San Francisco, CA → Richmond, VA · Cross-country move
About 2,872 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $9,230–$13,740, delivery in 7–14 days, 899 carriers on the San Francisco side and 400 in Richmond.
The route from San Francisco, CA to Richmond, VA covers roughly 2,872 miles by road, a east-bound trip that falls into the cross-country move category for pricing purposes.
At this distance carriers price by shipment weight and mileage rather than by the hour. A two-bedroom home (around 5,000 lb of goods) typically costs $9,230 to $13,740 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 7 to 14 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 50 hours (6 driving days).
On the San Francisco side there are 899 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (270 of them authorized for interstate work), and 400 around Richmond (215 interstate). For an interstate 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 Richmond.
San Francisco has a population of about 826,079 and Richmond about 237,257. San Francisco is considerably denser (18,635 people per square mile versus 3,783), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination. Labor and living costs run lower in Virginia than in California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.
| Home size | Est. weight | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2,000 lb | $3,690 | $4,500 | $5,490 |
| 1 Bedroom | 3,000 lb | $5,540 | $6,760 | $8,240 |
| 2 Bedrooms | 5,000 lb | $9,230 | $11,260 | $13,740 |
| 3 Bedrooms | 8,000 lb | $14,770 | $18,020 | $21,980 |
| 4+ Bedrooms | 11,000 lb | $20,310 | $24,770 | $30,220 |
$4,000–$5,650
One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.
$3,580–$5,270
Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.
$9,230–$13,740
Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.
Distance is pre-filled for San Francisco, CA → Richmond, VA. Adjust the other options to see your range.
Typical full-service range.
Estimates use market baselines described on the cost guide; your quotes will vary by inventory, access and date.
Legal name: Act 2 Services INC
Legal name: Lengner And Sons Produce Express
Legal name: Pacific Coast Container INC
Legal name: Tforce Freight INC
Legal name: The Wes Stewart Corporation
Legal name: Rcs Moving LLC
Legal name: D1 Moving LLC
Legal name: Centre Carriers Corp
Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,690 to $5,490 for a studio, $5,540 to $8,240 for a one-bedroom, $9,230 to $13,740 for a two-bedroom, $14,770 to $21,980 for a three-bedroom and $20,310 to $30,220 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.
About 2,872 road miles (2,434 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 50 hours (6 driving days).
Expect a delivery window of 7 to 14 days after pickup. Carriers give a spread rather than a fixed date because long-distance trucks carry several shipments; a dedicated truck or expedited service shortens the window for an extra fee.
Yes. Crossing from California into Virginia makes this an interstate move, so the carrier must hold active FMCSA operating authority (an MC number) in addition to its USDOT number. The company cards on this page flag which carriers are authorized for interstate work.
A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $4,000 to $5,650 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,580 to $5,270. 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.
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 San Francisco–Richmond corridor.