Moving from San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA
383 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.
Measured driving distance. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 383 miles and is a move within California. Full-service movers cost $1,724 – $2,298 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 5,205 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 383 miles, about 7 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 $1,724 – $2,298. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within California
- Driving
- about 7 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from San Francisco to Los Angeles
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,293 – $1,724 | $931 – $1,241 | $620 – $827 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,551 – $2,068 | $1,117 – $1,489 | $745 – $993 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,724 – $2,298 | $1,241 – $1,655 | $827 – $1,103 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,982 – $2,643 | $1,427 – $1,903 | $951 – $1,268 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,241 – $2,987 | $1,613 – $2,151 | $1,075 – $1,434 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $2,585 – $3,447 | $1,861 – $2,482 | $1,241 – $1,655 |
Transport only, for 383 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, San Francisco to Los Angeles
383 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,915. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,724 to $2,298, 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 San Francisco to Los Angeles
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 5,205 people a year (±743) moved from San Francisco County, CA, home to San Francisco, to Los Angeles County, CA, home to Los Angeles. Going the other way: about 4,003 people a year (±458). Movers from San Francisco County make up 2.6% of the 201,481 people a year who moved into Los Angeles County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Alameda County, CA | 10,553 ±1,042 |
| San Mateo County, CA | 8,260 ±979 |
| Contra Costa County, CA | 5,568 ±857 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 5,205 ±743 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 3,735 ±605 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Orange County, CA | 23,839 ±1,290 |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 15,590 ±1,301 |
| Riverside County, CA | 10,232 ±1,091 |
| San Diego County, CA | 8,898 ±761 |
| Ventura County, CA | 6,625 ±810 |
Licensed movers at each end
270 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of San Francisco. 124 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 12.2% of their 640 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Container TransferUSDOT 1701515 | Brisbane · 7 mi | 60 trucks | 63 | 14.3% of 56 |
| Waters Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 1125579 | Martinez · 19 mi | 35 trucks | 24 | 4.5% of 22 |
| Crown Worldwide Moving and Storage LLCUSDOT 2970 | Union City · 23 mi | 25 trucks | 19 | 18.8% of 16 |
| Nor-Cal Moving ServicesUSDOT 1844592 | Hayward · 19 mi | 23 trucks | 29 | 7.1% of 28 |
| Ontrack Moving LLCUSDOT 2551548 | Hayward · 19 mi | 20 trucks | 39 | 0.0% of 25 |
| Johnson & Daly Moving & StorageUSDOT 2611854 | San Rafael · 14 mi | 18 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 4 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Los Angeles end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Los Angeles: Move Happy Acme (Los Angeles, 31 trucks), Best California Movers (North Hollywood, 22 trucks), Wetzel & Sons Moving & Storage Inc (Pacoima, 17 trucks), Altar Boys Moving (Pacoima, 15 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 383-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 San Francisco to Los Angeles
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 383 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 Los Angeles
A local move inside Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles are Long Beach (about 23 mi), Santa Clarita (about 34 mi), Santa Ana (about 35 mi).
Other routes from San Francisco
All routes from San Francisco, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco to Fremont, CA | ~38 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Francisco to San Jose, CA | ~49 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Francisco to Stockton, CA | ~72 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Francisco to Sacramento, CA | ~86 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Francisco to Modesto, CA | ~90 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Francisco to Roseville, CA | ~105 mi | $473 – $630 |
| San Francisco to Fresno, CA | ~188 mi | $846 – $1,128 |
| San Francisco to Reno, NV | ~215 mi | $968 – $1,290 |
Also moving to Los Angeles: from Anaheim, CA, from Lancaster, CA, from Oxnard, CA, from Moreno Valley, CA.
San Francisco to Los Angeles moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from San Francisco to Los Angeles?
From our published model, full-service movers over 383 miles cost about $1,293 – $1,724 for a studio, $1,724 – $2,298 for a two-bedroom home and $1,982 – $2,643 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from San Francisco to Los Angeles take?
The drive is about 7 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 San Francisco to Los Angeles?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $827 – $1,103 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,724 – $2,298 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,241 – $1,655.
Is San Francisco to Los Angeles 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 San Francisco to Los Angeles each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 5,205 people a year (margin of error ±743) moved from San Francisco County, which contains San Francisco, to Los Angeles County, which contains Los Angeles.
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.