At Moving APT, we know movers. We have over 22 years of experience in the moving industry, and we used authentic customer feedback and regular face-to-face business with the movers in our network to build a list of what movers are right for the job, and what movers just aren’t worth your time.
In this article, we’ll give you a look at what coast to coast movers are the best picks for your NYC to LA move, and we’ll also give you some insider tips you can’t find anywhere else.
If you’re ready to pack up and head from the Big Apple to the Big Orange, read on for Moving APT’s list of the best NYC to LA moving companies.
Our Top Recommended Movers from NYC to LA
- New York based
- Highly rated
Native Van Lines
- Award winning mover
- Wide variety of services
Adams Van Lines
- Streamlined customer service
- Flat rate pricing
In this article
How Much Does it Cost to Move from NYC to LA?
A move from New York City to Los Angeles will cost anywhere from [LOW FIGURE] to [HIGH FIGURE], and sometimes a little more. It all depends on how far you have to move, and how much stuff you’re taking with you.
The Cost of Moving from New York City to Los Angeles
| Distance | 1 Bedroom | 2 – 3 Bedroom | 4 – 5 Bedroom |
| New York City to Los Angeles | $1200 – $2500 | $1800 – $4100 | $3900 – $7200 |
| New York City to San Diego | $1400 – $2700 | $2100 – $4800 | $4700 – $8500 |
| New York City to San Francisco | $1600 – $2900 | $2400 – $5300 | $5200 – $9600 |
Any move from New York to LA costs money, but how much money you’re spending depends on whether you’re moving an entire brownstone or just a studio.
Aside from the amount of stuff you’re hauling and the distance you’re traveling, there are also a number of other factors that may affect your final price.
If you want a better picture of the extra factors behind your moving cost, jump to this section and get in touch with your movers about what extra fees you may end up paying. Otherwise, read on to find out how long your move will take.
How Long Does a New York to Los Angeles Move Take?
Moving from NYC to Los Angeles can take anywhere from 7 and 21 days, and sometimes more. The time it takes to get all your stuff from point A to point B also depends on how much stuff you’re moving and how far you’re going.
| Distance | Days |
| New York City to Los Angeles | 7-10 days |
| New York City to San Diego | 8-14 days |
| New York City to San Francisco | 10-21 days |
Some moves take longer than other – but the fastest moves aren’t always the ones you’d expect. A lighter load may actually take longer to ship from New York to LA, mainly because cross country movers don’t like to send half-empty trucks all over the place. It’s just inefficient.
Instead, moving companies bundle several moves together to avoid any wasted space. This means a more efficient move, but it also may take more time for your stuff to arrive.
Your truck may have to make a few pickups and dropoffs on the way – unless you manage to fill an entire truck with just your belongings. A full truck always gets sent faster.
Our Top 3 NYC to LA Moving Companies
Moving from New York to Los Angeles is a long haul. Fortunately, if you want to cut down on stress, one of the following long distance movers can help.
Read on for our handpicked NYC to LA moving companies.
If you need help moving out of New York, why not call a mover from your own backyard? Roadway Moving is a highly rated mover, and New York City is their hometown.
If you’ve spotted their trucks around town, it’s for good reason: Roadway does great work, and their customers, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau can speak for the quality of their service.
Speaking of service, when you move with Roadway, you get access to a whole list of additional moving services.
Check out Roadway Black if you need some professional white glove moving, and ask them about their storage options if you aren’t quite sure when you’ll be moving (or if your stuff will fit in your new place).
Pros
- New York based
- Highly rated
- Custom wrapping and packing
- Labor, gas, and transportation all included
- 99.3% on-time rate
Cons
- Not too much info about price of extra services
Why we recommend Roadway Moving
The team at Roadway Moving are hometown heroes. They’re highly rated, and they offer a wide variety of additional services.
As an added bonus, Roadway boasts a 99.3% on-time rate, meaning they won’t keep you waiting if you’re in a hurry to move.
If you need movers in NYC, Roadway is a great choice.
Native Van Lines specializes in tailored moving experiences. They offer a variety of services that you can pick and choose, including corporate relocation, car transport, storage, and more.
The team at Native knows that every move is different, and they’ll help you plan your move out according to the services you’ll need.
Of course, Native does more than just tailored moves. They’re also a highly rated company with a reputation for excellent customer service.
They’ve made over 250,000 moves throughout the past 20 years, and they have an excellent track record when it comes to customer satisfaction.
Pros
- Award-winning movers
- Customized moving experience
- 30 days of free storage
- Wide variety of services
- Informative website with tips and tricks
Cons
- Personal info required for free quote
Why we recommend Native Van Lines
We’re big fans of Native Van Lines. We appreciate the completely-tailored experience you get when you book a long distance move with their team, and all those positive customer reviews are a definite reassurance if you’re on the fence about hiring pros for your move.
Native Van Lines can make your NYC to LA move easy.
Adams Van Lines is a great option for New York to LA moves on a budget. They provide customized moves without a big name price tag, which is a definite bonus when you’re dealing with a coast to coast move.
Adams also has an innovative and hassle-free approach to customer service. If you need customer support from Adams Van Lines, they’ll provide just one point of contact for your whole move.
This prevents you from being bounced around between different departments, and ensures you always know who you can call if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.
Pros
- Streamlined customer service
- Wide variety of moving services
- Flat rate pricing
- Price matching available
- Punctual moving teams
Cons
- Not much pricing info available without a quote
Why we recommend Adams Van Lines
Adams Van Lines has really streamlined their customer service, and always knowing who you can turn to when you have any questions about your move is super reassuring.
We really appreciate their dedication to their customers, and (of course) they have an impressive list of moving services on a budget.
Must Recommended Movers Near NYC
What Factors Can Affect the Cost of a New York to Los Angeles Move?
Moving from state to state takes a lot of advance planning – and a move from coast to coast requires even more. This means the sooner you figure out your budget, the better. Here’s a list of some of the factors behind the final price of your move.
- Size and distance. The two biggest factors behind your final price: How much stuff you’re hauling, and how far it’s all traveling. Long distance movers calculate this by miles and weight, so get in touch with them beforehand for an accurate estimate.
- Packing. Packing takes a lot of time and effort, and even if you’re DIYing the packing, you’ll still need to pay for the materials. Fortunately, movers provide packing services so you don’t have to deal with it, and it’s usually the only way to get full coverage insurance.
- Insurance. Speaking of insurance, you’ll want to make sure your stuff is covered. Movers are required by law to provide a minimum of 60 cents per pound that’s lost, damaged, or destroyed, but full coverage can cover the dollar amount of your goods.
- Storage. Moving can mean uncertainty. If you’re not sure if all your stuff will fit in your new place, or you just haven’t had the time to get rid of everything by moving day, you may have to pay for storage. Many companies offer 30 days free, so ask beforehand.
- Peak moving season. Movers are in the most demand during the summer months, so any move that’s scheduled for June, July, or August is going to cost you extra. Try to avoid any major holidays or vacations, and shoot for a mid-week, mid-month move.
- Waiting fees. Your movers need you there to open locked doors and sign off on important documents. If you keep them waiting, you may throw off their scheduling for other moves. It’s important to be there on time if you want to avoid any penalties.
- Access fees. Stairs, elevators, and long carries (anything over 75 feet) are all challenges for your moving team to navigate, so expect some extra fees if your movers need to run a gauntlet of obstacles from the truck to your front door.
- Shuttle fees. Sadly New York and LA aren’t very keen on having big semi trucks parked on their streets. Instead, your movers will have to park your main truck elsewhere while using a smaller shuttle to go back and forth. This costs money and takes extra time.
- Gratuity. Yes, you should definitely tip your movers. Unless a company explicitly declines gratuities, you should tip about 15% to 20% of the cost of your move, to be distributed across your entire moving team.
To expand your knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of the various factors that can impact your moving expenses, we recommend reading the following informative article:
NYC to LA FAQ
What is the cost of living like in Los Angeles compared to New York?
Los Angeles is more expensive than most places in the US, except – you guessed it – New York City. LA is actually a little cheaper than NYC, although it depends on what neighborhood you decide to move to and how you’re getting around.
Unlike New York, LA is a driving town. That means you’ll have to pay for gas (about $4.50 per gallon in LA vs. $3.50 per gallon in NY).
If you’re okay with taking public transport, you can get away with paying $50 per month for the LA metro versus $137 per month in NYC.
What are the best neighborhoods to live in if I’m moving to LA from NYC?
Sure, you’ve heard of Beverly Hills, but what else is there? Los Angeles has a whole range of different neighborhoods, and where you end up really depends on your preference. If you don’t mind living a little outside of the city itself, the San Fernando Valley has great weather and a mellower pace of life.
New York has boroughs, but LA is way more spread out. It’s easier to look at it like a big collection of different cities and towns.
Downtown LA is mainly businesses, so people usually commute back and forth (hence the traffic). Culver City is well known for being an arts and culture neighborhood, and Silver Lake is on the upswing.
What is the cheapest way to move long distance?
Moving DIY is your cheapest option, but it doesn’t always mean it’s the best choice. Most people get roped in by the cheap price tag, but they don’t take the time to math out how much they’ll have to spend in gas, food, and lodging when it comes to a cross country move.
When you DIY a move, you need to remember that you’re also missing out on collecting your paycheck as per usual. The price of a DIY move may still come out cheaper, but only just. If you’re feeling brave and your back is up to the task, check out some truck rental options and get packing.
How far in advance should I hire movers?
The further in advance, the better. We recommend getting in touch with movers anywhere from 3 to 6 months in advance, to allow yourself the most time possible to prepare and pack up. More time means less stress, and more flexibility for your movers.
If you’re really desperate to escape from New York, you may be able to book a mover a month in advance – but keep in mind you’ll be compressing all that planning, packing, and saying your goodbyes into just a few weeks.
What items can’t be moved long distances?
Anything flammable or pressurized is a no-go. While you may not be planning on transporting gasoline, the rule applies to things like fingernail polish and hairspray as well.
California has some pretty strict laws about plants and pets (and movers won’t transport pets anyways) so make sure you read up on what rules can apply before you head out west.
By the way, if you own any firearms, you’ll be better off sending them through an FFL. Most movers don’t want to deal with the legal hassle of transporting guns across state lines, and you may not want to get in trouble transporting them yourself either.
Ready to Get Packing?
You’ve seen the movers, and you’ve got the insider info. Now, all you have to do is get planning. A move from New York to Los Angeles doesn’t happen overnight, and it takes some professional help if you want it done as smoothly as possible.
Ready to pack your bags? Check out our moving cost calculator to get started, and reach out to one of our trusted NYC to LA movers today.
