($736+) Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA Movers
Moving from Seattle, WA, to Los Angeles, CA, runs anywhere from $796 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $10,322 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,136 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 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 $2,473, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $10,322 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,238 - $4,127, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $796 - $2,070.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Seattle, WA, to Los Angeles, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,953 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
Compare moving options from Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA
Moving options from Seattle to Los Angeles 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 $2,953 - $7,425 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 1,136 miles and typically takes 2 to 8 days.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,136-mile route from Seattle to Los Angeles, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $2,473 - $5,908 | $1,238 - $2,243 | $796 - $1,430 | $1,137 - $2,125 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,953 - $7,425 | $1,643 - $3,452 | $778 - $1,751 | $1,341 - $2,578 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $5,371 - $10,322 | $2,155 - $4,127 | $1,030 - $2,070 | $1,849 - $3,615 |
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 Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA
Full-service movers for the 1,136-mile relocation from Seattle, Washington, to Los Angeles, California, cost between $2,473 and $10,322. 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 $479 - $3,192, 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 Seattle typically charge a base rate around $260 plus $141 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Seattle to Los Angeles:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,473 - $5,908
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,953 - $7,425
- 4+ bedrooms: $5,371 - $10,322
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 Seattle to Los Angeles.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Washington to California. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Demand for full-service movers surges during peak moving season from May - September, pushing prices higher. Shifting your move to a cooler month could save you a meaningful amount on your total bill.
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Specialty moving services from Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA
Specialty needs vary by market — 92% of Seattle movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Los Angeles, 88% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing97% of local movers | $798 - $7,980 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready92% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Gentle Giant Moving Company | $319 - $1,915/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $479 - $3,830 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage37% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs37% of local movers | $1,596 - $4,788 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,990 - $15,960 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,195 - $2,271 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items56% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Seattle Movers | $1,596 - $3,990 |
| Piano | Any piano type76% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Gentle Giant Moving Company | $1,277 - $5,586 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling40% of local movers | $479 - $2,394 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect29% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Hansen Bros Moving and Storage | $1,037 - $3,192 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $479 - $23,940+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $479 - $5,586+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Seattle to Los Angeles?
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 full-service movers are the more cost-efficient choice. Local movers in Seattle, WA, often charge 30% - 40% more at that distance because their operations aren't built for long-haul logistics. The exception is if you want a dedicated point-to-point truck with an average 2-day delivery, though that level of service generally increases your total cost.
Moving container costs from Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA
Moving containers from Seattle, Washington, to Los Angeles, California, cost between $1,238 and $4,127. 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 Seattle runs about $120/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Seattle to Los Angeles:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,238 - $2,243
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,643 - $3,452
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,155 - $4,127
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Access: Most major container brands operate in both Seattle, WA and Los Angeles, 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 $1,117 in Seattle, WA, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $120 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $239 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 Washington 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 $1,238. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,643 - $3,452, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Seattle to Los Angeles?
- 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 Seattle 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 Seattle:
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5), 8 years in business
- On The Go Moving and Storage (4.8/5), 15 years in business
- All Service Moving (4.9/5), 14 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA
Renting a moving truck for the 1,136-mile move from Seattle, Washington, to Los Angeles, California, costs between $796 and $2,070, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $577 - $659
- Daily insurance: $48/day
- Equipment rentals: $11 - $32
- Seattle daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $1.19 - $1.39
| 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 Seattle to Los Angeles based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $796 - $1,430
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $778 - $1,751
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,030 - $2,070
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $796 - $2,070 when pricing out a rental truck from Seattle to Los Angeles. Fuel alone runs ($577 - $659) , and overnight lodging ($239/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend an additional $600 - $1,200 beyond the base rate by the time the move is done.
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 $120 and $559.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $239.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $577 and $659 for the 1,136-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 $1,117 for 2 movers in Seattle, Washington, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Seattle to Los Angeles?
- 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 Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA
If you're moving a larger household from Seattle, Washington, 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 Los Angeles, California.
Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. Most moves on this route fall between $1,341 and $2,578.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Seattle to Los Angeles:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,137 - $2,125
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,341 - $2,578
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,849 - $3,615
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?
- 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 Seattle, Washington, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $1,117.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $120 and $239 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Seattle to Los Angeles?
- 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.
- Allstate Transport (4.76/5 stars): Allstate Transport 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 move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Seattle to Los Angeles. 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: Seattle, WA vs Los Angeles, CA
Seattle and Los Angeles land in a similar range on everyday costs. The cost of living index sits at 158 in Seattle and 162 in Los Angeles, and rent tracks closely too ($1,975/mo vs. $2,960/mo). You likely won't need to rework your monthly budget much after this move. Walkability (74 vs 69) and safety scores (49.23 vs 46.19) come out about the same too.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Los Angeles, CA to Seattle, WA guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Washington to California in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 95 movers based in Washington, handy for sizing up options on this 1,136-mile route.
Our take
The 1,136-mile move from Seattle, WA, to Los Angeles, CA, costs between $2,473 and $10,322 with full-service movers, $1,238 - $4,127 with a moving container, and $796 - $2,070 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 $2,953 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 County of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Unified School District.
FAQs: Moving from Seattle, WA, to Los Angeles, CA
How walkable is Los Angeles?
Los Angeles has a walkability score of 69 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 59, compared to 74 and 71 in Seattle. 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 ($577 - $659), daily insurance ($48/day), and equipment rentals ($11 - $32) on top. Overnight stops can add another $239/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 Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, 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.
What percentage of Seattle movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 76% of movers in Seattle handle piano moves, and 56% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.