Moving from Paterson, NJ to Los Angeles, CA
About 2,840 miles across a state line, from New Jersey 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 Paterson, NJ to Los Angeles, CA covers about 2,840 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $12,780 – $17,040 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 28 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,840 miles from New Jersey 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 $12,780 – $17,040 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 52 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 Paterson to Los Angeles
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $9,585 – $12,780 | $6,901 – $9,202 | $4,601 – $6,134 |
| 1 bedroom | $11,502 – $15,336 | $8,281 – $11,042 | $5,521 – $7,361 |
| 2 bedrooms | $12,780 – $17,040 | $9,202 – $12,269 | $6,134 – $8,179 |
| 3 bedrooms | $14,697 – $19,596 | $10,582 – $14,109 | $7,055 – $9,406 |
| 4 bedrooms | $16,614 – $22,152 | $11,962 – $15,949 | $7,975 – $10,633 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $19,170 – $25,560 | $13,802 – $18,403 | $9,202 – $12,269 |
Transport only, for an estimated 2,840 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, Paterson to Los Angeles
2,840 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $14,200. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $12,780 to $17,040, 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 Paterson to Los Angeles
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 28 people a year (±35) moved from Passaic County, NJ, home to Paterson, to Los Angeles County, CA, home to Los Angeles. The margin of error is as large as the estimate, so read it as a handful of households rather than a count. Going the other way: about 28 people a year (±44). Movers from Passaic County make up 0.0% 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 9,653 people a year (±2,769) moving from New Jersey to California and about 8,021 people a year (±2,510) from California to New Jersey — a net gain for California of about 1,632 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Bergen County, NJ | 3,110 ±660 |
| Morris County, NJ | 2,638 ±643 |
| Essex County, NJ | 1,647 ±460 |
| Hudson County, NJ | 650 ±226 |
| Harris County, TX | 587 ±683 |
| 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
498 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Paterson (892 counting those licensed only inside New Jersey). 304 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 15.4% of their 1,757 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piece of Cake MovingUSDOT 3066988 | New York City · 17 mi | 340 trucks | 383 | 10.2% of 246 |
| Roadway MovingUSDOT 1854436 | New York City · 17 mi | 190 trucks | 236 | 12.0% of 166 |
| Great Moving IncUSDOT 2180117 | Staten Island · 20 mi | 70 trucks | 5 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Great Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 3547419 | South Plainfiel · 27 mi | 70 trucks | 20 | 21.4% of 14 |
| Oz Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 1058063 | Yonkers · 15 mi | 35 trucks | 27 | 13.3% of 15 |
| Perfect MovingUSDOT 3222129 | Long Island City · 17 mi | 31 trucks | 28 | 13.3% of 15 |
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 New Jersey 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 Paterson to Los Angeles
Insist on a survey
Over 2,840 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 2,840 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 Paterson
All routes from Paterson, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Paterson to Newark, NJ | ~15 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Paterson to Jersey City, NJ | ~17 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Paterson to Yonkers, NY | ~17 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Paterson to New York City, NY | ~19 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Paterson to Philadelphia, PA | ~99 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Paterson to Baltimore, MD | ~199 mi | $896 – $1,194 |
Also moving to Los Angeles: from Anaheim, CA, from Lancaster, CA, from Oxnard, CA, from Moreno Valley, CA.
Paterson to Los Angeles moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Paterson to Los Angeles?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 2,840 miles cost about $9,585 – $12,780 for a studio, $12,780 – $17,040 for a two-bedroom home and $14,697 – $19,596 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Paterson to Los Angeles take?
The drive is 6 days on the road (about 52 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 Paterson to Los Angeles?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $6,134 – $8,179 for a two-bedroom home, against $12,780 – $17,040 with full-service movers; a moving container is $9,202 – $12,269.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Paterson to Los Angeles?
Yes. Paterson is in New Jersey and Los Angeles is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 498 listed movers within 30 miles of Paterson hold it.
How many people move from Paterson to Los Angeles each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 28 people a year (margin of error ±35) moved from Passaic County, which contains Paterson, 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.