($932+) Houston, TX to Irvine, CA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Houston, TX to Irvine, CA

Full-service movers for the 1,547-mile relocation from Houston, Texas, to Irvine, California, cost between $2,161 and $9,942. 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 $373 - $2,484, 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 Houston typically charge a base rate around $175 plus $75 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,161 - $4,887
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,103 - $6,758
• 4+ bedrooms: $5,149 - $9,942

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 Houston to Irvine.

Specialty moving services from Houston, TX to Irvine, CA

Specialty needs vary by market: 54% of Houston movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Irvine, 56% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from Houston to Irvine?

Look for California Moving & Storage Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in California beyond this list.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Moving container costs from Houston, TX to Irvine, CA

Moving containers from Houston, Texas, to Irvine, California, cost between $1,405 and $5,064. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in Houston typically runs around $70/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Houston to Irvine:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,405 - $2,634
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,722 - $3,681
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,517 - $5,064

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 Houston, TX, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $869, 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 $93 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $186 per month.
• Access: Most major container companies serve both Houston, 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.

What are the best moving containers Houston to Irvine?

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 Houston, TX to Irvine, CA

A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 1,547 miles from Houston, Texas, to Irvine, California, running $932 - $2,520. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:

• Fuel for the drive: $611 - $699
• Daily insurance: $37/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $25
• Houston daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.99

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Houston to Irvine based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $932 - $1,733
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $988 - $2,083
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,257 - $2,520

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $93 and $435.
• Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $186.
• Gas: Expect fuel to run between $611 and $699 for the 1,547-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $869 for 2 movers in Houston, Texas, for about 5 hours.
• Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Houston to Irvine?

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 Houston, TX to Irvine, CA

Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Houston, Texas, to Irvine, California, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.

What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Pricing for a 2 - 3 bedroom move of this distance typically lands between $1,493 and $2,770.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,202 - $2,417
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,493 - $2,770
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,857 - $3,779

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 Houston, Texas, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $869.
• More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $93 and $186 per foot.

What are the best freight companies from Houston to Irvine?

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.

Cost of living: Houston, 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 Houston 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.

Our take

Full-service movers on the 1,547-mile route from Houston, TX, to Irvine, CA, run $2,161 - $9,942 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,405 - $5,064, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $932 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,103, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America and Taco Bell.