Moving from Bakersfield, CA to San Francisco, CA
About 293 miles inside California. Past the 100-mile local band movers price on distance and weight, but because the truck never crosses a state line the move is regulated by California, not by the federal FMCSA. That changes which licence to check and which estimate rules protect you.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Bakersfield, CA to San Francisco, CA covers about 293 miles and is a move within California. Full-service movers cost $1,319 – $1,758 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 204 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 293 miles, about 5 hours of driving. Long enough to be priced on weight, short enough that most carriers run it on a dedicated truck rather than pooling your goods with other shipments — a two-bedroom home typically runs $1,319 – $1,758. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within California
- Driving
- about 5 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Bakersfield to San Francisco
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $989 – $1,319 | $712 – $949 | $475 – $633 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,187 – $1,582 | $854 – $1,139 | $570 – $759 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,319 – $1,758 | $949 – $1,266 | $633 – $844 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,516 – $2,022 | $1,092 – $1,456 | $728 – $970 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,714 – $2,285 | $1,234 – $1,645 | $823 – $1,097 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,978 – $2,637 | $1,424 – $1,899 | $949 – $1,266 |
Transport only, for an estimated 293 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Bakersfield to San Francisco
293 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,465. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,319 to $1,758, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Bakersfield to San Francisco
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 204 people a year (±104) moved from Kern County, CA, home to Bakersfield, to San Francisco County, CA, home to San Francisco. Going the other way: about 134 people a year (±72). Movers from Kern County make up 0.4% of the 51,400 people a year who moved into San Francisco County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles County, CA | 5,058 ±873 |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 2,445 ±637 |
| Kings County, CA | 1,925 ±329 |
| Lassen County, CA | 1,795 ±216 |
| Fresno County, CA | 1,334 ±281 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Alameda County, CA | 5,296 ±738 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 4,693 ±747 |
| San Mateo County, CA | 4,278 ±657 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 4,003 ±458 |
| San Diego County, CA | 2,649 ±575 |
Licensed movers at each end
8 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Bakersfield. 4 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 0.0% of their 29 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smooth Move USA Mentors Moving and StorageUSDOT 2911596 | Bakersfield · 14 mi | 18 trucks | 26 | 0.0% of 19 |
| Hansen's Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 2728836 | Bakersfield · 14 mi | 8 trucks | 10 | 0.0% of 7 |
| 2015-B2619USDOT 3084871 | Bakersfield · 13 mi | 2 trucks | 0 | — |
| Ud Movers LLCUSDOT 4324671 | Bakersfield · 2 mi | 1 truck | 3 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Fit Movers LLCUSDOT 3455958 | Bakersfield · 2 mi | 1 truck | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| 1st Class Moving LLCUSDOT 4294145 | Bakersfield · 5 mi | 1 truck | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the San Francisco end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of San Francisco: Air Container Transfer (Brisbane, 60 trucks), Waters Moving & Storage Inc (Martinez, 35 trucks), Crown Worldwide Moving and Storage LLC (Union City, 25 trucks), Nor-Cal Moving Services (Hayward, 23 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in California, so California rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which California licence or registration it holds and check it with the state. The federal 110% cap on non-binding estimates does not reach a move inside California, so your protection on this 293-mile job is the estimate you sign; ask for it binding or not-to-exceed. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Bakersfield to San Francisco
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 293 miles some carriers still quote hourly plus mileage rather than by weight. Get both numbers so you can compare like with like — hourly can win on a short haul with easy access at both ends.
Confirm it is a one-day run
Most carriers cover this distance in a single day, which avoids an overnight charge and a second crew. If a quote assumes two days, ask why.
Arriving in San Francisco
A local move inside San Francisco later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $515 – $859 for a two-bedroom home and $867 – $1,587 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from San Francisco are Oakland (about 9 mi), Fremont (about 38 mi), San Jose (about 49 mi).
Other routes from Bakersfield
All routes from Bakersfield, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield to Oxnard, CA | ~94 mi | $515 – $859 |
| Bakersfield to Los Angeles, CA | ~117 mi | $527 – $702 |
| Bakersfield to Fresno, CA | ~122 mi | $549 – $732 |
| Bakersfield to Fontana, CA | ~145 mi | $653 – $870 |
| Bakersfield to Anaheim, CA | ~147 mi | $662 – $882 |
| Bakersfield to Moreno Valley, CA | ~167 mi | $752 – $1,002 |
| Bakersfield to Modesto, CA | ~224 mi | $1,008 – $1,344 |
| Bakersfield to San Jose, CA | ~244 mi | $1,098 – $1,464 |
Also moving to San Francisco: from Fremont, CA, from San Jose, CA, from Stockton, CA, from Sacramento, CA.
Bakersfield to San Francisco moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Bakersfield to San Francisco?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 293 miles cost about $989 – $1,319 for a studio, $1,319 – $1,758 for a two-bedroom home and $1,516 – $2,022 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Bakersfield to San Francisco take?
The drive is about 5 hours, but the move usually takes 1 to 3 days because it moves on a dedicated truck, because the corridor is too short to be worth consolidating. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 2 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Bakersfield to San Francisco?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $633 – $844 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,319 – $1,758 with full-service movers; a moving container is $949 – $1,266.
Is Bakersfield to San Francisco an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in California, so the move is regulated by California rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever California requires of household-goods movers; interstate authority (an MC number) is not required for this job. The federal 110% rule on non-binding estimates does not apply either, which is a good reason to ask for a binding estimate.
How many people move from Bakersfield to San Francisco each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 204 people a year (margin of error ±104) moved from Kern County, which contains Bakersfield, to San Francisco County, which contains San Francisco.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.