Santa Barbara, CA → Los Angeles, CA · Short-haul move

Movers from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles

About 93 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $1,820–$2,710, delivery in 1–2 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Barbara side and 2,866 in Los Angeles.

93 miroad distance
2 h 18 mindriving time
1–2 daysdelivery window
$1,820–$2,7102-bedroom estimate

Photo: Gnaphron · CC BY-SA 2.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Barbara, California
To: Los Angeles, California
Road distance: ≈ 93 miles (79 straight-line)
Drive time: 2 h 18 min
Delivery window: 1–2 days
Move type: In-state (California)
Movers at origin: 27 (9 interstate)
Movers at destination: 2,866 (1,210 interstate)

Reverse: Los Angeles → Santa Barbara

Los Angeles sits about 93 miles east of Santa Barbara, so this is an in-state move that most movers classify as a short-haul 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 2 h 18 min counted as billable travel time. A typical two-bedroom household lands between $1,820 and $2,710, before packing or storage.

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 2,866 around Los Angeles (1,210 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 Los Angeles.

Santa Barbara has a population of about 88,000 and Los Angeles about 3.9 million. Los Angeles is the denser city (8,304 people per square mile versus 4,549 in Santa Barbara), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day.

Cost of moving from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles

Full-service estimate for 93 miles, by home size
Home size	Crew	Hours	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2 movers	3–5 h	$1,040	$1,270	$1,550
1 Bedroom	2 movers	4–6 h	$1,180	$1,440	$1,750
2 Bedrooms	3 movers	5–8 h	$1,820	$2,220	$2,710
3 Bedrooms	4 movers	7–10 h	$2,710	$3,310	$4,040
4+ Bedrooms	5 movers	9–13 h	$3,930	$4,790	$5,840

Rental truck (DIY)

$250–$350

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

Portable container

$1,100–$1,620

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

Full-service mover

$1,820–$2,710

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Barbara, CA → Los Angeles, 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 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 Los Angeles (destination)

Dhe

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Dependable Highway Express INC

USDOT: 9853
MC: 139496
Based in: Los Angeles, CA 90023 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 312 trucks, 240 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (323) 362-9399 Route Verify on FMCSA

T C I Transportation Services INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 480301
MC: 619388
Based in: Commerce, CA 90022 (15 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 205 trucks, 277 drivers
USDOT registered: 1992

Call (323) 269-3033 Route Verify on FMCSA

Clutter INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2719785
MC: 934868
Based in: Culver City, CA 90230 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 191 trucks, 382 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (877) 626-1887 Route Verify on FMCSA

Hercules Forwarding LLC

Interstate carrier Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 424572
Based in: Vernon, CA 90058 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 166 trucks, 163 drivers
USDOT registered: 1990

Call (323) 263-6100 Route Verify on FMCSA

Pacific 9 Transportation INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1274552
MC: 496960
Based in: Gardena, CA 90248 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 68 trucks, 65 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (310) 603-6011 Route Verify on FMCSA

Kavac Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3401792
MC: 1095095
Based in: South Gate, CA 90280 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 59 trucks, 110 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (562) 568-8480 Route Verify on FMCSA

Arru Group INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4420956
MC: 1738102
Based in: Los Angeles, CA 90029 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 52 trucks, 180 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (424) 335-1991 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ing Logistics

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1778992
MC: 648911
Based in: Los Angeles, CA 90037 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 50 trucks, 21 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (213) 944-0878 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 2,866 movers in Los Angeles

Tips for this move

Group fragile items and tell the crew which boxes go in the cab or on top.
For a move under about 150 miles you can often choose between an hourly and a flat rate—ask for both.
Confirm whether travel time between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles is billed one way or round trip.
A single-day move is realistic here; schedule loading in the morning so the crew arrives in Los Angeles with daylight to spare.

Near Santa Barbara

Near Los Angeles

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Barbara

Other origins to Los Angeles

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,040 to $1,550 for a studio, $1,180 to $1,750 for a one-bedroom, $1,820 to $2,710 for a two-bedroom, $2,710 to $4,040 for a three-bedroom and $3,930 to $5,840 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Los Angeles from Santa Barbara?

About 93 road miles (79 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 2 h 18 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 Santa Barbara and Los Angeles 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 Santa Barbara to Los Angeles?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $250 to $350 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,100 to $1,620. 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–Los Angeles corridor.