($1,566+) Richmond, VA to Sacramento, CA Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from Richmond, VA to Sacramento, CA

Moving from Richmond, VA, to Sacramento, CA, runs anywhere from $1,647 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $12,589 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 2,786 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 7 to 21 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 $2,429, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $12,589 or more.
  • Moving containers run $2,102 - $7,692, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,647 - $4,758.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Richmond, VA, to Sacramento, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,969 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from Richmond, VA to Sacramento, CA

Moving options from Richmond to Sacramento fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $3,969 - $7,968 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 2,786-mile route typically takes 7 to 21 days door to door.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,786-mile route from Richmond to Sacramento, broken down by home size:

  • A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $2,429 - $5,748 with full-service movers, $2,102 - $3,776 with a container, $1,647 - $3,225 with a rental truck, or $1,892 - $3,538 by freight.
  • A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $3,969 - $7,968 full-service, $2,674 - $5,474 by container, $1,679 - $3,652 by rental truck, or $2,034 - $4,380 by freight.
  • A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $7,687 - $12,589 full-service, $3,507 - $7,692 by container, $2,122 - $4,758 by rental truck, or $2,807 - $6,273 by freight.

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.

Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental Truck
Budget Truck Rental
star star star star star 4.3 / 5
Read our full Budget review
Affordable pricing
Online estimates
Several discounts
Freight
MovingYourself
star star star star star 4.5 / 5
Read our full MovingYourself review
Fast delivery
Nationwide
100+ miles moves

Full-service moving costs from Richmond, VA to Sacramento, CA

Full-service movers for the 2,786-mile relocation from Richmond, Virginia, to Sacramento, California, cost between $2,429 and $12,589. 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 $323 - $2,156, 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 Richmond typically charge a base rate around $360 plus $100 per hour, per mover.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,429 - $5,748
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,969 - $7,968
  • 4+ bedrooms: $7,687 - $12,589

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 Richmond to Sacramento.

The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Virginia to California. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.

Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.

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Specialty moving services from Richmond, VA to Sacramento, CA

Specialty needs vary by market — 89% of Richmond movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Sacramento, 88% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing95% of local movers$539 - $5,390
Storage in transitNew place not ready89% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage$216 - $1,294/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$323 - $2,587
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage32% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs89% of local movers$1,078 - $3,234
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$2,695 - $10,780
Car shippingSecond vehicle$807 - $1,534
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items63% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage$1,078 - $2,695
PianoAny piano type68% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage$862 - $3,773
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling37% of local movers$323 - $1,617
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect32% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: WayForth LLC$701 - $2,156
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$323 - $16,170+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$323 - $3,773+

What are the best full-service movers from Richmond to Sacramento?

California Moving & Storage Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in California, on top of the picks below.

  1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing means no surprise charges on moving day, and their support team is consistently rated among the most responsive in the industry.
  2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here, 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.
  3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with 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 full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in Richmond, VA. 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 Richmond, VA to Sacramento, CA

Moving containers from Richmond, Virginia, to Sacramento, California, cost between $2,102 and $7,692. 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 Richmond costs roughly $100/month if you need it.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Richmond to Sacramento:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,102 - $3,776
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,674 - $5,474
  • 4+ bedrooms: $3,507 - $7,692

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 $755 in Richmond, VA. 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 $81 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $162 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 Sacramento, CA, destination before booking.

Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Virginia 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 $2,102. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,674 - $5,474, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers Richmond to Sacramento?

  1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
  2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
  3. 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 Richmond 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 Richmond:

  • Mr. Moving, LLC (4.6/5), 6 years in business
  • College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5), 0 years in business
  • Heroes Moving and Storage (4.9/5), 5 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from Richmond, VA to Sacramento, CA

Renting a moving truck for the 2,786-mile move from Richmond, Virginia, to Sacramento, California, costs between $1,647 and $4,758, before these typical add-ons:

  • Fuel for the drive: $956 - $1,092
  • Daily insurance: $32/day
  • Equipment rentals: $8 - $22
  • Richmond daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89
Home sizeTypical truck size
Studio / 1 bedroom10 - 12 ft
2 - 3 bedrooms15 - 17 ft
4+ bedrooms20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel)

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Richmond to Sacramento based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,647 - $3,225
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,679 - $3,652
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,122 - $4,758

Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Richmond to Sacramento starts at $1,647 - $4,758, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($956 - $1,092) , overnight lodging ($162/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for an additional $600 - $1,200 on top of your base rate to cover those costs.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $162 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 $70 and $350 to your total.
  • Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
  • Gas: Plan on spending $956 - $1,092 in fuel for the 2,786-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
  • Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $755 in Richmond, Virginia, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Richmond to Sacramento?

  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 Richmond, VA to Sacramento, CA

Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Richmond, Virginia, to Sacramento, 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. Overall pricing for a move of this size and distance typically lands around $2,034 and $4,380.

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

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,892 - $3,538
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,034 - $4,380
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,807 - $6,273

Pro tip: Freight trailers come with a 4-foot loading ramp, which can be a challenge with bulky furniture. With 8 feet of vertical space available, stacking efficiently often requires a ladder and a plan. Since you're billed per linear foot, packing tight can make a real difference in your final cost.

What other costs come with freight trailers?

  • Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Richmond, Virginia, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $755.
  • More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $81 - $162 per additional foot to your total.
  • Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.

What are the best freight companies from Richmond to Sacramento?

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Abilene Motor Express (4.5/5 stars): Abilene Motor Express 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: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Richmond to Sacramento. 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: Richmond, VA vs Sacramento, CA

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Sacramento, side by side with Richmond on housing, income, and taxes.

Measure Richmond, VA Sacramento, CA
Cost of living index95127
Average rent$1,595/mo$1,899/mo
Median home value$327,959$483,739
Average income$62,671/yr$83,753/yr
Unemployment rate7.1%7.7%
State income taxUp to 5.75%Up to 13.3%
Walkability score51/10049/100
Safety index51.55/10050.79/100
Air qualityGoodModerate

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 Sacramento, CA to Richmond, VA guide.

Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:

Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Virginia 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. Virginia alone has 104 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 2,786-mile move like this one.

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Our take

Full-service movers on the 2,786-mile route from Richmond, VA, to Sacramento, CA, run $2,429 - $12,589 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $2,102 - $7,692, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $1,647 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,969, 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 Sutter Health and SynGen.

FAQs: Moving from Richmond, VA, to Sacramento, CA

What are the best neighborhoods in Sacramento?

For families, Boulevard Park, River Park, and Land Park are worth a look in Sacramento. If you're moving solo or without kids, Downtown Sacramento, East Sacramento, and Land Park tend to be popular picks instead.

How long does a move from Richmond, VA to Sacramento, CA take?

Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.

What do local movers charge in Richmond?

Local movers based in Richmond typically start around $360 as a base rate, plus $100/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 Sacramento run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.

What are some tips for saving money on a move from Richmond, VA to Sacramento, CA?

Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.

How much does it cost to move from Richmond, VA to Sacramento, CA?

Costs on this route range from around $2,429 to $12,589, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,429 and $12,589, 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 percentage of Richmond movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 68% of movers in Richmond handle piano moves, and 63% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.