($1,784+) Portland, ME to Ontario, CA Movers
Moving from Portland, ME, to Ontario, CA, runs anywhere from $1,697 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $15,161 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 3,045 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 7 to 21 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $3,267, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $15,161 or more.
- Moving containers run $2,144 - $7,736, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,697 - $5,110.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Portland, ME, to Ontario, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $5,330 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Portland, ME to Ontario, CA
Moving options from Portland to Ontario fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $5,330 - $10,498 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 60% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 3,045 miles and typically takes 7 to 21 days.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 3,045-mile route from Portland to Ontario, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $3,267 - $7,344 | $2,144 - $3,938 | $1,697 - $3,462 | $1,987 - $3,506 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $5,330 - $10,498 | $2,754 - $5,831 | $1,857 - $4,121 | $2,314 - $4,757 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $9,838 - $15,161 | $3,996 - $7,736 | $2,490 - $5,110 | $3,197 - $6,062 |
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 Portland, ME to Ontario, CA
Hiring full-service movers from Portland, Maine, to Ontario, California, costs between $3,267 and $15,161. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 3,045-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $344 - $2,296, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Portland and Ontario. For a rough baseline, movers based in Portland tend to start around $382 plus $135/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Portland to Ontario:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $3,267 - $7,344
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $5,330 - $10,498
- 4+ bedrooms: $9,838 - $15,161
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 Ontario.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Maine to California. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from Portland, ME to Ontario, CA
Specialty needs vary by market — 78% of Portland movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Ontario, 85% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $574 - $5,740 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready78% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $230 - $1,378/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $344 - $2,755 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage56% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs33% of local movers | $1,148 - $3,444 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,870 - $11,480 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $860 - $1,634 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items67% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Liberty Bell Moving & Storage of Maine | $1,148 - $2,870 |
| Piano | Any piano type100% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $918 - $4,018 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling89% of local movers | $344 - $1,722 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect78% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Liberty Bell Moving & Storage of Maine | $746 - $2,296 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $344 - $17,220+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $344 - $4,018+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Portland to Ontario?
Movers licensed to operate in California are typically members of the California Moving & Storage Association, 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 full-service movers are the more cost-efficient choice. Local movers in Portland, ME, often charge 30% - 40% more at that distance because their operations aren't built for long-haul logistics. The exception is if you want a dedicated point-to-point truck with an average 2-day delivery, though that level of service generally increases your total cost.
Moving container costs from Portland, ME to Ontario, CA
Moving containers from Portland, Maine, to Ontario, California, cost between $2,144 and $7,736. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Portland costs roughly $100/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Portland to Ontario:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,144 - $3,938
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,754 - $5,831
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,996 - $7,736
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $86 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $172 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Ontario, CA, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
- Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $804 in Portland, ME. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Maine to California 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 $2,144. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,754 - $5,831, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Portland to Ontario?
- 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 Portland 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 Portland:
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.8/5), 9 years in business
- Tiny Tim's Moving (4.3/5), 33 years in business
- Integrity Movers, 0 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Portland, ME to Ontario, CA
A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 3,045 miles from Portland, Maine, to Ontario, California, running $1,697 - $5,110. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:
- Fuel for the drive: $1,112 - $1,271
- Daily insurance: $34/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $23
- Portland daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89
| 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 Portland to Ontario based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,697 - $3,462
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,857 - $4,121
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,490 - $5,110
Pro tip: A rental truck from Portland to Ontario looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $1,697 - $5,110. But once you factor in fuel ($1,112 - $1,271) , overnight lodging ($172/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 $172 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 $75 and $373 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $1,112 - $1,271 in fuel for the 3,045-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $804 in Portland, Maine, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Portland to Ontario?
- 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 Portland, ME to Ontario, CA
Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Portland, Maine, to Ontario, California. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.
Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. Most long-distance moves using this method run roughly between $2,314 and $4,757.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Portland to Ontario:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,987 - $3,506
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,314 - $4,757
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,197 - $6,062
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
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 $804.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $86 and $172 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Portland to Ontario?
- 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.
- Dubois Livestock (3.96/5 stars): Dubois Livestock 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 Ontario 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: Portland, ME vs Ontario, CA
Good news for your budget: Ontario isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Portland. Cost of living index runs 119 there against 112 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 - 62/100 and 67.84/100 here versus 48/100 and 49.75/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Ontario, CA to Portland, ME guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Maine to California 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 15 movers based in Maine, handy for sizing up options on this 3,045-mile route.
Our take
For a move from Portland, ME, to Ontario, CA, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $3,267 for a studio to $15,161 for a 4 - 5 bedroom home on the 3,045-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $2,144 - $7,736. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $1,697 - $5,110, 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 $5,330 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage included, and 24/7 live customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Prime Healthcare and Niagara Bottling.
FAQs: Moving from Portland, ME, to Ontario, CA
What are the best neighborhoods in Ontario?
For families, Creekside, Parkview, and Ontario Ranch are worth a look in Ontario. If you're moving solo or without kids, Downtown Ontario, Piemonte, and Ontario Ranch tend to be popular picks instead.
What is the cheapest way to move from Portland, ME to Ontario, CA?
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 $1,857 - $4,121. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
Is Ontario a safe place to live?
Ontario has a safety index of 49.75 out of 100 and a crime index of 50.25, compared to 67.84 and 32.16 in Portland. 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 Portland, ME to Ontario, CA?
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 Portland movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 100% of movers in Portland handle piano moves, and 67% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
