($870+) Austin, TX to Irvine, CA Movers
Moving from Austin, TX, to Irvine, CA, runs anywhere from $844 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,720 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,377 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 $2,295, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $9,720 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,334 - $4,673, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $844 - $2,369.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Austin, TX, to Irvine, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,108 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 Irvine, CA
Moving options from Austin to Irvine 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 $3,108 - $7,008 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 1,377 miles and typically takes 3 to 8 days.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,377-mile route from Austin to Irvine, broken down by home size:
- A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $2,295 - $5,469 with full-service movers, $1,334 - $2,696 with a container, $844 - $1,614 with a rental truck, or $1,200 - $2,310 by freight.
- A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $3,108 - $7,008 full-service, $1,702 - $3,656 by container, $998 - $1,941 by rental truck, or $1,375 - $2,867 by freight.
- A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $5,419 - $9,720 full-service, $2,433 - $4,673 by container, $1,161 - $2,369 by rental truck, or $2,044 - $3,662 by freight.
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 Austin, TX to Irvine, CA
Full-service movers for the 1,377-mile relocation from Austin, Texas, to Irvine, California, cost between $2,295 and $9,720. 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 $430 - $2,868, 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 Austin typically charge a base rate around $191 plus $90 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Austin to Irvine:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,295 - $5,469
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,108 - $7,008
- 4+ bedrooms: $5,419 - $9,720
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 Irvine.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Texas 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 Austin, TX to Irvine, CA
Specialty needs vary by market — 81% of Austin movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Irvine, 85% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $717 - $7,170 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready81% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Black Tie Moving | $287 - $1,721/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $430 - $3,442 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage26% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs55% of local movers | $1,434 - $4,302 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,585 - $14,340 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,074 - $2,041 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items42% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Berger Allied Moving & Storage | $1,434 - $3,585 |
| Piano | Any piano type55% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: 3 Men Movers | $1,147 - $5,019 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling26% of local movers | $430 - $2,151 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect26% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Berger Allied Moving & Storage | $932 - $2,868 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $430 - $21,510+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $430 - $5,019+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Austin to Irvine?
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 van lines are the smarter financial choice over local movers in Austin, TX. Local companies can run 30% - 40% more at that range since they don't consolidate shipments the way interstate carriers do. If a direct, dedicated route with an average 2-day delivery appeals to you, a local mover could be worth it, but that convenience comes at a cost.
Moving container costs from Austin, TX to Irvine, CA
Moving containers from Austin, Texas, to Irvine, California, cost between $1,334 and $4,673. 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 Irvine. 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 Irvine:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,334 - $2,696
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,702 - $3,656
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,433 - $4,673
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 Austin, TX, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $1,004, 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 $108 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $215 per month.
- Access: Most major container companies serve both Austin, TX, and Irvine, 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.
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 $1,334. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,702 - $3,656, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Austin to Irvine?
- 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:
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.8/5), 7 years in business
- Bellhop Moving (4.7/5), 14 years in business
- 3 Men Movers (4.9/5), 41 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Austin, TX to Irvine, CA
Renting a moving truck for the 1,377-mile move from Austin, Texas, to Irvine, California, costs between $844 and $2,369, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $628 - $718
- Daily insurance: $43/day
- Equipment rentals: $10 - $29
- 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 Irvine based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $844 - $1,614
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $998 - $1,941
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,161 - $2,369
Pro tip: A rental truck from Austin to Irvine looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $844 - $2,369. But once you factor in fuel ($628 - $718) , overnight lodging ($215/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 $215 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 $93 and $466 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $628 - $718 in fuel for the 1,377-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $1,004 in Austin, Texas, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Austin to Irvine?
- 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 Irvine, CA
For larger DIY moves from Austin, Texas, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to Irvine, California.
Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For most medium-to-large moves on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,375 and $2,867.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Austin to Irvine:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,200 - $2,310
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,375 - $2,867
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,044 - $3,662
Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $108 and $215.
- Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
- Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in Austin, Texas, for roughly five hours typically average $1,004.
What are the best freight companies from Austin to Irvine?
- 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.
- Molina Trucking (4.26/5 stars): Molina Trucking is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Local ownership translates to accessible support staff and facilities based in the communities they serve, giving customers more direct communication than they'd typically get from a national-only freight network.
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 Irvine 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: Austin, TX vs Irvine, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Irvine, side by side with Austin on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Austin, TX | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 129 | 165 |
| Average rent | $1,765/mo | $4,000/mo |
| Median home value | $512,969 | $1,113,305 |
| Average income | $91,461/yr | $129,647/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 5.4% |
| State income tax | None | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 42/100 | 43/100 |
| Safety index | 59.87/100 | 68.99/100 |
| 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 Irvine, 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 289 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 1,377-mile move like this one.
Our take
The 1,377-mile move from Austin, TX, to Irvine, CA, costs between $2,295 and $9,720 with full-service movers, $1,334 - $4,673 with a moving container, and $844 - $2,369 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 $3,108 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 Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America and Taco Bell.
FAQs: Moving from Austin, TX, to Irvine, CA
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($628 - $718), daily insurance ($43/day), and equipment rentals ($10 - $29) on top. Overnight stops can add another $215/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
What is the cheapest way to move from Austin, TX to Irvine, 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 $998 - $1,941. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
How much does it cost to move from Austin, TX to Irvine, CA?
Costs on this route range from around $2,295 to $9,720, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,295 and $9,720, 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 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 do local movers charge in Austin?
Local movers based in Austin typically start around $191 as a base rate, plus $90/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 Irvine run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
What percentage of Austin movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 55% of movers in Austin handle piano moves, and 42% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
