San Mateo, CA → Tacoma, WA · Long-distance move
About 790 road miles heading north. Typical two-bedroom cost $4,920–$7,320, delivery in 2–5 days, 332 carriers on the San Mateo side and 823 in Tacoma.
The route from San Mateo, CA to Tacoma, WA covers roughly 790 miles by road, a north-bound trip that falls into the long-distance 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 $4,920 to $7,320 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 2 to 5 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 14 h 19 min.
On the San Mateo side there are 332 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (93 of them authorized for interstate work), and 823 around Tacoma (399 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 Tacoma.
San Mateo has a population of about 103,337 and Tacoma about 229,816. San Mateo is considerably denser (8,732 people per square mile versus 4,413), 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 Washington than in California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home. Washington levies no state income tax on wages, a frequent reason people make this exact move.
| Home size | Est. weight | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2,000 lb | $1,970 | $2,400 | $2,930 |
| 1 Bedroom | 3,000 lb | $2,950 | $3,600 | $4,390 |
| 2 Bedrooms | 5,000 lb | $4,920 | $6,000 | $7,320 |
| 3 Bedrooms | 8,000 lb | $7,880 | $9,600 | $11,720 |
| 4+ Bedrooms | 11,000 lb | $10,830 | $13,210 | $16,110 |
$1,110–$1,570
One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.
$1,730–$2,540
Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.
$4,920–$7,320
Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.
Distance is pre-filled for San Mateo, CA → Tacoma, WA. 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: Pacific Coast Container INC
Legal name: Seattle Port Consolidators INC
Legal name: American Fast Freight INC
Legal name: Blt Transport INC
Legal name: Nichols Transportation Company INC
Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,970 to $2,930 for a studio, $2,950 to $4,390 for a one-bedroom, $4,920 to $7,320 for a two-bedroom, $7,880 to $11,720 for a three-bedroom and $10,830 to $16,110 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.
About 790 road miles (670 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 14 h 19 min.
Expect a delivery window of 2 to 5 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 Washington 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 $1,110 to $1,570 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,730 to $2,540. 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 Mateo–Tacoma corridor.