($1,715+) Boston, MA to San Francisco, CA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Boston, MA to San Francisco, CA

For the 3,095-mile move from Boston, Massachusetts, to San Francisco, California, full-service movers cost between $2,869 and $14,419. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $566 - $3,772 (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 Boston generally start around $340 plus $100 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,869 - $6,453
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $4,414 - $8,597
• 4+ bedrooms: $7,890 - $14,419

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 Boston to San Francisco.

Specialty moving services from Boston, MA to San Francisco, CA

Specialty needs vary by market — 96% of Boston movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In San Francisco, 87% of movers offer the same service.

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

If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in California Moving & Storage Association is a good first thing to confirm.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.

Moving container costs from Boston, MA to San Francisco, CA

Moving containers from Boston, Massachusetts, to San Francisco, California, cost between $2,059 and $7,894. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in Boston runs about $145/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,059 - $4,020
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,754 - $5,543
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,806 - $7,894

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Moving labor: Because loading is on you with a container move, hourly labor help is a popular add-on. In Boston, MA, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $1,320, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: After the first month, ongoing rental fees kick in. A small container (7 - 8 feet) averages about $141 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $283 per month.
• Access: Most major container companies serve both Boston, MA, and San Francisco, CA, but confirm a facility is within reasonable distance if you need to retrieve items while in storage.
• Added contents protection: Full-value protection provides broader coverage than the standard liability in your contract. It typically costs 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on $50,000 worth of belongings.

What are the best moving containers Boston to San Francisco?

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 Boston, MA to San Francisco, CA

A rental truck for this 3,095-mile move from Boston, Massachusetts, to San Francisco, California, costs between $1,801 and $4,865. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

• Fuel for the drive: $1,857 - $2,123
• Daily insurance: $57/day
• Equipment rentals: $13 - $38
• Boston daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.89 - $1.09

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,801 - $3,226
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,913 - $3,881
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,253 - $4,865

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Gas: Fuel adds $1,857 - $2,123 for the 3,095-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 Boston, Massachusetts, for about 5 hours typically costs around $1,320.
• Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
• Lodging: The 3,095-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $283 per night, adding $566 - $849 in hotel costs total.
• Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $94 and $566.

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

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 Boston, MA to San Francisco, CA

For larger DIY moves from Boston, Massachusetts, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to San Francisco, California.

Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For most medium-to-large moves on this route, pricing typically falls between $2,093 and $4,572.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,930 - $3,728
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,093 - $4,572
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,045 - $6,631

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 $141 - $283 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 Boston, Massachusetts, typically costs $1,320.

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

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
3. Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. (4.7/5 stars): Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned facilities and accessible live support staff make scheduling and route coordination easier on local-area routes than what most national freight providers can offer.

Cost of living: Boston, MA vs San Francisco, CA

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in San Francisco, side by side with Boston 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.