($749+) Santa Ana, CA to Seattle, WA Movers
The cost to move from Santa Ana, CA to Seattle, WA ranges from $1,249 to $8,712, with an average cost of $3,350. Moves can be as low as $749 if you're wanting to DIY it.
This move covers about 1,166 miles and usually takes 2 to 8 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 Santa Ana, CA to Seattle, WA
Moving options from Santa Ana to Seattle fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,249 - $8,712 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $3,350, 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 1,166 miles and typically takes 2 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 1,166-mile route from Santa Ana to Seattle, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $1,249 for a studio up to $8,712 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,313 - $4,348 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $756 - $2,171, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $1,100 - $3,514, billed by the space you actually use.
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 Santa Ana, CA to Seattle, WA
Full-service movers for the 1,166-mile relocation from Santa Ana, California, to Seattle, Washington, cost between $1,249 and $8,712. 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 $487 - $3,244, 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 Santa Ana typically charge a base rate around $185 plus $75 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Santa Ana to Seattle:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,249 - $5,201
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,782 - $6,555
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,589 - $8,712
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 Santa Ana to Seattle.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from California to Washington. 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 Santa Ana, CA to Seattle, WA
Specialty needs vary by market — 84% of Santa Ana movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Seattle, 92% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $811 - $8,110 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready84% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Meathead Movers | $324 - $1,946/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $487 - $3,893 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage39% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs48% of local movers | $1,622 - $4,866 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $4,055 - $16,220 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,215 - $2,308 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items64% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: NorthStar Moving Company | $1,622 - $4,055 |
| Piano | Any piano type78% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: NorthStar Moving Company | $1,298 - $5,677 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling37% of local movers | $487 - $2,433 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect28% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: California Movers Local & Long Distance Moving Company | $1,054 - $3,244 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $487 - $24,330+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $487 - $5,677+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Santa Ana to Seattle?
Movers licensed to operate in Washington are typically members of the Washington Movers Conference, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana, CA to Seattle, WA
Moving containers from Santa Ana, California, to Seattle, Washington, cost between $1,313 and $4,348. 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 Santa Ana typically runs around $110/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Santa Ana to Seattle:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,313 - $2,361
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,625 - $3,421
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,243 - $4,348
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $122 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $243 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
- Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $1,135 in Santa Ana, CA, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
- Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Seattle, WA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
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 $1,313. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,625 - $3,421, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Santa Ana to Seattle?
- 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 Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana:
- California Movers Local & Long Distance Moving Company (5.0/5), 11 years in business
- Sterling Van Lines (4.6/5), 35 years in business
- Merit Moving Systems (4.9/5), 39 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Santa Ana, CA to Seattle, WA
A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 1,166 miles from Santa Ana, California, to Seattle, Washington, running $756 - $2,171. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:
- Fuel for the drive: $602 - $688
- Daily insurance: $49/day
- Equipment rentals: $11 - $32
- Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana to Seattle based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $756 - $1,483
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $801 - $1,799
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,016 - $2,171
Pro tip: A rental truck from Santa Ana to Seattle looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $756 - $2,171. But once you factor in fuel ($602 - $688) , overnight lodging ($243/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate suggests. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $243 per night. Most long-distance moves with rental trucks require 1 - 3 overnight stops.
- Equipment: Tow dollies, auto trailers, and specialty moving equipment can add between $105 and $527 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $602 - $688 in fuel for the 1,166-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $1,135 in Santa Ana, California, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Santa Ana to Seattle?
- 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 Santa Ana, CA to Seattle, WA
If you're moving a larger household from Santa Ana, California, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Seattle, Washington.
Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. Most moves on this route fall between $1,339 and $2,684.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Santa Ana to Seattle:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,100 - $2,167
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,339 - $2,684
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,813 - $3,514
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?
- 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 $122 and $243.
- 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 Santa Ana, California, for roughly five hours typically average $1,135.
What are the best freight companies from Santa Ana to Seattle?
- 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.
- 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.
- ALL Service Handling (4.76/5 stars): ALL Service Handling 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 one of the fastest ways to move your belongings interstate, often beating full-service movers on delivery time. If getting your stuff to Seattle quickly is a priority, freight is worth a hard look. That said, freight carriers typically require you to be available to receive your shipment within a set window, so if you need short-term storage or your new place won't be ready right away, a container or full-service mover may give you more flexibility.
Cost of living: Santa Ana, CA vs Seattle, WA
Good news for your budget: Seattle isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Santa Ana. Cost of living index runs 158 there against 165 here, and rent, income, and tax rates all fall in a comparable band. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores land in a similar range too - 67/100 and 45.83/100 here versus 74/100 and 49.23/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Seattle, WA to Santa Ana, CA guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from California to Washington 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 374 movers based in California, handy for sizing up options on this 1,166-mile route.
Our take
For a move from Santa Ana, CA, to Seattle, WA, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $1,249 for a studio to $8,712 for a 4 - 5 bedroom home on the 1,166-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,313 - $4,348. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $756 - $2,171, though you'll be handling the driving and loading yourself. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with quotes starting around $2,782 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage included, and 24/7 live customer 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 Santa Ana, CA, to Seattle, WA
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.
What is the cheapest way to move from Santa Ana, CA to Seattle, WA?
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 $801 - $1,799. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
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 45.83 and 54.17 in Santa Ana. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
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.
What is the best time of year to move from Santa Ana, CA to Seattle, WA?
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.
What percentage of Santa Ana movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 78% of movers in Santa Ana handle piano moves, and 64% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
