Moving from Portland, ME to Los Angeles, CA
About 3,063 miles across a state line, from Maine 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 Portland, ME to Los Angeles, CA covers about 3,063 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $13,784 – $18,378 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 103 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 3,063 miles from Maine 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 $13,784 – $18,378 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 Portland to Los Angeles
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $10,338 – $13,784 | $7,443 – $9,924 | $4,962 – $6,616 |
| 1 bedroom | $12,405 – $16,540 | $8,932 – $11,909 | $5,954 – $7,939 |
| 2 bedrooms | $13,784 – $18,378 | $9,924 – $13,232 | $6,616 – $8,821 |
| 3 bedrooms | $15,851 – $21,135 | $11,413 – $15,217 | $7,608 – $10,145 |
| 4 bedrooms | $17,919 – $23,891 | $12,901 – $17,202 | $8,601 – $11,468 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $20,675 – $27,567 | $14,886 – $19,848 | $9,924 – $13,232 |
Transport only, for an estimated 3,063 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, Portland to Los Angeles
3,063 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $15,315. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $13,784 to $18,378, 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 Portland to Los Angeles
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 103 people a year (±51) moved from Cumberland County, ME, home to Portland, to Los Angeles County, CA, home to Los Angeles. Going the other way: about 28 people a year (±33). Movers from Cumberland County make up 0.1% of the 201,481 people a year who moved into Los Angeles County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 1,860 people a year (±1,028) moving from Maine to California and about 1,784 people a year (±875) from California to Maine — a net gain for California of about 76 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| York County, ME | 2,860 ±593 |
| Androscoggin County, ME | 1,499 ±396 |
| Sagadahoc County, ME | 669 ±261 |
| Kennebec County, ME | 626 ±275 |
| Penobscot County, ME | 615 ±175 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Orange County, CA | 23,839 ±1,290 |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 15,590 ±1,301 |
| Riverside County, CA | 10,232 ±1,091 |
| San Diego County, CA | 8,898 ±761 |
| Ventura County, CA | 6,625 ±810 |
Licensed movers at each end
9 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Portland (23 counting those licensed only inside Maine). 7 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 25.0% of their 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earle W Noyes & Sons Moving SpecialistsUSDOT 51022 | Portland · 0 mi | 14 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Integrity MoversUSDOT 3107396 | Scarborough · 7 mi | 5 trucks | 1 | — |
| Gore Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 714881 | Windham · 12 mi | 4 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Gordons MovingUSDOT 4425248 | Lewiston · 30 mi | 4 trucks | 0 | — |
| Liberty Bell Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 1846942 | South Portland · 2 mi | 3 trucks | 7 | 33.3% of 3 |
| Wilson MovingUSDOT 3914942 | Windham · 12 mi | 2 trucks | 1 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Los Angeles end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Los Angeles: Move Happy Acme (Los Angeles, 31 trucks), Best California Movers (North Hollywood, 22 trucks), Wetzel & Sons Moving & Storage Inc (Pacoima, 17 trucks), Altar Boys Moving (Pacoima, 15 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Maine 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 Portland to Los Angeles
Insist on a survey
Over 3,063 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 3,063 miles of handling.
Arriving in Los Angeles
A local move inside Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles are Long Beach (about 23 mi), Santa Clarita (about 34 mi), Santa Ana (about 35 mi).
Other routes from Portland
All routes from Portland, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Portland to Boston, MA | ~115 mi | $518 – $690 |
| Portland to Bangor, ME | ~126 mi | $567 – $756 |
| Portland to Atlanta, GA | ~1,191 mi | $5,360 – $7,146 |
| Portland to Denver, CO | ~2,097 mi | $9,437 – $12,582 |
| Portland to Fremont, CA | ~3,150 mi | $14,175 – $18,900 |
Also moving to Los Angeles: from Anaheim, CA, from Lancaster, CA, from Oxnard, CA, from Moreno Valley, CA.
Portland to Los Angeles moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Portland, ME to Los Angeles?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 3,063 miles cost about $10,338 – $13,784 for a studio, $13,784 – $18,378 for a two-bedroom home and $15,851 – $21,135 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Portland, ME to Los Angeles 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 Portland, ME to Los Angeles?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $6,616 – $8,821 for a two-bedroom home, against $13,784 – $18,378 with full-service movers; a moving container is $9,924 – $13,232.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Portland, ME to Los Angeles?
Yes. Portland is in Maine and Los Angeles is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 9 listed movers within 30 miles of Portland hold it.
How many people move from Portland, ME to Los Angeles each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 103 people a year (margin of error ±51) moved from Cumberland County, which contains Portland, to Los Angeles County, which contains Los Angeles.
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.