Moving from New Jersey to California
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Newark and Los Angeles it is about 2,841 miles and 6 days on the road (about 52 hours of driving); the 75 city pairs we price between the two states run from 2,780 to 2,988 miles.
Prices from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Carriers: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot 2026-09-24. We do not move anyone.
- ~2,841 miNewark → Los Angeles
- 7–14 daysTypical transit
- $12,785+2-bedroom, movers
- 75City routes priced
In short
About 9,653 people moved from New Jersey to California in 2024 (Census estimate, ±2,769), and about 8,021 went the other way. Between Newark and Los Angeles it is about 2,841 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $12,785 – $17,046 in our model, delivered in 7–14 days. 424 movers based in New Jersey hold interstate authority.
Who moves from New Jersey to California
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 9,653 people a year (±2,769), against about 8,021 (±2,510) from California to New Jersey, so California gains about 1,632 people a year on this exchange. New Jersey is the 13th-largest of the 50 states sending people to California; California took in about 406,873 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson County | Los Angeles County | 761 ±266 |
| Hudson County | San Diego County | 500 ±363 |
| Morris County | Orange County | 446 ±512* |
| Bergen County | Los Angeles County | 423 ±179 |
| Monmouth County | Orange County | 420 ±587* |
US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 state-to-state migration and ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county flows; people a year with a 90% margin of error. County names link to their cost guides. * Margin as large as the estimate.
Newark to Los Angeles, the representative route
Each state is represented by its largest city we cover. The map shows that corridor; the table further down prices every city pair between New Jersey and California.
Cost of moving from New Jersey to California
At about 2,841 miles, full-service movers should land around $12,785 – $17,046 for a two-bedroom home and $14,702 – $19,603 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $9,205 – $12,273; a freight trailer is $6,137 – $8,182.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $9,588 – $12,785 | $6,904 – $9,205 | $4,602 – $6,137 |
| 1 bedroom | $11,506 – $15,341 | $8,284 – $11,046 | $5,523 – $7,364 |
| 2 bedrooms | $12,785 – $17,046 | $9,205 – $12,273 | $6,137 – $8,182 |
| 3 bedrooms | $14,702 – $19,603 | $10,586 – $14,114 | $7,057 – $9,409 |
| 4 bedrooms | $16,620 – $22,160 | $11,966 – $15,955 | $7,978 – $10,637 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $19,177 – $25,569 | $13,807 – $18,410 | $9,205 – $12,273 |
Transport only, for an estimated 2,841 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.
City-to-city routes from New Jersey to California
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 9 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paterson to San Bernardino | ~2,780 mi | 7–14 days | $12,510 – $16,680 | $14,386 – $19,182 |
| Newark to San Bernardino | ~2,781 mi | 7–14 days | $12,515 – $16,686 | $14,392 – $19,189 |
| Newark to Moreno Valley | ~2,782 mi | 7–14 days | $12,519 – $16,692 | $14,397 – $19,196 |
| Paterson to Moreno Valley | ~2,782 mi | 7–14 days | $12,519 – $16,692 | $14,397 – $19,196 |
| Jersey City to San Bernardino | ~2,788 mi | 7–14 days | $12,546 – $16,728 | $14,428 – $19,237 |
| Jersey City to Moreno Valley | ~2,790 mi | 7–14 days | $12,555 – $16,740 | $14,438 – $19,251 |
| Paterson to Fontana | ~2,791 mi | 7–14 days | $12,560 – $16,746 | $14,443 – $19,258 |
| Newark to Fontana | ~2,792 mi | 7–14 days | $12,564 – $16,752 | $14,449 – $19,265 |
| Newark to Riverside | ~2,793 mi | 7–14 days | $12,569 – $16,758 | $14,454 – $19,272 |
| Paterson to Riverside | ~2,793 mi | 7–14 days | $12,569 – $16,758 | $14,454 – $19,272 |
| Jersey City to Fontana | ~2,800 mi | 7–14 days | $12,600 – $16,800 | $14,490 – $19,320 |
| Jersey City to Riverside | ~2,801 mi | 7–14 days | $12,605 – $16,806 | $14,495 – $19,327 |
| Paterson to Ontario | ~2,802 mi | 7–14 days | $12,609 – $16,812 | $14,500 – $19,334 |
| Newark to Ontario | ~2,803 mi | 7–14 days | $12,614 – $16,818 | $14,506 – $19,341 |
| Jersey City to Ontario | ~2,810 mi | 7–14 days | $12,645 – $16,860 | $14,542 – $19,389 |
| Newark to Chula Vista | ~2,815 mi | 7–14 days | $12,668 – $16,890 | $14,568 – $19,423 |
| Paterson to Chula Vista | ~2,815 mi | 7–14 days | $12,668 – $16,890 | $14,568 – $19,423 |
| Paterson to Lancaster | ~2,815 mi | 7–14 days | $12,668 – $16,890 | $14,568 – $19,423 |
| Newark to Lancaster | ~2,816 mi | 7–14 days | $12,672 – $16,896 | $14,573 – $19,430 |
| Newark to Anaheim | ~2,818 mi | 7–14 days | $12,681 – $16,908 | $14,583 – $19,444 |
| Paterson to Anaheim | ~2,818 mi | 7–14 days | $12,681 – $16,908 | $14,583 – $19,444 |
| Newark to San Diego | ~2,821 mi | 7–14 days | $12,695 – $16,926 | $14,599 – $19,465 |
| Paterson to San Diego | ~2,821 mi | 7–14 days | $12,695 – $16,926 | $14,599 – $19,465 |
| Jersey City to Chula Vista | ~2,822 mi | 7–14 days | $12,699 – $16,932 | $14,604 – $19,472 |
| Jersey City to Lancaster | ~2,824 mi | 7–14 days | $12,708 – $16,944 | $14,614 – $19,486 |
| Paterson to Irvine | ~2,824 mi | 7–14 days | $12,708 – $16,944 | $14,614 – $19,486 |
| Newark to Irvine | ~2,825 mi | 7–14 days | $12,713 – $16,950 | $14,619 – $19,492 |
| Jersey City to Anaheim | ~2,826 mi | 7–14 days | $12,717 – $16,956 | $14,625 – $19,499 |
| Jersey City to San Diego | ~2,828 mi | 7–14 days | $12,726 – $16,968 | $14,635 – $19,513 |
| Paterson to Santa Ana | ~2,829 mi | 7–14 days | $12,731 – $16,974 | $14,640 – $19,520 |
| Newark to Santa Ana | ~2,830 mi | 7–14 days | $12,735 – $16,980 | $14,645 – $19,527 |
| Jersey City to Irvine | ~2,833 mi | 7–14 days | $12,749 – $16,998 | $14,661 – $19,548 |
| Jersey City to Santa Ana | ~2,837 mi | 7–14 days | $12,767 – $17,022 | $14,681 – $19,575 |
| Paterson to Los Angeles | ~2,840 mi | 7–14 days | $12,780 – $17,040 | $14,697 – $19,596 |
| Newark to Los Angeles | ~2,841 mi | 7–14 days | $12,785 – $17,046 | $14,702 – $19,603 |
| Paterson to Santa Clarita | ~2,844 mi | 7–14 days | $12,798 – $17,064 | $14,718 – $19,624 |
| Newark to Santa Clarita | ~2,845 mi | 7–14 days | $12,803 – $17,070 | $14,723 – $19,630 |
| Paterson to Bakersfield | ~2,847 mi | 7–14 days | $12,812 – $17,082 | $14,733 – $19,644 |
| Paterson to Long Beach | ~2,847 mi | 7–14 days | $12,812 – $17,082 | $14,733 – $19,644 |
| Newark to Bakersfield | ~2,848 mi | 7–14 days | $12,816 – $17,088 | $14,738 – $19,651 |
| Newark to Long Beach | ~2,848 mi | 7–14 days | $12,816 – $17,088 | $14,738 – $19,651 |
| Jersey City to Los Angeles | ~2,849 mi | 7–14 days | $12,821 – $17,094 | $14,744 – $19,658 |
| Paterson to Fresno | ~2,850 mi | 7–14 days | $12,825 – $17,100 | $14,749 – $19,665 |
| Newark to Fresno | ~2,852 mi | 7–14 days | $12,834 – $17,112 | $14,759 – $19,679 |
| Jersey City to Santa Clarita | ~2,853 mi | 7–14 days | $12,839 – $17,118 | $14,764 – $19,686 |
| Jersey City to Long Beach | ~2,855 mi | 7–14 days | $12,848 – $17,130 | $14,775 – $19,699 |
| Jersey City to Bakersfield | ~2,856 mi | 7–14 days | $12,852 – $17,136 | $14,780 – $19,706 |
| Jersey City to Fresno | ~2,860 mi | 7–14 days | $12,870 – $17,160 | $14,800 – $19,734 |
| Paterson to Roseville | ~2,886 mi | 7–14 days | $12,987 – $17,316 | $14,935 – $19,913 |
| Newark to Roseville | ~2,889 mi | 7–14 days | $13,001 – $17,334 | $14,951 – $19,934 |
| Paterson to Oxnard | ~2,894 mi | 7–14 days | $13,023 – $17,364 | $14,976 – $19,969 |
| Newark to Oxnard | ~2,895 mi | 7–14 days | $13,028 – $17,370 | $14,982 – $19,975 |
| Jersey City to Roseville | ~2,897 mi | 7–14 days | $13,037 – $17,382 | $14,992 – $19,989 |
| Paterson to Modesto | ~2,898 mi | 7–14 days | $13,041 – $17,388 | $14,997 – $19,996 |
| Newark to Modesto | ~2,900 mi | 7–14 days | $13,050 – $17,400 | $15,007 – $20,010 |
| Paterson to Sacramento | ~2,901 mi | 7–14 days | $13,055 – $17,406 | $15,013 – $20,017 |
| Jersey City to Oxnard | ~2,903 mi | 7–14 days | $13,064 – $17,418 | $15,023 – $20,031 |
| Newark to Sacramento | ~2,904 mi | 7–14 days | $13,068 – $17,424 | $15,028 – $20,038 |
| Paterson to Stockton | ~2,907 mi | 7–14 days | $13,082 – $17,442 | $15,044 – $20,058 |
| Jersey City to Modesto | ~2,908 mi | 7–14 days | $13,086 – $17,448 | $15,049 – $20,065 |
| Newark to Stockton | ~2,909 mi | 7–14 days | $13,091 – $17,454 | $15,054 – $20,072 |
| Jersey City to Sacramento | ~2,912 mi | 7–14 days | $13,104 – $17,472 | $15,070 – $20,093 |
| Jersey City to Stockton | ~2,917 mi | 7–14 days | $13,127 – $17,502 | $15,095 – $20,127 |
| Paterson to Fremont | ~2,958 mi | 7–14 days | $13,311 – $17,748 | $15,308 – $20,410 |
| Paterson to San Jose | ~2,959 mi | 7–14 days | $13,316 – $17,754 | $15,313 – $20,417 |
| Newark to Fremont | ~2,960 mi | 7–14 days | $13,320 – $17,760 | $15,318 – $20,424 |
| Newark to San Jose | ~2,962 mi | 7–14 days | $13,329 – $17,772 | $15,328 – $20,438 |
| Jersey City to Fremont | ~2,968 mi | 7–14 days | $13,356 – $17,808 | $15,359 – $20,479 |
| Paterson to Oakland | ~2,969 mi | 7–14 days | $13,361 – $17,814 | $15,365 – $20,486 |
| Jersey City to San Jose | ~2,970 mi | 7–14 days | $13,365 – $17,820 | $15,370 – $20,493 |
| Newark to Oakland | ~2,972 mi | 7–14 days | $13,374 – $17,832 | $15,380 – $20,507 |
| Paterson to San Francisco | ~2,977 mi | 7–14 days | $13,397 – $17,862 | $15,406 – $20,541 |
| Jersey City to Oakland | ~2,979 mi | 7–14 days | $13,406 – $17,874 | $15,416 – $20,555 |
| Newark to San Francisco | ~2,980 mi | 7–14 days | $13,410 – $17,880 | $15,421 – $20,562 |
| Jersey City to San Francisco | ~2,988 mi | 7–14 days | $13,446 – $17,928 | $15,463 – $20,617 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in New Jersey
255 of the 424 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 2,208 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 200 of 1,351 vehicle inspections (14.8%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 507 of 2,203 driver inspections (23.0%, against 13.0%). 2 carriers have an acute or critical violation found in an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flower Transfer LogisticsSewell, NJ · USDOT 346532 | 262 | 4 of 201 | 1 of 262 |
| Budd Van Lines IncSomerset, NJ · USDOT 185771 | 107 | 4 of 56 | 9 of 107 |
| Cross Country Long Distance MoversClifton, NJ · USDOT 3051646 | 80 | 11 of 52 | 56 of 80 |
| Moving Express & Storage IncPassaic, NJ · USDOT 2055103 | 62 | 8 of 38 | 14 of 62 |
| Cobra Van Lines Moving SystemHackensack, NJ · USDOT 4309696 | 51 | 6 of 29 | 15 of 51 |
| Imovers LLCEdgewater, NJ · USDOT 3513866 | 47 | 5 of 19 | 16 of 47 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
558 listed household-goods carriers are based in New Jersey, 424 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the New Jersey directory ranks them. At the California end, 1,592 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in California, moving costs in California, or the reverse trip, California to New Jersey. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from New Jersey
New Jersey to California moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from New Jersey to California?
Between the two states' main cities, Newark and Los Angeles, the distance is about 2,841 miles. From our model that is $12,785 – $17,046 for a two-bedroom home and $14,702 – $19,603 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $9,205 – $12,273 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $6,137 – $8,182. Across the 75 city pairs we price between New Jersey and California, distances run from 2,780 to 2,988 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from New Jersey to California take?
Newark to Los Angeles is 6 days on the road (about 52 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 7 to 14 days, because at this distance it usually travels on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for New Jersey to California?
Yes. A move from New Jersey into California is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 558 listed movers based in New Jersey, 424 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within New Jersey.
What is the cheapest way to move from New Jersey to California?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $6,137 – $8,182 for a two-bedroom home over 2,841 miles against $12,785 – $17,046 with full-service movers. A container, about $9,205 – $12,273, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from New Jersey to California each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 9,653 people (±2,769) moved from New Jersey to California that year, against about 8,021 (±2,510) from California to New Jersey. That makes New Jersey the 13th-largest source of new residents for California among the states.