($1,637+) Portland, ME to Los Angeles, CA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Portland, ME to Los Angeles, CA

Full-service movers for the 3,081-mile relocation from Portland, Maine, to Los Angeles, California, cost between $3,212 and $14,773. 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 $396 - $2,640, 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 Portland typically charge a base rate around $382 plus $135 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $3,212 - $7,010
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $4,991 - $9,242
• 4+ bedrooms: $8,844 - $14,773

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 Portland to Los Angeles.

Specialty moving services from Portland, ME to Los Angeles, CA

Specialty needs vary by market: 53% of Portland movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Los Angeles, 56% of movers offer the same service.

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

California Moving & Storage Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in California, 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 Portland, ME to Los Angeles, CA

Moving containers from Portland, Maine, to Los Angeles, California, cost between $1,986 and $7,535. 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 Portland typically runs around $100/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,986 - $4,111
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,550 - $5,291
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,451 - $7,535

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $924 in Portland, ME. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
• Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $99 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $198 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
• Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Los Angeles, CA, destination before booking.

What are the best moving containers Portland 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 Portland, ME to Los Angeles, CA

Plan on $1,637 - $4,737 for a rental moving truck on the 3,081-mile route from Portland, Maine, to Los Angeles, California. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $1,294 - $1,479
• Daily insurance: $40/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $26
• Portland daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,637 - $3,304
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,701 - $3,972
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,151 - $4,737

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $99 and $462.
• Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $198.
• Gas: Expect fuel to run between $1,294 and $1,479 for the 3,081-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $924 for 2 movers in Portland, Maine, for about 5 hours.
• Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Portland 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 Portland, ME to Los Angeles, CA

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Portland, Maine, 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 $1,188 and $4,541.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,915 - $3,347
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,061 - $4,541
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,906 - $5,907

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 Portland, Maine, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $924.
• More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $99 and $198 per foot.

What are the best freight companies from Portland to Los Angeles?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.

Cost of living: Portland, ME vs Los Angeles, CA

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

Our take

The 3,081-mile move from Portland, ME, to Los Angeles, CA, costs between $3,212 and $14,773 with full-service movers, $1,986 - $7,535 with a moving container, and $1,637 - $4,737 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $4,991 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include County of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Unified School District.