($1,488+) Ontario, CA to Philadelphia, PA Movers
The cost to move from Ontario, CA to Philadelphia, PA ranges from $1,311 to $12,115, with an average cost of $4,750. Moves can be as low as $1,488 if you're wanting to DIY it.
This move covers about 2,674 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 Ontario, CA to Philadelphia, PA
Moving options from Ontario to Philadelphia fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,311 - $12,115 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $4,750, 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 2,674 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 2,674-mile route from Ontario to Philadelphia, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $1,311 - $5,922 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($2,024 - $3,852), rental truck ($1,503 - $2,853), or freight trailer ($1,803 - $3,297). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $3,935 - $7,903 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $12,115.
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 Ontario, CA to Philadelphia, PA
Hiring full-service movers from Ontario, California, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, costs between $1,311 and $12,115. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 2,674-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $339 - $2,260, 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 Ontario and Philadelphia. For a rough baseline, movers based in Ontario tend to start around $248 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 Ontario to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,311 - $5,922
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,935 - $7,903
- 4+ bedrooms: $7,400 - $12,115
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 Ontario to Philadelphia.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from California to Pennsylvania. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Demand for full-service movers surges during peak moving season from May - September, pushing prices higher. Shifting your move to a cooler month could save you a meaningful amount on your total bill.
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Specialty moving services from Ontario, CA to Philadelphia, PA
Specialty needs vary by market — 85% of Ontario movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Philadelphia, 90% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $565 - $5,650 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready85% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Golden Eagle Moving, LLC | $226 - $1,356/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $339 - $2,712 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage43% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs49% of local movers | $1,130 - $3,390 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,825 - $11,300 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $846 - $1,608 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items62% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Golden Eagle Moving, LLC | $1,130 - $2,825 |
| Piano | Any piano type77% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Golden Eagle Moving, LLC | $904 - $3,955 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling38% of local movers | $339 - $1,695 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect29% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Big Deahl's Movers | $735 - $2,260 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $339 - $16,950+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $339 - $3,955+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Ontario to Philadelphia?
Look for Pennsylvania Moving & Storage Associates membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Pennsylvania 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 full-service movers are the more cost-efficient choice. Local movers in Ontario, CA, often charge 30% - 40% more at that distance because their operations aren't built for long-haul logistics. The exception is if you want a dedicated point-to-point truck with an average 2-day delivery, though that level of service generally increases your total cost.
Moving container costs from Ontario, CA to Philadelphia, PA
Moving containers from Ontario, California, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, cost between $2,024 and $7,520. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in Ontario typically runs around $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Ontario to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,024 - $3,852
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,470 - $5,256
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,405 - $7,520
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $85 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $170 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Philadelphia, PA, 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 $791 in Ontario, 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 Pennsylvania 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 $2,024. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,470 - $5,256, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Ontario to Philadelphia?
- 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 Ontario 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 Ontario:
- Big Deahl's Movers (4.8/5), 12 years in business
- Sterling Van Lines (4.6/5), 35 years in business
- Merit Moving Systems (4.9/5), 39 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Ontario, CA to Philadelphia, PA
Renting a moving truck for the 2,674-mile move from Ontario, California, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, costs between $1,503 and $4,518, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $961 - $1,099
- Daily insurance: $34/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $23
- Ontario 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 Ontario to Philadelphia based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,503 - $2,853
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,628 - $3,468
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,036 - $4,518
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $1,503 - $4,518 when pricing out a rental truck from Ontario to Philadelphia. Fuel alone runs ($961 - $1,099) , and overnight lodging ($170/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend an additional $600 - $1,200 beyond the base rate by the time the move is done.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $170 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
- Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Ontario, California, usually costs about $791 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 2,674-mile drive falls between $961 and $1,099, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $57 and $339 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Ontario to Philadelphia?
- 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 Ontario, CA to Philadelphia, PA
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Ontario, California, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.
What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Overall pricing for a move of this size and distance typically lands around $2,079 and $4,120.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Ontario to Philadelphia:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,803 - $3,297
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,079 - $4,120
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,668 - $5,611
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
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 $85 - $170 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 Ontario, California, typically costs $791.
What are the best freight companies from Ontario to Philadelphia?
- 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: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Philadelphia 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: Ontario, CA vs Philadelphia, PA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Philadelphia, side by side with Ontario on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Ontario, CA | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 119 | 104 |
| Average rent | $2,619/mo | $1,695/mo |
| Median home value | $564,076 | $231,098 |
| Average income | $82,806/yr | $60,698/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 6.9% | 10.6% |
| State income tax | Up to 13.3% | Up to 3.07% |
| Walkability score | 48/100 | 75/100 |
| Safety index | 49.75/100 | 33.91/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
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 Philadelphia, PA to Ontario, CA guide.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from California to Pennsylvania, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors. We track 374 movers in California, so you have real options to compare for this 2,674-mile move.
Our take
The 2,674-mile move from Ontario, CA, to Philadelphia, PA, costs between $1,311 and $12,115 with full-service movers, $2,024 - $7,520 with a moving container, and $1,503 - $4,518 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $3,935 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Amtak and Comcast.
FAQs: Moving from Ontario, CA, to Philadelphia, PA
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($961 - $1,099), daily insurance ($34/day), and equipment rentals ($8 - $23) on top. Overnight stops can add another $170/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How long does a move from Ontario, CA to Philadelphia, PA take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What is the best time of year to move from Ontario, CA to Philadelphia, PA?
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. 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 Ontario, CA to Philadelphia, PA?
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 Philadelphia a safe place to live?
Philadelphia has a safety index of 33.91 out of 100 and a crime index of 66.09, compared to 49.75 and 50.25 in Ontario. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What percentage of Ontario movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 77% of movers in Ontario handle piano moves, and 62% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
