How Much Do Santa Barbara, CA Movers Cost?
Quick answer: The going rate for movers in Santa Barbara is usually $100 per hour. Full move costs average between $471 and $3,403. If you're relocating from California, long-distance movers in Santa Barbara can vary a lot depending on your new location.

Let's get moving.
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Worldwide Moving & Storage, Inc.4.76
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Safeway Moving4.85
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PODS4.8
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Budget Truck Rental4.3
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HireAHelper4.5
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Average cost of local movers in Santa Barbara, CA
Hiring a full-service Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara move.
Here's how much professional movers cost in Santa Barbara based on your move size:
Home size | Avg. total cost | Cost/hour | # of movers | # hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $471 | $140 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
1 bedroom | $611 | $140 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
2 bedroom | $919 | $196 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
3 bedroom | $1,975 | $274 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
4 bedroom | $2,249 | $274 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
5+ bedroom | $3,403 | $384 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
Read more cost details
- Studio: The average cost to hire movers in Santa Barbara to move a studio apartment is $140 per hour for three hours using a two-person moving crew.
- One bedroom: Moving a one-bedroom Santa Barbara apartment or home will typically take four hours, at an hourly rate of $140, and require two movers.
- Two bedrooms: It will cost $196 an hour, on average, to hire a three-person crew in Santa Barbara to move a two-bedroom home. Two-bedroom moves usually take about five hours.
- Three bedrooms: Local Santa Barbara movers charge an average hourly rate of $274 for a three-bedroom home. A move of this size will usually take eight hours to complete using four movers.
- Four bedrooms: For a four-bedroom house in Santa Barbara, you can expect to pay $274 per hour for nine hours. You'll likely need a four-person moving crew.
- Five or more bedrooms: If your Santa Barbara home is a five-bedroom or larger, you will pay $384 an hour, on average, for five movers. Moves this size usually take about ten hours to complete.
It's worth noting that the cost per hour for Santa Barbara movers remains the same for all home sizes, ranging from $140 per hour for two movers to $384 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 total cost.
Overall, hiring local Santa Barbara 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.
Easily compare personalized moving quotes for your Santa Barbara move using our free and instant moving cost calculator.
Best local moving companies in Santa Barbara, CA
Our expert team has thoroughly analyzed licensing, insurance options, online reviews, and hundreds of other data points to identify the top local moving companies in Santa Barbara.
- Worldwide Moving & Storage, Inc.: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- Meathead Movers: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- Aloha Moving: 4.72 out of 5 stars
- Hazelwood Allied Moving and Storage, Inc: 4.62 out of 5 stars
- Mammoth Moving & Storage, Inc.: 4.62 out of 5 stars
- Efficient service (30%)
- Professional and polite staff (25%)
- Good communication (20%)
- Damage to items (15%)
- Lack of communication (12%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (10%)
Company Info
State license #: 0130677
Years in Business: 68
DOT #: 125563
Alternate Names: Mayflower, WWMS, Inc., Worldwide Moving and Storage, Inc., Worldwide Moving and Storage, Worldwide Moving & Storage
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Crane vans
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOD certified
- Professional and polite staff (37%)
- Efficient service (35%)
- Careful handling (30%)
- Higher-than-expected costs (28%)
- Damage to items (26%)
- Lack of communication (25%)
Company Info
State license #: 189849
Years in Business: 27
DOT #: 921143
Alternate Names: Meathead Packers
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Storage
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Efficient service (60%)
- Professional and polite staff (57%)
- Careful handling (53%)
- Higher-than-expected costs (15%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (10%)
- Lack of communication (8%)
Company Info
State license #: 0191816
Years in Business: 24
DOT #: 2660138
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Storage
- Efficient service (40%)
- Professional and polite staff (36%)
- Careful handling (32%)
- Damage to items (28%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (24%)
- Lack of communication (16%)
Company Info
State license #: 0102801
Years in Business: 35
DOT #: 2645119
Alternate Names: Hazelwood Moving and Storage
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Crane vans
- Shipment tracking
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Professional and polite staff (40%)
- Efficient service (38%)
- Careful handling (36%)
- Unexpected charges (20%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (15%)
- Lack of communication (12%)
Company Info
State license #: 0173549
Years in Business: 36
DOT #: 2645059
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
Visit our best movers in Santa Barbara page to see a complete list of moving companies, including hourly rates, services, and reviews. And if you're moving outside of Santa Barbara, consider one of Santa Barbara's top long-distance movers.
Moving costs in other nearby California cities
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Average cost of moving containers in Santa Barbara, CA
The cost of moving containers, such as PODS, will cost $220–$7,448, on average, in Santa Barbara. The exact PODS cost you'll pay will depend on whether you use an eight-, 12-, or 16-foot container (note: 12-foot containers are only available for local moves). The distance of your move will also greatly impact cost.
A local Santa Barbara move within 50 miles of your home will run between $220 and $813, while long-distance moves (100-250 miles) will typically cost $250–$2,107. Container pricing on cross-country moves from Santa Barbara can cost an average range of $2,068–$7,448.
Here's a breakdown of related PODS costs:
- Storage fee: $149–$359 (first 30 days is free)
- Damage coverage: 10–$439.95 per month, depending on the protection plan. Coverage ranges from container-only (no contents protection) to $300,000. All plans have a deductible of $100.
- Door lock (if necessary): $25 (if purchased through PODS; you can also purchase from home improvement stores or online retailers)
If you're looking for the cost-savings of a DIY move and the convenience of full-service movers, moving containers like PODS are a great option. You'll handle loading and unloading, but they will drop off your empty container at your current home, pick it up once it's loaded, and deliver it to your new location. This means you won't have to worry about driving.
PODS is our overall top pick for moving containers in Santa Barbara based on their stellar reputation, nationwide availability, and multiple container sizes and insurance plans. But you should take a look at least two other highly rated moving container companies on our list to see which one offers the right combination of services and pricing for your move.
Best moving containers in Santa Barbara, CA
The best Santa Barbara moving container companies provide multiple container sizes, pricing transparency and deals, and secure, state-of-the-art facilities for longer-term storage needs. They should also have a solid reputation for quality customer service and efficient drop-off and pickup of containers.
Check out these highly rated moving containers:
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Average cost to rent a moving truck in Santa Barbara, CA
You'll definitely have to break a sweat, but moving truck rentals in Santa Barbara will be much easier on your wallet than full-service movers. The average cost to rent a moving truck in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara rental trucks:
- Base cost: $19–$39 per day
- Mileage fee: $0.79–$1.09 per mile
- Fuel cost: Depends on driving distance
- Truck coverage: $20–$55 based on coverage level
- 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
Best moving truck rentals in Santa Barbara, CA
The best moving truck rentals in Santa Barbara provide affordable rates with no hidden fees, a variety of truck sizes, and plenty of physical locations across the U.S. for convenient rental returns.
These top moving truck rentals certainly fit the bill:
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Average cost of labor-only moving companies in Santa Barbara, CA
The average cost of labor-only moving companies in Santa Barbara is an hourly rate of $50 for each crew member. Most moves — even small one-bedroom apartments — require a crew of two movers, so plan on about $100.0 per hour to hire labor assistance in Santa Barbara.
Best labor-only moving companies in Santa Barbara
The best Santa Barbara labor-only movers have a reputation for professional and efficient service, but also provide reasonable hourly rates and a variety of optional services like packing that you can pick and choose from to create a customized plan suited to your specific needs.
We like these top-notch labor-only movers:
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Factors that affect the cost of movers in Santa Barbara, CA
The biggest factor that affects the cost of movers in Santa Barbara, 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). The Residential Permit Parking Program manages parking in mixed-use areas by restricting non-resident vehicles to encourage turnover. Residents in designated areas may be eligible for parking permits exempting them from these restrictions.
- 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.
What is the cheapest way to move to Santa Barbara?
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 Santa Barbara for you, or you can rent a moving truck and handle it all on your own.
Here are the average moving costs from Santa Barbara to another state with different types of movers:
Destination | Professional Movers | Containers | Rental Trucks |
---|---|---|---|
Sioux Falls | $3,695 - $8,151 | $2,322 - $4,742 | $1,353 - $2,858 |
Columbus | $4,490 - $8,723 | $2,865 - $5,542 | $1,646 - $3,611 |
Wilmington | $4,936 - $9,717 | $3,039 - $6,472 | $2,047 - $4,363 |
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