($545+) Oakland, CA to Seattle, WA Movers

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The cost to move from Oakland, CA to Seattle, WA ranges from $1,208 to $7,820, with an average cost of $2,850. Moves can be as low as $545 if you're wanting to DIY it.

This move covers about 801 miles and usually takes 2 to 7 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.

Compare moving options from Oakland, CA to Seattle, WA

Moving options from Oakland to Seattle fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,208 - $7,820 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $2,850, and movers handle all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 41% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 75% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This particular route covers 801 miles and typically takes 2 to 7 days depending on the service you pick.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 801-mile route from Oakland to Seattle, broken down by home size:

Home size Full-service movers Moving container Rental truck Freight trailer
Studio / 1 bedroom $1,208 - $4,332 $1,097 - $1,942 $534 - $1,048 $958 - $1,818
2 - 3 bedrooms $2,397 - $5,848 $1,423 - $2,587 $588 - $1,296 $1,106 - $2,091
4+ bedrooms $3,884 - $7,820 $1,892 - $3,412 $790 - $1,495 $1,529 - $2,954

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.

Professional moving
Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Moving container
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental truck
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 trailer
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 Oakland, CA to Seattle, WA

Full-service movers for the 801-mile relocation from Oakland, California, to Seattle, Washington, cost between $1,208 and $7,820. 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 $542 - $3,616, 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 Oakland typically charge a base rate around $281 plus $147 per hour, per mover.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Oakland to Seattle:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,208 - $4,332
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,397 - $5,848
  • 4+ bedrooms: $3,884 - $7,820

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 Oakland to Seattle.

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 Oakland, CA to Seattle, WA

Specialty needs vary by market: 53% of Oakland movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Seattle, 57% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing76% of local movers$904 - $9,040
Storage in transitNew place not ready53% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Pure Moving Company$362 - $2,170/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$542 - $4,339
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage15% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs52% of local movers$1,808 - $5,424
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$4,520 - $18,080
Car shippingSecond vehicle$1,354 - $2,573
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items29% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Pure Moving Company$1,808 - $4,520
PianoAny piano type38% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Got2Move$1,446 - $6,328
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling4% of local movers$542 - $2,712
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect4% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Silicon Valley Moving and Storage (CA)$1,175 - $3,616
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$542 - $27,120+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$542 - $6,328+

What are the best full-service movers from Oakland to Seattle?

All three below meet the standards set by the Washington Movers Conference, the group most Washington 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 full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in Oakland, CA. 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 Oakland, CA to Seattle, WA

Moving containers from Oakland, California, to Seattle, Washington, cost between $1,097 and $3,412. 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 Seattle. If you go over that window, storage in Oakland adds around $120/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Oakland to Seattle:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,097 - $1,942
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,423 - $2,587
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,892 - $3,412

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $136 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $271 per month.
  • Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Seattle, WA, 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 $1,266 in Oakland, 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 Washington 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 $1,097. 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 $1,423 - $2,587.

What are the best moving containers Oakland to Seattle?

  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 Oakland 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 Oakland:

  • Sweet Lemon Moving Services (5.0/5), 9 years in business
  • Got2Move (4.8/5), 19 years in business
  • 680 Movers (4.8/5), 9 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from Oakland, CA to Seattle, WA

Renting a moving truck for the 801-mile move from Oakland, California, to Seattle, Washington, costs between $534 and $1,495, before these typical add-ons:

  • Fuel for the drive: $461 - $527
  • Daily insurance: $54/day
  • Equipment rentals: $13 - $36
  • Oakland daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.39
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 Oakland to Seattle based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $534 - $1,048
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $588 - $1,296
  • 4+ bedrooms: $790 - $1,495

Pro tip: The base rate of $534 - $1,495 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from Oakland to Seattle. Fuel ($461 - $527), lodging at around $271/night, meals, and equipment rentals are all on top of that. Factor in roughly $600 - $1,200 more for meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging to get a realistic picture of what the move will actually cost.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
  • Lodging: Budget around $271 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 Oakland, California, usually costs about $1,266 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
  • Gas: Fuel for the 801-mile drive falls between $461 and $527, 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 $90 and $542 to your total.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Oakland to Seattle?

  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 Oakland, CA to Seattle, WA

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Oakland, California, to Seattle, Washington. 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 $1,627 and $2,091.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Oakland to Seattle:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $958 - $1,818
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,106 - $2,091
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,529 - $2,954

Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.

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 $136 - $271 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 Oakland, California, typically costs $1,266.

What are the best freight companies from Oakland to Seattle?

  1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
  2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.

Pro tip: One of the biggest advantages of freight trailers is speed. For an interstate move, freight delivery is one of the fastest options you have short of driving a rental truck yourself. It's a smart choice when your timeline is firm and you'll be ready to receive your shipment. If there's any chance your new place won't be ready or you need a few weeks of storage, a moving container with built-in storage may serve you better.

Cost of living: Oakland, CA vs Seattle, WA

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

Measure Oakland, CA Seattle, WA
Cost of living index196158
Average rent$2,200/mo$1,975/mo
Median home value$925,411$911,938
Average income$97,369/yr$121,984/yr
Unemployment rate4.5%4.8%
State income taxUp to 13.3%None
Walkability score75/10074/100
Safety index31.38/10049.23/100
Air qualityGoodGood

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 Seattle, WA to Oakland, CA guide.

Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:

In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from California to Washington, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 1,154 movers licensed in California, useful context for sizing up this 801-mile move.

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Our take

A move from Oakland, CA, to Seattle, WA, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $1,208 - $7,820 on the 801-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,097 - $3,412, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $534 - $1,495. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $2,397 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.

Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Seattle tend to point to beautiful nature and ample economic opportunity, though high cost of living and rainy weather come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include Amazon.com and Starbucks.

FAQs: Moving from Oakland, CA, to Seattle, WA

Is Seattle a safe place to live?

Seattle has a safety index of 49.23 out of 100 and a crime index of 58.88, compared to 31.38 and 68.62 in Oakland. 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 Seattle?

Seattle has a walkability score of 74 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 71, compared to 75 and 65 in Oakland. 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 Seattle?

For families, Greenwood, Laurelhurst, and Magnolia are worth a look in Seattle. If you're moving solo or without kids, Ballard, Capitol Hill, and Fremont tend to be popular picks instead.

How do I know a mover is licensed in Washington?

Movers operating within Washington DC city limits are subject to regulation by the Utilities and Transportation Commission, which issues operating permits to household goods moving companies.

What do local movers charge in Oakland?

Local movers based in Oakland typically start around $281 as a base rate, plus $147/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 Seattle run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.

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

About 38% of movers in Oakland handle piano moves, and 29% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.