($1,160+) Houston, TX to San Jose, CA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Houston, TX to San Jose, CA

For the 1,886-mile move from Houston, Texas, to San Jose, California, full-service movers cost between $2,552 and $11,371. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $452 - $3,012 (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 Houston generally start around $175 plus $75 per hour, per mover.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Houston to San Jose:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,552 - $5,558
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,379 - $7,570
• 4+ bedrooms: $6,126 - $11,371

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 Houston to San Jose.

Specialty moving services from Houston, TX to San Jose, CA

Specialty needs vary by market — 66% of Houston movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In San Jose, 81% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from Houston to San Jose?

Movers licensed to operate in California are typically members of the California Moving & Storage Association, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.

Moving container costs from Houston, TX to San Jose, CA

Moving containers from Houston, Texas, to San Jose, California, cost between $1,599 and $5,937. 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 Houston costs roughly $70/month if you need it.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Houston to San Jose:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,599 - $2,965
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,171 - $4,411
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,856 - $5,937

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 $1,054 in Houston, 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 $113 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $226 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 San Jose, CA, destination before booking.

What are the best moving containers Houston to San Jose?

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

Moving truck rental costs from Houston, TX to San Jose, CA

Plan on $1,206 - $3,284 for a rental moving truck on the 1,886-mile route from Houston, Texas, to San Jose, California. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $904 - $1,033
• Daily insurance: $45/day
• Equipment rentals: $11 - $30
• Houston daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.99

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Houston to San Jose based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,206 - $2,144
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,267 - $2,551
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,488 - $3,284

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Houston, Texas, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $1,054.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $904 - $1,033 for the 1,886-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
• Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $90 and $489, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $226 per night for hotel stops on the 1,886-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $452 - $678.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Houston to San Jose?

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 Houston, TX to San Jose, CA

For larger DIY moves from Houston, Texas, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to San Jose, California.

Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For most medium-to-large moves on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,653 and $3,426.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Houston to San Jose:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,468 - $2,724
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,653 - $3,426
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,284 - $4,704

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
• More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $113 - $226 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Houston, Texas, for about five hours typically runs $1,054.

What are the best freight companies from Houston to San Jose?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. W W Rowland Trucking Company, LLC (4.58/5 stars): W W Rowland Trucking Company, LLC 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.

Cost of living: Houston, TX vs San Jose, CA

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

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