How Much Does It Cost to Hire Movers in San Jose?

Moving in San Jose can range from $166 to $12,000 and beyond. It all comes down to how much you’re moving, and how far you’re going. Just sticking to the Bay Area? Local movers can be pretty cheap. But if you’re going all the way to Florida or Maine, you may want to prepare your wallet.

Before you start shopping for movers, we always recommend downsizing as much as possible. This way, you won’t get quoted for items you don’t want to take with you. Plus once you’ve reduced your haul, you’ll have a better idea of the extras and add-ons you absolutely need on moving day.

Take a look at some of these extra services, and keep in mind they may increase your final price:

Services:

• Storage
• Packing
• Specialty item shipping
• Custom crating
• Insurance

Long-distance moves from San Jose can cost you anywhere from $2,800 to $8,000 and more.

In the moving industry, anything over 100 miles or across state lines counts as a long-distance move. Unlike local moves, long-distance moving companies will charge you per mile and per pound (although some will use cubic feet).

We ran some numbers for a 1,000-mile move. Here’s what you can expect in terms of cost:

• 1-Bedroom Apartment (1,000 miles): $2,800–$4,500
• 2-Bedroom Home (1,000 miles): $3,100–$6,900
• 3-Bedroom Home (1,000 miles): $4,500–$7,550
• 4-Bedroom Home (1,000 miles): $5,100–$8,350

Additional Long-Distance Moving Costs

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

If you’re interested in cross country moving from San Jose, you may want to prepare your wallet: coast to coast moving costs from $3,000 to $12,000 and beyond.

Unlike a plain-Jane long distance move, cross country moves require a lot more coordination with nationwide movers, route planning, and (of course) a lot more gas.

• Studio or 1-Bedroom Apartment: $3,000–$5,000
• 2-Bedroom Home: $5,500–$7,500
• 3-Bedroom Home: $7,000–$10,000
• 4-Bedroom Home: $9,000–$12,000

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.

DIY moving is a cheap option, and if you’re really lucky, you can get the whole thing done for just about $190. Unfortunately, there are a number of expenses that can eat into your savings, from truck rentals to gas and packing supplies.

And if you have to miss paychecks to DIY everything? Let’s just say that professional moving companies are worth the extra few bucks.

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

Moving takes between 1 and 21 days. This is largely due to the rules and regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Under their driver rules, movers can’t log more than 11 hours of drive time per day. And if a driver covers too many miles in too little time, they may be investigated for safety violations.

Rules aside, many moving companies practice bundling. This means they’ll combine multiple smaller moves in the same truck or trailer to avoid any wasted space and wasted gas. It’s good for your final price, but expect delays while they handle those other moves along the route.

You’ve seen the cost to hire movers in San Jose. Now, it’s time to take a look at the best professional moving companies in the business.

iMoving is the only platform that lets you shop, compare prices, and book your movers from the safety and comfort of your web browser. No house calls or phone calls - just tell us more about the big day, and we’ll get you on the road!