Moving from Tampa, FL to San Francisco, CA
About 2,794 miles across a state line, from Florida into California, 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 Tampa, FL to San Francisco, CA covers about 2,794 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $12,573 – $16,764 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 141 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,794 miles from Florida 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 $12,573 – $16,764 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 51 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 Tampa to San Francisco
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $9,430 – $12,573 | $6,789 – $9,053 | $4,526 – $6,035 |
| 1 bedroom | $11,316 – $15,088 | $8,147 – $10,863 | $5,432 – $7,242 |
| 2 bedrooms | $12,573 – $16,764 | $9,053 – $12,070 | $6,035 – $8,047 |
| 3 bedrooms | $14,459 – $19,279 | $10,410 – $13,881 | $6,940 – $9,254 |
| 4 bedrooms | $16,345 – $21,793 | $11,768 – $15,691 | $7,846 – $10,461 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $18,860 – $25,146 | $13,579 – $18,105 | $9,053 – $12,070 |
Transport only, for an estimated 2,794 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, Tampa to San Francisco
2,794 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $13,970. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $12,573 to $16,764, 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 Tampa to San Francisco
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 141 people a year (±138) moved from Hillsborough County, FL, home to Tampa, to San Francisco County, CA, home to San Francisco. Going the other way: about 79 people a year (±66). Movers from Hillsborough County make up 0.3% 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 15,988 people a year (±3,031) moving from Florida to California and about 36,194 people a year (±5,759) from California to Florida — a net gain for Florida of about 20,206 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Pasco County, FL | 10,775 ±1,529 |
| Pinellas County, FL | 7,793 ±909 |
| Polk County, FL | 5,869 ±1,177 |
| Orange County, FL | 2,309 ±576 |
| Manatee County, FL | 2,072 ±585 |
| 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
40 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Tampa (180 counting those licensed only inside Florida). 22 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 22.4% of their 49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Class Moving Systems IncUSDOT 944759 | Tampa · 5 mi | 50 trucks | 5 | 100.0% of 2 |
| Good Greek Moving and StorageUSDOT 3754336 | Plant City · 22 mi | 34 trucks | 33 | 0.0% of 10 |
| Two Men and A TruckUSDOT 2113690 | Oldsmar · 15 mi | 10 trucks | 2 | — |
| 2 College Brothers IncUSDOT 2787568 | Tampa · 2 mi | 8 trucks | 11 | 0.0% of 3 |
| Big Man's Moving CompanyUSDOT 2951960 | Bellaire Beach · 23 mi | 8 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Hello Movers LLCUSDOT 3338540 | Land O' Lakes · 23 mi | 7 trucks | 0 | — |
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 Florida 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 Tampa to San Francisco
Insist on a survey
Over 2,794 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 2,794 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 Tampa
All routes from Tampa, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa to Saint Petersburg, FL | ~20 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Tampa to Orlando, FL | ~90 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Tampa to Cape Coral, FL | ~110 mi | $495 – $660 |
| Tampa to Gainesville, FL | ~140 mi | $630 – $840 |
| Tampa to Jacksonville, FL | ~200 mi | $900 – $1,200 |
| Tampa to Fort Lauderdale, FL | ~222 mi | $999 – $1,332 |
| Tampa to Tallahassee, FL | ~238 mi | $1,071 – $1,428 |
| Tampa to Miami, FL | 280 mi | $1,260 – $1,680 |
Also moving to San Francisco: from Fremont, CA, from San Jose, CA, from Stockton, CA, from Sacramento, CA.
Tampa to San Francisco moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Tampa to San Francisco?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 2,794 miles cost about $9,430 – $12,573 for a studio, $12,573 – $16,764 for a two-bedroom home and $14,459 – $19,279 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Tampa to San Francisco take?
The drive is 6 days on the road (about 51 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 Tampa to San Francisco?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $6,035 – $8,047 for a two-bedroom home, against $12,573 – $16,764 with full-service movers; a moving container is $9,053 – $12,070.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Tampa to San Francisco?
Yes. Tampa is in Florida and San Francisco is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 40 listed movers within 30 miles of Tampa hold it.
How many people move from Tampa to San Francisco each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 141 people a year (margin of error ±138) moved from Hillsborough County, which contains Tampa, 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.