($1,531+) Philadelphia, PA to Lancaster, CA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Philadelphia, PA to Lancaster, CA

Full-service movers for the 2,693-mile relocation from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Lancaster, California, cost between $2,555 and $11,788. 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 $382 - $2,544, 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 Philadelphia typically charge a base rate around $282 plus $130 per hour, per mover.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Philadelphia to Lancaster:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,555 - $6,181
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,993 - $8,238
• 4+ bedrooms: $7,583 - $11,788

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 Philadelphia to Lancaster.

Specialty moving services from Philadelphia, PA to Lancaster, CA

Specialty needs vary by market — 90% of Philadelphia movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Lancaster, 95% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from Philadelphia to Lancaster?

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Moving container costs from Philadelphia, PA to Lancaster, CA

Moving containers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Lancaster, California, cost between $1,877 and $6,987. 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 Philadelphia costs roughly $80/month if you need it.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Philadelphia to Lancaster:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,877 - $3,685
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,434 - $5,182
• 4+ bedrooms: $3,390 - $6,987

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 Philadelphia, PA, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $890, 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 $95 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $191 per month.
• Access: Most major container companies serve both Philadelphia, PA, and Lancaster, 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 Philadelphia to Lancaster?

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 Philadelphia, PA to Lancaster, CA

Renting a moving truck for the 2,693-mile move from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Lancaster, California, costs between $1,562 and $4,557, before these typical add-ons:

• Fuel for the drive: $1,090 - $1,246
• Daily insurance: $38/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $25
• Philadelphia daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.89 - $0.99

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Philadelphia to Lancaster based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,562 - $3,090
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,625 - $3,786
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,203 - $4,557

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $890.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $1,090 - $1,246 for the 2,693-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 $76 and $413, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $191 per night for hotel stops on the 2,693-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $382 - $572.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Philadelphia to Lancaster?

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 Philadelphia, PA to Lancaster, 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 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Lancaster, 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 $2,028 and $4,060.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Philadelphia to Lancaster:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,778 - $3,351
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,028 - $4,060
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,684 - $5,647

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 $95 - $191 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 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, typically costs $890.

What are the best freight companies from Philadelphia to Lancaster?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
3. Pipco Transportation, Inc. (4.66/5 stars): Pipco Transportation, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and operated facilities give you direct access to support staff who know the area and can coordinate pickups and deliveries with greater flexibility than national carriers.

Cost of living: Philadelphia, PA vs Lancaster, CA

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