Packing and unpacking services in San Diego
Packed by the crew that moves you.
The short version: One Stop packs San Diego homes at the same hourly crew rates as the move, from $139 an hour for two movers and a truck. Boxes and materials are sold by the piece at published prices, from $5 for a small box. Every move comes with 50 free boxes, and wardrobe boxes are free to use on move day.
- Pack the whole home, or just the kitchen and fragile things
- Unpacking at the new place, with the empty boxes and paper taken away
- Full-time employees, no day laborers; licensed CAL-190616 since 2008
- Every box price on this page, not “materials vary”
Since 2008
Moving San Diego
CAL-190616
California mover license
USDOT 1956864
Interstate, MC 694565
BBB A+
Better Business Bureau
98%
Of our customers come back (company records)
7 days
7 AM–7 PM, phone open 24 hours
What it costs
How much do packing services cost in San Diego?
Packing is billed at the same hourly crew rates as moving: $139 an hour for two people, $189 for three, up to $339 for six. Boxes and materials are sold separately at the prices below. There’s no flat packing fee, so you pay for the time the crew actually packs.
Packing on moving day runs on the same clock as the move. Your written estimate shows the packing hours, the materials and the Not-to-Exceed price for the whole job.
Long-distance move? Packing is quoted in writing with the move.
Crew rates
Free with every move
- 50 moving boxes$0
- Wardrobe boxes to use on move day$0
- Blankets, padding and shrink wrap for furniture$0
- Floor and door protection$0
Same rates every day of the week. Unpacking is billed the same way. Rates from One Stop’s published tariff.
Box prices
How much do moving boxes cost?
One Stop sells boxes from $5 (small) to $7 (large). Dish packs and picture boxes are $14, mattress bags $15 and wardrobe boxes $20. A 30-lb bundle of packing paper is $70. Every move already includes 50 boxes free, worth $250 to $350 at these prices.
Most movers say materials “vary” or are “billed at cost”. Ours are listed here, so you can check the materials line on your estimate before you book.
Portable container customers get 25 free boxes with each container.
Materials price list
Box guide
How many boxes do you need?
A rule of thumb: 15 to 25 boxes for a studio or one-bedroom, 30 to 45 for two bedrooms, and 50 to 70 for a three-bedroom house, plus dish packs and wardrobe boxes. The 50 free boxes cover most two-bedroom moves on their own.
| Home | Boxes (estimate) | Within the 50 free boxes |
|---|---|---|
| Studio or 1 bedroom | 15–25 boxes | Yes |
| 2 bedrooms | 30–45 boxes | Usually |
| 3-bedroom house | 50–70 boxes, plus dish packs and wardrobe boxes | Mostly; extra small to large boxes are $5–$7 |
Rule of thumb, not a quote. Books, a big kitchen or a full garage push the count up.
Packing options
Which packing option fits your move?
You can have the crew pack the whole home, only the kitchen and breakables, or nothing at all. Every option is billed at the same crew hourly rates, so a smaller job costs fewer hours. Unpacking at the new place works the same way.
Full packing
The crew packs every room and labels each box with its room and contents. Best when time is short or the move is long distance.
Get a full packing quoteKitchen and fragile only
You pack books, linens and clothes. The crew packs dishes, glass, art, mirrors and lamps, the things most likely to break.
Unpacking
The crew unpacks at the new home, puts things where you want them and takes the empty boxes and paper away.
How unpacking worksPack it yourself
Use the 50 free boxes, buy extra materials at the prices above, and book the crew for loading only.
Pack and store
Packed boxes can go into storage between homes. Short-term storage during a move is included.
Storage optionsLong-distance packing
For moves out of state or across California, packing is quoted in writing with the move.
Long-distance movingKitchen & fragile
How do you pack a kitchen and fragile items?
Dishes go in dish packs, each piece wrapped in packing paper. Plates stand on edge, glasses go in their own wrapping, and gaps get filled so nothing shifts. Art and mirrors go in picture boxes. The kitchen is usually the longest room to pack, so plan for it first.
Why it matters: basic protection, included on every move, pays 60 cents per pound per article (California Max 4 tariff, Item 136). A 30-lb dish pack of china pays at most $18. Careful packing is what keeps that claim from happening.
Packing it yourself? Use the same method: plenty of paper, heavy items low, light items on top, and a box that closes flat.
Room by room
How it works
How does packing day work?
Five steps: tell us which rooms to pack, get a written estimate, book with a deposit, the crew packs and labels, then we move and unpack. Book about 10 days ahead, or 3 weeks ahead from May through September.
1
Tell us what to pack
Whole home, kitchen only, or just fragile things. Call or ask online; the phone line is open 24 hours.
2
Written estimate
We see what’s moving, in person or by video, and send the hours, the materials and a Not-to-Exceed price.
3
Book
A deposit holds your date. Rescheduling is free.
4
Pack and label
The crew wraps, boxes and labels each box with its room and contents.
5
Move and unpack
Boxes go to the right rooms. With unpacking, the crew empties them and takes the boxes and paper away.
Unpacking
Do you unpack and take the empty boxes away?
Yes. The crew unpacks at your new home, puts things where you want them, and takes the empty boxes and packing paper away. Unpacking is billed at the same hourly crew rates as packing and moving, so you can book a full unpack or just the kitchen.
Furniture can be taken apart and put back together on the same clock. Beds first is a good rule.
Unpacking yourself? This order works
Pack and store
Can packed boxes go straight into storage?
Yes. Short-term storage during a move is included. For longer gaps, packed boxes can go into a storage unit in San Diego County from $245 a month, or a portable container on your property from $99 a month. Vault storage is climate- and humidity-controlled at 68–72°F.
Storage rates
Containers are steel and weather-sealed, not climate-controlled, and come with 25 free boxes. Containers are month to month. Storage unit prices are for San Diego County, billed monthly and not prorated.
Questions
Packing questions
Short answers. Prices, booking, packing, storage and your rights are covered in full in our FAQ.
All moving questionsHow is packing service billed in San Diego?
At the same hourly crew rates as moving: $139 an hour for two people, $189 for three, up to $339 for six. Boxes and materials are sold separately at published prices.
How much do moving boxes cost?
Small boxes are $5, medium $6 and large $7. Dish packs and picture boxes are $14, mattress bags $15, wardrobe boxes $20, a 30-lb bundle of packing paper $70 and a paper pad $3.75.
How many free boxes do I get?
50 free boxes with every move, and wardrobe boxes are free to use on move day. Portable container customers get 25 free boxes with each container.
Is packing included in the moving price?
No. Packing is billed on the clock at your crew’s hourly rate, and materials beyond the 50 free boxes are sold by the piece. Both show up on your written estimate.
Can you pack just the kitchen or just fragile items?
Yes. Many customers pack books, linens and clothes themselves and have the crew pack the kitchen, glass, art and mirrors. You pay only for the hours the crew packs.
Do you unpack and take the empty boxes away?
Yes. The crew unpacks at the new home, puts things where you want them, and takes the empty boxes and packing paper away, at the same hourly crew rates.
How many boxes do I need for a 2-bedroom?
About 30 to 45 boxes, plus a few dish packs and wardrobe boxes. That’s a rule of thumb, and the 50 free boxes usually cover it.
Can packed boxes go straight into storage?
Yes. Short-term storage during a move is included. For longer stays, storage units in San Diego County start at $245 a month, and portable containers at $99 a month on your property.
What does basic protection pay on packed items?
Basic protection, included on every move, pays up to 60 cents per pound per article under California’s Max 4 tariff (Item 136). A 30-lb dish pack of china pays at most $18.
Who does the packing?
The same full-time One Stop employees who move you. We don’t use day laborers.
How far ahead should I book packers?
About 10 days ahead most of the year, and about 3 weeks ahead from May through September. Rescheduling is free.
Do you pack for long-distance moves?
Yes. On a long-distance move, packing is quoted in writing with the move.
What do your San Diego packing services include?
Our San Diego packing services cover a full pack of every room, the kitchen and fragile items only, or unpacking at the new home. All are billed at the crew hourly rate, $139 an hour for 2 movers, with materials sold by the piece and 50 free boxes with every move.
Talk to a person
Get a free packing quote
Tell us the home size and which rooms to pack. You get the hours, the materials and a Not-to-Exceed price in writing, free, usually within hours. The phone line is open 24 hours.