Moving from Sacramento, CA to Modesto, CA
At about 82 miles, Sacramento to Modesto is a local move. Movers bill it by the hour — crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee — so the bill depends on how long loading and unloading take more than on the miles. At 82 miles the drive is on the clock too — about an hour each way — so expect travel time billed above the flat fee.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Sacramento, CA to Modesto, CA covers about 82 miles and is a local move. Full-service movers cost $515 – $859 for a two-bedroom home in our model, done in one day. About 805 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 82 miles, crews cover Sacramento to Modesto in a single day — about an hour on the road — so there is no delivery window to negotiate. What matters is access at both ends — stairs, elevators, how far the truck can park from the door — because every extra hour is billed.
- Move type
- Local move
- Driving
- about an hour
- Usually moves on
- an hourly crew with one truck
- Book ahead
- 1 to 2 weeks
Cost of moving from Sacramento to Modesto
Priced by the hour; the container and freight columns show what the same hours cost with a lower-rate crew.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $235 – $375 | $195 – $315 | $175 – $285 |
| 1 bedroom | $315 – $575 | $255 – $475 | $225 – $425 |
| 2 bedrooms | $475 – $775 | $375 – $635 | $325 – $565 |
| 3 bedrooms | $795 – $1,425 | $615 – $1,155 | $525 – $1,020 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,355 – $2,075 | $1,035 – $1,675 | $875 – $1,475 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,675 – $2,475 | $1,275 – $1,995 | $1,075 – $1,755 |
Inside the 100-mile local band, so these are hourly figures: crew size × hourly rate × hours on site, plus a travel fee. Container and freight columns show the same job done by a lower-cost crew. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Sacramento to Modesto
2 movers × 5–7 hours × $44–$56 an hour, plus a $75 travel fee = $515 to $859. The 82 miles only enter through the travel fee and drive time. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Sacramento to Modesto
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 805 people a year (±371) moved from Sacramento County, CA, home to Sacramento, to Stanislaus County, CA, home to Modesto. Going the other way: about 1,262 people a year (±381). Movers from Sacramento County make up 4.1% of the 19,502 people a year who moved into Stanislaus County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Placer County, CA | 8,313 ±1,114 |
| El Dorado County, CA | 3,786 ±712 |
| Alameda County, CA | 2,933 ±785 |
| Yolo County, CA | 2,904 ±611 |
| San Joaquin County, CA | 2,746 ±653 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| San Joaquin County, CA | 4,132 ±867 |
| Alameda County, CA | 2,169 ±682 |
| Merced County, CA | 1,807 ±578 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 1,041 ±396 |
| Sacramento County, CA | 805 ±371 |
Licensed movers at each end
78 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Sacramento. 32 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 8.9% of their 135 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Valley MovingUSDOT 786470 | Sacramento · 5 mi | 11 trucks | 21 | 0.0% of 17 |
| Wind Dancer Moving CompanyUSDOT 781304 | Rio Oso · 26 mi | 9 trucks | 0 | — |
| Auburn Moving Co IncUSDOT 2347808 | Roseville · 17 mi | 7 trucks | 3 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Scott Heavy Movers IncUSDOT 2550385 | North Highland · 9 mi | 6 trucks | 11 | 0.0% of 11 |
| Sartain Moving LLCUSDOT 3741383 | Sacramento · 8 mi | 5 trucks | 0 | — |
| Great American MoversUSDOT 397786 | Sacramento · 8 mi | 4 trucks | 6 | 0.0% of 4 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Modesto end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Modesto: Grace Moving Company LLC (Modesto, 10 trucks), Mid Cal Moving & Storage Company (Stockton, 8 trucks), Modesto Transfer and Storage Inc (Modesto, 5 trucks), Encore Piano Moving (Stockton, 5 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 82-mile job is the estimate you sign, which on an hourly job means the rate, the minimum hours and the travel fee in writing. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Sacramento to Modesto
Get the hourly rate, minimum and travel fee in writing
Local quotes hide in three numbers: the rate per mover per hour (about $44 to $56 for a full-service crew), a minimum number of hours, and a travel or "truck" fee of around $75. Ask for all three before you compare two movers.
Describe the access honestly
A third-floor walk-up, a long carry from the truck, an elevator that needs booking — each adds an hour or more, and on an hourly job that is the whole bill. Tell the mover before they quote, not on the day.
Arriving in Modesto
A local move inside Modesto 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 Modesto are Stockton (about 34 mi), Fremont (about 61 mi), San Jose (about 62 mi).
Other routes from Sacramento
All routes from Sacramento, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento to Roseville, CA | ~19 mi | $515 – $859 |
| Sacramento to Stockton, CA | ~50 mi | $515 – $859 |
| Sacramento to San Francisco, CA | ~86 mi | $515 – $859 |
| Sacramento to Fremont, CA | ~92 mi | $515 – $859 |
| Sacramento to San Jose, CA | ~103 mi | $464 – $618 |
| Sacramento to Reno, NV | ~130 mi | $585 – $780 |
| Sacramento to Fresno, CA | ~184 mi | $828 – $1,104 |
| Sacramento to Bakersfield, CA | ~304 mi | $1,368 – $1,824 |
Also moving to Modesto: from Stockton, CA, from Fremont, CA, from San Jose, CA, from San Francisco, CA.
Sacramento to Modesto moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Sacramento to Modesto?
It is billed by the hour. A two-bedroom home with a crew of 2 for 5 to 7 hours comes to about $515 – $859; a three-bedroom home with a crew of 3 for 6 to 9 hours is about $867 – $1,587. Both include a travel fee of around $75. The 82 miles between the two cities barely matter — hours on site do.
How long does a move from Sacramento to Modesto take?
One day. The drive is about an hour, and a local crew loads, drives and unloads in a single shift. Book ahead: 1 to 2 weeks, 3 to 4 in summer or at a month-end.
What is the cheapest way to move from Sacramento to Modesto?
Do the packing yourself and hire the crew only for loading, driving and unloading. On an hourly job every hour you save is money off the bill, and packing is the slowest part. A container is rarely worth it under 82 miles because the container fee replaces very little labour.
Is Sacramento to Modesto 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 Sacramento to Modesto each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 805 people a year (margin of error ±371) moved from Sacramento County, which contains Sacramento, to Stanislaus County, which contains Modesto.
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.