Moving from Boston, MA to San Francisco, CA
3,097 miles across a state line, from Massachusetts 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 Boston, MA to San Francisco, CA covers 3,097 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $13,937 – $18,582 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 731 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 3,097 miles from Massachusetts 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 $13,937 – $18,582 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 7 days on the road (about 56 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 Boston to San Francisco
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $10,452 – $13,937 | $7,526 – $10,034 | $5,017 – $6,690 |
| 1 bedroom | $12,543 – $16,724 | $9,031 – $12,041 | $6,021 – $8,027 |
| 2 bedrooms | $13,937 – $18,582 | $10,034 – $13,379 | $6,690 – $8,919 |
| 3 bedrooms | $16,027 – $21,369 | $11,539 – $15,386 | $7,693 – $10,257 |
| 4 bedrooms | $18,117 – $24,157 | $13,045 – $17,393 | $8,696 – $11,595 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $20,905 – $27,873 | $15,051 – $20,069 | $10,034 – $13,379 |
Transport only, for 3,097 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, Boston to San Francisco
3,097 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $15,485. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $13,937 to $18,582, 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 Boston to San Francisco
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 731 people a year (±216) moved from Suffolk County, MA, home to Boston, to San Francisco County, CA, home to San Francisco. Going the other way: about 548 people a year (±206). Movers from Suffolk County make up 1.4% 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 15,720 people a year (±3,343) moving from Massachusetts to California and about 13,810 people a year (±2,866) from California to Massachusetts — a net gain for California of about 1,910 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Middlesex County, MA | 17,104 ±1,315 |
| Norfolk County, MA | 10,905 ±1,500 |
| Essex County, MA | 4,501 ±942 |
| Plymouth County, MA | 3,190 ±733 |
| Worcester County, MA | 2,085 ±401 |
| 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
174 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Boston (246 counting those licensed only inside Massachusetts). 120 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 12.0% of their 368 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gentle Giant Moving CompanyUSDOT 373544 | Winchester · 8 mi | 88 trucks | 78 | 4.9% of 41 |
| Olympia Moving & StorageUSDOT 597632 | Watertown Town · 6 mi | 70 trucks | 30 | 5.3% of 19 |
| DN Van Lines Moving & StorageUSDOT 1141917 | Northborough · 30 mi | 32 trucks | 95 | 10.8% of 37 |
| Stairhopper Movers LLCUSDOT 1696867 | Everett · 3 mi | 31 trucks | 54 | 0.0% of 16 |
| ABC Moving Services IncUSDOT 279719 | Somerville · 3 mi | 23 trucks | 0 | — |
| Tobin ScientificUSDOT 342626 | Beverly · 18 mi | 22 trucks | 21 | 10.0% of 10 |
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 Massachusetts 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 Boston to San Francisco
Insist on a survey
Over 3,097 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 3,097 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 Boston
All routes from Boston, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Boston to Worcester, MA | ~45 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Nashua, NH | 45 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Providence, RI | ~48 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Warwick, RI | ~58 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Springfield, MA | ~94 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Hartford, CT | ~108 mi | $486 – $648 |
| Boston to Portland, ME | ~115 mi | $518 – $690 |
| Boston to New Haven, CT | ~140 mi | $630 – $840 |
Also moving to San Francisco: from Fremont, CA, from San Jose, CA, from Stockton, CA, from Sacramento, CA.
Boston to San Francisco moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Boston to San Francisco?
From our published model, full-service movers over 3,097 miles cost about $10,452 – $13,937 for a studio, $13,937 – $18,582 for a two-bedroom home and $16,027 – $21,369 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Boston to San Francisco take?
The drive is 7 days on the road (about 56 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 Boston to San Francisco?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $6,690 – $8,919 for a two-bedroom home, against $13,937 – $18,582 with full-service movers; a moving container is $10,034 – $13,379.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Boston to San Francisco?
Yes. Boston is in Massachusetts and San Francisco is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 174 listed movers within 30 miles of Boston hold it.
How many people move from Boston to San Francisco each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 731 people a year (margin of error ±216) moved from Suffolk County, which contains Boston, 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.