How Much do San Francisco Movers Cost?
Fact Checked by: Quick Answer: Although costs fluctuate depending on the service and company, the typical cost for hiring movers in San Francisco, California, is $150 per hour. If you’re moving locally within San Francisco, moving companies range from $485 to $4,883 on average. If you’re moving out of California, the cost of San Francisco long distance movers really depends on where you’re moving to.
Use our moving cost calculator below for a quick and personalized price estimate for your move out of San Francisco, CA.
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 its convenience comes at a cost. Decide whether you want movers to do all the heavy lifting or if you want to save money by doing some of the work yourself.
Here's how much movers cost in San Francisco
| Home Size | Avg. Total Cost | Cost/hour | # of Movers | # Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
- 1 Bedroom: If you have a 1 bedroom, expect to pay around $695 for local San Francisco movers. You'll need two movers for four hours at $210 per hour.
- 2 Bedroom: The average cost to hire San Francisco movers to move a 2 bedroom is $1,157. You'll need three movers for five hours at $294 per hour.
- 3 Bedroom: For a 3 bedroom, expect to pay $2,747 for local San Francisco movers. A 3 bedroom typically requires four movers for eight hours at $412 per hour.
- 4 Bedroom: Moving a 4 bedroom house in San Francisco will cost on average $3,159. The cost to move a larger home can vary, but typically requires four movers for nine hours at $412 per hour.
- 5+ Bedroom: The cost of hiring San Francisco movers for a home with 5 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 Moving Companies in San Francisco, CA
Our team of analysts has spent thousands of hours cross-referencing license data, insurance data, 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
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Get A Quote |
 
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149 New Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA, 94105 (415) 263-9024 |
| Gentle Giant Moving Company | Get A Quote |
|
361 Swift Ave, South San Francisco, CA, 94080 (415) 544-7000 |
| Luigy's Moving & Storage | Get A Quote |
|
5550 Mission St, San Francisco, CA, 94112 (415) 413-4646 |
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.
Ask your mover
- Places like high-rises and managed apartments will often require a copy of your mover's insurance and elevator reservation on moving day.
- Check ahead with any neighborhood, community, or HOA rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- 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.
- 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.
- Released Value Protection is the most economical option because it doesn’t cost anything. It is offered by movers at no additional charge, but the protection is minimal. Under this option, the mover is responsible for no more than 60 cents per pound per article. For example, if your mover lost or damaged a 50 inch TV weighing 25 pounds, you would only receive $15 (60 cents x 25 pounds). If you need for the full value of your items to be covered, please consult with the moving company you're hiring for other options or a third-party insurance provider.
Work with your movers to ensure all these items are taken care of before moving day.
San Francisco Movers Cost: Moving out of state
Since the cost of moving out of state 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.
Cost to move a one-bedroom home out of state from San Francisco
San Francisco to New York City:
$2,961 -
$6,002
San Francisco to Chicago:
$2,635 -
$5,170
San Francisco to Houston:
$2,591 -
$5,033
San Francisco to Phoenix:
$1,996 -
$4,104
San Francisco to Philadelphia:
$2,933 -
$5,946
Cost to move a two or three bedroom home out of state from San Francisco
San Francisco to New York City:
$4,248 -
$7,478
San Francisco to Chicago:
$3,556 -
$6,337
San Francisco to Houston:
$3,419 -
$6,170
San Francisco to Phoenix:
$2,343 -
$5,117
San Francisco to Philadelphia:
$4,208 -
$7,407
Cost to move a four bedroom home (or larger) out of state from San Francisco
San Francisco to New York City:
$7,993 -
$12,222
San Francisco to Chicago:
$6,670 -
$10,918
San Francisco to Houston:
$6,361 -
$10,427
San Francisco to Phoenix:
$4,030 -
$6,889
San Francisco to Philadelphia:
$7,917 -
$12,105
Now that you have an idea of what your move from San Francisco should cost, it’s time to start looking at the best long-distance movers in San Francisco.
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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 absolutely be easier on your wallet.
Here's how the costs break down:
- 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 will depend on how far a distance you drive the truck, how many days you have the truck rented and a number of additional costs like insurance, parking, moving equipment rentals and more.
Average cost to rent a moving container in San Francisco
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 here is storage. These things will buy you time if you end up with a weird gap between leases.
Here's roughly what it's 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 end up paying for labor.
Each large container holds about 3 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.
Where to rent a moving container in San Francisco, CA
Learn more about these types of companies at our best moving container companies page.
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