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

Movers from Santa Monica to Houston

About 1,633 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $6,770–$10,070, delivery in 5–10 days, 603 carriers on the Santa Monica side and 3,257 in Houston.

1,633 miroad distance
28 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$6,770–$10,0702-bedroom estimate

Photo: Katie Haugland Brown · CC BY 2.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Monica, California
To: Houston, Texas
Road distance: ≈ 1,633 miles (1,383 straight-line)
Drive time: 28 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 603 (222 interstate)
Movers at destination: 3,257 (1,374 interstate)

Reverse: Houston → Santa Monica

Moving from Santa Monica to Houston is a cross-country move of roughly 1,633 road miles, heading east from California to Texas.

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 $6,770 to $10,070 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 28 hours (4 driving days).

On the Santa Monica side there are 603 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (222 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 Monica has a population of about 92,000 and Houston about 2.4 million. Santa Monica is considerably denser (11,069 people per square mile versus 3,599), 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 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 Monica to Houston

Full-service estimate for 1,633 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,710	$3,300	$4,030
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,060	$4,950	$6,040
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$6,770	$8,260	$10,070
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$10,830	$13,210	$16,120
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$14,900	$18,170	$22,160

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,280–$3,220

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

Portable container

$2,480–$3,640

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

Full-service mover

$6,770–$10,070

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

Moving cost calculator

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

Clutter INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2719785
MC: 934868
Based in: Culver City, CA 90230 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 191 trucks, 382 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (877) 626-1887 Route Verify on FMCSA

Arru Group INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4420956
MC: 1738102
Based in: Los Angeles, CA 90029 (13 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 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 50 trucks, 21 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (213) 944-0878 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dsd Trucking INC

Interstate carrier Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 465743
MC: 309255
Based in: Redondo Beach, CA 90278 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 39 trucks, 31 drivers
USDOT registered: 1991

Call (310) 725-1999 Route Verify on FMCSA

Grt Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3410979
MC: 1099772
Based in: Los Angeles, CA 90008 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 35 trucks, 80 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (310) 508-6676 Route Verify on FMCSA

Harmony Home Remodels

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4468385
MC: 1763223
Based in: Van Nuys, CA 91411 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 33 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (818) 747-3439 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dlvr

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3471374
MC: 1136305
Based in: Culver City, CA 90230 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 25 trucks, 55 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Route Verify on FMCSA

Melogistix INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3479671
MC: 1141564
Based in: LA, CA 90019 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 25 trucks, 48 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (323) 377-8628 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 603 movers in Santa Monica

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

Tips for this move

Ship the car separately if you plan to fly; auto transport is priced by the mile like household goods.
Confirm which items the mover will not carry (plants, perishables, propane, some batteries).
Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Houston accordingly.
Compare a full-service van line against a container service; for a small household the container often wins.

Near Santa Monica

Near Houston

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Monica

Other origins to Houston

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,710 to $4,030 for a studio, $4,060 to $6,040 for a one-bedroom, $6,770 to $10,070 for a two-bedroom, $10,830 to $16,120 for a three-bedroom and $14,900 to $22,160 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Houston from Santa Monica?

About 1,633 road miles (1,383 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 28 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 Monica to Houston?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,280 to $3,220 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,480 to $3,640. 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 Monica–Houston corridor.