Santa Cruz, CA → Berkeley, CA · Short-haul move

Movers from Santa Cruz to Berkeley

About 75 road miles heading north. Typical two-bedroom cost $1,710–$2,550, delivery in 1–2 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Cruz side and 429 in Berkeley.

75 miroad distance
2 hdriving time
1–2 daysdelivery window
$1,710–$2,5502-bedroom estimate

Photo: pedrik · CC BY 2.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Cruz, California
To: Berkeley, California
Road distance: ≈ 75 miles (63 straight-line)
Drive time: 2 h
Delivery window: 1–2 days
Move type: In-state (California)
Movers at origin: 27 (6 interstate)
Movers at destination: 429 (149 interstate)

Reverse: Berkeley → Santa Cruz

The route from Santa Cruz, CA to Berkeley, CA covers roughly 75 miles by road, a north-bound trip that falls into the short-haul move category for pricing purposes.

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 counted as billable travel time. A typical two-bedroom household lands between $1,710 and $2,550, before packing or storage.

On the Santa Cruz side there are 27 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (6 of them authorized for interstate work), and 429 around Berkeley (149 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 Berkeley.

Santa Cruz has a population of about 62,000 and Berkeley about 121,911. Berkeley is the denser city (11,954 people per square mile versus 4,942 in Santa Cruz), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day.

Cost of moving from Santa Cruz to Berkeley

Full-service estimate for 75 miles, by home size
Home size	Crew	Hours	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2 movers	3–5 h	$960	$1,180	$1,430
1 Bedroom	2 movers	4–6 h	$1,100	$1,340	$1,630
2 Bedrooms	3 movers	5–8 h	$1,710	$2,090	$2,550
3 Bedrooms	4 movers	7–10 h	$2,580	$3,140	$3,840
4+ Bedrooms	5 movers	9–13 h	$3,760	$4,590	$5,600

Rental truck (DIY)

$230–$320

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

Portable container

$1,090–$1,600

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

Full-service mover

$1,710–$2,550

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Cruz, CA → Berkeley, CA. Adjust the other options to see your range.

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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 Cruz (origin)

Lambert And Son Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Bill Lambert

USDOT: 3528657
MC: 1220611
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95065 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 7 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (831) 777-4265 Route Verify on FMCSA

Edward W Grace

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1559365
MC: 643222
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (831) 465-6865 Route Verify on FMCSA

Denise Hoselton Living Tr

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4197804
MC: 1618833
Based in: Brookdale, CA 95007 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (831) 704-6804 Route Verify on FMCSA

Delivertron

Interstate carrier

Legal name: Delivertron LLC

USDOT: 3592367
Based in: Boulder Creek, CA 95006 (15 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (831) 293-4823 Route Verify on FMCSA

Locatelli Moving And Storage INC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 1891836
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 7 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (831) 425-7775 Route Verify on FMCSA

Coast Paper & Supply

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 2666577
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (831) 423-3350 Route Verify on FMCSA

Rational Moving INC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 3393511
MC: 1565780
Based in: Scotts Valley, CA 95066 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (831) 425-1448 Route Verify on FMCSA

Full Load

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Robert D Joseph

USDOT: 2773290
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 2 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (831) 419-5395 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 27 movers in Santa Cruz

Near Berkeley (destination)

Air Container Transfer

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Act 2 Services INC

USDOT: 1701515
MC: 624529
Based in: Brisbane, CA 94005 (14 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 (8 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 (4 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 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 36 trucks, 43 drivers
USDOT registered: 1994

Call (510) 346-6100 Route Verify on FMCSA

Waters Moving & Storage INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1125579
MC: 481361
Based in: Martinez, CA 94553 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 35 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2003

Call (925) 372-0914 Route Verify on FMCSA

Longdo Trucking Corp

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1166104
MC: 509402
Based in: Oakland, CA 94621 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 30 trucks, 30 drivers
USDOT registered: 2003

Call (510) 502-6328 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ss Trucking

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Sukhjit Sandhu Trucking INC

USDOT: 1363134
MC: 522107
Based in: Oakland, CA 94621 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 20 trucks, 15 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (510) 750-3598 Route Verify on FMCSA

Cargo Bay Trucking

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Cargo Bay Intermodal Services INC

USDOT: 1937273
MC: 691228
Based in: San Leandro, CA 94577 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 17 trucks, 19 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (510) 451-6800 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 429 movers in Berkeley

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 Cruz and Berkeley is billed one way or round trip.
A single-day move is realistic here; schedule loading in the morning so the crew arrives in Berkeley with daylight to spare.

Near Santa Cruz

Near Berkeley

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Cruz

Other origins to Berkeley

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Cruz to Berkeley?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $960 to $1,430 for a studio, $1,100 to $1,630 for a one-bedroom, $1,710 to $2,550 for a two-bedroom, $2,580 to $3,840 for a three-bedroom and $3,760 to $5,600 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Berkeley from Santa Cruz?

About 75 road miles (63 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 2 h.

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 Cruz and Berkeley 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 Cruz to Berkeley?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $230 to $320 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,090 to $1,600. 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 Cruz–Berkeley corridor.