($889+) Austin, TX to Bakersfield, CA Movers
Moving from Austin, TX, to Bakersfield, CA, runs anywhere from $889 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,311 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,490 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 3 to 8 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 $2,213, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $9,311 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,300 - $4,732, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $889 - $2,574.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Austin, TX, to Bakersfield, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,881 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 Austin, TX to Bakersfield, CA
There are 3 main ways to move from Austin to Bakersfield: 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 $2,881 - $6,892. Moving containers run about 41% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 68% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 3 to 8 days for this 1,490-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 1,490-mile route from Austin to Bakersfield, 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 $2,213 - $5,320 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,300 - $2,565), rental truck ($889 - $1,720), or freight trailer ($1,268 - $2,354). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $2,881 - $6,892 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $9,311.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated October 30, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Austin, TX to Bakersfield, CA
For the 1,490-mile move from Austin, Texas, to Bakersfield, California, full-service movers cost between $2,213 and $9,311. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $352 - $2,348 (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 Austin generally start around $191 plus $90 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Austin to Bakersfield:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,213 - $5,320
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,881 - $6,892
- 4+ bedrooms: $5,041 - $9,311
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 Austin to Bakersfield.
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 Austin, TX to Bakersfield, CA
Specialty needs vary by market: 63% of Austin movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Bakersfield, 71% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing81% of local movers | $587 - $5,870 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready63% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Square Cow | $235 - $1,409/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $352 - $2,818 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage11% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs69% of local movers | $1,174 - $3,522 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,935 - $11,740 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $879 - $1,671 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items35% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Firefighting's Finest Moving & Storage | $1,174 - $2,935 |
| Piano | Any piano type45% of local movers40% nationallyTop pick: 3 Men Movers | $939 - $4,109 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling15% of local movers | $352 - $1,761 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect7% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $763 - $2,348 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $352 - $17,610+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $352 - $4,109+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Austin to Bakersfield?
Look for California Moving & Storage Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in California beyond this list.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Austin, TX. 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 Austin, TX to Bakersfield, CA
Moving containers from Austin, Texas, to Bakersfield, California, cost between $1,300 and $4,732. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Bakersfield. If you go over that window, storage in Austin adds around $80/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Austin to Bakersfield:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,300 - $2,565
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,714 - $3,510
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,307 - $4,732
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Access: Most major container brands operate in both Austin, TX and Bakersfield, 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 $822 in Austin, TX, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $88 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $176 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 Texas 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 $1,300. 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 $1,714 - $3,510.
What are the best moving containers Austin to Bakersfield?
- 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 Austin 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 Austin:
- Square Cow (4.8/5), 18 years in business
- 3 Men Movers (4.9/5), 41 years in business
- Firefighting's Finest Moving & Storage (4.8/5), 24 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Austin, TX to Bakersfield, CA
A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 1,490 miles from Austin, Texas, to Bakersfield, California, running $889 - $2,574. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:
- Fuel for the drive: $557 - $636
- Daily insurance: $35/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $23
- Austin daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.99
| 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 Austin to Bakersfield based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $889 - $1,720
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $922 - $2,087
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,259 - $2,574
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Austin to Bakersfield starts at $889 - $2,574, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($557 - $636), overnight lodging ($176/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?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Austin, Texas, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $822.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $557 - $636 for the 1,490-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 $70 and $382, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $176 per night for hotel stops on the 1,490-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $352 - $528.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Austin to Bakersfield?
- 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 Austin, TX to Bakersfield, CA
If you're moving a larger household from Austin, Texas, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Bakersfield, California.
Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. A 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route typically falls between $1,357 and $3,009.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Austin to Bakersfield:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,268 - $2,354
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,357 - $3,009
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,827 - $3,671
Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
- More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $88 - $176 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Austin, Texas, for about five hours typically runs $822.
What are the best freight companies from Austin to Bakersfield?
- 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.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Bakersfield fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.
Cost of living: Austin, TX vs Bakersfield, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Bakersfield, side by side with Austin on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Austin, TX | Bakersfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 129 | 100 |
| Average rent | $1,765/mo | $1,695/mo |
| Median home value | $512,969 | $345,317 |
| Average income | $91,461/yr | $77,397/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 5.9% |
| State income tax | None | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 42/100 | 37/100 |
| Safety index | 59.87/100 | 41.51/100 |
| 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 Bakersfield, CA to Austin, TX guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Texas to California, so we know current pricing better than most. Checking our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates. Texas alone has 803 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 1,490-mile move like this one.
Our take
The 1,490-mile move from Austin, TX, to Bakersfield, CA, costs between $2,213 and $9,311 with full-service movers, $1,300 - $4,732 with a moving container, and $889 - $2,574 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 $2,881 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 Bakersfield City School District and Clinica Sierra Vista.
FAQs: Moving from Austin, TX, to Bakersfield, CA
How walkable is Bakersfield?
Bakersfield has a walkability score of 37 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 44, compared to 42 and 54 in Austin. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($557 - $636), daily insurance ($35/day), and equipment rentals ($8 - $23) on top. Overnight stops can add another $176/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
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 is the best time of year to move from Austin, TX to Bakersfield, 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 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.
What percentage of Austin movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 45% of movers in Austin handle piano moves, and 35% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 40% and 26% nationally.