Cost of movers in California: hourly local moves and long-distance pricing

What a mover costs in California depends first on what kind of move it is. A local move, and many one-day moves just beyond the Bay Area, is billed by the hour under the state's rules. A long move inside California or a move to another state is priced by weight, or as one flat fee for a reserved truck. The rule of thumb: if the crew can load, drive and unload in one day, expect an hourly price; if not, expect a weight-based estimate.

Same rate every day. Rates may vary based on dates and availability. After the minimum, billing is in 15-minute steps. No charge for the drive to your first address; the drive between your homes is counted twice when they are more than 10 minutes apart. Blankets, tape, wardrobe boxes, floor protection and furniture assembly are included; packing supplies are billed as used. A free on-site inspection gives a not-to-exceed price.

For real hours by home size, see moving cost by home size.

Long-distance moves are not billed by the hour. Spartan prices them in one of two ways: by weight (a rate per pound with a minimum space reservation, non-binding) or as a flat fee for a reserved truck (one binding price). Which rules apply also depends on whether the move stays inside California or crosses a state line. Your written estimate always shows the weight, the rate per pound and the minimum reservation, or the single flat price, before you book.

The "from" price is the minimum weight times the rate per pound. Within California there is no extra charge for stairs, elevators, long carry or a shuttle. Moves to other states and flat-fee reserved trucks are priced on your written estimate.

Your estimate lists an estimated weight, a rate per pound and a minimum space reservation. The minimum works like the 3-hour minimum on a local move: if your shipment weighs less, you still pay for the minimum. If it weighs more, the extra pounds (the overload) are charged at the same rate per pound; the rate does not go up. The final price follows the actual weight, which is why a weight-based estimate is non-binding.

Example (no prices): your estimate says 5,000 lb minimum and 6,000 lb estimated. The shipment weighs 6,500 lb. You pay for 6,500 lb at the rate on your estimate. If it had weighed 4,200 lb, you would pay for the 5,000 lb minimum.

The rate per pound depends on the route and the move, so we do not publish one. We give it in writing after a survey, in person for larger homes.

With the flat fee you reserve a whole 26 ft truck. The price is binding: it does not change with the actual weight or with access conditions at delivery. Your goods stay on trucks reserved only for you, the same team loads and unloads, and there are no warehouse transfers or third-party carriers. Pickup and delivery are guaranteed. This is the option to pick if you want one number and one date.

• Loading and unloading, furniture disassembly and reassembly
• Moving blankets, labeling and an inventory list
• All mileage, tax and tolls; no weekend fees
• Free basic valuation at $0.60 per pound per article

Not included: unpacking boxes. Full packing service is available, and full value protection can be bought from Baker International at bakerintl.com (mover ID 17421).

If your new home is not ready, we can hold your shipment in storage. Monthly storage is priced by weight, starting at $525 for up to 3,000 lb; larger shipments are priced on your estimate. Storage is a flat monthly fee and is never discounted.

Payment is 50% on the day of pickup and 50% on delivery, by cash, money order, Visa or Mastercard. Card payments carry a 3% fee and are due one day before delivery. Typical transit times: West Coast 3 to 7 days, Mountain and Central 7 to 10 days, East Coast 10 to 14 days. Within California, delivery is within 7 business days, or the next day with a reserved truck.

The estimated weight comes from what you are moving, not from the size of the house alone. Two 3-bedroom homes can differ by thousands of pounds depending on books, garage contents, solid wood furniture and how much is boxed. That is why we survey the home before giving a long-distance number and do not price long-distance moves from a phone call.

1. Book a free on-site survey. We do not do video estimates; they are not accurate enough for weight.
2. Walk the estimator through every room, closet, garage, attic and storage unit.
3. Say what is not coming, and what you plan to sell or give away before the move.
4. Mention stairs, elevators, long walks and parking at the destination, especially for interstate moves.
5. Decide whether you want full packing; it changes both the weight estimate and the price.

• Los Angeles to Bay Area
• Bay Area to Orange County
• Bay Area to Sacramento
• Bay Area to Reno and Lake Tahoe
• Bay Area to Portland and Seattle
• Intrastate movers, California
• Interstate movers, Bay Area