($1,550+) Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA Movers
The cost to move from Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA ranges from $1,338 to $12,242, with an average cost of $4,600. Moves can be as low as $1,550 if you're wanting to DIY it.
This move covers about 2,663 miles and usually takes 7 to 21 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
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Compare moving options from Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA
Moving options from Los Angeles to Arlington fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,338 - $12,242 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $4,600, and movers handle all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This particular route covers 2,663 miles and typically takes 7 to 21 days depending on the service you pick.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,663-mile route from Los Angeles to Arlington, broken down by home size:
- A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $1,338 - $6,293 with full-service movers, $1,965 - $3,587 with a container, $1,472 - $2,913 with a rental truck, or $1,856 - $3,501 by freight.
- A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $3,854 - $7,822 full-service, $2,521 - $5,256 by container, $1,661 - $3,575 by rental truck, or $2,058 - $4,248 by freight.
- A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $7,703 - $12,242 full-service, $3,335 - $7,593 by container, $2,015 - $4,299 by rental truck, or $2,696 - $5,900 by freight.
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 Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA
A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 2,663-mile move from Los Angeles, California, to Arlington, Virginia, with prices running from $1,338 - $12,242. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $488 - $3,256 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Los Angeles and Arlington are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Los Angeles movers tend to run around $200 as a base rate plus $100/hour per mover, for comparison.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Los Angeles to Arlington:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,338 - $6,293
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,854 - $7,822
- 4+ bedrooms: $7,703 - $12,242
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 Los Angeles to Arlington.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from California to Virginia. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
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 Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA
Specialty needs vary by market — 88% of Los Angeles movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Arlington, 94% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $814 - $8,140 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready88% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Sterling Van Lines | $326 - $1,954/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $488 - $3,907 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage41% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs55% of local movers | $1,628 - $4,884 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $4,070 - $16,280 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,219 - $2,317 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items68% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Sterling Van Lines | $1,628 - $4,070 |
| Piano | Any piano type79% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Sterling Van Lines | $1,302 - $5,698 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling43% of local movers | $488 - $2,442 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect30% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Sterling Van Lines | $1,058 - $3,256 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $488 - $24,420+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $488 - $5,698+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Los Angeles to Arlington?
Look for Virginia Movers & Warehousemen’s Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Virginia beyond this list.
- 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 carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Los Angeles, CA. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA
Moving containers from Los Angeles, California, to Arlington, Virginia, cost between $1,965 and $7,593. 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 Arlington. If you go over that window, storage in Los Angeles adds around $110/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Los Angeles to Arlington:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,965 - $3,587
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,521 - $5,256
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,335 - $7,593
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $122 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $244 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Arlington, VA, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
- Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $1,140 in Los Angeles, CA. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a California to Virginia 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 $1,965. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,521 - $5,256, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Los Angeles to Arlington?
- 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 Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles:
- Sterling Van Lines (4.6/5), 35 years in business
- Rigo's Moving Company Inc (4.3/5), 12 years in business
- Box-N-Go, LLC (4.8/5), 19 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA
A rental truck for this 2,663-mile move from Los Angeles, California, to Arlington, Virginia, costs between $1,472 and $4,299. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $1,379 - $1,576
- Daily insurance: $49/day
- Equipment rentals: $11 - $33
- Los Angeles daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09
| 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 Los Angeles to Arlington based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,472 - $2,913
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,661 - $3,575
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,015 - $4,299
Pro tip: A rental truck from Los Angeles to Arlington looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $1,472 - $4,299. But once you factor in fuel ($1,379 - $1,576) , overnight lodging ($244/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?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Los Angeles, California, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $1,140.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $1,379 - $1,576 for the 2,663-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 $98 and $529, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $244 per night for hotel stops on the 2,663-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $488 - $733.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Los Angeles to Arlington?
- 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 Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA
For larger DIY moves from Los Angeles, California, 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 Arlington, Virginia.
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 $2,058 and $4,248.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Los Angeles to Arlington:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,856 - $3,501
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,058 - $4,248
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,696 - $5,900
Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.
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 $122 - $244 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Los Angeles, California, for about five hours typically runs $1,140.
What are the best freight companies from Los Angeles to Arlington?
- 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.
- Sea-Logix, LLC (4.76/5 stars): Sea-Logix, LLC is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Local ownership translates to accessible support staff and facilities based in the communities they serve, giving customers more direct communication than they'd typically get from a national-only freight network.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Los Angeles to Arlington, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.
Cost of living: Los Angeles, CA vs Arlington, VA
Good news for your budget: Arlington isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Los Angeles. Cost of living index runs 164 there against 162 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. Walkability and safety scores land in a similar range too - 69/100 and 46.19/100 here versus 71/100 and 79.15/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Arlington, VA to Los Angeles, CA guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from California to Virginia 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 374 movers based in California, handy for sizing up options on this 2,663-mile route.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Los Angeles, CA, to Arlington, VA, 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 $1,338 - $12,242 on the 2,663-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,965 - $7,593 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $1,472 - $4,299 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $3,854 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 U.S. Department of Defense and Safran.
FAQs: Moving from Los Angeles, CA, to Arlington, VA
What is the best time of year to move from Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. Virginia also has a hurricane season running June through November, worth factoring into your timing if you have flexibility. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA?
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.
Is Arlington a safe place to live?
Arlington has a safety index of 79.15 out of 100 and a crime index of 15.67, compared to 46.19 and 53.81 in Los Angeles. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
How walkable is Arlington?
Arlington has a walkability score of 71 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 72, compared to 69 and 59 in Los Angeles. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What are the best neighborhoods in Arlington?
For families, Arlington Ridge, Barcroft, and Chain Bridge Forest are worth a look in Arlington. If you're moving solo or without kids, Aurora Highlands, Ballston-Virginia Square, and Bluemont tend to be popular picks instead.
What percentage of Los Angeles movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 79% of movers in Los Angeles handle piano moves, and 68% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
