Moving from San Francisco, CA to Philadelphia, PA
About 2,934 miles across a state line, from California into Pennsylvania, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from San Francisco, CA to Philadelphia, PA covers about 2,934 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $13,203 – $17,604 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 186 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,934 miles from California to Pennsylvania. Almost all of these move as consolidated freight: your goods share a trailer and the carrier quotes 7 to 14 days rather than a date. It is why a two-bedroom home here runs $13,203 – $17,604 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 6 days on the road (about 53 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households
- Book ahead
- 6 to 8 weeks
Cost of moving from San Francisco to Philadelphia
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $9,902 – $13,203 | $7,130 – $9,506 | $4,753 – $6,337 |
| 1 bedroom | $11,883 – $15,844 | $8,556 – $11,407 | $5,704 – $7,605 |
| 2 bedrooms | $13,203 – $17,604 | $9,506 – $12,675 | $6,337 – $8,450 |
| 3 bedrooms | $15,183 – $20,245 | $10,932 – $14,576 | $7,288 – $9,717 |
| 4 bedrooms | $17,164 – $22,885 | $12,358 – $16,477 | $8,239 – $10,985 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $19,805 – $26,406 | $14,259 – $19,012 | $9,506 – $12,675 |
Transport only, for an estimated 2,934 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 Philadelphia
2,934 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $14,670. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $13,203 to $17,604, 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 Philadelphia
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 186 people a year (±113) moved from San Francisco County, CA, home to San Francisco, to Philadelphia County, PA, home to Philadelphia. Going the other way: about 211 people a year (±159). Movers from San Francisco County make up 0.3% of the 67,261 people a year who moved into Philadelphia County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 10,777 people a year (±2,315) moving from California to Pennsylvania and about 9,266 people a year (±2,532) from Pennsylvania to California — a net gain for Pennsylvania of about 1,511 people a year.
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Montgomery County, PA | 6,964 ±711 |
| Delaware County, PA | 5,131 ±857 |
| Bucks County, PA | 4,654 ±928 |
| Camden County, NJ | 3,114 ±777 |
| Kings County, NY | 2,379 ±681 |
Licensed movers at each end
61 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of San Francisco (270 counting those licensed only inside California). 42 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 11.4% of their 350 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 |
| Valley Relocation and Storage of Northern California IncUSDOT 1659739 | Concord · 25 mi | 15 trucks | 11 | 0.0% of 6 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Philadelphia end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Philadelphia: Flower Transfer Logistics (Sewell, 134 trucks), Wayne Moving and Storage (West Chester, 28 trucks), ABC Pro Movers Inc (Philadelphia, 26 trucks), Hughes Relocation Services Inc (Lansdale, 21 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from California into Pennsylvania, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book San Francisco to Philadelphia
Insist on a survey
Over 2,934 miles the price is driven almost entirely by weight. A quote given without a video or in-home survey is a guess that gets revised upward on loading day, and at this distance the revision is expensive.
Keep full-value protection
It is the default on an interstate move. Signing it away for released value means 60 cents per pound, about $18 for a 30 lb television, after 2,934 miles of handling.
Arriving in Philadelphia
A local move inside Philadelphia later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $495 – $817 for a two-bedroom home and $831 – $1,506 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Philadelphia are Wilmington (about 29 mi), Allentown (about 56 mi), Dover (about 68 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 Philadelphia: from Wilmington, DE, from Allentown, PA, from Dover, DE, from Newark, NJ.
San Francisco to Philadelphia moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from San Francisco to Philadelphia?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 2,934 miles cost about $9,902 – $13,203 for a studio, $13,203 – $17,604 for a two-bedroom home and $15,183 – $20,245 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from San Francisco to Philadelphia take?
The drive is 6 days on the road (about 53 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 7 to 14 days because it moves on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from San Francisco to Philadelphia?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $6,337 – $8,450 for a two-bedroom home, against $13,203 – $17,604 with full-service movers; a moving container is $9,506 – $12,675.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for San Francisco to Philadelphia?
Yes. San Francisco is in California and Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 61 listed movers within 30 miles of San Francisco hold it.
How many people move from San Francisco to Philadelphia each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 186 people a year (margin of error ±113) moved from San Francisco County, which contains San Francisco, to Philadelphia County, which contains Philadelphia.
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.