($1,302+) San Francisco, CA to Madison, WI Movers

Full-service moving costs from San Francisco, CA to Madison, WI

Full-service movers for the 2,085-mile relocation from San Francisco, California, to Madison, Wisconsin, cost between $1,378 and $11,384. 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 $565 - $3,764, 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 Francisco typically charge a base rate around $284 plus $150 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,378 - $5,497
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,676 - $8,017
• 4+ bedrooms: $7,027 - $11,384

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 Francisco to Madison.

Specialty moving services from San Francisco, CA to Madison, WI

Specialty needs vary by market — 87% of San Francisco movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Madison, 100% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from San Francisco to Madison?

Wisconsin Movers Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in Wisconsin, on top of the picks below.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing means no surprise charges on moving day, and their support team is consistently rated among the most responsive in the industry.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here, 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.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.

Moving container costs from San Francisco, CA to Madison, WI

Moving containers from San Francisco, California, to Madison, Wisconsin, cost between $1,739 and $5,958. 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 Francisco typically costs about $120/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from San Francisco to Madison:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,739 - $3,373
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,096 - $4,502
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,055 - $5,958

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both San Francisco, CA and Madison, WI. Still, double-check that a nearby facility is available if you need to access your belongings before delivery.
• Moving labor: Because containers are self-loaded, many customers hire hourly help. Two movers for about 5 hours typically cost around $1,317 in San Francisco, CA, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $141 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $282 for larger ones (12 - 16 feet).
• Added contents protection: For more coverage beyond the standard minimum, full-value protection is the typical upgrade, generally 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value. On a $50,000 household, that's roughly $500 - $1,000 as a one-time fee.

What are the best moving containers San Francisco to Madison?

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

Moving truck rental costs from San Francisco, CA to Madison, WI

Plan on $1,227 - $3,415 for a rental moving truck on the 2,085-mile route from San Francisco, California, to Madison, Wisconsin. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $1,249 - $1,427
• Daily insurance: $56/day
• Equipment rentals: $13 - $38
• San Francisco daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.59

These are typical moving truck rental costs from San Francisco to Madison based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,227 - $2,319
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,342 - $2,903
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,693 - $3,415

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in San Francisco, California, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $1,317.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $1,249 - $1,427 for the 2,085-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
• Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $113 and $612, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $282 per night for hotel stops on the 2,085-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $565 - $847.

What are the best moving truck rentals from San Francisco to Madison?

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 Francisco, CA to Madison, WI

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from San Francisco, California, to Madison, Wisconsin. 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 $1,694 and $3,492.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,457 - $2,977
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,730 - $3,492
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,493 - $4,866

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 $141 - $282 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in San Francisco, California, for about five hours typically runs $1,317.

What are the best freight companies from San Francisco to Madison?

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. PRO Logistics (4.54/5 stars): PRO Logistics 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.

Cost of living: San Francisco, CA vs Madison, WI

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

Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.