Moving from Philadelphia, PA to San Jose, CA
About 2,914 miles across a state line, from Pennsylvania 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 Philadelphia, PA to San Jose, CA covers about 2,914 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $13,113 – $17,484 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 265 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,914 miles from Pennsylvania 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 $13,113 – $17,484 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 53 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 Philadelphia to San Jose
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $9,835 – $13,113 | $7,081 – $9,441 | $4,721 – $6,294 |
| 1 bedroom | $11,802 – $15,736 | $8,497 – $11,330 | $5,665 – $7,553 |
| 2 bedrooms | $13,113 – $17,484 | $9,441 – $12,588 | $6,294 – $8,392 |
| 3 bedrooms | $15,080 – $20,107 | $10,858 – $14,477 | $7,238 – $9,651 |
| 4 bedrooms | $17,047 – $22,729 | $12,274 – $16,365 | $8,183 – $10,910 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $19,670 – $26,226 | $14,162 – $18,883 | $9,441 – $12,588 |
Transport only, for an estimated 2,914 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, Philadelphia to San Jose
2,914 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $14,570. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $13,113 to $17,484, 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 Philadelphia to San Jose
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 265 people a year (±161) moved from Philadelphia County, PA, home to Philadelphia, to Santa Clara County, CA, home to San Jose. Going the other way: about 410 people a year (±204). Movers from Philadelphia County make up 0.3% of the 78,912 people a year who moved into Santa Clara County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 9,266 people a year (±2,532) moving from Pennsylvania to California and about 10,777 people a year (±2,315) from California to Pennsylvania — a net gain for Pennsylvania of about 1,511 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Montgomery County, PA | 11,698 ±1,204 |
| Delaware County, PA | 8,343 ±1,332 |
| Bucks County, PA | 5,797 ±970 |
| Camden County, NJ | 3,242 ±635 |
| Chester County, PA | 2,473 ±515 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Alameda County, CA | 8,231 ±986 |
| San Mateo County, CA | 6,043 ±854 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 5,413 ±752 |
| San Francisco County, CA | 3,735 ±605 |
| Santa Cruz County, CA | 2,272 ±673 |
Licensed movers at each end
131 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Philadelphia (196 counting those licensed only inside Pennsylvania). 78 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 6.8% of their 382 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flower Transfer LogisticsUSDOT 346532 | Sewell · 14 mi | 134 trucks | 262 | 2.0% of 201 |
| ABC Pro Movers IncUSDOT 2631702 | Philadelphia · 11 mi | 26 trucks | 6 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Hughes Relocation Services IncUSDOT 110502 | Lansdale · 21 mi | 21 trucks | 5 | 50.0% of 2 |
| Reads Moving Systems IncUSDOT 113600 | Montgomeryville · 19 mi | 19 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Clemmer Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 85504 | Telford · 28 mi | 17 trucks | 24 | 8.3% of 12 |
| Riley and Sons Moving & StorageUSDOT 85429 | Philadelphia · 12 mi | 15 trucks | 9 | 20.0% of 5 |
How these figures are calculated
At the San Jose end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of San Jose: Crown Worldwide Moving and Storage LLC (Union City, 25 trucks), Nor-Cal Moving Services (Hayward, 23 trucks), Ontrack Moving LLC (Hayward, 20 trucks), Moving Solutions Inc (Newark, 18 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Pennsylvania 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 Philadelphia to San Jose
Insist on a survey
Over 2,914 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 2,914 miles of handling.
Arriving in San Jose
A local move inside San Jose 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 Jose are Fremont (about 13 mi), Oakland (about 45 mi), San Francisco (about 49 mi).
Other routes from Philadelphia
All routes from Philadelphia, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia to Wilmington, DE | ~29 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to Allentown, PA | ~56 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to Dover, DE | ~68 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to Newark, NJ | 85 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to Jersey City, NJ | ~92 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to New York City, NY | 95 mi | $495 – $817 |
| Philadelphia to Baltimore, MD | ~104 mi | $468 – $624 |
| Philadelphia to Harrisburg, PA | ~109 mi | $491 – $654 |
Also moving to San Jose: from Fremont, CA, from San Francisco, CA, from Modesto, CA, from Stockton, CA.
Philadelphia to San Jose moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Philadelphia to San Jose?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 2,914 miles cost about $9,835 – $13,113 for a studio, $13,113 – $17,484 for a two-bedroom home and $15,080 – $20,107 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Philadelphia to San Jose take?
The drive is 6 days on the road (about 53 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 Philadelphia to San Jose?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $6,294 – $8,392 for a two-bedroom home, against $13,113 – $17,484 with full-service movers; a moving container is $9,441 – $12,588.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Philadelphia to San Jose?
Yes. Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania and San Jose is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 131 listed movers within 30 miles of Philadelphia hold it.
How many people move from Philadelphia to San Jose each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 265 people a year (margin of error ±161) moved from Philadelphia County, which contains Philadelphia, to Santa Clara County, which contains San Jose.
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.