($665+) San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL Movers
Moving from San Antonio, TX, to Birmingham, AL, runs anywhere from $698 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,405 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 861 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 $2,061, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $9,405 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,205 - $4,087, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $698 - $1,720.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from San Antonio, TX, to Birmingham, AL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,800 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 San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL
There are 3 main ways to move from San Antonio to Birmingham: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service is the most expensive but covers everything from labor to transportation, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route averaging $2,800 - $6,851. Containers cost roughly 30% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 60% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 861-mile route from San Antonio to Birmingham, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $2,061 - $5,127, container $1,205 - $2,274, rental truck $698 - $1,205, freight trailer $1,063 - $2,149.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $2,800 - $6,851, container $1,614 - $3,187, rental truck $740 - $1,462, freight trailer $1,291 - $2,399.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $4,673 - $9,405, container $2,084 - $4,087, rental truck $918 - $1,720, freight trailer $1,753 - $3,138.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated August 18, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL
For the 861-mile move from San Antonio, Texas, to Birmingham, Alabama, full-service movers cost between $2,061 and $9,405. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $268 - $1,788 (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.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from San Antonio to Birmingham:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,061 - $5,127
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,800 - $6,851
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,673 - $9,405
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 San Antonio to Birmingham.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Texas to Alabama. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
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.
Add-ons and specialty services from San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL
Most moves come with a few extras on top of the base price, and some items need a specialist instead of a standard crew. The table below lists what each add-on and specialty service runs from San Antonio to Birmingham. Prices are localized to San Antonio costs.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost (San Antonio to Birmingham) |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | You want the crew to box everything | $447 - $4,470 |
| Storage in transit | Your new place is not ready on arrival | $179 - $1,073/mo |
| Shuttle fee | A full-size truck cannot reach the door | $268 - $2,146 |
| Full-value protection | Coverage beyond the default $0.60/lb | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Shipments under about 2,000 lbs | $894 - $2,682 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,235 - $8,940 |
| Car shipping | Moving a second vehicle | $670 - $1,272 |
| Antiques & fine art | Climate control and white-glove handling | $894 - $2,235 |
| Piano | Upright, baby grand, or grand | $715 - $3,129 |
| Pool table | Disassembly and professional re-leveling | $268 - $1,341 |
| Hot tub | 500 - 900 lb units with electrical disconnect | $581 - $1,788 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled, vibration-safe transport | $268 - $13,410+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or VIP concierge | $268 - $3,129+ |
What are the best full-service movers from San Antonio to Birmingham?
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in San Antonio, TX. 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 San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL
Moving containers from San Antonio, Texas, to Birmingham, Alabama, cost between $1,205 and $4,087. 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.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from San Antonio to Birmingham:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,205 - $2,274
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,614 - $3,187
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,084 - $4,087
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 $626 in San Antonio, TX. 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 $67 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $134 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 Birmingham, AL, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Texas to Alabama 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 $1,205. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,614 - $3,187, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers San Antonio to Birmingham?
- PODS (4.8/5 stars): PODS is best for nationwide coverage. It runs the widest service network of any container company, with secure month-to-month storage and steel-frame containers you load on your own schedule.
- Units Moving & Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars): Units is best for locally owned service. Their steel containers come in multiple sizes that fit tight driveways, and locally owned branches mean you reach a live support team that knows your area.
- 1-800-Pack-Rat: 1-800-Pack-Rat is best for weatherproof storage. Their all-steel containers hold up well in transit and long storage windows, with flexible month-to-month terms when your move-in date slips.
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 San Antonio 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 San Antonio:
- 3 Men Movers (4.8/5), 41 years in business
- Arrow Moving & Storage Company Inc (4.8/5), 56 years in business
- Swift Movers LLC (4.8/5), 15 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL
Plan on spending between $698 and $1,720 for a rental moving truck in San Antonio, Texas. A truck rental is a fully DIY move: you load the truck, drive it the 861 miles yourself, and unload at your destination in Birmingham, Alabama.
The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle. Fuel ($245 - $280), insurance ($27/day), and equipment rentals ($6 - $18) are added on top of the base rate.
Rental moving trucks are available in a variety of sizes, usually from 10 - 26 feet. For an average 2-bedroom move, a 15- to 17-foot truck is usually the right fit. Smaller 10- to 12-foot trucks handle studios and 1-bedroom apartments, and 3+ bedroom homes generally require a 20- to 26-foot truck. Trucks 20 feet and up typically run on diesel, which tends to be more expensive than gas and adds to your total spend.
These are typical moving truck rental costs from San Antonio to Birmingham based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $698 - $1,205
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $740 - $1,462
- 4+ bedrooms: $918 - $1,720
Pro tip: A rental truck from San Antonio to Birmingham looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $698 - $1,720. But once you factor in fuel ($245 - $280) , overnight lodging ($134/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?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $134 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 $58 and $291 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $245 - $280 in fuel for the 861-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $626 in San Antonio, Texas, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from San Antonio to Birmingham?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars): Budget Truck Rental is the best value rental on this list. Budget undercuts most competitors on base rates and layers in discounts for online bookings, AAA membership, and military service.
- Penske Truck Rental (4/5 stars): Penske Truck Rental is the most reliable option here. Their newer fleet, unlimited mileage on one-way moves, and 24/7 roadside assistance make Penske the choice when breakdown risk is the bigger concern than cost.
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars): U-Haul Truck Rental offers the best availability. U-Haul operates more than 23,000 locations and offers 7 truck sizes, giving it the largest pickup network and the broadest accommodation for last-minute or one-way moves.
Freight trailer costs from San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL
If you're moving a larger household from San Antonio, Texas, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Birmingham, Alabama.
Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. Most moves on this route fall between $1,291 and $2,399.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from San Antonio to Birmingham:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,063 - $2,149
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,291 - $2,399
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,753 - $3,138
Pro tip: Freight trailers come with a 4-foot loading ramp, which can be a challenge with bulky furniture. With 8 feet of vertical space available, stacking efficiently often requires a ladder and a plan. Since you're billed per linear foot, packing tight can make a real difference in your final 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 San Antonio, Texas, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $626.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $67 and $134 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from San Antonio to Birmingham?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is our pick for best for large moves. The company is best known as a top moving container option for its hybrid model where you load and they drive, and that same model translates well to freight thanks to their 53-foot trucks and pay-by-the-foot pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Beyond their flagship container service, U-Pack also runs freight trailers with the same no-deposit, no-upfront-fee model, charging only for the linear footage you actually fill.
- Parkway Transport, Inc. (4.66/5 stars): Parkway Transport, Inc. is our pick for best locally owned freight company. Their locally owned and operated facilities mean you work with support staff who know the route and the area, giving you more responsive scheduling than national-only carriers typically offer.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Birmingham fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.
Cost of living: San Antonio, TX vs Birmingham, AL
Good news for your budget: Birmingham isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than San Antonio. Cost of living index runs 87 there against 91 here, and rent, income, and tax rates all fall in a comparable band. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Birmingham, AL to San Antonio, TX guide.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from San Antonio, TX, to Birmingham, AL, 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 $2,061 - $9,405 on the 861-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,205 - $4,087 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $698 - $1,720 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,800 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.
How to plan your move from San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL
- Compare your moving service options: Use the cost breakdown above to weigh full-service movers, containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers for your San Antonio to Birmingham move against your budget and how much work you want to handle.
- Estimate your cost with the moving calculator: Run your specific move through the moving cost calculator so your estimate reflects your home size and date, not just the route averages.
- Review the top-rated movers for this route: Check moveBuddha's recommended full-service, container, truck, and freight companies for the San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL route and compare their ratings and standout features.
- Request free quotes: Gather free quotes from two or three companies for the San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL route; comparing offers is how most moveBuddha users save.
- Verify licensing with the FMCSA: Verify that your chosen mover is properly licensed and insured for interstate moves by checking their record on the FMCSA site.
- Book early and time your move: Reserve your move as far ahead as possible and aim for a midweek, mid-month date outside the summer rush to save on your San Antonio to Birmingham move.
FAQ
What are some tips for a move from San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL?
Decluttering one bedroom's worth of items before your move reduces your shipment by around 500 pounds and saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route.
From there, having a clear plan makes everything easier. Use a moving checklist to stay on top of key tasks and deadlines so nothing slips through the cracks as moving day gets closer.
When is the best time of year to move from San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL?
The fall and winter months, roughly October through March, are generally the most affordable time to move from San Antonio, Texas, to Birmingham, Alabama. Demand is lower, movers have more availability, and you'll often find more competitive pricing across all service types.
If you have to move during peak season (mid-May through mid-September), try to book as early as possible and avoid weekends and month-end dates, when demand is highest and prices reflect it.
How long will it take to move from San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete moves from San Antonio to Birmingham in 5 - 7 days. That timeline is driven by how carriers consolidate multiple shipments on a single truck heading the same direction.
Freight trailers are usually the fastest option (other than driving a rental truck yourself), with deliveries typically in 3 - 5 days. That said, freight is best-suited for moves where you know exactly when and where you'll be receiving your items. Renting a truck and driving from San Antonio, Texas, to Birmingham, Alabama, means the schedule is completely yours to set.
What does it cost to move from San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL?
Costs on this route range from around $2,061 on the low end to $9,405 on the high end. Where you land depends on your home size, the service you choose, and when you move.
Full-service movers typically fall between $2,061 and $9,405, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during off-season months (October - March) can also make a meaningful difference in your final total for a move from San Antonio, Texas, to Birmingham, Alabama.
What is the most affordable way to move from San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL?
A rental truck is typically the cheapest way to move from San Antonio to Birmingham, since the base rate covers only the vehicle and you handle everything else. A 2-bedroom truck rental on this route averages $740 - $1,462. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
Those extra costs are broken out in the truck rental section above. It's worth totaling them before you book, since a moving container can sometimes land close to the same final price once a truck rental's add-ons are factored in, with less of the loading and driving on you.
