Moving from Denver, CO to San Francisco, CA
1,253 miles across a state line, from Colorado into California, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Measured driving distance. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Denver, CO to San Francisco, CA covers 1,253 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $5,639 – $7,518 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 243 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,253 miles from Colorado to California. 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 $5,639 – $7,518 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 3 days on the road (about 23 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 Denver to San Francisco
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,229 – $5,639 | $3,045 – $4,060 | $2,030 – $2,706 |
| 1 bedroom | $5,075 – $6,766 | $3,654 – $4,872 | $2,436 – $3,248 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,639 – $7,518 | $4,060 – $5,413 | $2,706 – $3,609 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,484 – $8,646 | $4,669 – $6,225 | $3,112 – $4,150 |
| 4 bedrooms | $7,330 – $9,773 | $5,278 – $7,037 | $3,518 – $4,691 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $8,458 – $11,277 | $6,090 – $8,119 | $4,060 – $5,413 |
Transport only, for 1,253 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, Denver to San Francisco
1,253 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $6,265. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $5,639 to $7,518, 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 Denver to San Francisco
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 243 people a year (±149) moved from Denver County, CO, home to Denver, to San Francisco County, CA, home to San Francisco. Going the other way: about 354 people a year (±149). Movers from Denver County make up 0.5% of the 51,400 people a year who moved into San Francisco County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 15,781 people a year (±3,397) moving from Colorado to California and about 19,717 people a year (±3,479) from California to Colorado — a net gain for Colorado of about 3,936 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Arapahoe County, CO | 17,234 ±1,405 |
| Jefferson County, CO | 13,848 ±1,764 |
| Adams County, CO | 7,370 ±1,266 |
| Douglas County, CO | 4,491 ±897 |
| Boulder County, CO | 2,545 ±587 |
| 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
83 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Denver (324 counting those licensed only inside Colorado). 40 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 18.9% of their 95 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buehler Companies Alliance Relocation & Student MoversUSDOT 1353870 | Aurora · 10 mi | 38 trucks | 12 | 33.3% of 6 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Denver LLCUSDOT 900253 | Denver · 9 mi | 27 trucks | 22 | 6.7% of 15 |
| Amazing Moves Moving & StorageUSDOT 1187573 | Denver · 6 mi | 20 trucks | 5 | 33.3% of 3 |
| Johnson Storage & Moving CoUSDOT 627773 | Centennial · 13 mi | 20 trucks | 6 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Johnson Storage & Moving Co - Missouri LLCUSDOT 120303 | Centennial · 13 mi | 15 trucks | 2 | — |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of BoulderUSDOT 2629937 | Broomfield · 14 mi | 13 trucks | 4 | 50.0% of 2 |
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
Because the truck crosses from Colorado into California, 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 Denver to San Francisco
Insist on a survey
Over 1,253 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 1,253 miles of handling.
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 Denver
All routes from Denver, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Denver to Aurora, CO | ~7 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Denver to Fort Collins, CO | ~65 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Denver to Colorado Springs, CO | 69 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Denver to Salt Lake City, UT | ~432 mi | $1,944 – $2,592 |
| Denver to Oklahoma City, OK | ~587 mi | $2,642 – $3,522 |
| Denver to Las Cruces, NM | 614 mi | $2,763 – $3,684 |
| Denver to Overland Park, KS | ~644 mi | $2,898 – $3,864 |
| Denver to Kansas City, MO | ~649 mi | $2,921 – $3,894 |
Also moving to San Francisco: from Fremont, CA, from San Jose, CA, from Stockton, CA, from Sacramento, CA.
Denver to San Francisco moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Denver to San Francisco?
From our published model, full-service movers over 1,253 miles cost about $4,229 – $5,639 for a studio, $5,639 – $7,518 for a two-bedroom home and $6,484 – $8,646 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Denver to San Francisco take?
The drive is 3 days on the road (about 23 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 Denver to San Francisco?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $2,706 – $3,609 for a two-bedroom home, against $5,639 – $7,518 with full-service movers; a moving container is $4,060 – $5,413.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Denver to San Francisco?
Yes. Denver is in Colorado and San Francisco is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 83 listed movers within 30 miles of Denver hold it.
How many people move from Denver to San Francisco each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 243 people a year (margin of error ±149) moved from Denver County, which contains Denver, 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.