Moving from Durham, NC to San Francisco, CA
About 2,781 miles across a state line, from North Carolina 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 Durham, NC to San Francisco, CA covers about 2,781 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $12,515 – $16,686 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 105 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,781 miles from North Carolina 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 $12,515 – $16,686 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 Durham to San Francisco
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $9,386 – $12,515 | $6,758 – $9,010 | $4,505 – $6,007 |
| 1 bedroom | $11,263 – $15,017 | $8,109 – $10,813 | $5,406 – $7,208 |
| 2 bedrooms | $12,515 – $16,686 | $9,010 – $12,014 | $6,007 – $8,009 |
| 3 bedrooms | $14,392 – $19,189 | $10,362 – $13,816 | $6,908 – $9,211 |
| 4 bedrooms | $16,269 – $21,692 | $11,714 – $15,618 | $7,809 – $10,412 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $18,772 – $25,029 | $13,516 – $18,021 | $9,010 – $12,014 |
Transport only, for an estimated 2,781 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, Durham to San Francisco
2,781 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $13,905. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $12,515 to $16,686, 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 Durham to San Francisco
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 105 people a year (±92) moved from Durham County, NC, home to Durham, to San Francisco County, CA, home to San Francisco. Going the other way: about 74 people a year (±66). Movers from Durham County make up 0.2% 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 8,873 people a year (±2,194) moving from North Carolina to California and about 18,428 people a year (±4,002) from California to North Carolina — a net gain for North Carolina of about 9,555 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Wake County, NC | 6,396 ±1,096 |
| Orange County, NC | 2,251 ±561 |
| Guilford County, NC | 1,001 ±369 |
| Forsyth County, NC | 801 ±322 |
| Alamance County, NC | 792 ±501 |
| 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
51 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Durham (99 counting those licensed only inside North Carolina). 24 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 27.4% of their 62 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All American RelocationUSDOT 917428 | Raleigh · 26 mi | 41 trucks | 4 | 33.3% of 3 |
| Zippy ShellUSDOT 2574332 | Wake Forest · 20 mi | 35 trucks | 4 | 33.3% of 3 |
| Trosa MovingUSDOT 675014 | Durham · 0 mi | 32 trucks | 11 | 0.0% of 5 |
| Miracle Movers RaleighUSDOT 3139734 | Durham · 6 mi | 20 trucks | 2 | — |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of RaleighUSDOT 906054 | Raleigh · 9 mi | 16 trucks | 1 | 100.0% of 1 |
| Dba Armstrong Relocation Co Inc Raleigh NCUSDOT 1071807 | Durham · 6 mi | 15 trucks | 10 | 40.0% of 5 |
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 North Carolina 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 Durham to San Francisco
Insist on a survey
Over 2,781 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 2,781 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 Durham
All routes from Durham, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham to Chapel Hill, NC | ~11 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Raleigh, NC | ~24 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Greensboro, NC | ~58 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Fayetteville, NC | ~74 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Winston-Salem, NC | ~89 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Charlotte, NC | ~141 mi | $635 – $846 |
| Durham to Richmond, VA | ~156 mi | $702 – $936 |
| Durham to Washington, DC | ~262 mi | $1,179 – $1,572 |
Also moving to San Francisco: from Fremont, CA, from San Jose, CA, from Stockton, CA, from Sacramento, CA.
Durham to San Francisco moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Durham to San Francisco?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 2,781 miles cost about $9,386 – $12,515 for a studio, $12,515 – $16,686 for a two-bedroom home and $14,392 – $19,189 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Durham 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 Durham to San Francisco?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $6,007 – $8,009 for a two-bedroom home, against $12,515 – $16,686 with full-service movers; a moving container is $9,010 – $12,014.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Durham to San Francisco?
Yes. Durham is in North Carolina and San Francisco is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 51 listed movers within 30 miles of Durham hold it.
How many people move from Durham to San Francisco each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 105 people a year (margin of error ±92) moved from Durham County, which contains Durham, 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.