($1,229+) Knoxville, TN to Long Beach, CA Movers
Moving from Knoxville, TN, to Long Beach, CA, runs anywhere from $1,229 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $12,214 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 2,195 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 6 to 17 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 $2,495, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $12,214 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,618 - $5,734, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,229 - $3,324.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Knoxville, TN, to Long Beach, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,731 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 Knoxville, TN to Long Beach, CA
There are 3 main ways to move from Knoxville to Long Beach: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service handles labor and transportation for you, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route costing $3,731 - $7,604. Moving containers run about 42% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 65% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 6 to 17 days for this 2,195-mile route, depending on which option you go with.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,195-mile route from Knoxville to Long Beach, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $2,495 - $5,808 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,618 - $3,272), rental truck ($1,229 - $2,303), or freight trailer ($1,456 - $2,775). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $3,731 - $7,604 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $12,214.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Knoxville, TN to Long Beach, CA
For the 2,195-mile move from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Long Beach, California, full-service movers cost between $2,495 and $12,214. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $360 - $2,400 (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 Knoxville generally start around $170 plus $113 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Knoxville to Long Beach:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,495 - $5,808
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,731 - $7,604
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,935 - $12,214
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 Knoxville to Long Beach.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Tennessee 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 Knoxville, TN to Long Beach, CA
Specialty needs vary by market: 76% of Knoxville movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Long Beach, 55% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing76% of local movers | $600 - $6,000 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready76% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Gouffon Moving & Storage | $240 - $1,440/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $360 - $2,880 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage21% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs71% of local movers | $1,200 - $3,600 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,000 - $12,000 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $899 - $1,708 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items29% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Carey Moving & Storage | $1,200 - $3,000 |
| Piano | Any piano type52% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Gouffon Moving & Storage | $960 - $4,200 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling7% of local movers | $360 - $1,800 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect14% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $780 - $2,400 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $360 - $18,000+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $360 - $4,200+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Knoxville to Long Beach?
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 carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Knoxville, TN. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from Knoxville, TN to Long Beach, CA
Moving containers from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Long Beach, California, cost between $1,618 and $5,734. 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 Knoxville costs roughly $60/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Knoxville to Long Beach:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,618 - $3,272
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,179 - $4,282
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,962 - $5,734
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Access: Most major container brands operate in both Knoxville, TN and Long Beach, CA. Still, double-check that a nearby facility is available if you need to access your belongings before delivery.
- Moving labor: Because containers are self-loaded, many customers hire hourly help. Two movers for about 5 hours typically cost around $840 in Knoxville, TN, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $90 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $180 for larger ones (12 - 16 feet).
- Added contents protection: For more coverage beyond the standard minimum, full-value protection is the typical upgrade, generally 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value. On a $50,000 household, that's roughly $500 - $1,000 as a one-time fee.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Tennessee 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 $1,618. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $2,179 - $4,282.
What are the best moving containers Knoxville to Long Beach?
- 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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville:
- Gouffon Moving & Storage (4.8/5), 139 years in business
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.7/5), 10 years in business
- Bellhop Moving (4.8/5), 15 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Knoxville, TN to Long Beach, CA
Truck rentals from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Long Beach, California, range from $1,229 - $3,324 for the 2,195-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $838 - $958
- Daily insurance: $36/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $24
- Knoxville daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.79
| 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 Knoxville to Long Beach based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,229 - $2,303
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,318 - $2,939
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,747 - $3,324
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Knoxville to Long Beach starts at $1,229 - $3,324, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($838 - $958), overnight lodging ($180/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for roughly $600 - $1,200 more on top of fuel and lodging to cover meals, equipment, and other extras.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $180 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 $78 and $390 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $838 - $958 in fuel for the 2,195-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $840 in Knoxville, Tennessee, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Knoxville to Long Beach?
- 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 Knoxville, TN to Long Beach, 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 Knoxville, Tennessee, to Long Beach, 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. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,692 and $3,532.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Knoxville to Long Beach:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,456 - $2,775
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,692 - $3,532
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,276 - $4,873
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 Knoxville, Tennessee, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $840.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $90 and $180 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Knoxville to Long Beach?
- 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.
- 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.
Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Knoxville to Long Beach. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: Knoxville, TN vs Long Beach, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Long Beach, side by side with Knoxville on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Knoxville, TN | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 92 | 162 |
| Average rent | $1,795/mo | $2,075/mo |
| Median home value | $213,473 | $762,188 |
| Average income | $50,994/yr | $83,969/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| State income tax | None | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 31/100 | 73/100 |
| Safety index | 57.46/100 | 41.42/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Long Beach, CA to Knoxville, TN guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Tennessee to California over the past 3 months, giving us some of the most up-to-date pricing data around. Running your move through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. There are 213 movers in our Tennessee network to compare for this 2,195-mile move.
Our take
A move from Knoxville, TN, to Long Beach, CA, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $2,495 - $12,214 on the 2,195-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,618 - $5,734, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $1,229 - $3,324. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $3,731 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include UTi Worldwide and Molina Healthcare.
FAQs: Moving from Knoxville, TN, to Long Beach, CA
How do I know a mover is licensed in California?
When contacting a local moving company for an estimate in California, make sure each has a “T Number” issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC). Moving companies with valid T Numbers have met state requirements for insurance, safety, and financial stability and have passed criminal clearance checks conducted by the California Department of Justice.
What do local movers charge in Knoxville?
Local movers based in Knoxville typically start around $170 as a base rate, plus $113/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Long Beach run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
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 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
How much does it cost to move from Knoxville, TN to Long Beach, CA?
Costs on this route range from around $1,229 to $12,214, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,495 and $12,214, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
What is the cheapest way to move from Knoxville, TN to Long Beach, 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 $1,318 - $2,939. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What percentage of Knoxville movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 52% of movers in Knoxville handle piano moves, and 29% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.