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How Much Does it Cost to Hire Movers in San Diego?

How much does it cost to move in San Diego? Usually between $75 and $12,000 - but it all depends on how far you’re going and how much you’re hauling. Read on to see the price of local, long-distance, and cross country moving from San Diego.

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How Much Does it Cost to Hire Movers in San Diego

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The cost to hire movers in San Diego varies, but it usually floats between $75 and $12,000. Local moves (within a 100-mile radius and staying in California) can be done for as little as $75. But if you’re moving a 5-bedroom home all the way to Maine, your long-distance move will set you back about $12,000.

Most of the cost of hiring movers comes from the distance and dimensions. Mileage and poundage. But there are a few other factors that can stack up:

Factors:

  • Packing services
  • Speciality item handling
  • Storage services
  • Moving insurance
  • Shuttle and access fees

The Cost of Local Moving in San Diego

You can find local moving in San Diego for as little as $75, but you can also end up paying $150 per hour. Local moves are typically billed per hour, per mover. It’ll take roughly 2 movers per bedroom.

Choose Item

No. of Movers:2 movers

# Hours:2 – 4 hours

Ave Cost / Hr:$75/hr

Average Price:$75/hr

No. of Movers:2 movers

# Hours:3 – 6 hours

Ave Cost / Hr:$75/hr

Average Price:$75/hr

No. of Movers:3 movers

# Hours:4 – 8 hours

Ave Cost / Hr:$112/hr

Average Price:$112/hr

No. of Movers:4 movers

# Hours:6 – 12 hours

Ave Cost / Hr:$150/hr

Average Price:$150/hr

No. of Movers:4 movers

# Hours:8 – 14 hours

Ave Cost / Hr:$150/hr

Average Price:$150/hr

No. of Movers:5 movers

# Hours:10 – 16 hours

Ave Cost / Hr:$150/hr

Average Price:$150/hr

Keep in mind, local moving companies handle anything under 100 miles and within the same state. If you want to go any further, you’ll have to read on to learn more about long distance moving companies…

The Cost of Long Distance Moving in San Diego

Long-distance moves from San Diego will cost you as much as $8,350. If you’re moving about 1,000 miles, expect a $2,800 minimum. Fortunately, if you’re moving less than 1000 miles, you may not have to pay that much!

In the moving industry, long distance moves are anything over 100 miles or across state lines, even if the state line is just a mile away. Long distance movers charge per mile, and by the physical dimensions of your belongings (either in pounds or cubic feet). If you want to save big, try to downsize as much as possible before you go shopping for quotes.

Additional Long-Distance Moving Costs

  • Storage fees: $150–$500/month
  • Insurance: $100–$300
  • Packing and unpacking services: $500–$1,000

Choose Item

Studio -1 Bedroom:$200–$500

2-3 Bedrooms:$400–$1,200

4-5 Bedrooms:$800–$1,800

Studio -1 Bedroom:$400–$800

2-3 Bedrooms:$700–$2,000

4-5 Bedrooms:$1,300–$3,200

Studio -1 Bedroom:$800–$1,500

2-3 Bedrooms:$1,200–$3,500

4-5 Bedrooms:$2,200–$5,500

Studio -1 Bedroom:$1,500–$2,800

2-3 Bedrooms:$2,500–$5,500

4-5 Bedrooms:$4,000–$8,500

Studio -1 Bedroom:$2,000–$3,500

2-3 Bedrooms:$3,000–$6,500

4-5 Bedrooms:$6,500–$10,500

Your Cross Country Moving Cost

Cross country movers can get your stuff from coast to coast, but it’ll cost you between $3,000 and $12,000. It’s a bit more expensive than a plain ol’ long-distance move, primarily because coast-to-coast moving requires more planning, more prep, and a whole network of nationwide agents to manage the process. It also takes a lot more gas.

Key Cost Factors:

  • Distance: The farther the move, the higher the transportation costs.
  • Fuel Surcharges: An additional $300–$800 depending on truck size.
  • Specialty Services: Packing/unpacking, furniture assembly, and handling fragile items can add $500–$1,000 to your bill.

Choose Item

Estimated Cost:$3,000–$5,000

Estimated Cost:$5,500–$7,500

Estimated Cost:$7,000–$10,000

Estimated Cost:$9,000–$12,000

Estimated Cost:$12,000–$17,000

How Much Does it Cost to Move if it’s DIY?

Under ideal conditions, a DIY move can be done in as little as $190 flat. While it may seem cheaper at first glance, if you want to DIY a move, you’ll still have to pay for a truck rental, gas, packing supplies, and even labor costs if you need a hand with that refrigerator or washing machine (spoiler alert: you do).

Truck Rental Costs:

  • Small truck: $20–$30/day
  • Medium truck: $40–$70/day
  • Large truck: $80–$120/day

Gas Expenses:

  • Local move: $30–$60
  • Long-distance move: $200–$500 (depending on the mileage)

Packing Supplies:

  • Boxes, tape, and other materials: $100–$250

Labor Costs (if hiring helpers):

  • $40–$60/hour per person

How Long Does Moving Take?

Moving takes between 1 and 21 days. Under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s rules for drivers, your movers can’t clock more than 11 hours of drive time per day. And if your move gets done too fast, the FMCSA may investigate for potential safety breaches (read: speeding).

Moving an apartment or studio? It may take longer than expected. Movers bundle small moves together to cut down on empty trucks. It’s good for efficiency and good for your wallet, but not so great if you’re in a hurry. They’ll have to do a few pickups and dropoffs along the way.

Hire the Best with iMoving

You know the price of hiring movers in San Diego. Now, it’s time to find a team you can trust. Good thing you’re here.

With iMoving, you can shop, compare prices, and book your mover from the comfort of your phone or laptop. No phone calls, no house calls - just tell us more about your move, and we’ll get you on the road!

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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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