Moving From Florida to California: Movers, Costs, and Benefits

Tons of people are moving out of California, so that means it’s finally getting cheap, right? R-right…?

Housing market aside, California still has a lot going for it. And if you’re itching to get out of Florida (either because of the humidity, the mosquitos, or something else), iMoving can help you get from the Sunshine State to the Golden State in style.

We’re the only platform that lets you shop, compare prices, and book your movers from the comfort of your web browser. No need to make a million different accounts, and no need to deal with house calls or phone calls. We make cross country moving easier than ever.

But enough sales-pitching. You’re here to learn more about making the move from Florida to California. Let’s start with the most important question…

Moving from Florida to California will cost you between $1,550 to $16,500, but we’ve seen some moves that were a little cheaper or more expensive. In the world of long-distance moving, it’s all about miles and volume.

When movers give you a quote, one of the first things they’ll look at is how far you have to travel. The miles make a difference, so if you’re moving from like… Tallahassee to Needles, it’ll be a lot cheaper than a move from the Keys to Redding.

Aside from the distance, your movers will also look at how much you have to transport. They’ll take note of your inventory, and give a weight or a volume (in pounds or cubic feet, respectively) to everything you own.

You can’t magically push Florida and California closer together. But you can get rid of some of your unused and unwanted items. By reducing the physical size of your move, you’ll also reduce how much you’ll have to pay.

In terms of duration, expect your Florida to California move to take anywhere from 4 and 21 days. Much like the price, the wait time depends on how far you’re going, and how much you’re transporting.

Under federal law, movers can’t log more than 400 miles of interstate travel per day. Since Florida and California are 2,500 apart at the minimum, you’re already looking at a 4-day wait.

But aside from the rules and regulations, you may end up waiting longer if you have a smaller amount of belongings. A small haul means a lot of empty space in the truck, and movers avoid empty space when possible. This means they’ll bundle several smaller moves in the same trailer, for greater efficiency.

Don’t worry - bundling moves is common in the moving industry, and your movers will keep everything safe and secure. But you’ll also have to wait while they make pickups and dropoffs along the way.

When it comes to the price, there’s a lot that goes into that $1,550 to $16,500. Florida to California moving can be expensive, but why? Let’s take a look at what goes into your final price:

1. Distance

The distance of your move is arguably the most important factor. Long distance movers will take a look at your point A and point B, and then they’ll math out how many miles their truck has to travel.

Longer distance means a higher price, so if you’re just moving from Tallahassee to Needles, you’ll pay less than moving from Miami to Redding.

2. Size

We said distance was “arguably the most important factor” because size also plays a big role in determining how much you’ll pay. The physical size of your move (either in pounds or cubic feet) makes a huge difference.

We recommend downsizing as much as possible before shopping for a quote, so you don’t get charged for moving those unwanted items.

3. Packing

Packing services are entirely optional. Should you pay for them? Yeah, if you value your sanity. Packing takes time, energy, and effort. If you’re okay with crying on the floor because you have to go to Home Depot for more cardboard, sure, skip on this one.

But if you’d rather let the pros handle it so you can focus on the rest of your moving prep, definitely shell out the extra cash for packing.

4. Storage

It’s tough mapping out where everything will belong at your new place. It’s even tougher if you’re pressed for time and the moving truck has to go somewhere else in a few hours.

Storage gives you extra space and extra time. It’s much-needed flexibility, and some movers offer 30 days free!

5. Insurance

It’s rare, but accidents happen. Moving companies are actually required to offer a bare minimum level of insurance coverage, but it’s only good for $0.60 per pound. If you think your laptop is worth more than $2.40, you’ll have to pay a little extra for insurance.

NOTE: Most movers only offer full-value insurance if you pay for their packing services, too.

6. Access Fees

It may not be a straight shot from your front door to the street. Every move is different, and in some cases, there’s stairs, long hallways, long driveways, elevators, gates… the list goes on, and all these complications will add to your final price. Make sure you communicate with your movers ahead of time so they know what they’re getting into - and so you know how much you’ll owe them.

7. Shuttle Fees

We don’t like this one, but it’s out of our hands. Most cities don’t allow movers to park their big ol’ semi trucks on their teeny tiny little urban streets. In these cases, you movers will have to park way out in the outskirts and use a smaller box truck to ferry your stuff to your new place. Thank your city council for the extra fee.

8. Specialty Moving

We’ve been in the moving game for over a decade, so we know how moves can get a little wacky. Some people need pianos or pool tables wrapped and packed - no problem.

Some people need vintage motorcycles winched out the window, or custom crating for their modern art - again, no problem. Just expect an extra fee for all of the above.

9. Gratuity

This one isn’t included in your actual quote, but we thought we’d include it anyway. Moving is hard work, and tipping is expected. Don’t be a cheapskate. 15% to 20% of the total cost of your move, to be divided up between all of your movers.

When you tell your friends you’re moving to California, they’ll probably ask you why. Here are some excellent excuses to shut them up:

1. Work opportunities

Sure, California is expensive, but what they don’t tell you is that people in California make a lot more money than employees everywhere else. There’s also a ton of different industries to get into, from entertainment to big tech.

2. Better weather

Sure, everyone loves the Florida sunshine. You know what they don’t love? The Florida humidity. California has better weather: All the sun, with none of the stickiness. It may get cloudy up in the Bay, but that’s nothing compared to hurricane season.

3. More to do

Florida has Miami and a couple of theme parks. California has LA, San Francisco, theme parks, national parks, the list goes on. When you move to California, you’re not going to be bored.

4. The Great Outdoors

Floridians don’t know this, but there’s these things called hills that you can hike on if you want to enjoy a great view. There’s also these things called mountains if you want to hike even higher for an even better view. There are also beaches, surfing, and all sorts of other granola core activities without getting too Oregon-y.

5. The Culture

Okay, California has its weirdos. Actually, it has A TON of weirdos. But are they FLORIDA weird? No, not at all. California weird is like… being into horoscopes and crystals, or collecting anime figurines. Florida weird is like… meth… alligator…? You should escape Florida for your own safety.

California has pretty much the most to do out of every state in the Union. And before you get all defensive, just check out a few of these options - and keep in mind this is a tiny slice (like 3% or something) of what the state has to offer.

• The Bay Area: San Francisco, San Jose (arguably Santa Cruz, if you want to go someplace quieter), etc. The Bay has a ton to offer, from urban living to wild, National-Geographic-tier nature. Even when it’s overcast, it’s pretty.

• Los Angeles: LA is a lot more spread out than the Bay, so expect a ton of traffic when you’re getting from place to place. But you can also expect all of the crazy stuff that only comes from the entertainment industry being so close.

• Disneyland: You’re coming from Florida, so this may not be a huge deal. But Disneyland is still a classic. You’ll check it out, say, “Oh that’s cute,” and then brag to everyone about how you went to Disney WORLD that one time.

• Surfing: “But I could surf at [insert beach nobody cares about] in Florida!” you may be saying. Yeah, but this is California. Do you really want to move here and say you haven’t tried it out in the Pacific?

• Mountains and stuff: You can go to Tahoe and shred some fresh pow (or just enjoy the lake during the summer). You can hike the mountains. You can head to the desert and LARP as Mad Max. California is huge, and the varied geography means huge fun.

You made it to the end! Thanks for reading our guide. If you’re still interested in heading out west - or you just want a more detailed quote - iMoving is here to help.

We’ve got a whole marketplace of vetted and verified movers, and we’re ready to get you on the road. Tell us more about your Florida to California move, and let’s get packing!