San Rafael Movers for Every Corner of Marin's Largest City
San Rafael movers for Fourth Street condos, Gerstle Park homes, Terra Linda ranches and bayside Peacock Gap. We plan signs and meter bags. 1-877-417-6060.
1-877-417-6060San Rafael neighborhoods and what each move looks like
San Rafael is Marin's largest city and county seat, about 22.5 square miles stretching from the marshes along San Pablo Bay to wooded hills, with US-101 and I-580 meeting in the middle. It is really several towns in one:
- Downtown and Fourth Street. Apartments, condos over shops and older flats around Mission San Rafael. Metered curb, walk-ups and some elevator buildings.
- Gerstle Park and Dominican. Older bungalows, Victorians and large wood-frame homes on tree-lined streets, many with steep front steps and narrow stair halls.
- Terra Linda and Marinwood edges. Mid-century ranch homes and Eichler neighborhoods north of the Civic Center. Single story, wide driveways, easy loading.
- The Canal and Marin Lagoon. Dense apartment blocks and townhomes on the flat bayside east of 101.
- Peacock Gap, Loch Lomond and Bayside Acres. East toward the bay along Point San Pedro Road, with hillside view homes, condos near the marina and family houses on the flats.
- Sun Valley and Fairhills. Quiet hill streets with split-levels and long driveways.
Holding a space for the truck
San Rafael has a formal process for this. On unmetered streets the city lets you post temporary no-parking signs; in metered areas, the Parking Division handles meter bags or signs. Requests need advance notice and the city charges fees for them. We check the current rules, timing and fees for your block and tell you what to expect before you book. Without a held space, the truck may have to double-park, and any citation for that ends up on the bill, so this step is worth doing for every downtown move.
What San Rafael moves cost
Studios and one-bedrooms in the Canal or downtown can go with 2 movers at $145 an hour, though we recommend our standard 3-person crew at $175 for anything more than a very small load. Gerstle Park and Peacock Gap homes with 4 or more bedrooms, or 3 bedrooms over 1,800 square feet, get 4 movers at $235. Billing starts with a 3-hour minimum and then runs in 15-minute increments, at one rate on any day. Moving pads, tape, wardrobe boxes, floor protection and furniture disassembly come with every full-service move, and packing materials are added only when used. Elevator waiting is part of the billed time.
Typical San Rafael move by home size
We sorted our latest local moves by home size, read off the billed hours and applied the standard crew rate for each size. Nothing here binds you or us. Billing stays hourly from the crew's arrival until the job is done.
| Home size | Crew | Typical hours | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 3 movers, $175/hr | 3 to 4 hours | $525 to $700 |
| 1 bedroom | 3 movers, $175/hr | 3 to 5 hours | $525 to $875 |
| 2 bedrooms | 3 movers, $175/hr | 4.5 to 7.75 hours | $788 to $1,356 |
| 3 bedrooms, under about 1,800 sq ft | 3 movers, $175/hr | 7 to 12.5 hours | $1,225 to $2,188 |
| 3 bedrooms over about 1,800 sq ft, or 4+ bedrooms | 4 movers, $235/hr | 7 to 12.5 hours | $1,645 to $2,938 |
Source: final invoices on our own local moves for direct customers, July to October 2026, middle half of each size group, not counting account or partner-billed jobs or jobs where we packed the whole home. Materials are billed as used; minimum 3 hours, then 15-minute increments.
Older homes with steep front steps and narrow stair halls, and hill-street split-levels with long driveways, take more time than a downtown building with an elevator.
Two bridges from San Jose
San Rafael is about 56 miles northwest of downtown San Jose in a straight line. There are two ways in: up the Peninsula and across the Golden Gate on US-101, or up the East Bay and over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on I-580, which lands right in town. Either way, you are not charged for the drive to your home. For the drive between your two addresses, time is doubled when they are more than 10 minutes apart, which is a California rule.
Marin is a small share of our work, but a steady one: across the county we had 4 quote requests between mid-July and late October 2026, not counting account work. All were local moves, and every one booked or was completed.
San Rafael move checklist
- Downtown or Canal: decide with us whether to request no-parking signs or meter bags, and do it early.
- Apartment or condo: get the move-in rules, elevator booking and certificate of insurance requirement. We need the HOA or manager's name, mailing address and email to send the COI free.
- Gerstle Park or Dominican: measure stair turns for sofas and box springs.
- Terra Linda Eichler: clear the carport and note any glass walls near the path.
- Expect the drive between homes to run longer in 101 and I-580 rush hour, since that drive is on the clock.
- The crew calls about 30 minutes before they arrive.
Nearby Marin pages
- Ross: small, wooded and residential, with big lots.
- San Anselmo: over Red Hill, older homes and the Hub.
- Greenbrae: just south at the Sir Francis Drake interchange.
- Kentfield: valley flats and steep Kent Woodlands.
- Corte Madera: further south on 101, bayside and hillside.
Out of state? See long distance moving. For packing help, packing and storage.
Questions and answers
How do I reserve parking for a moving truck in San Rafael?
The city posts temporary no-parking signs on unmetered streets and handles meter bags or signs in metered areas through its Parking Division. There are fees and lead times, so we check them for your street as soon as you book.
Can you move an Eichler in Terra Linda without damaging the glass?
Yes. We protect floors, wrap every piece in blankets and plan the path so large pieces stay clear of the glass walls.
Do you move offices in San Rafael?
Yes, we handle commercial and office moves as well as homes. Call so we can see the space and plan around business hours.
We are moving from San Rafael to Novato. Is that a local move?
Yes, it is local and billed hourly. If the two addresses are more than 10 minutes apart, the drive between them is billed at double time.
How much does a San Rafael condo move cost?
A typical one or two bedroom condo goes with 3 movers at $175 an hour, with a 3-hour minimum. Materials are extra only if used.
Are there discounts?
Repeat customers get 7%, friend referrals 5% and real estate agent referrals 7%. We need the referrer's name or phone number.
Ready to move?
Tell us your date and zip codes. A real person calls you back, or call us now.