in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 278 movers based in Colorado, handy for sizing up options on this 1,016-mile route.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Denver, CO, to Los Angeles, CA, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $2,168 - $8,396 on the 1,016-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,196 - $3,874 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $628 - $1,777 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,568 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include County of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Unified School District.
FAQs: Moving from Denver, CO, to Los Angeles, CA
What size moving truck do I need for this route?
Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
What do local movers charge in Denver?
Local movers based in Denver typically start around $262 as a base rate, plus $115/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 Los Angeles run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How do I know a mover is licensed in California?
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.
What are the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles?
For families, Brentwood, Eagle Rock, and Mar Vista are worth a look in Los Angeles. If you're moving solo or without kids, Echo Park, Los Feliz, and Playa Del Rey tend to be popular picks instead.
How walkable is Los Angeles?
Los Angeles has a walkability score of 69 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 59, compared to 95 and 96 in Denver. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What percentage of Denver movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 39% of movers in Denver handle piano moves, and 19% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.