Moving from Houston, TX to San Diego, CA
About 1,517 miles across a state line, from Texas 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 Houston, TX to San Diego, CA covers about 1,517 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $6,827 – $9,102 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 499 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,517 miles from Texas 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 $6,827 – $9,102 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 4 days on the road (about 28 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 Houston to San Diego
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $5,120 – $6,827 | $3,686 – $4,915 | $2,458 – $3,277 |
| 1 bedroom | $6,144 – $8,192 | $4,424 – $5,898 | $2,949 – $3,932 |
| 2 bedrooms | $6,827 – $9,102 | $4,915 – $6,553 | $3,277 – $4,369 |
| 3 bedrooms | $7,850 – $10,467 | $5,652 – $7,536 | $3,768 – $5,024 |
| 4 bedrooms | $8,874 – $11,833 | $6,390 – $8,519 | $4,260 – $5,680 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $10,240 – $13,653 | $7,373 – $9,830 | $4,915 – $6,553 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,517 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 Diego
1,517 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $7,585. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $6,827 to $9,102, 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 Diego
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 499 people a year (±216) moved from Harris County, TX, home to Houston, to San Diego County, CA, home to San Diego. Going the other way: about 771 people a year (±365). Movers from Harris County make up 0.4% of the 132,807 people a year who moved into San Diego County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 45,447 people a year (±6,640) moving from Texas to California and about 77,161 people a year (±9,059) from California to Texas — a net gain for Texas of about 31,714 people a year.
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles County, CA | 10,436 ±1,312 |
| Orange County, CA | 8,261 ±1,298 |
| Riverside County, CA | 8,201 ±1,135 |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 5,342 ±857 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 3,074 ±756 |
Licensed movers at each end
82 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Houston (570 counting those licensed only inside Texas). 35 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 27.3% of their 110 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 |
| 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 |
| Cajun MoversUSDOT 752804 | Fresno · 17 mi | 16 trucks | 4 | 50.0% of 4 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Houston LLCUSDOT 1296282 | Houston · 15 mi | 15 trucks | 7 | 0.0% of 6 |
How these figures are calculated
At the San Diego end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of San Diego: Mills Van Lines (San Diego, 108 trucks), Corovan Moving & Storage Co (Poway, 88 trucks), Republic Moving & Storage (Chula Vista, 21 trucks), Ackley Moving Services (Poway, 21 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Texas 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 Houston to San Diego
Insist on a survey
Over 1,517 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 1,517 miles of handling.
Arriving in San Diego
A local move inside San Diego 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 Diego are Chula Vista (about 12 mi), Irvine (about 88 mi), Santa Ana (about 95 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 San Antonio, TX | 197 mi | $887 – $1,182 |
| 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 |
Also moving to San Diego: from Moreno Valley, CA, from Anaheim, CA, from Fontana, CA, from Los Angeles, CA.
Houston to San Diego moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Houston to San Diego?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,517 miles cost about $5,120 – $6,827 for a studio, $6,827 – $9,102 for a two-bedroom home and $7,850 – $10,467 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Houston to San Diego take?
The drive is 4 days on the road (about 28 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 Houston to San Diego?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $3,277 – $4,369 for a two-bedroom home, against $6,827 – $9,102 with full-service movers; a moving container is $4,915 – $6,553.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Houston to San Diego?
Yes. Houston is in Texas and San Diego is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 82 listed movers within 30 miles of Houston hold it.
How many people move from Houston to San Diego each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 499 people a year (margin of error ±216) moved from Harris County, which contains Houston, to San Diego County, which contains San Diego.
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.