How Much Do San Francisco Movers Cost?
Quick answer: The typical cost for hiring movers in San Francisco is $150 per hour, with the total cost to move ranging from $485 to $4,883, on average. If you’re moving out of California, the cost of hiring long-distance movers in San Francisco really depends on where you’re moving.
Use our moving cost calculator below for a quick and personalized price estimate for your move out of San Francisco, CA.
Jump to the cost information best for your San Francisco move:
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Average cost to hire a local moving company in San Francisco
Hiring a full-service San Francisco mover is definitely the most convenient option, but that convenience comes at a cost — professional movers tend to be more expensive than other moving options. If you want movers to do all the heavy lifting for you and you can afford it, hire a full-service moving company for your San Francisco move.
If you want to save money, you can hire a container company, where you do the packing and loading and they transport your belongings in San Francisco for you, or by renting a moving truck and handling it all on your own.
Here are the average moving costs from San Francisco to another state with different types of movers:
Destination | Professional Movers | Containers | Rental Trucks |
---|---|---|---|
Oklahoma City | $3,024 - $7,281 | $1,936 - $3,713 | $1,132 - $2,323 |
Chicago | $3,734 - $7,414 | $2,233 - $4,381 | $1,408 - $2,874 |
Wilmington | $4,334 - $8,200 | $2,531 - $5,567 | $1,719 - $3,701 |
And here's how much professional movers cost in San Francisco based on your move size:
Home size | Avg. total cost | Cost/hour | # of movers | # hours |
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Studio | $485 | $210 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
1 bedroom | $695 | $210 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
2 bedroom | $1,157 | $294 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
3 bedroom | $2,747 | $412 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
4 bedroom | $3,159 | $412 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
5+ bedroom | $4,883 | $576 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
- Studio: The average cost to hire movers in San Francisco to move a studio apartment is $485. You'll need two movers for three hours at $210 per hour.
- One bedroom: If you have a one-bedroom apartment or home, expect to pay around $695 for local San Francisco movers. You'll need two movers for four hours at $210 per hour.
- Two bedrooms: The average cost to hire San Francisco movers to move a two-bedroom home is $1,157. You'll need three movers for five hours at $294 per hour.
- Three bedrooms: For a three-bedroom home, expect to pay $2,747 for local San Francisco movers. A three-bedroom typically requires four movers for eight hours at $412 per hour.
- Four bedrooms: Moving a four-bedroom house in San Francisco will cost $3,159, on average. The cost to move a larger home can vary, but typically requires four movers for nine hours at $412 per hour.
- Five or more bedrooms: The cost of hiring San Francisco movers for a home with five or more bedrooms is $4,883. You'll need five movers for ten hours at $576 per hour.
It's worth noting the cost per hour for San Francisco movers remains the same for all home sizes, ranging from $210 per hour for two movers to $576 per hour for five movers. As the size of your home increases, the number of movers and hours required for the move also increases, resulting in a higher overall cost.
Overall, hiring local San Francisco movers is a convenient and stress-free way to move within the city. By knowing the approximate cost for your home size, you can budget accordingly and make informed decisions for your upcoming move.
Best local moving companies in San Francisco, CA
Our expert team of analysts has dug deep into licensing, insurance options, online reviews, and hundreds of other data points to find you the best local moving companies in San Francisco.
Company | Quote | Rating | Contact |
---|---|---|---|
most popular
Luigy's Moving & Storage
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Get A Quote |
4.86 overall rating
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5550 Mission St, San Francisco, CA, 94112 (415) 413-4646 |
Eagle Moving & Storage, Inc. | Get A Quote |
4.76 overall rating
|
1149 Montgomery Ave, San Bruno, CA, 94066 (415) 404-7400 |
Gentle Giant Moving Company | Get A Quote |
4.72 overall rating
|
361 Swift Ave, South San Francisco, CA, 94080 (415) 544-7000 |
Visit our best movers in San Francisco page to see a complete list of moving companies, including hourly rates, services, and reviews. And if you’re moving outside of San Francisco, consider one of San Francisco’s top long-distance movers.
Average cost to hire interstate movers in San Francisco
Since the cost of moving out of San Francisco depends so much on where you’re moving, here are some example costs. For more detailed guides on your specific destination, find your moving route to San Francisco or use our moving cost calculator to get quotes from the top interstate movers.
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rating
4.25 / 5
Licensed
Insured
Price
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Cost to move a one-bedroom home out of state from San Francisco
San Francisco to New York City:
$3,050–$6,242
San Francisco to Chicago:
$2,740–$5,326
San Francisco to Brooklyn:
$2,813–$5,882
San Francisco to Queens:
$3,078–$5,816
San Francisco to Houston:
$2,565–$4,781
Cost to move a two- or three-bedroom home out of state from San Francisco
San Francisco to New York City:
$4,036–$7,851
San Francisco to Chicago:
$3,734–$6,210
San Francisco to Brooklyn:
$4,290–$7,851
San Francisco to Queens:
$4,288–$7,246
San Francisco to Houston:
$3,454–$5,861
Cost to move a four- bedroom home (or larger) out of state from San Francisco
San Francisco to New York City:
$7,752–$12,466
San Francisco to Chicago:
$6,603–$11,246
San Francisco to Brooklyn:
$8,232–$12,466
San Francisco to Queens:
$7,664–$12,460
San Francisco to Houston:
$6,424–$9,906
Best interstate moving companies in San Francisco, CA
Now that you have an idea of what your move from San Francisco should cost, it’s time to start looking at the best interstate moving companies. We vetted each one, examining their pricing, services, and our own real-life customer reviews to pick the best options for you.
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Family owned & operated
- Affordable pricing
- Binding estimates
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
Average cost to rent a moving truck in San Francisco
You'll definitely have to break a sweat, but moving truck rentals in San Francisco will be much easier on your wallet than full-service movers. The average cost to rent a moving truck in San Francisco ranges from $19-$39 per day.
While cheaper than full-service moving companies, you’ll have to do all the heavy lifting yourself — from boxing up your belongings to loading them on the truck, hauling them to your new spot, and unloading everything there.
Here are the typical costs of San Francisco rental trucks:
- Base cost: $19–$39 per day
- Mileage fee: $0.79–$1.59 per mile
- Fuel cost: Dependent on driving distance.
- Truck coverage: $20–$55 based on coverage level
- Parking permit (if necessary): Temporary San Francisco moving permits are managed by the San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority (SFMTA), and the application process takes some time, so plan accordingly. To submit an application for a San Francisco moving permit, the SFMTA office requires a minimum of 5 business days notice, and a number of days don’t count: your application day, the first enforcement day, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays all are excluded.
- Equipment costs (optional): Dolly, straps, blankets
The total cost to rent a truck from companies like Budget or U-Haul will depend on:
- How far you drive the truck
- How long you have the truck rental
- Additional insurance
- Parking
- Toll fees
- Fuel
- Accommodations and dining
- Moving equipment rentals
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
- Limits environmental impact as part of the EPA's SmartWay Program
- Non-slip flooring makes loading and unloading easier
- Easily choose truck size with their Truck Wizard Tool
- Competitive base prices with specialized discounts
- Round-trip and one-way moves available
- User-friendly website makes it easy to book the right truck
Average cost to rent a moving container in San Francisco
San Francisco has plenty of moving container companies to choose from. The containers are delivered, you load everything into them, the company picks it up, and it gets put in storage until you're ready for everything to be delivered to your new place.
Naturally, the advantage with containers like PODS and U-Pack is storage. These things will buy you time if you end up with a weird gap between leases.
Here's roughly what moving containers in San Francisco are going to cost:
- Storage fee: $119.95 per 30 days
- Damage coverage: $10–$350 based on coverage level
- Parking permit (if necessary): Temporary San Francisco moving permits are managed by the San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority (SFMTA), and the application process takes some time, so plan accordingly. To submit an application for a San Francisco moving permit, the SFMTA office requires a minimum of 5 business days notice, and a number of days don’t count: your application day, the first enforcement day, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays all are excluded.
- Door lock (if necessary): $10–$15
- Equipment costs (if necessary): Dolly, straps, blankets (optional)
Storing everything in a one-bedroom will end up costing somewhere around $130–$510 door-to-door. Still, you might want to factor in a little extra in case you decide to hire a third-party moving crew.
Each large container holds about three rooms until it's completely full. You might end up needing more containers, but keep in mind that your cost will essentially double with each container you add.
Company | Quote | Rating | Price |
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U-Pack | Check prices |
5 / 5
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1-800-Pack-Rat | Check prices |
4.45 / 5
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PODS | Check prices |
4.8 / 5
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Factors that affect the cost of movers in San Francisco, CA
The biggest factor that affects the cost of movers in San Francisco, CA, is distance, but there are several other price considerations to keep in mind, including:
- The size of your move: The more belongings you have, the more your move will cost. Moving a four-bedroom home will typically be more expensive than moving a studio apartment.
- When you move: You’ll usually pay more to move during peak season (May–September) because demand is higher. Similarly, the time of month and day of the week you book your move will impact cost. Demand will be higher the first and last of each month, when leases change over, and on Fridays and Saturdays, the most popular moving days. To save money on your move, consider booking during the week and in the middle of one of the off-season months, if possible.
- The type of move: Professional movers are the most convenient option, but they will cost you more than going with a DIY option like moving container companies or moving truck rentals.
- Any add-on services you select: Even if you go with a DIY move, you may want to hire third-party movers to assist you with loading and unloading. And professional movers offer a variety of optional services like packing and unpacking to help customize and streamline your relocation. But these additional services will come at an extra cost.
Quick tips for a stress-free move
- Have important documentation.
Places like high rises and managed apartments will often require a copy of your mover's insurance
and elevator reservation on moving day.
- Get approval.
Check ahead with any neighborhood, community, or HOA rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Secure a parking permit (if needed). Temporary San Francisco moving permits are managed by the San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority (SFMTA), and the application process takes some time, so plan accordingly. To submit an application for a San Francisco moving permit, the SFMTA office requires a minimum of 5 business days notice, and a number of days don’t count: your application day, the first enforcement day, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays all are excluded.
- Check state licensing laws. When contacting a local moving company for an estimate in California, make sure each has a “T Number” issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC).
Moving companies with valid T Numbers have met state requirements for insurance, safety, and financial stability and have passed criminal clearance checks conducted by the California Department of Justice.
- Invest in moving insurance. Opt for Released Value Protection – a cost-free choice provided by movers with minimal coverage. The liability is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. For instance, if a 50-inch TV weighing 25 pounds is lost or damaged, your reimbursement is only $15 (60 cents x 25 pounds). To ensure comprehensive coverage for your items' full value, consult with your chosen moving company or consider third-party insurance options.
Work with your movers to ensure all these items are taken care of before moving day.
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