Hiring movers in San Diego starts at $129 per hour for a 2-person crew and a truck, billed in 15-minute increments with no stair surcharges. One Stop Moving has been serving San Diego for 17 years, and the total cost of your local move depends on crew size, hours worked, and the specifics of your home. This guide breaks down what you can realistically expect to pay and what’s included.
What Does It Cost to Hire Movers in San Diego?
The standard rate for local movers in San Diego is $129 per hour for 2 movers and a truck, with each additional mover adding $50 per hour. Most local moves require a minimum of 3 to 4 hours. For a 1-bedroom apartment, expect to pay between $387 and $580 for labor. A 3-bedroom home typically runs 7 to 10 hours with a 3-person crew, putting the total closer to $1,000 to $1,400.
These rates include the truck, fuel within San Diego County, moving blankets, dollies, and shrink wrap. One Stop Moving also includes 50 free boxes with every move and provides free wardrobe boxes, padding, and door and floor protectors at no extra charge.
What Factors Affect the Cost of Hiring Movers in San Diego?
The biggest cost drivers are crew size and time on the job. A studio or 1-bedroom move goes faster with 2 movers; a 3- or 4-bedroom home benefits from a 3-person crew that can move items in parallel and finish before the bill compounds. Other factors include:
Distance within San Diego. Local moves are billed hourly. Moving from Chula Vista to Carlsbad will take longer than a move within the same zip code, which means more hours on the clock.
Stairs and elevator access. Many movers charge extra for stairs. One Stop Moving does not — stairs are included in the standard rate.
Packing services. If you want the crew to pack for you, that adds roughly $35 to $50 per packer per hour, plus materials. Packing materials are included at no charge when full packing service is booked.
Time of year. May through September is peak moving season in San Diego. Booking 3 or more weeks out during that window is recommended to secure your preferred date.
Floor plan complexity. Long hallways, tight stairwells, or items requiring disassembly (bed frames, large desks) add to the clock.
How Are San Diego Moving Costs Calculated?
Local moving costs in San Diego are calculated hourly, starting from the time the crew arrives at your pickup location and ending when the last item is placed at the destination. One Stop Moving bills in 15-minute increments — so if a move wraps up in 3 hours and 45 minutes, you pay for 3 hours and 45 minutes, not 4 hours.
There is also a standard travel fee that covers the time for the crew to drive from the company’s location to yours. This is a flat charge disclosed upfront in your estimate, not a variable that inflates after the fact.
For long-distance moves out of California, pricing shifts to a flat rate per destination rather than an hourly model. For example, One Stop Moving’s rate for a full-truckload move from San Diego to Las Vegas is $4,500, to Phoenix $4,700, and to Salt Lake City $10,600. All long-distance moves use direct, non-shared loads — your belongings travel on their own truck and are not combined with another customer’s shipment.
What Is Included in the Cost When You Hire Movers in San Diego?
When you book One Stop Moving for a local San Diego move, the hourly rate includes the truck, crew, fuel within San Diego County, moving blankets, dollies, shrink wrap for furniture protection, and door and floor protectors. You also receive 50 free moving boxes and free wardrobe boxes at no extra charge.
The crew consists of full-time, professionally trained employees — not day laborers or gig workers. One Stop Moving holds California BHGS License CAL-190616 and carries $1 million in general liability insurance plus $1 million in workers’ compensation coverage.
For long-distance moves, free on-site estimates are provided before any commitment. Binding and non-binding estimate options are both available per FMCSA regulations.
Why One Stop Moving for Your San Diego Move?
One Stop Moving has operated in San Diego for 17 years and maintains a 98% customer return rate. That consistency comes from a few specific policies that protect customers:
- No stair surcharges — stairs are included in the standard rate
- 15-minute billing increments — you pay only for the time the job actually takes
- No shared loads on long-distance moves — your items never share a truck with strangers
- Full-time employees — not temp workers or subcontracted crews
- $1 million insurance — general liability and workers’ compensation
- CAL-190616 and USDOT #1956864 — fully licensed for California and interstate moves
- 50 free boxes plus free wardrobe boxes, pads, and floor protectors with every move
- Free on-site quotes — written estimates provided before any commitment
- $100 deposit to secure your date for local moves; $200 for long-distance
The minimum for a local move is 3 to 4 hours, and booking at least 10 days in advance (3 weeks during peak season) helps guarantee your preferred moving date.
FAQ
How much does it cost to hire 2 movers and a truck in San Diego?
Two movers and a truck in San Diego cost $129 per hour with One Stop Moving, billed in 15-minute increments. The minimum is 3 to 4 hours, so most 1-bedroom moves run between $387 and $580 before any applicable travel fee.
Do San Diego movers charge extra for stairs?
One Stop Moving does not charge extra for stairs. Many companies in San Diego add a per-flight stair surcharge, but that fee is built into One Stop Moving’s standard hourly rate, so there are no surprise line items on your final bill.
How far in advance should I book movers in San Diego?
Book at least 10 days in advance for most of the year. During peak season — May through September — book 3 weeks ahead to secure your preferred date and crew.
What deposit is required to book a San Diego moving company?
One Stop Moving requires a $100 deposit to secure a local move and a $200 deposit for long-distance relocations. The deposit reserves your crew, truck, and equipment for the scheduled date.
Are long-distance moves from San Diego priced differently than local moves?
Yes. Local moves in San Diego are billed hourly. Long-distance moves use flat rates per destination — for example, $4,500 to Las Vegas, $4,700 to Phoenix, and $10,600 to Salt Lake City — using a 26-foot truck with no shared loads.
Related pages:
– Local Moving Services in San Diego
– Long Distance Moving from San Diego
– Packing Services
– Storage Solutions
– Free Moving Quote