($1,596+) Washington DC, MD to Los Angeles, CA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Washington DC, MD to Los Angeles, CA

For the 2,668-mile move from Washington DC, Maryland, to Los Angeles, California, full-service movers cost between $2,555 and $12,125. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $466 - $3,108 (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 Washington DC generally start around $180 plus $85 per hour, per mover.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Washington DC to Los Angeles:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,555 - $6,109
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,897 - $8,227
• 4+ bedrooms: $7,033 - $12,125

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 Washington DC to Los Angeles.

Specialty moving services from Washington DC, MD to Los Angeles, CA

Specialty needs vary by market — 93% of Washington DC movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Los Angeles, 88% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from Washington DC to Los Angeles?

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 Washington DC, MD to Los Angeles, CA

Moving containers from Washington DC, Maryland, to Los Angeles, California, cost between $1,906 and $7,086. 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 Washington DC runs about $100/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Washington DC to Los Angeles:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,906 - $3,965
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,674 - $5,468
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,510 - $7,086

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $117 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $233 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 $1,088 in Washington DC, MD, 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 Los Angeles, CA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

What are the best moving containers Washington DC to Los Angeles?

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 Washington DC, MD to Los Angeles, CA

A rental truck for this 2,668-mile move from Washington DC, Maryland, to Los Angeles, California, costs between $1,550 and $4,299. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

• Fuel for the drive: $1,319 - $1,508
• Daily insurance: $47/day
• Equipment rentals: $11 - $31
• Washington DC daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.99 - $1.19

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Washington DC to Los Angeles based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,550 - $3,064
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,628 - $3,611
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,227 - $4,299

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
• Lodging: Budget around $233 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 Washington DC, Maryland, usually costs about $1,088 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
• Gas: Fuel for the 2,668-mile drive falls between $1,319 and $1,508, 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 $78 and $466 to your total.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Washington DC to Los Angeles?

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 Washington DC, MD to Los Angeles, CA

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Washington DC, Maryland, to Los Angeles, California. 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 $1,399 and $4,120.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Washington DC to Los Angeles:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,839 - $3,263
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,038 - $4,120
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,920 - $5,495

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 Washington DC, Maryland, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $1,088.
• More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $117 and $233 per foot.

What are the best freight companies from Washington DC to Los Angeles?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Terminal Transportation Services (4.7/5 stars): Terminal Transportation Services is our pick for best locally owned freight company. Their locally owned and operated facilities mean you work with support staff who know the route and the area, giving you more responsive scheduling than national-only carriers typically offer.

Cost of living: Washington DC, MD vs Los Angeles, CA

Day-to-day costs in Los Angeles are close to what you're used to in Washington DC: cost of living index of 162 versus 151, with average rent of $2,960/mo compared to $2,400/mo. Housing, income, and taxes are all in a similar range, so budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores are close too, at 77/100 and 39.63/100 in Washington DC versus 69/100 and 46.19/100 in Los Angeles.