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Houston, TX

Santa Barbara, CA → Houston, TX · Cross-country move

Movers from Santa Barbara to Houston

About 1,717 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $6,920–$10,290, delivery in 5–10 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Barbara side and 3,257 in Houston.

  • 1,717 miroad distance
  • 30 hours (4 driving days)driving time
  • 5–10 daysdelivery window
  • $6,920–$10,2902-bedroom estimate
Photo: Katie Haugland Brown · CC BY 2.0
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Route summary

Road distance
≈ 1,717 miles (1,455 straight-line)
Drive time
30 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window
5–10 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
27 (9 interstate)
Movers at destination
3,257 (1,374 interstate)

Reverse: Houston → Santa Barbara

The route from Santa Barbara, CA to Houston, TX covers roughly 1,717 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 $6,920 to $10,290 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 5 to 10 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 30 hours (4 driving days).

On the Santa Barbara side there are 27 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (9 of them authorized for interstate work), and 3,257 around Houston (1,374 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 Houston.

Santa Barbara has a population of about 88,000 and Houston about 2.4 million. The two cities have comparable density (4,549 and 3,599 people per square mile), so loading and unloading conditions are usually similar at both ends. Labor and living costs run lower in Texas than in California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home. Texas levies no state income tax on wages, a frequent reason people make this exact move.

Cost of moving from Santa Barbara to Houston

Full-service estimate for 1,717 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $2,770 $3,380 $4,120
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $4,150 $5,060 $6,180
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $6,920 $8,440 $10,290
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $11,070 $13,500 $16,470
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $15,220 $18,560 $22,650

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,360–$3,340

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

Portable container

$2,550–$3,750

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

Full-service mover

$6,920–$10,290

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Barbara, CA → Houston, TX. 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 Santa Barbara (origin)

Aussie Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Aussie Moving INC

USDOT
2424966
MC
876037
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
2 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2013
Call (805) 456-6498 Route Verify on FMCSA

Twentyfour7 Msi

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Twenty Four 7 Moving Specialists INC

USDOT
1821147
MC
661157
Based in
Carpinteria, CA 93013 (12 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
2 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered
2008
Call (805) 696-9247 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mammoth Van Lines

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Mammoth Moving Holding Corporation

USDOT
374567
MC
225136
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (6 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 2 drivers
USDOT registered
1989
Call (805) 968-8643 Route Verify on FMCSA

All Things Home Services LLC

Interstate carrier
USDOT
8395520
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (6 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
2026
Call (805) 245-3822 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bushnell Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Kenneth Lee Bushnell

USDOT
1355626
MC
608117
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (9 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2005
Call (805) 682-5454 Route Verify on FMCSA

Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center INC

USDOT
2735884
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2015
Call (805) 963-7825 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mike'S Deliveries

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Miguel A Barrios

USDOT
3008579
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2017
Call (805) 331-0318 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bright Delivery And Install INC

Intrastate carrier
USDOT
3544323
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2021
Call (805) 679-1020 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 27 movers in Santa Barbara

Near Houston (destination)

Ceva Logistics US INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Ceva Contract Logistics US INC

USDOT
187774
MC
152620
Based in
Houston, TX 77032 (14 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
452 trucks, 679 drivers
USDOT registered
1974
Call (614) 482-5046 Route Verify on FMCSA

Xlr8 Delivery INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2926913
MC
987802
Based in
Houston, TX 77073 (15 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
331 trucks, 272 drivers
USDOT registered
2016
Call (281) 784-2302 Route Verify on FMCSA

Tri Star Freight System INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
325836
MC
1742035
Based in
Houston, TX 77028 (7 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
282 trucks, 140 drivers
USDOT registered
1988
Call (713) 631-1095 Route Verify on FMCSA

Palletized Trucking INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
152429
MC
148279
Based in
Houston, TX 77009 (1 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
224 trucks, 184 drivers
USDOT registered
1974
Call (713) 225-3303 Route Verify on FMCSA

W W Rowland Trucking Company LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
213641
MC
161344
Based in
Houston, TX 77013 (9 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
170 trucks, 170 drivers
USDOT registered
1982
Call (713) 675-1200 Route Verify on FMCSA

Jetco Delivery

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Jetco Delivery LLC

USDOT
1470034
MC
555157
Based in
Houston, TX 77032 (14 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
159 trucks, 124 drivers
USDOT registered
2006
Call (713) 676-1111 Route Verify on FMCSA

Shark Trucking INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
541564
MC
269507
Based in
Houston, TX 77016 (8 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
126 trucks, 121 drivers
USDOT registered
1993
Call (281) 458-2649 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ranger Energy Services LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2544062
MC
10575
Based in
Houston, TX 77042 (11 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
105 trucks, 178 drivers
USDOT registered
2014
Call (713) 935-8900 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 3,257 movers in Houston

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Barbara

Other origins to Houston

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Barbara to Houston?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,770 to $4,120 for a studio, $4,150 to $6,180 for a one-bedroom, $6,920 to $10,290 for a two-bedroom, $11,070 to $16,470 for a three-bedroom and $15,220 to $22,650 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Houston from Santa Barbara?

About 1,717 road miles (1,455 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 30 hours (4 driving days).

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 5 to 10 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.

Does my mover need interstate authority for this move?

Yes. Crossing from California into Texas 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.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or use a container for Santa Barbara to Houston?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,360 to $3,340 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,550 to $3,750. 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 Santa Barbara–Houston corridor.