Moving from Houston, TX to San Antonio, TX
197 miles inside Texas. Past the 100-mile local band movers price on distance and weight, but because the truck never crosses a state line the move is regulated by Texas, not by the federal FMCSA. That changes which licence to check and which estimate rules protect you.
Measured driving distance. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Houston, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 197 miles and is a move within Texas. Full-service movers cost $887 – $1,182 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 3,658 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 197 miles, about 4 hours of driving. Long enough to be priced on weight, short enough that most carriers run it on a dedicated truck rather than pooling your goods with other shipments — a two-bedroom home typically runs $887 – $1,182. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Texas
- Driving
- about 4 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Houston to San Antonio
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $665 – $887 | $479 – $638 | $319 – $426 |
| 1 bedroom | $798 – $1,064 | $574 – $766 | $383 – $511 |
| 2 bedrooms | $887 – $1,182 | $638 – $851 | $426 – $567 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,019 – $1,359 | $734 – $979 | $489 – $652 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,152 – $1,537 | $830 – $1,106 | $553 – $738 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,330 – $1,773 | $957 – $1,277 | $638 – $851 |
Transport only, for 197 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, Houston to San Antonio
197 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $985. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $887 to $1,182, 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 Houston to San Antonio
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 3,658 people a year (±811) moved from Harris County, TX, home to Houston, to Bexar County, TX, home to San Antonio. Going the other way: about 4,773 people a year (±970). Movers from Harris County make up 4.0% of the 91,790 people a year who moved into Bexar County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Fort Bend County, TX | 22,603 ±2,833 |
| Montgomery County, TX | 14,783 ±1,771 |
| Galveston County, TX | 8,605 ±1,230 |
| Brazoria County, TX | 8,171 ±2,118 |
| Travis County, TX | 5,495 ±746 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Harris County, TX | 3,658 ±811 |
| Travis County, TX | 3,130 ±757 |
| Guadalupe County, TX | 2,955 ±726 |
| Comal County, TX | 2,317 ±510 |
| Bell County, TX | 2,237 ±629 |
Licensed movers at each end
570 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Houston. 43 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 25.9% of their 139 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Men MoversUSDOT 1914113 | Houston · 10 mi | 95 trucks | 4 | 100.0% of 4 |
| G and S Moving & StorageUSDOT 511433 | Houston · 4 mi | 35 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Max Movers IncUSDOT 1939180 | Houston · 8 mi | 32 trucks | 0 | — |
| K C Salley RelocationUSDOT 1866114 | Houston · 15 mi | 23 trucks | 0 | — |
| American Knights MovingUSDOT 1977907 | Houston · 6 mi | 20 trucks | 39 | 26.9% of 26 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Woodlands LLCUSDOT 2491964 | Houston · 17 mi | 19 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
How these figures are calculated
At the San Antonio end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of San Antonio: Scobey Moving & Storage Ltd (San Antonio, 123 trucks), All My Sons Moving & Storage of San Antonio LLC (San Antonio, 20 trucks), Two Men and A Truck (San Antonio, 17 trucks), Jackson Movers LLC (San Antonio, 16 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Texas, so Texas rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Texas licence or registration it holds and check it with the state. The federal 110% cap on non-binding estimates does not reach a move inside Texas, so your protection on this 197-mile job is the estimate you sign; ask for it binding or not-to-exceed. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Houston to San Antonio
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 197 miles some carriers still quote hourly plus mileage rather than by weight. Get both numbers so you can compare like with like — hourly can win on a short haul with easy access at both ends.
Confirm it is a one-day run
Most carriers cover this distance in a single day, which avoids an overnight charge and a second crew. If a quote assumes two days, ask why.
Arriving in San Antonio
A local move inside San Antonio later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $445 – $733 for a two-bedroom home and $741 – $1,344 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from San Antonio are Austin (about 86 mi), Corpus Christi (about 155 mi), Laredo (about 166 mi).
Other routes from Houston
All routes from Houston, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Houston to Austin, TX | 162 mi | $729 – $972 |
| Houston to Corpus Christi, TX | ~216 mi | $972 – $1,296 |
| Houston to Lafayette, LA | ~236 mi | $1,062 – $1,416 |
| Houston to Dallas, TX | 239 mi | $1,076 – $1,434 |
| Houston to Fort Worth, TX | ~277 mi | $1,247 – $1,662 |
| Houston to McKinney, TX | ~291 mi | $1,310 – $1,746 |
| Houston to Baton Rouge, LA | ~297 mi | $1,337 – $1,782 |
| Houston to Laredo, TX | ~341 mi | $1,535 – $2,046 |
Also moving to San Antonio: from Austin, TX, from Corpus Christi, TX, from Laredo, TX, from McAllen, TX.
Houston to San Antonio moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Houston to San Antonio?
From our published model, full-service movers over 197 miles cost about $665 – $887 for a studio, $887 – $1,182 for a two-bedroom home and $1,019 – $1,359 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Houston to San Antonio take?
The drive is about 4 hours, but the move usually takes 1 to 3 days because it moves on a dedicated truck, because the corridor is too short to be worth consolidating. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 2 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Houston to San Antonio?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $426 – $567 for a two-bedroom home, against $887 – $1,182 with full-service movers; a moving container is $638 – $851.
Is Houston to San Antonio an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Texas, so the move is regulated by Texas rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Texas requires of household-goods movers; interstate authority (an MC number) is not required for this job. The federal 110% rule on non-binding estimates does not apply either, which is a good reason to ask for a binding estimate.
How many people move from Houston to San Antonio each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 3,658 people a year (margin of error ±811) moved from Harris County, which contains Houston, to Bexar County, which contains San Antonio.
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.