($1,550+) Arlington, VA to Santa Ana, CA Movers
Moving from Arlington, VA, to Santa Ana, CA, runs anywhere from $1,503 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $11,997 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 2,662 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 $2,552, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $11,997 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,945 - $6,942, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,503 - $4,475.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Arlington, VA, to Santa Ana, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,665 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 Arlington, VA to Santa Ana, CA
There are 3 main ways to move from Arlington to Santa Ana: 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 $3,665 - $7,515. 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. At 2,662 miles, expect 7 to 21 days in transit no matter which service you choose.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,662-mile route from Arlington to Santa Ana, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $2,552 for a studio up to $11,997 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,945 - $6,942 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $1,503 - $4,475, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $1,768 - $6,073, 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 September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Arlington, VA to Santa Ana, CA
Hiring full-service movers from Arlington, Virginia, to Santa Ana, California, costs between $2,552 and $11,997. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 2,662-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $493 - $3,288, 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 Arlington and Santa Ana. For a rough baseline, movers based in Arlington tend to start around $200 plus $110/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 Arlington to Santa Ana:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,552 - $6,097
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,665 - $7,515
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,894 - $11,997
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 Arlington to Santa Ana.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Virginia to California. 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.
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Specialty moving services from Arlington, VA to Santa Ana, CA
Specialty needs vary by market — 94% of Arlington movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Santa Ana, 84% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $822 - $8,220 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready94% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: BoxStar Movers | $329 - $1,973/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $493 - $3,946 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage30% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs58% of local movers | $1,644 - $4,932 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $4,110 - $16,440 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,231 - $2,339 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items56% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: BoxStar Movers | $1,644 - $4,110 |
| Piano | Any piano type71% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: BoxStar Movers | $1,315 - $5,754 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling39% of local movers | $493 - $2,466 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect28% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: BoxStar Movers | $1,069 - $3,288 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $493 - $24,660+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $493 - $5,754+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Arlington to Santa Ana?
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 van lines are the smarter financial choice over local movers in Arlington, VA. Local companies can run 30% - 40% more at that range since they don't consolidate shipments the way interstate carriers do. If a direct, dedicated route with an average 2-day delivery appeals to you, a local mover could be worth it, but that convenience comes at a cost.
Moving container costs from Arlington, VA to Santa Ana, CA
Moving containers from Arlington, Virginia, to Santa Ana, California, cost between $1,945 and $6,942. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Arlington costs roughly $100/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Arlington to Santa Ana:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,945 - $3,738
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,547 - $5,203
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,686 - $6,942
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $123 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $247 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
- Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $1,151 in Arlington, VA, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
- Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Santa Ana, CA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Virginia 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 $1,945. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,547 - $5,203, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Arlington to Santa Ana?
- 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 Arlington 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 Arlington:
- BoxStar Movers (5.0/5), 5 years in business
- Zip Moving And Storage, Inc. (4.9/5), 10 years in business
- My Pro Movers (5.0/5), 9 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Arlington, VA to Santa Ana, CA
Truck rentals from Arlington, Virginia, to Santa Ana, California, range from $1,503 - $4,475 for the 2,662-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $1,392 - $1,591
- Daily insurance: $49/day
- Equipment rentals: $12 - $33
- Arlington daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.99 - $1.19
| 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 Arlington to Santa Ana based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,503 - $3,094
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,594 - $3,468
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,227 - $4,475
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $1,503 - $4,475 does not include fuel ($1,392 - $1,591) , lodging ($247/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Arlington to Santa Ana typically runs $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate alone.
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 $123 and $575.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $247.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $1,392 and $1,591 for the 2,662-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 $1,151 for 2 movers in Arlington, Virginia, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Arlington to Santa Ana?
- 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 Arlington, VA to Santa Ana, CA
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Arlington, Virginia, to Santa Ana, 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 $1,480 and $4,163.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Arlington to Santa Ana:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,768 - $3,229
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,018 - $4,163
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,920 - $6,073
Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $123 - $247 to your final bill.
- Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
- Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in Arlington, Virginia, typically costs $1,151.
What are the best freight companies from Arlington to Santa Ana?
- 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.
- Terminal Transportation Services (4.7/5 stars): Terminal Transportation Services 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 move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Arlington to Santa Ana. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: Arlington, VA vs Santa Ana, CA
Day-to-day costs in Santa Ana are close to what you're used to in Arlington: cost of living index of 165 versus 164, with average rent of $2,650/mo compared to $2,718/mo. Housing, income, and taxes are all in a similar range, so budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores are close too, at 71/100 and 79.15/100 in Arlington versus 67/100 and 45.83/100 in Santa Ana.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Santa Ana, CA to Arlington, VA guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Virginia 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. Virginia alone has 104 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 2,662-mile move like this one.
Our take
A move from Arlington, VA, to Santa Ana, CA, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $2,552 - $11,997 on the 2,662-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,945 - $6,942, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $1,503 - $4,475. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $3,665 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Allied Universal and First American Financial.
FAQs: Moving from Arlington, VA, to Santa Ana, CA
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($1,392 - $1,591), daily insurance ($49/day), and equipment rentals ($12 - $33) on top. Overnight stops can add another $247/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How walkable is Santa Ana?
Santa Ana has a walkability score of 67 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 62, compared to 71 and 72 in Arlington. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
How much does it cost to move from Arlington, VA to Santa Ana, CA?
Costs on this route range from around $2,552 to $11,997, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,552 and $11,997, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Arlington, VA to Santa Ana, 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 Arlington?
Local movers based in Arlington typically start around $200 as a base rate, plus $110/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 Santa Ana run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
What percentage of Arlington movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 71% of movers in Arlington handle piano moves, and 56% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
