Moving from San Jose, CA to Ann Arbor, MI
About 2,374 miles across a state line, from California into Michigan, 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 Jose, CA to Ann Arbor, MI covers about 2,374 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $10,683 – $14,244 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 205 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,374 miles from California to Michigan. 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 $10,683 – $14,244 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 5 days on the road (about 43 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 Jose to Ann Arbor
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $8,012 – $10,683 | $5,769 – $7,692 | $3,846 – $5,128 |
| 1 bedroom | $9,615 – $12,820 | $6,923 – $9,230 | $4,615 – $6,153 |
| 2 bedrooms | $10,683 – $14,244 | $7,692 – $10,256 | $5,128 – $6,837 |
| 3 bedrooms | $12,285 – $16,381 | $8,846 – $11,794 | $5,897 – $7,863 |
| 4 bedrooms | $13,888 – $18,517 | $9,999 – $13,332 | $6,666 – $8,888 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $16,025 – $21,366 | $11,538 – $15,384 | $7,692 – $10,256 |
Transport only, for an estimated 2,374 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 Jose to Ann Arbor
2,374 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $11,870. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $10,683 to $14,244, 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 Jose to Ann Arbor
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 205 people a year (±85) moved from Santa Clara County, CA, home to San Jose, to Washtenaw County, MI, home to Ann Arbor. Going the other way: about 196 people a year (±111). Movers from Santa Clara County make up 0.6% of the 34,209 people a year who moved into Washtenaw County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 14,005 people a year (±4,112) moving from California to Michigan and about 5,317 people a year (±1,632) from Michigan to California — a net gain for Michigan of about 8,688 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Alameda County, CA | 11,575 ±1,281 |
| San Mateo County, CA | 8,832 ±1,122 |
| San Francisco County, CA | 4,693 ±747 |
| Santa Cruz County, CA | 4,402 ±799 |
| Contra Costa County, CA | 4,042 ±855 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Wayne County, MI | 6,351 ±753 |
| Oakland County, MI | 3,405 ±506 |
| Cook County, IL | 962 ±198 |
| Ingham County, MI | 800 ±223 |
| Livingston County, MI | 796 ±269 |
Licensed movers at each end
41 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of San Jose (186 counting those licensed only inside California). 27 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 11.0% of their 227 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crown Worldwide Moving and Storage LLCUSDOT 2970 | Union City · 20 mi | 25 trucks | 19 | 18.8% of 16 |
| Nor-Cal Moving ServicesUSDOT 1844592 | Hayward · 24 mi | 23 trucks | 29 | 7.1% of 28 |
| Ontrack Moving LLCUSDOT 2551548 | Hayward · 24 mi | 20 trucks | 39 | 0.0% of 25 |
| Careful MoversUSDOT 1464935 | Union City · 20 mi | 14 trucks | 24 | 23.8% of 21 |
| Efficient Moving ServicesUSDOT 2666259 | Hayward · 22 mi | 14 trucks | 24 | 13.3% of 15 |
| S & M Moving and LogisticsUSDOT 4206002 | Fremont · 12 mi | 9 trucks | 3 | 0.0% of 3 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Ann Arbor end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Ann Arbor: Corrigan Moving Systems Premier Relocations (Dearborn, 245 trucks), Imlach Movers Inc (Trenton, 45 trucks), Morse Moving & Storage Inc (Romulus, 43 trucks), Rose Moving & Storage (Canton, 42 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from California into Michigan, 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 Jose to Ann Arbor
Insist on a survey
Over 2,374 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 2,374 miles of handling.
Arriving in Ann Arbor
A local move inside Ann Arbor later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $465 – $747 for a two-bedroom home and $777 – $1,371 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Ann Arbor are Detroit (about 42 mi), Toledo (about 52 mi), Lansing (about 60 mi).
Other routes from San Jose
All routes from San Jose, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose to Fremont, CA | ~13 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Jose to San Francisco, CA | ~49 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Jose to Modesto, CA | ~62 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Jose to Stockton, CA | ~64 mi | $515 – $859 |
| San Jose to Sacramento, CA | ~103 mi | $464 – $618 |
| San Jose to Roseville, CA | ~121 mi | $545 – $726 |
| San Jose to Fresno, CA | ~144 mi | $648 – $864 |
| San Jose to Reno, NV | ~220 mi | $990 – $1,320 |
Also moving to Ann Arbor: from Detroit, MI, from Toledo, OH, from Lansing, MI, from Grand Rapids, MI.
San Jose to Ann Arbor moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from San Jose to Ann Arbor?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 2,374 miles cost about $8,012 – $10,683 for a studio, $10,683 – $14,244 for a two-bedroom home and $12,285 – $16,381 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from San Jose to Ann Arbor take?
The drive is 5 days on the road (about 43 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 Jose to Ann Arbor?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $5,128 – $6,837 for a two-bedroom home, against $10,683 – $14,244 with full-service movers; a moving container is $7,692 – $10,256.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for San Jose to Ann Arbor?
Yes. San Jose is in California and Ann Arbor is in Michigan, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 41 listed movers within 30 miles of San Jose hold it.
How many people move from San Jose to Ann Arbor each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 205 people a year (margin of error ±85) moved from Santa Clara County, which contains San Jose, to Washtenaw County, which contains Ann Arbor.
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.