($536+) Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco, CA Movers
Moving from Phoenix, AZ, to San Francisco, CA, runs anywhere from $575 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,120 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 751 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $1,827, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,120 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,107 - $3,562, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $575 - $1,450.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Phoenix, AZ, to San Francisco, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,274 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco, CA
Moving options from Phoenix to San Francisco fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $2,274 - $5,939 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 60% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 751 miles and typically takes 2 to 7 days.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 751-mile route from Phoenix to San Francisco, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $1,827 - $4,713 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,107 - $2,013), rental truck ($575 - $1,060), or freight trailer ($946 - $1,776). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $2,274 - $5,939 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $8,120.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco, CA
Full-service movers for the 751-mile relocation from Phoenix, Arizona, to San Francisco, California, cost between $1,827 and $8,120. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $497 - $3,316, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in Phoenix typically charge a base rate around $140 plus $85 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Phoenix to San Francisco:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,827 - $4,713
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,274 - $5,939
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,952 - $8,120
Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Phoenix to San Francisco.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Arizona to California. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Demand for full-service movers surges during peak moving season from May - September, pushing prices higher. Shifting your move to a cooler month could save you a meaningful amount on your total bill.
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Specialty moving services from Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco, CA
Specialty needs vary by market — 85% of Phoenix movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In San Francisco, 87% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing98% of local movers | $829 - $8,290 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready85% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Camelback Moving | $332 - $1,990/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $497 - $3,979 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage38% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs59% of local movers | $1,658 - $4,974 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $4,145 - $16,580 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,242 - $2,359 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items55% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: NorthStar Moving Company | $1,658 - $4,145 |
| Piano | Any piano type77% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: NorthStar Moving Company | $1,326 - $5,803 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling30% of local movers | $497 - $2,487 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect30% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Mentors Moving & Storage | $1,078 - $3,316 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $497 - $24,870+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $497 - $5,803+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Phoenix to San Francisco?
Look for California Moving & Storage Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in California beyond this list.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Phoenix, AZ. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco, CA
Moving containers from Phoenix, Arizona, to San Francisco, California, cost between $1,107 and $3,562. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in Phoenix runs about $90/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Phoenix to San Francisco:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,107 - $2,013
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,435 - $2,680
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,962 - $3,562
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Access: Most major container brands operate in both Phoenix, AZ and San Francisco, CA. Still, double-check that a nearby facility is available if you need to access your belongings before delivery.
- Moving labor: Because containers are self-loaded, many customers hire hourly help. Two movers for about 5 hours typically cost around $1,161 in Phoenix, AZ, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $124 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $249 for larger ones (12 - 16 feet).
- Added contents protection: For more coverage beyond the standard minimum, full-value protection is the typical upgrade, generally 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value. On a $50,000 household, that's roughly $500 - $1,000 as a one-time fee.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Arizona to California move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.
Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $1,107. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,435 - $2,680, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Phoenix to San Francisco?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)
Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in Phoenix to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in Phoenix:
- Camelback Moving (4.8/5), 21 years in business
- Mentors Moving & Storage (4.7/5), 9 years in business
- Budget Movers (4.6/5), 32 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco, CA
Renting a moving truck for the 751-mile move from Phoenix, Arizona, to San Francisco, California, costs between $575 and $1,450, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $396 - $453
- Daily insurance: $50/day
- Equipment rentals: $12 - $33
- Phoenix daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Phoenix to San Francisco based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $575 - $1,060
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $638 - $1,272
- 4+ bedrooms: $777 - $1,450
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Phoenix to San Francisco starts at $575 - $1,450, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($396 - $453) , overnight lodging ($249/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for an additional $600 - $1,200 on top of your base rate to cover those costs.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $124 and $580.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $249.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $396 and $453 for the 751-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $1,161 for 2 movers in Phoenix, Arizona, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Phoenix to San Francisco?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)
The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.
Freight trailer costs from Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco, CA
For larger DIY moves from Phoenix, Arizona, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to San Francisco, California.
Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For most medium-to-large moves on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,114 and $2,143.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Phoenix to San Francisco:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $946 - $1,776
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,114 - $2,143
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,448 - $2,791
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $124 - $249 to your final bill.
- Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
- Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in Phoenix, Arizona, typically costs $1,161.
What are the best freight companies from Phoenix to San Francisco?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.
- Empire Transport (4.84/5 stars): Empire Transport is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Local ownership translates to accessible support staff and facilities based in the communities they serve, giving customers more direct communication than they'd typically get from a national-only freight network.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in San Francisco fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.
Cost of living: Phoenix, AZ vs San Francisco, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in San Francisco, side by side with Phoenix on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Phoenix, AZ | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 113 | 245 |
| Average rent | $1,695/mo | $3,250/mo |
| Median home value | $380,294 | $1,374,773 |
| Average income | $77,041/yr | $141,446/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| State income tax | Up to 2.5% | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 41/100 | 99/100 |
| Safety index | 46.94/100 | 38.59/100 |
| Air quality | Moderate | Moderate |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our San Francisco, CA to Phoenix, AZ guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Arizona to California over the past 3 months, giving us some of the most up-to-date pricing data around. Running your move through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. There are 97 movers in our Arizona network to compare for this 751-mile move.
Our take
The 751-mile move from Phoenix, AZ, to San Francisco, CA, costs between $1,827 and $8,120 with full-service movers, $1,107 - $3,562 with a moving container, and $575 - $1,450 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $2,274 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Lyft and Securitize.
FAQs: Moving from Phoenix, AZ, to San Francisco, CA
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco, CA?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
What is the best time of year to move from Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco, CA?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
How long does a move from Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco, CA take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($396 - $453), daily insurance ($50/day), and equipment rentals ($12 - $33) on top. Overnight stops can add another $249/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
What is the cheapest way to move from Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco, CA?
Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $638 - $1,272. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What percentage of Phoenix movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 77% of movers in Phoenix handle piano moves, and 55% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
