San Francisco, CALos Angeles, CA
California’s busiest intrastate lane — still a real long-distance move. Below: typical cost bands for every home size and all three ways to make the run — then lock your estimate in and get matched with movers.
The snapshot
1-bedroom typical bands on this route
They do everything
Full-service movers
You pack, they drive
Moving container
You do everything
Truck rental (DIY)
includes ≈$171 fuel (8 mpg @ $3.60/gal)
Every home size
Typical bands by mode and home size
| Home size | Full service | Container | Truck rental |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $750–$1,580typ. $1,170 | $410–$1,110typ. $760 | $410–$570typ. $490 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,070–$2,260typ. $1,670 | $590–$1,580typ. $1,090 | $510–$740typ. $630 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,600–$3,390typ. $2,500 | $880–$2,370typ. $1,630 | $680–$1,030typ. $860 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,240–$4,750typ. $3,500 | $1,230–$3,330typ. $2,280 | $710–$1,090typ. $900 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $2,880–$6,100typ. $4,490 | $1,580–$4,270typ. $2,930 | $710–$1,090typ. $900 |
Typical published bands for ≈380 road miles — not quotes. DIY figures include ≈$171 estimated fuel (8 mpg @ $3.60/gal). Moving May–August? Published rates typically run 15–25% higher — the calculator applies the seasonal multiplier for your month.
Reading the San Francisco to Los Angeles numbers
At ≈380 miles this is 1–2 days on the road, which puts it in the short-haul class where DIY truck rental holds the biggest edge — fuel stays modest and the drive fits inside a weekend. The single biggest lever on any mode is timing: a September–April, mid-week move books at the bottom of these bands; a summer month-end Saturday books at the top.
Treat the typical figures here as your negotiating baseline. A full-service quote far above the high band needs an explanation (stairs, shuttle truck, packing labor, guaranteed dates all legitimately add cost); a quote far below the low band is its own red flag — lowball-then-hostage pricing is the most common moving scam on long routes.
Next step
Lock in your estimate + get matched with vetted movers
Tell us about your San Francisco to Los Angeles move and we'll keep your estimate on file, flag rate shifts for this route, and match your request with relevant moving providers. No spam, no robo-calls from us.
Supplies for a ≈380-mile move
All supplies →A bundled kit of small/medium/large boxes sized for one room to a full apartment.
Heavy-duty 2.7-mil tape in bulk — a typical 2-bedroom move burns through 6–10 rolls.
A thick poly bag that seals a mattress against dirt, moisture, and truck-floor grime.
Shoulder or forearm lifting straps that shift the load off your back for heavy furniture.
FAQ
How much does it cost to move from San Francisco to Los Angeles?
Typical published bands for the ≈380-mile run: a 1-bedroom is roughly $1,070–$2,260 full-service, $590–$1,580 by moving container, or $510–$740 DIY truck rental including ≈$171 of fuel. Larger homes scale up — see the table on this page. These are typical bands, not quotes; get binding quotes for your actual inventory and dates.
How long does it take to move from San Francisco to Los Angeles?
The drive itself is 1–2 days on the road (≈380 road miles). Full-service and container shipments on routes like this typically quote delivery windows of several days to two weeks, because carriers consolidate loads — ask every quote for its window, not just its price.
What is the cheapest way to move from San Francisco to Los Angeles?
DIY truck rental usually carries the lowest typical band ($510–$740 for a 1-bedroom including fuel), followed by containers, then full-service. But the DIY band excludes your time, lodging, and labor — at this distance many households find the container band the better all-in deal. Moving September–April and mid-week trims 15–25% off every mode.