($1,520+) Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA Movers
The cost to move from Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA ranges from $1,236 to $12,260, with an average cost of $4,400. Moves can be as low as $1,520 if you're wanting to DIY it.
This move covers about 2,663 miles and usually takes 7 to 21 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
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Compare moving options from Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA
Moving options from Los Angeles to Arlington fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,236 - $12,260 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $4,400, and movers handle all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 40% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 58% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This particular route covers 2,663 miles and typically takes 7 to 21 days depending on the service you pick.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,663-mile route from Los Angeles to Arlington, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,236 - $5,586 | $1,928 - $3,633 | $1,476 - $2,776 | $1,717 - $3,205 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,825 - $7,531 | $2,306 - $5,258 | $1,599 - $3,305 | $1,942 - $4,207 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $6,980 - $12,260 | $3,245 - $6,684 | $1,980 - $4,303 | $2,754 - $5,237 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA
For the 2,663-mile move from Los Angeles, California, to Arlington, Virginia, full-service movers cost between $1,236 and $12,260. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $488 - $3,256 (1 - 5+ bedrooms), crews will pack your boxes. The weight of your shipment and the mileage between the two cities are what drive your final cost. For scale, local movers in Los Angeles generally start around $200 plus $100 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Los Angeles to Arlington:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,236 - $5,586
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,825 - $7,531
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,980 - $12,260
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 Los Angeles to Arlington.
Pro tip: The summer months (May - September) are the busiest time of year for movers during peak moving season, which drives up prices and limits scheduling options. If you can move in the fall or winter, you'll likely find better rates and more flexibility.
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Specialty moving services from Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA
Specialty needs vary by market: 56% of Los Angeles movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Arlington, 70% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing78% of local movers | $814 - $8,140 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready56% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: SOS Moving, LLC | $326 - $1,954/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $488 - $3,907 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage14% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs53% of local movers | $1,628 - $4,884 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $4,070 - $16,280 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,219 - $2,317 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items29% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: SOS Moving, LLC | $1,628 - $4,070 |
| Piano | Any piano type40% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: SOS Moving, LLC | $1,302 - $5,698 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling10% of local movers | $488 - $2,442 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect4% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Silicon Valley Moving and Storage (CA) | $1,058 - $3,256 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $488 - $24,420+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $488 - $5,698+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Los Angeles to Arlington?
Look for Virginia Movers & Warehousemen’s Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Virginia 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 movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Los Angeles, CA. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.
Moving container costs from Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA
Moving containers from Los Angeles, California, to Arlington, Virginia, cost between $1,928 and $6,684. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in Los Angeles typically runs around $110/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Los Angeles to Arlington:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,928 - $3,633
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,306 - $5,258
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,245 - $6,684
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 $1,140 in Los Angeles, CA. 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 $122 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $244 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 Arlington, VA, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a California to Virginia 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 $1,928. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $2,306 - $5,258.
What are the best moving containers Los Angeles to Arlington?
- 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 Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles:
- Box-N-Go, LLC (4.8/5), 19 years in business
- Rigo's Moving Company Inc (4.3/5), 12 years in business
- Best California Movers (5.0/5), 8 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA
Plan on $1,476 - $4,303 for a rental moving truck on the 2,663-mile route from Los Angeles, California, to Arlington, Virginia. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:
- Fuel for the drive: $1,379 - $1,576
- Daily insurance: $49/day
- Equipment rentals: $11 - $33
- Los Angeles daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09
| 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 Los Angeles to Arlington based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,476 - $2,776
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,599 - $3,305
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,980 - $4,303
Pro tip: A rental truck from Los Angeles to Arlington looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $1,476 - $4,303. But once you factor in fuel ($1,379 - $1,576), overnight lodging ($244/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
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 $122 and $570.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $244.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $1,379 and $1,576 for the 2,663-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 $1,140 for 2 movers in Los Angeles, California, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Los Angeles to Arlington?
- 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 Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Los Angeles, California, to Arlington, Virginia, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.
What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Pricing for a 2 - 3 bedroom move of this distance typically lands between $1,942 and $4,207.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Los Angeles to Arlington:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,717 - $3,205
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,942 - $4,207
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,754 - $5,237
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?
- Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
- Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in Los Angeles, California, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $1,140.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $122 and $244 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Los Angeles to Arlington?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is our pick for best for large moves. The company is best known as a top moving container option for its hybrid model where you load and they drive, and that same model translates well to freight thanks to their 53-foot trucks and pay-by-the-foot pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Beyond their flagship container service, U-Pack also runs freight trailers with the same no-deposit, no-upfront-fee model, charging only for the linear footage you actually fill.
Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Los Angeles to Arlington. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: Los Angeles, CA vs Arlington, VA
Good news for your budget: Arlington isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Los Angeles. Cost of living index runs 164 there against 162 here. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. For reference, walkability and safety scores are 69/100 and 46.19/100 here versus 71/100 and 79.15/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Arlington, VA to Los Angeles, CA guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from California to Virginia 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 1,154 movers in our California network to compare for this 2,663-mile move.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Los Angeles, CA, to Arlington, VA, 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 $1,236 - $12,260 on the 2,663-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,928 - $6,684 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $1,476 - $4,303 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $3,825 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include U.S. Department of Defense and Safran.
FAQs: Moving from Los Angeles, CA, to Arlington, VA
What is the best time of year to move from Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA?
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. Virginia also has a hurricane season running June through November, worth factoring into your timing if you have flexibility. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Los Angeles, CA to Arlington, VA?
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.
Is Arlington a safe place to live?
Arlington has a safety index of 79.15 out of 100 and a crime index of 15.67, compared to 46.19 and 53.81 in Los Angeles. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
How walkable is Arlington?
Arlington has a walkability score of 71 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 72, compared to 69 and 59 in Los Angeles. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What are the best neighborhoods in Arlington?
For families, Arlington Ridge, Barcroft, and Chain Bridge Forest are worth a look in Arlington. If you're moving solo or without kids, Aurora Highlands, Ballston-Virginia Square, and Bluemont tend to be popular picks instead.
What percentage of Los Angeles movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 40% of movers in Los Angeles handle piano moves, and 29% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.