How much do movers cost in the Bay Area?
At Spartan, a local Bay Area move costs $145 an hour for 2 movers, $175 for 3 and $235 for 4, with a 3-hour minimum. A one-bedroom with 3 movers usually takes 3 to 5 hours, about $525 to $875 in labor before drive time and packing supplies. The examples below are estimates; your bill is hourly and follows the time the crew spends.
How much do movers cost in the Bay Area? With Spartan, local moves are billed by the hour: $145 for 2 movers, $175 for 3 and $235 for 4. The first 3 hours are the minimum, then time is billed in 15-minute steps. The rate is the same every day of the week, weekends included, and we work Sundays.
Your total is the hourly rate times the hours the crew works, plus double drive time when your two addresses are more than 10 minutes apart, plus any packing supplies used. Moves to another part of California, such as Los Angeles or San Diego, and moves out of state are not hourly; they are priced by weight or as a flat fee for a reserved truck (see section 07).
Crew size follows the size of the home. A bigger crew costs more per hour but finishes a large home sooner.
| Crew size | Hourly rate | Usually for |
|---|---|---|
| 2 movers + truck | $145/hr | A studio or smaller, a very small job |
| 3 movers + truck | $175/hr | A junior one-bedroom or large studio and up, homes up to about 1,800 sq ft |
| 4 movers + truck | $235/hr | A three-bedroom over 1,800 sq ft, or four bedrooms and up |
Minimum 3 hours, then 15-minute increments. Same rate on weekdays and weekends. A second truck, when a job needs one, is $50 per hour.
These examples use our standard hours scale and our hourly rates. They are estimates, not a quote: the real time depends on items, access, organization and travel. Double drive time and packing supplies are added on top.
| Home size | Crew | Estimated hours | Estimated labor cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2 movers | 2 to 3 hours | $435 (3-hour minimum) |
| 1 bedroom | 3 movers | 3 to 5 hours | $525 to $875 |
| 2 bedrooms | 3 movers | 5 to 7 hours | $875 to $1,225 |
| 3 bedrooms under 1,800 sq ft | 3 movers | 6 to 8 hours | $1,050 to $1,400 |
| 3 bedrooms over 1,800 sq ft or 4+ bedrooms | 4 movers | 7 to 9 hours | $1,645 to $2,115 |
Estimates only. With full packing (Golden, +$70/hr) add about 1 to 2 hours on a studio, 2 to 3 on a one-bedroom, 3 to 4 on a two-bedroom, 4 to 5 on a smaller three-bedroom and 5 to 6 on a large home; three bedrooms and up with full packing get 4 movers. For full packing the time depends on the amount of items, how detailed the packing is and the travel between the two locations.
Example: a two-bedroom with full packing and 3 movers runs at $175 + $70 = $245 an hour. At 8 to 11 hours that is an estimated $1,960 to $2,695 in labor, with all packing supplies included. A two-bedroom with stairs and full packing gets 4 movers. For a room-by-room look, see Bay Area moving cost by home size.
A full-service local move includes the truck and the crew plus:
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly of beds, tables and other pieces that need it.
- Moving blankets and tape to wrap the furniture.
- Wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes. They come with the service and the crew takes them back; $25 each only if you keep one.
- Floor protection and runners. Dollies are used on exterior steps only, never inside the home.
- Basic valuation at $0.60 per pound per article, free. More coverage is full value protection bought directly from Baker International (bakerintl.com, account ID 17421).
- A certificate of insurance (COI) for your building or HOA, free.
Charged as used: boxes and packing supplies, for example small box $7, large box $12, mattress cover $15, dish pack $15, TV box $50. If you pack yourself, you may bring your own boxes and mattress covers.
Two packages sit on top of the hourly rate and apply to the whole move.
| Package | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Hourly rate | Blankets, tape, wardrobe boxes, floor protection, disassembly and reassembly. Packing supplies charged as used. |
| Silver | +$35/hr | All the wrapping and packing materials needed for bulky fragile items such as TVs, mirrors, glass tops and large frames, including mattress covers. General boxes are still charged. |
| Golden | +$70/hr | Full packing service including all packing supplies. You pack only valuables and important documents; the movers do the rest. |
Between Standard and Silver you do not have to choose up front: the crew brings the materials and at the end you take whichever is more cost effective. If you want full packing, tell us when you book so the crew brings enough materials.
Two homes of the same size can take very different times. These are the things that move the number:
- Amount of items: more furniture and boxes, more hours.
- Stairs and long carries: there is no stair fee on a local move; stairs and a long walk to the truck simply add time.
- Elevators: waiting for an elevator is billed time, so reserve it when the building allows.
- Parking and access: parking citations during a move are billed, so plan a legal spot or a permit for the truck.
- Distance between the two homes: double drive time applies when they are more than 10 minutes apart (California rules). A job at one location has no drive time charge.
- Packing: packing yourself, Silver or Golden, and the supplies used.
- Special items: a piano-only move with a grand piano is 4 movers with a 4-hour minimum; an upright needs 4 movers when there is a flight of stairs. Items over 300 lb must be mentioned in advance.
- Extra stops: no extra-stop fee on a local move; a stop is billed for the time it adds.
- How ready you are: boxes packed and closed before the crew arrives keep the clock short.
Long distance moves are not billed by the hour. Within California they are priced by weight with a minimum, and the per-pound rate includes loading and unloading, disassembly and reassembly, mileage, tax and tolls, blankets, basic valuation, labeling with an inventory list, and no weekend fees. Packing is an add-on: Silver +$0.15/lb, Golden +$0.30/lb.
| Destination | Rate | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles area | $0.90/lb | 3,000 lb |
| Orange County | $1.00/lb | 3,000 lb |
| San Diego area, Riverside area, Palm Desert | $1.10/lb | 3,500 lb |
Moves within California have no accessorial charges and deliver within 7 business days; a 5,000 lb minimum gets next-day delivery. Payment is 50% at pickup and 50% at delivery.
Out of state. Interstate moves are priced per move by weight with a minimum space reservation, under US DOT 1783494. They are non-binding and can carry accessorial charges (for example stairs at $35 per 1,000 lb after the first flight). Delivery window: up to 30 days (company policy), with an average of 7 to 14 days counted from your earliest available delivery date.
Flat fee for a reserved truck. Instead of weight, you can reserve an entire truck for a binding flat fee: the same team at both ends, no accessorial charges, guaranteed pickup and delivery, and no weight limit. More: long distance moving, moves within California, interstate moves and long distance moving cost in California.
Fill in the quote form with your zip codes, date and home size and your price shows right away. For a closer number we come to your home for an in-person estimate; we do not do video estimates. A not-to-exceed price is given only after that on-site visit.
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Payment: cash, money order, Visa or Mastercard (3% transaction fee applies for card payments). No personal checks. Office hours 7 days, 7 AM to 8 PM.
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Hourly rates published on this page, the same every day of the week. Our own crew, licensed under Cal-T #0190543 and US DOT 1783494, with every piece of furniture wrapped at no extra charge. Rated 4.8 from 79 Google reviews.
Cost
FAQ.
How much do movers cost in the Bay Area?
At Spartan, local Bay Area moves cost $145 an hour for 2 movers, $175 for 3 and $235 for 4, with a 3-hour minimum and 15-minute billing after that. Double drive time applies when the two addresses are more than 10 minutes apart, and packing supplies are charged as used.
How much does a 2-bedroom move cost?
A two-bedroom usually gets 3 movers at $175 an hour and takes about 5 to 7 hours, an estimated $875 to $1,225 in labor, depending on items, access, organization and travel. Drive time and packing supplies are added.
Do movers charge extra for stairs?
Not on our local moves. There is no stair fee and the hourly rate stays the same; stairs add time. On interstate moves priced by weight, stairs after the first flight are an accessorial charge of $35 per 1,000 lb.
Is there a minimum charge?
Yes. Local moves have a 3-hour minimum, then time is billed in 15-minute increments.
Are weekend moves more expensive?
No. The rate is the same on a Saturday as on a weekday, and we work Sundays.
What is the cost of movers in California for a move to Los Angeles?
Moves from the Bay Area to the Los Angeles area are priced by weight at $0.90 per pound with a 3,000 lb minimum, delivered within 7 business days with no accessorial charges. Orange County is $1.00 per pound and the San Diego area $1.10 per pound with a 3,500 lb minimum.
Do movers charge by the hour or a flat rate?
Local moves are by the hour. Long distance moves are by weight, or a binding flat fee that reserves an entire truck with guaranteed pickup and delivery and no weight limit.
What payment do you accept?
Cash, money order, Visa or Mastercard, with a 3% transaction fee for card payments. We do not accept personal checks, Venmo or Zelle.
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