Moving from Richmond, VA to Los Angeles, CA
About 2,661 miles across a state line, from Virginia 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 Richmond, VA to Los Angeles, CA covers about 2,661 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $11,975 – $15,966 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 240 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,661 miles from Virginia 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 $11,975 – $15,966 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 48 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 Richmond to Los Angeles
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $8,981 – $11,975 | $6,466 – $8,622 | $4,311 – $5,748 |
| 1 bedroom | $10,777 – $14,369 | $7,759 – $10,346 | $5,173 – $6,897 |
| 2 bedrooms | $11,975 – $15,966 | $8,622 – $11,496 | $5,748 – $7,664 |
| 3 bedrooms | $13,771 – $18,361 | $9,915 – $13,220 | $6,610 – $8,813 |
| 4 bedrooms | $15,567 – $20,756 | $11,208 – $14,944 | $7,472 – $9,963 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $17,962 – $23,949 | $12,932 – $17,243 | $8,622 – $11,496 |
Transport only, for an estimated 2,661 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, Richmond to Los Angeles
2,661 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $13,305. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $11,975 to $15,966, 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 Richmond to Los Angeles
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 240 people a year (±195) moved from Richmond city, VA, home to Richmond, to Los Angeles County, CA, home to Los Angeles. Going the other way: about 84 people a year (±56). Movers from Richmond city make up 0.1% 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 18,100 people a year (±4,368) moving from Virginia to California and about 20,180 people a year (±4,162) from California to Virginia — a net gain for Virginia of about 2,080 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Henrico County, VA | 5,086 ±908 |
| Chesterfield County, VA | 3,271 ±716 |
| Hanover County, VA | 791 ±299 |
| Fairfax County, VA | 630 ±182 |
| Petersburg City, VA | 429 ±275 |
| 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
21 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Richmond (46 counting those licensed only inside Virginia). 12 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 22.8% of their 92 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stewart Moving and StorageUSDOT 1194537 | Midlothian · 13 mi | 95 trucks | 102 | 26.0% of 50 |
| RCS MovingUSDOT 805773 | Richmond · 4 mi | 31 trucks | 10 | 0.0% of 5 |
| D1 MovingUSDOT 3013397 | Richmond · 4 mi | 22 trucks | 28 | 21.1% of 19 |
| Dunmar Moving SystemUSDOT 392896 | Richmond · 10 mi | 20 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Worth Moving LLCUSDOT 2574535 | Richmond · 3 mi | 14 trucks | 9 | 16.7% of 6 |
| Bold Moving and Storage LLCUSDOT 3139358 | Richmond · 6 mi | 11 trucks | 14 | 37.5% of 8 |
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 Virginia 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 Richmond to Los Angeles
Insist on a survey
Over 2,661 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 2,661 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 Richmond
All routes from Richmond, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond to Norfolk, VA | ~92 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Richmond to Chesapeake, VA | ~100 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Richmond to Virginia Beach, VA | ~109 mi | $491 – $654 |
| Richmond to Arlington, VA | ~110 mi | $495 – $660 |
| Richmond to Washington, DC | ~112 mi | $504 – $672 |
| Richmond to Baltimore, MD | ~150 mi | $675 – $900 |
| Richmond to Raleigh, NC | ~162 mi | $729 – $972 |
| Richmond to Harrisburg, PA | ~223 mi | $1,004 – $1,338 |
Also moving to Los Angeles: from Anaheim, CA, from Lancaster, CA, from Oxnard, CA, from Moreno Valley, CA.
Richmond to Los Angeles moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Richmond to Los Angeles?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 2,661 miles cost about $8,981 – $11,975 for a studio, $11,975 – $15,966 for a two-bedroom home and $13,771 – $18,361 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Richmond to Los Angeles take?
The drive is 6 days on the road (about 48 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 Richmond to Los Angeles?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $5,748 – $7,664 for a two-bedroom home, against $11,975 – $15,966 with full-service movers; a moving container is $8,622 – $11,496.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Richmond to Los Angeles?
Yes. Richmond is in Virginia and Los Angeles is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 21 listed movers within 30 miles of Richmond hold it.
How many people move from Richmond to Los Angeles each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 240 people a year (margin of error ±195) moved from Richmond city, which contains Richmond, 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.