($499+) Salt Lake City, UT to Irvine, CA Movers
Moving from Salt Lake City, UT, to Irvine, CA, runs anywhere from $541 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,359 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 686 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 6 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 $1,567, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,359 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,083 - $3,667, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $541 - $1,442.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Salt Lake City, UT, to Irvine, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,342 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 Salt Lake City, UT to Irvine, CA
Moving options from Salt Lake City to Irvine fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $2,342 - $5,992 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 686-mile route typically takes 1 to 6 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 686-mile route from Salt Lake City to Irvine, broken down by home size:
- A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $1,567 - $4,322 with full-service movers, $1,083 - $2,021 with a container, $541 - $1,003 with a rental truck, or $946 - $1,697 by freight.
- A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $2,342 - $5,992 full-service, $1,349 - $2,719 by container, $555 - $1,156 by rental truck, or $1,124 - $2,261 by freight.
- A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $4,296 - $8,359 full-service, $1,787 - $3,667 by container, $722 - $1,442 by rental truck, or $1,503 - $2,711 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 Salt Lake City, UT to Irvine, CA
Hiring full-service movers from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Irvine, California, costs between $1,567 and $8,359. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 686-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $416 - $2,772, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Salt Lake City and Irvine. For a rough baseline, movers based in Salt Lake City tend to start around $340 plus $137/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Salt Lake City to Irvine:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,567 - $4,322
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,342 - $5,992
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,296 - $8,359
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 Salt Lake City to Irvine.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Utah to California. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Peak moving season (May - September) limits truck availability and pushes up full-service moving costs. Booking during slower months can give you more scheduling room and a lower final price.
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Specialty moving services from Salt Lake City, UT to Irvine, CA
Specialty needs vary by market — 91% of Salt Lake City 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 | $693 - $6,930 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready91% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Best Of Utah Moving Company LLC | $277 - $1,663/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $416 - $3,326 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage39% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs78% of local movers | $1,386 - $4,158 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,465 - $13,860 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,038 - $1,972 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items61% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Best Of Utah Moving Company LLC | $1,386 - $3,465 |
| Piano | Any piano type74% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Best Of Utah Moving Company LLC | $1,109 - $4,851 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling30% of local movers | $416 - $2,079 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect9% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Moving Connections | $901 - $2,772 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $416 - $20,790+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $416 - $4,851+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Salt Lake City to Irvine?
All three below meet the standards set by the California Moving & Storage Association, the group most California movers are affiliated with.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in Salt Lake City, UT. Local companies typically run 30% - 40% more at longer distances because they aren't set up to consolidate shipments the way national carriers do. The one case where a local mover might be worth the premium is if you want a dedicated direct-route truck, which averages a 2-day delivery time, but expect to pay more for that convenience.
Moving container costs from Salt Lake City, UT to Irvine, CA
Moving containers from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Irvine, California, cost between $1,083 and $3,667. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in Salt Lake City runs about $70/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Salt Lake City to Irvine:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,083 - $2,021
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,349 - $2,719
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,787 - $3,667
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $970 in Salt Lake City, UT. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
- Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $104 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $208 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
- Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Irvine, CA, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Utah 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 $1,083. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,349 - $2,719, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City:
- Best Of Utah Moving Company LLC (5.0/5), 10 years in business
- Moving Connections (4.9/5), 27 years in business
- Kellogg Movers (4.9/5), 27 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Salt Lake City, UT to Irvine, CA
Renting a moving truck for the 686-mile move from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Irvine, California, costs between $541 and $1,442, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $303 - $346
- Daily insurance: $42/day
- Equipment rentals: $10 - $28
- Salt Lake City daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $1.09 - $1.29
| 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 Salt Lake City to Irvine based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $541 - $1,003
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $555 - $1,156
- 4+ bedrooms: $722 - $1,442
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $541 - $1,442 does not include fuel ($303 - $346) , lodging ($208/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Salt Lake City to Irvine typically runs $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate alone.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $208 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
- Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Salt Lake City, Utah, usually costs about $970 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 686-mile drive falls between $303 and $346, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $69 and $416 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City, UT to Irvine, 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 Salt Lake City, Utah, to Irvine, 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 $1,124 and $2,261.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Salt Lake City to Irvine:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $946 - $1,697
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,124 - $2,261
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,503 - $2,711
Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.
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 $104 - $208 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 Salt Lake City, Utah, typically costs $970.
What are the best freight companies from Salt Lake City to Irvine?
- 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.
- Savage Services Corporation (4.76/5 stars): Savage Services Corporation is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and based facilities mean accessible support staff and area-specific scheduling flexibility that national-only freight carriers typically don't match.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Salt Lake City to Irvine, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.
Cost of living: Salt Lake City, UT 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 Salt Lake City on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Salt Lake City, UT | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 121 | 165 |
| Average rent | $1,495/mo | $4,000/mo |
| Median home value | $495,721 | $1,113,305 |
| Average income | $74,925/yr | $129,647/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 3.0% | 5.4% |
| State income tax | Up to 4.95% | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 59/100 | 43/100 |
| Safety index | 65.36/100 | 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 Salt Lake City, UT guide.
Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:
In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from Utah to California, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 32 movers licensed in Utah, useful context for sizing up this 686-mile move.
Our take
For a move from Salt Lake City, UT, to Irvine, CA, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $1,567 for a studio to $8,359 for a 4 - 5 bedroom home on the 686-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,083 - $3,667. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $541 - $1,442, though you'll be handling the driving and loading yourself. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with quotes starting around $2,342 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage included, and 24/7 live customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America and Taco Bell.
FAQs: Moving from Salt Lake City, UT, 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 ($303 - $346), daily insurance ($42/day), and equipment rentals ($10 - $28) on top. Overnight stops can add another $208/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 Salt Lake City, UT to Irvine, 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 3 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
Is Irvine a safe place to live?
Irvine has a safety index of 68.99 out of 100 and a crime index of 31.01, compared to 65.36 and 34.64 in Salt Lake City. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What percentage of Salt Lake City movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 74% of movers in Salt Lake City handle piano moves, and 61% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
