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San Francisco, CA

Palo Alto, CA → San Francisco, CA · Local move

Movers from Palo Alto to San Francisco

About 36 road miles heading northwest. Typical two-bedroom cost $1,480–$2,200, delivery in 0–1 days, 233 carriers on the Palo Alto side and 899 in San Francisco.

  • 36 miroad distance
  • 1 h 8 mindriving time
  • 0–1 daysdelivery window
  • $1,480–$2,2002-bedroom estimate
Photo: Craig Howell from San Carlos, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0
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Route summary

Road distance
≈ 36 miles (30 straight-line)
Drive time
1 h 8 min
Delivery window
0–1 days
Move type
In-state (California)
Movers at origin
233 (62 interstate)
Movers at destination
899 (270 interstate)

Reverse: San Francisco → Palo Alto

San Francisco sits about 36 miles northwest of Palo Alto, so this is an in-state move that most movers classify as a local move.

Because the two cities are close together, most companies quote this move by the hour: a crew of two to four movers plus a truck, with the drive of about 1 h 8 min counted as billable travel time. A typical two-bedroom household lands between $1,480 and $2,200, before packing or storage.

On the Palo Alto side there are 233 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (62 of them authorized for interstate work), and 899 around San Francisco (270 interstate). For an in-state move you can book from either end; movers near the origin handle loading and are usually the better first call, while a destination-side company can be useful if you need storage or delivery-day help in San Francisco.

Palo Alto has a population of about 67,000 and San Francisco about 826,079. San Francisco is the denser city (18,635 people per square mile versus 2,851 in Palo Alto), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day.

Cost of moving from Palo Alto to San Francisco

Full-service estimate for 36 miles, by home size
Home sizeCrewHoursLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2 movers3–5 h $790 $960 $1,180
1 Bedroom 2 movers4–6 h $920 $1,130 $1,370
2 Bedrooms 3 movers5–8 h $1,480 $1,800 $2,200
3 Bedrooms 4 movers7–10 h $2,280 $2,790 $3,400
4+ Bedrooms 5 movers9–13 h $3,410 $4,160 $5,080

Rental truck (DIY)

$190–$260

One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.

Portable container

$1,050–$1,550

Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.

Full-service mover

$1,480–$2,200

Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Palo Alto, CA → San Francisco, CA. Adjust the other options to see your range.

—to—

Typical full-service range.

Estimates use market baselines described on the cost guide; your quotes will vary by inventory, access and date.

Moving companies for this route

Near Palo Alto (origin)

Piranha Ops LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3389468
MC
1089109
Based in
San Jose, CA 95126 (13 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
49 trucks, 100 drivers
USDOT registered
2020
Call (510) 798-4604 Route Verify on FMCSA

Kilam INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3251388
MC
1023623
Based in
Fremont, CA 94538 (13 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
30 trucks, 68 drivers
USDOT registered
2019
Call (415) 740-2340 Route Verify on FMCSA

Crown Worldwide Moving And Storage LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
2970
MC
138953
Based in
Union City, CA 94587 (14 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
25 trucks, 18 drivers
USDOT registered
1974
Call (510) 614-4105 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lucid USA INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3488549
MC
1147342
Based in
Newark, CA 94560 (10 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
22 trucks, 38 drivers
USDOT registered
2020
Call (341) 236-1056 Route Verify on FMCSA

Managed Facility Solutions

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Managed Facilities Solutions LLC

USDOT
2974713
MC
10809
Based in
San Jose, CA 95131 (14 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
22 trucks, 43 drivers
USDOT registered
2017
Call (408) 920-0110 Route Verify on FMCSA

Careful Movers

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Careful Movers INC

USDOT
1464935
MC
553377
Based in
Union City, CA 94587 (14 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
14 trucks, 14 drivers
USDOT registered
2006
Call (650) 595-8400 Route Verify on FMCSA

Arjak&agnes Sons Trucking

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3247717
MC
1021407
Based in
Santa Clara, CA 95050 (11 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
7 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered
2019
Call (510) 359-9498 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mav Moving LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
4340425
MC
77787146
Based in
Newark, CA 94560 (10 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
6 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2024
Call (510) 456-5745 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 233 movers in Palo Alto

Near San Francisco (destination)

Air Container Transfer

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Act 2 Services INC

USDOT
1701515
MC
624529
Based in
Brisbane, CA 94005 (6 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
60 trucks, 48 drivers
USDOT registered
2007
Call (415) 468-2220 Route Verify on FMCSA

Nd Freights INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
4049726
MC
1534271
Based in
Richmond, CA 94806 (15 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
54 trucks, 54 drivers
USDOT registered
2023
Call (510) 640-7050 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lengner & Sons Express

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Lengner And Sons Produce Express

USDOT
154572
MC
156852
Based in
Oakland, CA 94607 (7 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
42 trucks, 40 drivers
USDOT registered
1974
Call (510) 625-1900 Route Verify on FMCSA

Pcc Logistics

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Pacific Coast Container INC

USDOT
555398
MC
274237
Based in
San Leandro, CA 94577 (14 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
36 trucks, 43 drivers
USDOT registered
1994
Call (510) 346-6100 Route Verify on FMCSA

Longdo Trucking Corp

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
1166104
MC
509402
Based in
Oakland, CA 94621 (12 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
30 trucks, 30 drivers
USDOT registered
2003
Call (510) 502-6328 Route Verify on FMCSA

Forward Logistics INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2107877
MC
736145
Based in
South San Francisco, CA 94080 (8 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
29 trucks, 30 drivers
USDOT registered
2011
Call (650) 873-3888 Route Verify on FMCSA

On Point Logistic Solutions INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3492133
MC
1149694
Based in
San Mateo, CA 94401 (15 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
28 trucks, 40 drivers
USDOT registered
2020
Call (650) 229-4480 Route Verify on FMCSA

Freight Line Express Trucking INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
1279465
MC
559129
Based in
Burlingame, CA 94010 (14 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
23 trucks, 23 drivers
USDOT registered
2004
Call (650) 552-9928 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 899 movers in San Francisco

Related routes

Other destinations from Palo Alto

Other origins to San Francisco

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Palo Alto to San Francisco?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $790 to $1,180 for a studio, $920 to $1,370 for a one-bedroom, $1,480 to $2,200 for a two-bedroom, $2,280 to $3,400 for a three-bedroom and $3,410 to $5,080 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is San Francisco from Palo Alto?

About 36 road miles (30 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 1 h 8 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

For a move this short, loading and delivery normally happen on the same day. Most crews finish a two-bedroom home in 5 to 8 hours plus the drive.

Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for an in-state move?

No. Because both Palo Alto and San Francisco are in California, this is an intrastate move regulated by the state rather than the FMCSA. Still, choosing a carrier with an active USDOT number is the easiest way to confirm the company is a registered motor carrier with insurance on file.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or use a container for Palo Alto to San Francisco?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $190 to $260 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,050 to $1,550. Both save money versus a full-service crew but you do the loading, and container transit can take longer than a mover's delivery window.

When is the least expensive time to book this move?

Rates are highest in summer and around the last days of any month, when demand peaks. Mid-month, mid-week and winter dates are usually quoted below the standard rate. Booking four to eight weeks ahead gives you the widest choice of carriers on the Palo Alto–San Francisco corridor.