Compare San Francisco moving company reviews. For budgeting, use a planning range of $240 to $320 per hour for 2 movers and a truck (with a 3-hour minimum):
- Studio / 1-Bedroom Apartment (2 Movers, 3–5 hrs): $720 – $1,600
- 2-Bedroom Apartment or Condo (3 Movers, 5–7 hrs): $1,700 – $2,700
- 3-Bedroom House (3–4 Movers, 7–9 hrs): $2,800 – $4,500
- Long-Distance Move from San Francisco: $1,800 – $17,800+ depending on weight and mileage.
- CPUC/BHGS double drive time and hill rules: Under California BHGS and CPUC rules, local movers double the drive time between pickup and drop-off. Steep grades and SFMTA parking rules often add stairs and carry time on top of that.
- Average Cost of Local Movers in San Francisco
- Compare 2 Movers vs. 3 Movers in San Francisco
- How Much Do Long-Distance Movers Cost from San Francisco?
- Additional Moving Services and Their Cost
- What Affects the Cost of Movers in San Francisco?
- How to Save Money When Hiring Movers in San Francisco
- Frequently Asked Questions
Once you know how much hiring movers is likely to cost in San Francisco and how those costs are calculated, you can set a moving budget, see where a saving is realistic, and avoid a surprise on moving day.
These three factors determine what your move will cost:
- The size of your home
- The distance of your move
- Any additional services, such as packing, storage, or furniture assembly
Based on 2026 planning ranges, here is what local and long-distance moves in San Francisco cost, how those costs break down, and safe ways to spend less.
You may also like to read: All You Need to Know About Moving Quotes. The type of estimate you accept can change the final bill. Read that guide before you sign.
Average Cost of Local Movers in San Francisco
Local movers in San Francisco typically charge $240 to $320 per hour for 2 movers and a truck, with a 3-hour minimum. A third or fourth mover raises the hourly rate and usually shortens the day.
Victorian walk-ups, hills, and tight curb space are the usual reason a San Francisco job runs long. Reserve an SFMTA temporary no-parking spot so the truck is not staged blocks downhill.
These 2026 planning ranges cover standard labor, loading, transportation, and unloading. They are not a quote.
| Home | Est. cost | Movers | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $720 – $1,280 | 2 | 3–4 |
| 1-bedroom | $960 – $1,600 | 2 | 4–5 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,700 – $2,700 | 3 | 5–7 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,800 – $4,500 | 4 | 7–9 |
| 4-bedroom | $4,200 – $6,800 | 4 | 9–12 |
Important: San Francisco movers who work local jobs are licensed through the California Bureau of Household Goods and Services and the CPUC. Double drive time replaces a flat travel fee on qualifying hourly moves: the drive from old home to new home is billed twice. Confirm the rule on your written estimate. The BHGS mover page explains the license requirement.
You may also like to read: The Essential Guide to Hiring Local Movers. It walks through licenses, red flags, and what to ask before you book.
How Much do Movers Cost?
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Compare 2 Movers vs. 3 Movers in San Francisco
A third mover costs more per hour and usually finishes a 2-bedroom faster. This San Francisco example uses a 2026 crew-and-truck rate for the same job: 6.5 hours with 2 movers, or 4.5 hours with 3.
| Crew | Hourly rate | Hours | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 movers + truck | $280 | 6.5 | $1,820 |
| 3 movers + truck | $400 | 4.5 | $1,800 |
Would a third mover save you money?
Compare each crew’s hourly rate and estimated time. Both rates below include a truck.
In this example, 3 movers cost $20.00 less. The 3-mover crew takes 2 fewer hours.
Illustration only, not a quote. Add any travel time, minimum hours, supplies, fees and tax from your mover’s written estimate. A larger crew is not always faster.
Change the rates and hours in the calculator to match a written estimate. Add travel, stairs, and any long carry the company listed. A larger crew is not always faster on a tight stairwell.
How Much Do Long-Distance Movers Cost from San Francisco?
Long-distance movers leaving San Francisco price the job from shipment weight, mileage, and the services you add. A useful 2026 planning span is $1,800 – $17,800+.
Distance bands below use 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom homes:
| Distance | 1-Bed | 2-Bed | 3-Bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 miles | $1,800 – $3,200 | $3,500 – $5,800 | $5,500 – $8,200 |
| 500 miles | $2,400 – $4,100 | $4,800 – $7,200 | $7,500 – $10,500 |
| 1,000 miles | $3,600 – $5,800 | $6,500 – $9,500 | $9,800 – $13,500 |
| 2,000+ miles | $4,800 – $7,500 | $8,200 – $12,500 | $12,500 – $17,800 |
Planning ranges for 2026, not a quote. Weight, dates, stairs, and packing change the price.
Popular Moving Routes from San Francisco
San Francisco to San Jose
- $1,200 – $2,600 (1-bedroom)
- $1,800 – $3,400 (2-bedroom)
- $2,400 – $4,200 (3-bedroom)
San Francisco to Los Angeles
- $2,400 – $4,100 (1-bedroom)
- $4,800 – $7,200 (2-bedroom)
- $7,500 – $10,500 (3-bedroom)
San Francisco to Seattle
- $3,200 – $5,400 (1-bedroom)
- $4,600 – $7,800 (2-bedroom)
- $6,200 – $9,600 (3-bedroom)
Important: Interstate movers must be registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation and show an active DOT number. A licensed, insured mover gives you a contract and a place to complain if something goes wrong.
You may also like to read: How to Pick a Good Interstate Mover.
Additional Moving Services and Their Cost
Optional services in San Francisco sit on top of the move itself. Packing is the one that moves the total the most.
| Service | Est. cost |
|---|---|
| Packing | $450 – $1,800 |
| Unpacking | $250 – $800 |
| Furniture disassembly | $75 – $250 |
| Temporary storage | $150 – $400 per month |
| Specialty items | $300 – $1,200 |
You may also like to read: Home Moving Insurance Explained. Basic released-value coverage is often about 60 cents per pound. Full-value protection costs more and covers replacement of damaged items.
What Affects the Cost of Movers in San Francisco?
Several factors change the final price:
1. Distance
A longer trip costs more in fuel, tolls, and nights on the road. Local jobs inside the metro stay on the hourly clock.
2. Size of the home
More rooms mean more movers, more truck space, and more hours.
3. Weight of your belongings
Interstate companies price partly from shipment weight. Decluttering is the direct way to cut that number.
4. Additional services
- Packing and unpacking
- Furniture disassembly
- Storage
- Specialty items such as pianos and antiques
5. Time of year
May through September is peak season in San Francisco, and the last weekend of any month books up first.
6. Parking and building access
In San Francisco, budget extra time for SFMTA parking permits, steep blocks, and stairs in buildings without a freight elevator.
You may also like to read: Self-packing vs. full packing. Items you pack yourself are often left out of the mover’s valuation coverage.
How to Save Money When Hiring Movers in San Francisco
Ways to spend less without skipping a licensed crew:
1. Get multiple written quotes
Compare at least three itemized estimates after a video or in-home survey.
2. Declutter first
Every extra dresser is labor, and on a long-distance move it is also weight.
3. Pack the everyday items yourself
Books, clothes, and linens are the boxes that add the most packing labor. Keep fragile and high-value items with the crew if you want them covered.
4. Move off peak
October through April, and Tuesday or Wednesday mid-month, is when crews have room on the calendar.
5. Fix access before moving day
Permits, elevator reservations, and a clear path through SFMTA parking permits, steep blocks, and stairs in buildings without a freight elevator belong in the estimate, not as a surprise hourly add-on.
You may also like to read: How to Declutter for a Home Move.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do movers cost per hour in San Francisco?
Plan on $240 to $320 per hour for 2 movers and a truck in 2026, with a 3-hour minimum. Larger crews cost more per hour and usually take fewer hours.
How much does a 2-bedroom move cost in San Francisco?
A local 2-bedroom usually lands at $1,700 – $2,700 with 3 movers. A studio is about $720 – $1,280 and a 1-bedroom about $960 – $1,600.
How much is a long-distance move from San Francisco?
Use $1,800 – $17,800+ as the planning span. A 250-mile 1-bedroom sits at the low end. A 2,000-mile 3-bedroom sits at the high end. Weight and packing move the quote inside that span.
What is double drive time on a San Francisco move?
On local hourly moves, California rules bill the drive from pickup to drop-off twice instead of adding a separate fuel fee. A 30-minute trip can add about an hour. Ask the mover to show that time on the estimate.
Do San Francisco hills and parking change the price?
Yes. SFMTA temporary no-parking signs, steep grades, and walk-up buildings add stairs and carry time. A reserved curb spot keeps the truck next to the building.
Good luck with your move. The home moving blog has guides for estimates, packing, and insurance, and the San Francisco mover directory is where to compare companies.
Compare San Francisco Moving Rates & Verified Mover Reviews
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More about the author
Jessica is an experienced moving expert and author of informative relocation articles and useful tips. Writes for MoveAdvisor, formerly MyMovingReviews.com.
Martin is a moving expert and online marketer who’s been involved in the moving industry since 2004. Writes for MoveAdvisor, formerly MyMovingReviews.com.
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