($570+) Tempe, AZ to San Francisco, CA Movers
Moving from Tempe, AZ, to San Francisco, CA, runs anywhere from $570 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,203 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 761 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 $1,810, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,203 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,140 - $3,816, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $570 - $1,496.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Tempe, 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 Tempe, AZ to San Francisco, CA
Moving options from Tempe to San Francisco fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. The most hands-off option, full-service, runs $2,274 - $5,702 for a 2-3 bedroom home and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers cost about 30% less than full-service for the same size, and rental trucks land around 60% less, with both DIY options requiring you to load yourself. Covering 761 miles, this route usually takes 2 to 7 days from pickup to delivery.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 761-mile route from Tempe 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 $1,810 - $4,305 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,140 - $1,932), rental truck ($570 - $1,050), or freight trailer ($986 - $1,866). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $2,274 - $5,702 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $8,203.
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 Tempe, AZ to San Francisco, CA
A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 761-mile move from Tempe, Arizona, to San Francisco, California, with prices running from $1,810 - $8,203. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $497 - $3,316 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Tempe and San Francisco are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Tempe movers tend to run around $200 as a base rate plus $85/hour per mover, for comparison.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Tempe to San Francisco:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,810 - $4,305
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,274 - $5,702
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,281 - $8,203
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 Tempe 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: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.
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Specialty moving services from Tempe, AZ to San Francisco, CA
Specialty needs vary by market — 85% of Tempe 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: Mentors Moving & Storage | $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: Mentors Moving & Storage | $1,658 - $4,145 |
| Piano | Any piano type77% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Mentors Moving & Storage | $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 Tempe 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 full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in Tempe, AZ. Local companies typically run 30% - 40% more at longer distances because they aren't set up to consolidate shipments the way national carriers do. The one case where a local mover might be worth the premium is if you want a dedicated direct-route truck, which averages a 2-day delivery time, but expect to pay more for that convenience.
Moving container costs from Tempe, AZ to San Francisco, CA
Moving containers from Tempe, Arizona, to San Francisco, California, cost between $1,140 and $3,816. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to San Francisco. If you go over that window, storage in Tempe adds around $90/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Tempe to San Francisco:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,140 - $1,932
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,435 - $2,708
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,962 - $3,816
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $1,161 in Tempe, AZ. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
- Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $124 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $249 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
- Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your San Francisco, CA, destination before booking.
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 $1,140. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,435 - $2,708, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Tempe 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 Tempe 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 Tempe:
- Mentors Moving & Storage (4.7/5), 9 years in business
- Gilbert Moving & Storage (4.9/5), 9 years in business
- Camelback Moving (4.8/5), 21 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Tempe, AZ to San Francisco, CA
A rental truck for this 761-mile move from Tempe, Arizona, to San Francisco, California, costs between $570 and $1,496. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $401 - $459
- Daily insurance: $50/day
- Equipment rentals: $12 - $33
- Tempe 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 Tempe to San Francisco based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $570 - $1,050
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $632 - $1,259
- 4+ bedrooms: $732 - $1,496
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $570 - $1,496 when pricing out a rental truck from Tempe to San Francisco. Fuel alone runs ($401 - $459) , and overnight lodging ($249/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend an additional $600 - $1,200 beyond the base rate by the time the move is done.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $249 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
- Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Tempe, Arizona, usually costs about $1,161 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 761-mile drive falls between $401 and $459, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $83 and $497 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Tempe 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 Tempe, AZ to San Francisco, CA
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Tempe, Arizona, to San Francisco, California. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.
Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $1,492 and $2,233.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Tempe to San Francisco:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $986 - $1,866
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,171 - $2,233
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,600 - $2,966
Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $124 and $249.
- Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
- Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in Tempe, Arizona, for roughly five hours typically average $1,161.
What are the best freight companies from Tempe to San Francisco?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
- Empire Transport (4.84/5 stars): Empire Transport is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned facilities and accessible live support staff make scheduling and route coordination easier on local-area routes than what most national freight providers can offer.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Tempe to San Francisco, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.
Cost of living: Tempe, 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 Tempe on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Tempe, AZ | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 113 | 245 |
| Average rent | $1,834/mo | $3,250/mo |
| Median home value | $421,086 | $1,374,773 |
| Average income | $77,643/yr | $141,446/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| State income tax | Up to 2.5% | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 54/100 | 99/100 |
| Safety index | 57.64/100 | 38.59/100 |
| Air quality | Good | 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 Tempe, AZ guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Arizona to California in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 97 movers based in Arizona, handy for sizing up options on this 761-mile route.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 761-mile route from Tempe, AZ, to San Francisco, CA, run $1,810 - $8,203 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,140 - $3,816, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $570 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,274, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Lyft and Securitize.
FAQs: Moving from Tempe, AZ, to San Francisco, CA
What size moving truck do I need for this route?
Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 3 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
Is San Francisco a safe place to live?
San Francisco has a safety index of 38.59 out of 100 and a crime index of 61.41, compared to 57.64 and 42.36 in Tempe. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What is the cheapest way to move from Tempe, 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 $632 - $1,259. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What are the best neighborhoods in San Francisco?
For families, Bernal Heights, Inner Sunset, and Noe Valley are worth a look in San Francisco. If you're moving solo or without kids, Marina District, Mission Bay, and Mission District tend to be popular picks instead.
How long does a move from Tempe, 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 percentage of Tempe movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 77% of movers in Tempe handle piano moves, and 55% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
