Santa Barbara, CA

Seattle, WA → Santa Barbara, CA · Long-distance move

Movers from Seattle to Santa Barbara

About 1,089 road miles heading south. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,810–$8,650, delivery in 3–7 days, 1,037 carriers on the Seattle side and 27 in Santa Barbara.

  • 1,089 miroad distance
  • 19 h 29 mindriving time
  • 3–7 daysdelivery window
  • $5,810–$8,6502-bedroom estimate
Photo: Pierre André · CC BY-SA 4.0

Route summary

Road distance
≈ 1,089 miles (923 straight-line)
Drive time
19 h 29 min
Delivery window
3–7 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
1,037 (440 interstate)
Movers at destination
27 (9 interstate)

Reverse: Santa Barbara → Seattle

The route from Seattle, WA to Santa Barbara, CA covers roughly 1,089 miles by road, a south-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 $5,810 to $8,650 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 3 to 7 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 19 h 29 min.

On the Seattle side there are 1,037 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (440 of them authorized for interstate work), and 27 around Santa Barbara (9 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 Santa Barbara.

Seattle has a population of about 784,777 and Santa Barbara about 88,000. Seattle is considerably denser (8,795 people per square mile versus 4,549), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination. California is a higher-cost state than Washington, so budget a little more for destination-side help, deposits and first-month expenses. Note that California does collect a state income tax, unlike Washington, so factor that into the cost-of-living comparison.

Cost of moving from Seattle to Santa Barbara

Full-service estimate for 1,089 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $2,320 $2,840 $3,460
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $3,490 $4,250 $5,190
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $5,810 $7,090 $8,650
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $9,300 $11,340 $13,840
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $12,790 $15,590 $19,020

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,570–$2,210

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

Portable container

$1,990–$2,930

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

Full-service mover

$5,810–$8,650

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Seattle, WA → Santa Barbara, 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 Seattle (origin)

Paradigm Delivery LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3405034
MC
1096843
Based in
Bellevue, WA 98007 (10 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
103 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2020

Acme Transport USA LTD

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3664442
MC
75702336
Based in
Bellevue, WA 98006 (10 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
76 trucks, 38 drivers
USDOT registered
2021

Savanah Logistics

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
1303168
MC
505582
Based in
Seattle, WA 98108 (6 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
75 trucks, 71 drivers
USDOT registered
2004

Ocean Beauty Seafoods LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
604551
MC
789128
Based in
Renton, WA 98057 (12 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
74 trucks, 79 drivers
USDOT registered
1995

Hansen Bros Moving & Storage

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
8257
MC
59073
Based in
Bellevue, WA 98056 (11 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
46 trucks, 42 drivers
USDOT registered
1974

Exselon

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3194560
MC
140641
Based in
Kirkland, WA 98033 (8 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
45 trucks, 95 drivers
USDOT registered
2018

Butler Transportation LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
1939713
MC
691642
Based in
Woodinville, WA 98072 (14 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
34 trucks, 33 drivers
USDOT registered
2009

Becker Trucking

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3620637
MC
136679
Based in
Tukwila, WA 98168 (9 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
32 trucks, 20 drivers
USDOT registered
2021

All 1,037 movers in Seattle

Near Santa Barbara (destination)

Aussie Moving

Licensed interstate
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

Twentyfour7 Msi

Licensed interstate
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

Mammoth Van Lines

Licensed interstate
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

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

Bushnell Moving

Licensed interstate
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

Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center

Intrastate carrier
USDOT
2735884
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2015

Mike'S Deliveries

Intrastate carrier
USDOT
3008579
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2017

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

All 27 movers in Santa Barbara

Related routes

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,320 to $3,460 for a studio, $3,490 to $5,190 for a one-bedroom, $5,810 to $8,650 for a two-bedroom, $9,300 to $13,840 for a three-bedroom and $12,790 to $19,020 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Santa Barbara from Seattle?

About 1,089 road miles (923 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 19 h 29 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 3 to 7 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 Washington into California 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 Seattle to Santa Barbara?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,570 to $2,210 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,990 to $2,930. 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 Seattle–Santa Barbara corridor.