Moving From Houston to Los Angeles: Movers, Costs, and Benefits

Moving from Houston to Los Angeles takes a lot of planning and prep. We’ll introduce you to our favorite Houston to LA moving companies, and teach you a little more about your new hometown.

The people are jerks. There’s bums everywhere. The traffic is AWFUL. But despite all this, people are still moving to LA - and those steep property values aren’t going anywhere. If you’re feeling brave enough to make the move to Los Angeles, you’ve got our support. Heck, we’ll even help you with the packing.

iMoving is the only platform that lets you shop around, compare moving companies, and book your move entirely online. We don’t make you deal with any house calls or phone calls. Just enter your move info, and pick from over 1000 verified movers in our marketplace.

Your Houston to LA move is just a few clicks away, but if you’re still on the fence, no problem. Read on, and see what you can expect on moving day and beyond.


How Much Does It Cost to Hire Movers from Houston to Los Angeles?

It’ll cost you between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire Houston to LA movers. It’s a pretty big window (and we’ve seen the odd move that was cheaper or more expensive), but it really comes down to how much stuff you’re moving, and how far you’re traveling.

It’s about 1,550 miles from Houston to Los Angeles. No matter how hard you try, you can’t really do much about the space between point A and point B. But fortunately, you can do plenty to cut down on the amount of stuff your movers need to transport.

If you want to save money on a long-distance move, the best thing to do is to downsize. If you don’t want it, don’t take it with you, and DEFINITELY don’t pay money to have it moved, either! Sell off that old sofa, and hand down that juice you were totally gonna start using this year. When in doubt, throw it out - or just pawn it off to recoup the price of the big move.


3 Best Movers from Houston to Los Angeles

Now that you know how much it’ll cost and how long you’ll wait, it’s time to meet who’s going to be doing the heavy lifting. Take a look at iMoving’s top 3 Houston to LA movers:

1. Lions Moving

2. A-Star Moving

3. Betton Moving Company

1

Lions Moving

  • Professional Team
  • Customized Services
  • Transparent Pricing

Some movers like to throw in a bunch of fancy bells and whistles, but it always ends up bloating the price tag - and you end up having to pay for all those extras whether you need them or not!

Fortunately, with a mover like Lions moving, you’re not getting a bunch of stuff you don’t need. They provide quick, back-to-basics moving services at affordable rates. Quick, easy, and efficient.

We’re all about minimalist moving. It keeps costs down, and it cuts out all the indecision you get when you look at a bloated menu of services and add-ons.

Lions Moving gives you what you need, when you need it - and they don’t waste a bunch of time, either. Their moving teams will get your stuff loaded and unloaded with minimal fuss. Gotta love it.

Pros

  • Local and long distance movers
  • Stress-free relocations
  • Competitive rates
  • Back-to-basics moving services
  • Quick moving teams

Cons

  • Minimal web presence
2

A-Star Moving

  • Licensed Professionals
  • In-Home Estimates
  • Transparent Pricing

A-Star Moving provides excellent service at an affordable price. They’ve got over 20 years of experience, and as a family-owned moving company, they offer some great attention to detail and customer service.

They also have some solid reviews on Yelp, Google, and Thumbtack. A-Star Moving doesn’t have a flashy website, but it makes up for it by treating customers like family.

When a moving company still manages to get positive reviews without having a major web presence, you know they’re doing something right. A-Star has earned most of its customers through word-of-mouth.

They’re a hidden gem in the Houston moving game, and if you want to deal with a full-service mover who’ll treat your stuff with care without breaking the bank, they’re the company to choose.

Pros

  • Solid Yelp feedback
  • Over 20 years of experience
  • Local, long distance, and commercial moving
  • Family-owned operation
  • Full service moving

Cons

  • No company website
3

Betton Moving Company

  • Customizable Options
  • Experienced Teams
  • Affordable Prices

Betton Moving Company is one of the best movers in Houston, and beyond. They’ve got a great menu of services, including specialty moves for bulky items like pianos and gun safes.

Plus, their team offers 24-hour emergency support. Gotta get out of town quickly? Forget about a storage unit? They’ve got you covered.

We’re big fans of Betton Moving, and so are their customers. Over their 30 years in the moving game, they’ve earned some solid reviews - and added plenty of fancy extras and add-ons to make your move even easier.

We love it when moving companies offer special packing and hauling services, and Betton really brings it.

Pros

  • Over 30 years of experience
  • Short notice moves
  • Punctual and professional
  • Flat rate pricing
  • Piano and gun safe moving

Cons

  • Personal info required for quote

How Long Does Moving Take?

Long distance moving usually takes between 1 and 21 days. Since you’re looking at the Houston to LA route, it’ll be 4 days minimum. Under federal law, drivers can’t log more than 400 miles of interstate transport per day. And since LA and Houston are just shy of 1,600 miles apart, well, you can do the math.

Keep in mind, that a 4-day minimum is a 4-day MINIMUM. If you’re only moving a studio or 1-bedroom apartment, your move isn’t going to be big enough to fill up an entire truck. Moving companies don’t like to send half-empty trucks all over the place, so they’ll most likely bundle several other moves in the same trailer with yours.

Don’t worry. Bundling moves is a common practice, and your movers will keep everything separate and secure. This practice also keeps prices low, by ensuring your movers are getting the most out of every mile they travel. But, it does mean you may have to wait a little longer than expected.

The smaller a move, the more time it’ll take. But if you somehow manage to fill a moving truck with just your stuff, your movers will send it right to your destination. And if you’re lucky, you may end up with a moving company that offers rush delivery…


What Factors Affect the Cost of a Houston to Los Angeles Move?

$2,500 and $6,000 is a pretty big price window. Let’s take a look at what goes into the final price of your move (and how you can save some money when you’re shopping for quotes).

1. Distance

When you’re dealing with long distance movers, the mileage is usually the biggest factor behind your price. A move just across the state line is a lot easier and faster than a move across the country. Since you’re looking at a Houston to Los Angeles relocation, you may want to prepare your wallet accordingly.

2. Size (Not to be confused with distance.) 

The physical size of your move is arguably the second most important factor behind your moving costs. Movers will either assign a weight (in pounds) or a volume (in cubic feet) to all of your belongings.

If you have more stuff, you’ll have to pay more money. Fortunately, you can downsize before shopping for moving quotes. If you’re not married to that old couch, get rid of it so you don’t pay to have it moved.

3. Specialty Moving

You’re moving from Texas. Do you have a gun safe that needs transporting? Pianos, pool tables, antiques - pretty much anything that’s big, bulky, or just plain awkward will require a more careful approach on a moving day. You’ll have to pay a little extra for that extra TLC, but it’s worth it if you’re trying to avoid damaged property.

4. Packing

Yes, you can pack your own boxes. But should you? It’s a tough job. It’s time-consuming, and frustrating, and Home Depot never seems to have enough of the boxes you need.

Rather than DIYing it, we recommend shelling out a little extra for packing. This can cost you anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand, but the convenience is way worth it.

5. Insurance

Moving companies offer basic insurance coverage, but it’s only good for like $0.60 per pound of items lost, damaged, or destroyed. If you want to get more than $2.40 for that busted laptop, you’ll have to pay extra for full coverage insurance.

NOTE: Most movers don’t offer full coverage unless you also pay for packing! Make sure you ask about insurance before you jump for the boxes and bubble wrap.

6. Access Fees

Every home is different. You may be living in an apartment, with elevators, long hallways, and multiple flights of stairs. You may be in a McMansion with a long driveway and a gate.

All of these obstacles are going to make life harder for your movers - and believe us, they’ll let you know. Expect access fees for all of these complications. Can’t do much about ‘em, but you can at least call up your movers ahead of time so there aren’t any unpleasant surprises.

7. Tips

If you’re already rolling your eyes about tipping, we’ve got some bad news about Los Angeles… In the moving industry, tipping is usually accepted and expected - and it’s always appreciated.

Your movers aren’t flipping an iPad around at some subpar boba shack. They’re doing hard work, and carrying everything a long way. Don’t be cheap. 15% to 20% is a good amount, to be divided up across the whole crew.


Why Do People Move from Houston to Los Angeles?

You’re moving out of Houston, and moving out of Texas. But why head to Los Angeles? Let’s take a look at why people are moving to LA - and let’s leave all the Hollywood crap out of it.

  • It’s LA: When you travel around the world and tell people you’re from Los Angeles, they’ll be pretty impressed. When you tell them you’re from Houston, well… if they even know what that is, it won’t be as flashy. LA gives you bragging rights. Embrace it.
  • There’s plenty of work: Entertainment (obviously), aerospace, medical, and more. There’s also tech. Everyone’s got their own asinine “silicon [BLANK]” to show off their annoying tech startups; LA has Silicon Beach. If you can’t find it in LA, it doesn’t exist.
  • It’s more than one city: Unless you’re from California, odds are you think LA is just one big city. But it’s actually broken up into a huge sprawl of cities that fits under the Los Angeles umbrella. Every little city its own flavor, so feel free to explore.
  • It’s huge: Again, if you can’t find it in Los Angeles, it probably doesn’t exist. LA is a massive city, and if you’re trying to start a new life with a blank slate, there’s something romantic about the anonymity you get in that sea of traffic and angry faces.
  • There’s plenty to do: Nobody’s bored in Los Angeles. Sure, they may act like they’ve done it all before, but they’re most likely getting up to something this weekend. In fact, we’ve written a whole section just about those LA activities…

Things to Do in Los Angeles

Even if you’re strapped for cash, you can find plenty to keep you occupied in Los Angeles. The following is by no means a full list, but it should give you a few good ideas:

  • Go to a show: There’s live music venues everywhere, and LA is a major stop in any band’s world tour. There’s the Hollywood Bowl, the USC Coliseum, the BMO stadium, and tons of smaller venues for all types of music. Just don’t expect a friendly crowd.
  • Go to a game: LA went from having zero football teams to having two football teams in just a few years. They also have two basketball teams, and (if you count the Angels), two baseball teams. Why? Probably for more tailgating.
  • Go to a museum: The Getty is probably gonna take you like a week if you want to see everything. There’s also LACMA if you want to do the touristy thing and take photos in front of the lamps. Check out the Museum of Natural History, too!
  • Go to the beach: Are there better beaches in California? Sure, but I’m not gonna tell you where they are. The beaches in LA are pretty nice, though, assuming you can stand all the crowds. Don’t be afraid to do a little driving to find a better spot, though.
  • Go to some LA thing: Food truck gatherings. Night markets. Art walks. Water tastings (yes, it’s real, look it up). You’re going to find something that makes you think “Wow, that is the most LA thing I’ve ever heard of.” WELL, NOW’S YOUR CHANCE TO TRY IT.

Moving from Houston to Los Angeles? Tell us more and let’s get packing!

Thanks for reading to the end! Hopefully, by now you’ve learned a thing or two about Houston to LA moving, and you’ve got a pretty good idea of the services you need and don’t need on moving day. Now that you’ve met our favorite movers, why not shop around to see if there are any other Houston to LA pros in our marketplace?

iMoving makes it easier than ever to shop, compare prices, and book your move. Just tell us more about your moving plans, and let’s get you on the road!


Houston to Los Angeles FAQ

If you have to ask, it’s probably too much. But we’ll enlighten you anyway. According to Zillow, the median home price in Houston is about $270,000.

Los Angeles? $970,000 - but we all know it’ll be closer to a million if you want to live someplace worthwhile.

Wanna talk about gas prices? $3.08 in Houston. $4.65 in Los Angeles. Better buy a Tesla before you move out there - especially if you want to fit in with all the locals.

The cheapest way to move long distance is to rent a truck and DIY the whole thing. Unfortunately, this is one of those occasions when it’s cheap on paper, but maybe not in practice.

After you rent the truck, you’ll have to pay for packing supplies. And after you pay for packing supplies, you’ll have to pay for gas. And lodging. And you may even have to take time off from work (and miss paychecks) to deal with your move!

Sometimes, it’s just more cost-effective to hire professional movers. Besides, if you’re moving to LOS ANGELES and worrying about the price of your move of all things, you may want to think about a different destination.

Moving companies all have their own go and no-go lists. The hard-and-fast rule is nothing that can damage the moving truck. If you’ve got flammable material, pressurized containers, and perishable foods, you’ll have to move that all by yourself. Same for plants and pets.

An important note about firearms and pets: California has some pretty restrictive rules about what kind of guns and pets.

Make sure your firearms are in a California-compliant configuration before you cross the state line, and make sure your pets are legal before you think about making the move.

We recommend a 15% to 20% tip, to be divided up across your whole moving team. Tips are a big deal in the moving industry, and if you think your movers deserve a little extra, throw some cash their way.

You should NEVER pay the full price of a move before moving day. It’s a common scam. “Movers” request a payment in full before they pick up your stuff, and then when moving day comes around, they completely ghost you. If a mover asks for a full payment upfront, walk away.

On the other hand, down payments are much more common. A few hundred bucks, or a percentage of your final price - that’s perfectly normal. But don’t pay in full before your movers have transported your stuff.


Harrison Gough

Harrison has been writing for real estate and moving companies for the past three years, but his knowledge isn't just from behind a desk. Having moved over a dozen times himself, sometimes with professional help and sometimes on his own, he's learned firsthand what makes moving smooth and what makes it stressful. When he's not writing, he's looking into ways to make his next move simpler.

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