Moving from Minneapolis, MN to San Francisco, CA
About 1,843 miles across a state line, from Minnesota 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 Minneapolis, MN to San Francisco, CA covers about 1,843 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $8,294 – $11,058 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 245 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,843 miles from Minnesota 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 $8,294 – $11,058 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 4 days on the road (about 34 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 Minneapolis to San Francisco
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $6,220 – $8,294 | $4,478 – $5,971 | $2,986 – $3,981 |
| 1 bedroom | $7,464 – $9,952 | $5,374 – $7,166 | $3,583 – $4,777 |
| 2 bedrooms | $8,294 – $11,058 | $5,971 – $7,962 | $3,981 – $5,308 |
| 3 bedrooms | $9,538 – $12,717 | $6,867 – $9,156 | $4,578 – $6,104 |
| 4 bedrooms | $10,782 – $14,375 | $7,763 – $10,350 | $5,175 – $6,900 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $12,440 – $16,587 | $8,957 – $11,943 | $5,971 – $7,962 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,843 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, Minneapolis to San Francisco
1,843 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $9,215. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $8,294 to $11,058, 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 Minneapolis to San Francisco
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 245 people a year (±174) moved from Hennepin County, MN, home to Minneapolis, to San Francisco County, CA, home to San Francisco. Going the other way: about 60 people a year (±50). Movers from Hennepin 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 3,533 people a year (±1,394) moving from Minnesota to California and about 6,928 people a year (±2,325) from California to Minnesota — a net gain for Minnesota of about 3,395 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Ramsey County, MN | 12,138 ±1,365 |
| Anoka County, MN | 8,764 ±1,203 |
| Dakota County, MN | 6,506 ±899 |
| Carver County, MN | 2,839 ±475 |
| Washington County, MN | 2,544 ±572 |
| 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
56 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Minneapolis (187 counting those licensed only inside Minnesota). 34 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 17.5% of their 715 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay and BayUSDOT 125630 | Eagan · 10 mi | 360 trucks | 954 | 15.8% of 507 |
| Berger Transfer & Storage IncUSDOT 125665 | Saint Paul · 6 mi | 221 trucks | 63 | 13.9% of 36 |
| Manning Transfer IncUSDOT 116111 | Blaine · 14 mi | 60 trucks | 104 | 23.5% of 51 |
| AAA Movers IncUSDOT 1140502 | Brooklyn Park · 11 mi | 44 trucks | 7 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Matt's Moving LLCUSDOT 1704106 | Saint Paul · 10 mi | 32 trucks | 15 | 25.0% of 4 |
| Twin Cities Moving Systems IncUSDOT 1273556 | Prior Lake · 22 mi | 30 trucks | 47 | 25.0% of 24 |
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 Minnesota 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 Minneapolis to San Francisco
Insist on a survey
Over 1,843 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 1,843 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 Minneapolis
All routes from Minneapolis, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis to Saint Paul, MN | ~10 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Minneapolis to Rochester, MN | ~90 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Minneapolis to Sioux Falls, SD | ~231 mi | $1,040 – $1,386 |
| Minneapolis to Fargo, ND | ~250 mi | $1,125 – $1,500 |
| Minneapolis to Madison, WI | ~272 mi | $1,224 – $1,632 |
| Minneapolis to Des Moines, IA | ~274 mi | $1,233 – $1,644 |
| Minneapolis to Omaha, NE | ~338 mi | $1,521 – $2,028 |
| Minneapolis to Milwaukee, WI | ~347 mi | $1,562 – $2,082 |
Also moving to San Francisco: from Fremont, CA, from San Jose, CA, from Stockton, CA, from Sacramento, CA.
Minneapolis to San Francisco moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Minneapolis to San Francisco?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,843 miles cost about $6,220 – $8,294 for a studio, $8,294 – $11,058 for a two-bedroom home and $9,538 – $12,717 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Minneapolis to San Francisco take?
The drive is 4 days on the road (about 34 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 Minneapolis to San Francisco?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $3,981 – $5,308 for a two-bedroom home, against $8,294 – $11,058 with full-service movers; a moving container is $5,971 – $7,962.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Minneapolis to San Francisco?
Yes. Minneapolis is in Minnesota and San Francisco is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 56 listed movers within 30 miles of Minneapolis hold it.
How many people move from Minneapolis to San Francisco each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 245 people a year (margin of error ±174) moved from Hennepin County, which contains Minneapolis, 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.