Compare Cost of San Rafael, CA Movers ($120/hour)
Quick answer: Moving within San Rafael, California will typically cost you from $504 to $4,770, or about $120 per hour. For longer moves out of state, long-distance movers in San Rafael price jobs based on total distance, home size, and services like packing.
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$700 - $2,670
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$1,144 - $3,066
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$494 - $2,999
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$20 - $100/day
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$59 - $80/hour
Our track record
Average cost of local San Rafael, CA movers
Hiring a moving company in San Rafael 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 Rafael:
| Home Size | Avg. Total Cost | Cost/hour | # of Movers | # Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $504 | $204 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
| 1 Bedroom | $700 | $206 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,144 | $288 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,670 | $396 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
| 4 Bedroom | $3,066 | $404 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
| 5+ Bedroom | $4,770 | $547 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
Read more cost details
Best local movers in San Rafael, CA
For moves that keep you in or around San Rafael, these trusted local movers are our top picks to get the job done right:
- Eagle Moving & Storage, Inc.: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Best California Movers: 4.52 out of 5 stars
- Luigy's Moving & Storage: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- NorthStar Moving Company : 4.76 out of 5 stars
- Johnson & Daly Moving and Storage: 4.66 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
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Efficient service
- Good communication
- Quick moving process
- Overly complex pricing
- Misleading marketing
- Delayed arrival or delivery
Company Info
State license #: T0192283
Pricing: $109/hr
Years in Business: 7
DOT #: 3489907
Alternate Names: Best California Movers & Storage, An Moving Forward
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Crating
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- Efficient service
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Quick moving process
- Helpful movers
- Unexpected charges
- Misplaced or lost items
- Insurance issues
Company Info
State license #: 0192210
Years in Business: 25
DOT #: 02740355
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- Efficient service
- Careful handling
- Quick moving process
- Professional and polite staff
- Good communication
- Damage to items
- Lack of communication
- Delayed arrival or delivery
Company Info
State license #: 0182466
Years in Business: 30
DOT #: 1836576
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Professional and polite staff
- Careful handling
- Efficient service
- Quick moving process
- Good communication
- Higher-than-expected costs
- Damage to items
- Unfriendly or rude staff
Company Info
State license #: 159465
Years in Business: 46
DOT #: 2611854
Alternate Names: Johnson & Daly Moving & Storage
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Shipment tracking
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
Moving costs in other nearby California cities
Average cost to move out of state with San Rafael movers
The cost of moving out of California can shift a lot depending on where you're headed. To give you an idea, we've listed a few sample routes below. For the most accurate estimate, take a look at your specific route from California or use our moving cost calculator.
Cost to move a one-bedroom home out of state from San Rafael
When moving a one-bedroom home from San Rafael 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 - $7,535
- California to Chicago: $3,117 - $6,054
- California to Houston: $3,082 - $6,304
- California to Phoenix: $2,022 - $4,434
- California to Philadelphia: $3,369 - $6,828
Cost to move a two or three-bedroom home out of state from San Rafael
Out-of-state moving costs from San Rafael 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 Rafael:
- California to New York City: $5,333 - $9,207
- California to Chicago: $4,292 - $7,496
- California to Houston: $4,057 - $7,227
- California to Phoenix: $2,676 - $5,728
- California to Philadelphia: $4,733 - $8,858
Cost to move a four bedroom home (or larger) out of state from San Rafael
Below is a look at some example four-bedroom move costs out of state from San Rafael. 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 Rafael of four or more bedrooms:
- California to New York City: $9,551 - $14,310
- California to Chicago: $8,132 - $13,838
- California to Houston: $6,908 - $12,380
- California to Phoenix: $4,640 - $8,355
- California to Philadelphia: $8,999 - $14,909
Best interstate moving companies in San Rafael
Once you have a good idea of the cost to move out of California, your next move is to check out the best long-distance movers serving San Rafael.
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Allied Van Lines: 4.75 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 Rafael, CA
The average cost of moving containers in San Rafael 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 Rafael 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 Rafael
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 Rafael, but here are some of our favorites:
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Average cost of moving truck rentals in San Rafael, CA
The cheapest way to move from San Rafael is usually by renting a truck. Expect a daily base rate of around $60, though it can run anywhere from $19 to $38.355555555556, plus a per-mile charge between $1.698 and $1.2122222222222. While budget-friendly, this option means you’ll handle everything — from loading up to driving the truck to your new home.
Best moving truck rentals in San Rafael
If you're looking to save the most money, your best bet is to pack up and drive a rental truck yourself. Luckily, finding moving truck rental companies in San Rafael is easy. If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, here are some of the top options:
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Average cost of labor-only moving companies in San Rafael, CA
Hiring labor-only movers in San Rafael will run you about $30–$40 an hour per mover. So, if you’re working with a two-person crew, expect to pay $60–$80 per hour total.
Two people is typically all it takes to move studio apartments and one-bedrooms. But beyond that, you’ll probably need a larger crew. Two- and three-bedroom homes usually call for three or four movers, for example, and homes with four or more bedrooms require a four- or five-person crew.
Best labor-only moving companies in San Rafael
When hiring labor-only movers in San Rafael, go with a company that offers clear pricing and is known for reliable service. Companies that also help with packing or provide moving supplies can be a big plus.
Here are some of our favorite picks for labor-only movers.
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Factors that affect the cost of your San Rafael 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 Rafael 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.
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