Compare Cost of San Mateo, CA Movers ($120/hour)
Quick answer: The average cost for local movers in San Mateo, California is between $499 and $4,868, or roughly $120 per hour. If you're relocating beyond California, the cost for long-distance movers in San Mateo varies based on the size and scope of your move.
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$722 - $2,754
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$1,132 - $3,066
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$501-$3,016
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$20-$101/day
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$60-$80/hour
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Average cost of local San Mateo, CA movers
Hiring a moving company in San Mateo is definitely the most convenient way to move, but that convenience comes at a higher cost than a DIY approach. You'll need to decide whether you want movers to do all the heavy lifting for you or if you'd rather save money by doing at least some of the work yourself.
Here's how much movers cost in San Mateo:
| Home Size | Avg. Total Cost | Cost/hour | # of Movers | # Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $499 | $206 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
| 1 Bedroom | $722 | $208 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,132 | $288 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,754 | $391 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
| 4 Bedroom | $3,066 | $396 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
| 5+ Bedroom | $4,868 | $564 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
Read more cost details
Best local movers in San Mateo, CA
For moves that keep you in or around San Mateo, these trusted local movers are our top picks to get the job done right:
- Eagle Moving & Storage, Inc.: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Next Stop Moving & Storage: 4.1 out of 5 stars
- Gentle Giant Moving Company: 4.86 out of 5 stars
- AMS Bekins: 4.58 out of 5 stars
- SF Bay Area Moving: 4.58 out of 5 stars
- Efficient service
- Careful handling
- Professional and polite staff
- Quick moving process
- Good communication
- Damage to items
- Delayed arrival or delivery
- Lack of communication
Company Info
State license #: 0190673
Years in Business: 14
DOT #: 3670248
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Efficient service
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Quick moving process
- Friendly and approachable staff
- Higher-than-expected costs
- Lack of communication
- Unfriendly or rude staff
Company Info
State license #: 0167668
Years in Business: 44
DOT #: 373544
Alternate Names: Great Giant Moving Company
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Crane vans
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Efficient service
- Good communication
- Quick moving process
- Damage to items
- Lack of communication
- Misplaced or lost items
Company Info
State license #: 0168138
Years in Business: 76
DOT #: 2256609
Alternate Names: Bekins AMS Relocation, Inc., AMS Relocation, Inc., Bekins
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- Efficient service
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Good communication
- Quick moving process
- Unexpected charges
- Delayed arrival or delivery
- Unprofessional behavior
Company Info
State license #: 0192239
Pricing: $145/hr
Years in Business: 11
DOT #: 2682402
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by credit card
Moving costs in other nearby California cities
Average cost to move out of state with San Mateo movers
Since the cost of moving out of California depends largely on where you're moving, we've provided some example costs below. To get the most accurate pricing based on your specific destination, find your moving route to California or use our moving cost calculator.
Cost to move a one-bedroom home out of state from San Mateo
When moving a one-bedroom home from San Mateo and out of California, the overall cost will mostly come down to distance, move size, and how you decide to move.
Still, to give you a rough idea, here are some sample cost ranges for long-distance moves from California:
- California to New York City: $3,503 - $7,608
- California to Chicago: $3,180 - $6,367
- California to Houston: $3,113 - $6,243
- California to Phoenix: $2,043 - $4,350
- California to Philadelphia: $3,369 - $6,758
Cost to move a two or three-bedroom home out of state from San Mateo
Out-of-state moving costs from San Mateo for two- or three-bedroom homes vary based on the actual total volume and weight of your belongings. Move costs for a three-bedroom that is sparsely furnished and relatively small, for example, could be less than a two-bedroom home with a lot of square footage and decor.
In general, though, you can expect to pay within these ranges for two- to three-bedroom moves of similar distances from San Mateo:
- California to New York City: $5,128 - $9,026
- California to Chicago: $4,249 - $7,649
- California to Houston: $3,821 - $7,448
- California to Phoenix: $2,492 - $5,505
- California to Philadelphia: $5,232 - $8,595
Cost to move a four bedroom home (or larger) out of state from San Mateo
Below is a look at some example four-bedroom move costs out of state from San Mateo. Remember, your exact price will ultimately be based on the amount of belongings you have, what time of year you are moving, and how far you're moving.
Sample ranges for interstate moves from San Mateo of four or more bedrooms:
- California to New York City: $9,455 - $15,048
- California to Chicago: $7,729 - $12,916
- California to Houston: $7,339 - $11,555
- California to Phoenix: $4,827 - $8,107
- California to Philadelphia: $8,906 - $13,762
Best interstate moving companies in San Mateo
Now that you have an idea of what your out-of-state move from California will cost, it's time to start looking at the best long-distance movers in San Mateo.
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Allied Van Lines: 4.75 out of 5 stars
- North American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
rating
- 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
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- Fragile packing
- Storage options
- 24/7 shipment tracking
- Quick & efficient
- Accurate quotes
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
Average cost of moving containers in San Mateo, CA
The average cost of moving containers in San Mateo is approximately $500 for local relocations and as much as $3,000 for long-distance moves. Cross-country moves can reach as high as $7,000 or more. Costs are largely based on distance and the container size you choose.
Our top recommendation for moving containers in San Mateo is PODS, thanks to its multiple container sizes (eight, 12, and 16 feet), competitive pricing, and solid customer reviews. However, you should get quotes from PODS and two other moving container companies before making a decision.
To help you get started, take a look at these other top-notch moving containers.
Best moving container companies in San Mateo
If you want to handle the packing and loading but leave the driving to a professional, consider a moving container company. There are lots of options to choose from in San Mateo, but here are some of our favorites:
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Average cost of moving truck rentals in San Mateo, CA
In San Mateo, daily rental costs for a moving truck usually start at $60, with most people paying between $19 and $38, plus mileage fees of $2 to $1. It’s a solid choice for those looking to cut costs, but keep in mind it’s a fully DIY approach. You'll be doing the heavy lifting and the driving.
Best moving truck rentals in San Mateo
The most budget-friendly way to move is by packing everything up and hitting the road with a rental truck. There are plenty of moving truck rental companies to choose from in San Mateo. If you don’t mind the extra effort, here are a few of the best ones:
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Average cost of labor-only moving companies in San Mateo, CA
In San Mateo, labor-only movers typically charge $30–$40 per hour per person. That means your total hourly cost will be around $60–$80, depending on how many movers you hire.
It typically only takes a two-person crew to handle smaller spaces like studios and one-bedrooms. For two- and three-bedroom homes, plan on three to four movers. It’ll likely take a crew of four or five people to move homes with four or more bedrooms.
Best labor-only moving companies in San Mateo
Finding reliable moving help in San Mateo means looking for labor-only companies with upfront pricing and solid service reviews. It’s even better if they offer extras like packing assistance or moving supplies.
These are our top picks for labor-only movers.
Here are our favorite labor-only movers.
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Factors that affect the cost of your San Mateo move
Since no two moves are exactly the same, neither are the costs. The amount you’ll pay will be based on the exact details of your move. There are some common cost factors to consider with your San Mateo move, including:
- How far you’re moving: The cost goes up the farther you’re moving. Local moves are typically less expensive than out-of-state or cross-country moves, which require more time, fuel, and labor.
- Move size: The more belongings you need to transport, the more it’ll cost. Bigger moves usually require larger trucks and more movers.
- The type of mover: Going with full-service movers generally costs more than doing it yourself with a moving container company, where you take on the packing and loading yourself.
- Optional services: Add-ons like packing, unpacking, or high-value insurance will raise your total. Even if you DIY, hiring labor to help load or unload will increase your costs.
- When you move: Timing matters. Summer, weekends, and month beginnings are in high demand—and more expensive. You can save by scheduling your move for mid-month or mid-week.
Quick tips for a stress-free move
- Buy additional insurance. Full-service movers are required by federal law to provide basic insurance, known as released value protection, at no cost. While you can't beat free, released value protection provides very minimal coverage — $0.60 per pound per item, regardless of the item's value. So, your reimbursement on a damaged 25-pound TV worth $1,000 would only be $15 ($0.60 x 25 pounds). Most moving companies — and some home insurance providers — offer optional comprehensive insurance plans. While these come at an added cost, they will protect your items based on estimated value instead of weight.
- Get your move approved. Many neighborhoods — particularly those with HOAs — have restrictions around moving. Typically, these restrictions outline which days and times moving is allowable. It's best to double-check the rules ahead of time and to proactively inform a property management group of your moving date.
- Have your paperwork handy. If you are moving to or from an apartment complex, you may need to show proof on moving day of your mover's insurance coverage and, if applicable, an elevator reservation. Go ahead and gather this information — which is usually available in your moving contract — so you aren't scrambling for it when your moving date arrives.
- Reserve parking. You can learn more about the rules and regulations on the San Mateo website.
Helpful San Mateo Resources
San Mateo Moving Services
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