($876+) San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX

The cost to move from San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX ranges from $1,317 to $9,825, with an average cost of $3,500. Moves can be as low as $876 if you're wanting to DIY it.

This move covers about 1,358 miles and usually takes 3 to 8 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.

Compare moving options from San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX

Moving options from San Diego to Dallas fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,317 - $9,825 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $3,500, and movers handle all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This particular route covers 1,358 miles and typically takes 3 to 8 days depending on the service you pick.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,358-mile route from San Diego to Dallas, broken down by home size:

Home size Full-service movers Moving container Rental truck Freight trailer
Studio / 1 bedroom $1,317 - $5,037 $1,363 - $2,621 $884 - $1,590 $1,265 - $2,429
2 - 3 bedrooms $2,876 - $6,972 $1,866 - $3,694 $955 - $2,030 $1,421 - $2,725
4+ bedrooms $4,998 - $9,825 $2,412 - $4,770 $1,250 - $2,551 $1,968 - $3,626

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.

Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental Truck
Budget Truck Rental
star star star star star 4.3 / 5
Read our full Budget review
Affordable pricing
Online estimates
Several discounts
Freight
MovingYourself
star star star star star 4.5 / 5
Read our full MovingYourself review
Fast delivery
Nationwide
100+ miles moves

Full-service moving costs from San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX

Full-service movers for the 1,358-mile relocation from San Diego, California, to Dallas, Texas, cost between $1,317 and $9,825. 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 $399 - $2,660, 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 San Diego typically charge a base rate around $226 plus $200 per hour, per mover.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from San Diego to Dallas:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,317 - $5,037
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,876 - $6,972
  • 4+ bedrooms: $4,998 - $9,825

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 San Diego to Dallas.

The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from California to Texas. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.

Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.

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Specialty moving services from San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX

Specialty needs vary by market — 100% of San Diego movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Dallas, 94% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing100% of local movers$665 - $6,650
Storage in transitNew place not ready100% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: McCarthy Transfer & Storage$266 - $1,596/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$399 - $3,192
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage53% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs44% of local movers$1,330 - $3,990
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$3,325 - $13,300
Car shippingSecond vehicle$996 - $1,893
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items59% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: McCarthy Transfer & Storage$1,330 - $3,325
PianoAny piano type75% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: McCarthy Transfer & Storage$1,064 - $4,655
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling47% of local movers$399 - $1,995
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect41% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Cali Moving & Storage Corp$865 - $2,660
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$399 - $19,950+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$399 - $4,655+

What are the best full-service movers from San Diego to Dallas?

All three below meet the standards set by the Southwest Movers Association, the group most Texas movers are affiliated with.

  1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
  2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
  3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.

Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in San Diego, CA. 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 San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX

Moving containers from San Diego, California, to Dallas, Texas, cost between $1,363 and $4,770. With a moving container, you load on your own schedule. U-Haul gives you 3 days to fill yours, while PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're ready, the company transports it straight to your new place. Need more time first? Storage in San Diego typically costs about $100/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from San Diego to Dallas:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,363 - $2,621
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,866 - $3,694
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,412 - $4,770

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $100 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $200 per month.
  • Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Dallas, TX, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
  • Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $931 in San Diego, CA. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
  • Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.

Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a California to Texas 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 $1,363. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,866 - $3,694, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers San Diego to Dallas?

  1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
  2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
  3. 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 San Diego 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 San Diego:

  • McCarthy Transfer & Storage (4.8/5), 106 years in business
  • Cali Moving & Storage Corp (4.8/5), 10 years in business
  • TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.5/5), 13 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX

Truck rentals from San Diego, California, to Dallas, Texas, range from $884 - $2,551 for the 1,358-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

  • Fuel for the drive: $575 - $657
  • Daily insurance: $40/day
  • Equipment rentals: $9 - $27
  • San Diego daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09
Home sizeTypical truck size
Studio / 1 bedroom10 - 12 ft
2 - 3 bedrooms15 - 17 ft
4+ bedrooms20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel)

These are typical moving truck rental costs from San Diego to Dallas based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $884 - $1,590
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $955 - $2,030
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,250 - $2,551

Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from San Diego to Dallas starts at $884 - $2,551, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($575 - $657) , overnight lodging ($200/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?

  • Gas: Fuel adds $575 - $657 for the 1,358-mile drive, depending on whether your rental truck runs on gas or diesel.
  • Moving labor: You'll handle the heavy lifting unless you bring in help. Two movers in San Diego, California, for about 5 hours typically costs around $931.
  • Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
  • Lodging: The 1,358-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $200 per night, adding $399 - $599 in hotel costs total.
  • Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $67 and $399.

What are the best moving truck rentals from San Diego to Dallas?

  1. Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
  2. Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
  3. 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 San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX

Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from San Diego, California, to Dallas, Texas. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.

Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. Most long-distance moves using this method run roughly between $1,421 and $2,725.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from San Diego to Dallas:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,265 - $2,429
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,421 - $2,725
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,968 - $3,626

Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.

What other costs come with freight trailers?

  • Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
  • More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $100 - $200 more per foot.
  • Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in San Diego, California, for about five hours typically runs $931.

What are the best freight companies from San Diego to Dallas?

  1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the pick for best for large moves. The company is well-regarded as a top moving container option for its load-it-yourself, we-drive-it model, and that same model makes it a strong freight option for larger homes that benefit from the company's 53-foot trucks and footage-based pricing.
  2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Alongside their flagship container service, U-Pack provides a top-notch freight trailer option that follows the same model: no deposits, no upfront fees, and pricing based on the linear footage you actually use.
  3. Fast Transportation (4.34/5 stars): Fast Transportation is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and based facilities mean accessible support staff and area-specific scheduling flexibility that national-only freight carriers typically don't match.

Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Dallas 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: San Diego, CA vs Dallas, TX

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Dallas, side by side with San Diego on housing, income, and taxes.

Measure San Diego, CA Dallas, TX
Cost of living index155100
Average rent$2,881/mo$1,774/mo
Median home value$847,715$303,018
Average income$104,321/yr$67,760/yr
Unemployment rate6.6%3.6%
State income taxUp to 13.3%None
Walkability score53/10046/100
Safety index60.17/10048.6/100
Air qualityModerateGood

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 Dallas, TX to San Diego, CA guide.

Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:

In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from California to Texas, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors. We track 374 movers in California, so you have real options to compare for this 1,358-mile move.

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Our take

How you handle your interstate move from San Diego, CA, to Dallas, TX, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $1,317 - $9,825 on the 1,358-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,363 - $4,770 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $884 - $2,551 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,876 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.

Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Dallas tend to point to ample economic opportunity and fabulous weather, though high housing costs and terrible traffic come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and American Airlines Group, Inc..

FAQs: Moving from San Diego, CA, to Dallas, TX

What are some tips for saving money on a move from San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX?

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 do local movers charge in San Diego?

Local movers based in San Diego typically start around $226 as a base rate, plus $200/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Dallas run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.

How long does a move from San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX 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 are the best neighborhoods in Dallas?

For families, Preston Hollow, Lake Highlands, and Uptown are worth a look in Dallas. If you're moving solo or without kids, Bishop Arts District, Deep Ellum, and Design District tend to be popular picks instead.

What is the cheapest way to move from San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX?

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 $955 - $2,030. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.

What percentage of San Diego movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 75% of movers in San Diego handle piano moves, and 59% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.