Student Movers in California
Movers USA are verified movers handling student and small apartment moves in California. 58 additional movers in the area also serve students.
| Company | FMCSA | Reviews | Small Moves | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movers USAVerified | Active | - | - | Yes |
| Aben Moving | Active | 4.9/5 | 33 | Yes |
| Able Moving & Storage | None | 4.7/5 | 508 | Yes |
| AE Services LLC | Active | 4.9/5 | 139 | Yes |
| Affix Movers | Active | 4.6/5 | 32 | Yes |
| AK Movers | Active | - | - | Yes |
| Ally Moving LLC | None | 4.9/5 | 401 | Yes |
| A-Anytime Movers | None | - | - | Yes |
| Available Movers & Storage | Active | 4.5/5 | 155 | Yes |
| Bellhop | Active | - | - | Yes |
| Bellhop | Active | 4.7/5 | 724 | Yes |
| Best Movers VA | Active | - | - | Yes |
| Bookstore Movers | Active | 4.8/5 | 397 | Yes |
| BoxStar Movers | Active | 5/5 | 1267 | Yes |
| Continental Movers | Active | - | - | Yes |
| Craig Van Lines, Inc. | None | 4.5/5 | 265 | Yes |
| Dan's Van Lines | None | 4.9/5 | 357 | Yes |
| DC Moving Inc | Active | 4.9/5 | 62 | Yes |
| DMV Moving Help | Active | 5/5 | 12 | Yes |
| Eagle Van Lines Inc | Active | 4.1/5 | 73 | Yes |
| Eco Movers | Active | 5/5 | 11 | Yes |
| Envelop by McClain | Active | 5/5 | 146 | Yes |
| Georgetown Movers | Active | 4.2/5 | 247 | Yes |
| Germantown Moving & Storage | Active | 5/5 | 73 | Yes |
| Great Movers LLC | Active | 4.9/5 | 20 | Yes |
| Great Nation Moving | Active | 4.8/5 | 973 | Yes |
| Great Scott Moving | None | 4.6/5 | 68 | Yes |
| Helix Moving and Storage | Active | 4.9/5 | 1145 | Yes |
| Interstate Van Lines | Active | - | - | Yes |
| Jake's Moving and Storage | Active | 4.5/5 | 215 | Yes |
| Let's Get Moving + Storage | Active | 4.9/5 | 23 | Yes |
| Metropolitan Moving & Storage | Active | 4.6/5 | 94 | Yes |
| Movers 95 | Active | 4.2/5 | 180 | Yes |
| Moving Sucks Movers | Active | 5/5 | 116 | Yes |
| MyProMovers | Active | 5/5 | 5956 | Yes |
| Old Town Moving | Active | 5/5 | 74 | Yes |
| Paxton Van Lines | Active | 3.4/5 | 59 | Yes |
| Prince Movers | Active | 5/5 | 974 | Yes |
| Pro American Van Lines | Active | - | - | Yes |
| ProAce International Moving & Storage LLC | Active | 4.8/5 | 349 | Yes |
| Star Moving Solutions | None | 4.9/5 | 934 | Yes |
| TGL Moving Services LLC | Active | 5/5 | 4 | Yes |
| Town & Country Movers Inc. | Active | 4.7/5 | 514 | Yes |
| Town and Country Movers | None | - | - | Yes |
| Victory Van Corporation | Active | 4.2/5 | 130 | Yes |
| B. Von Paris & Sons, Inc. | Active | 4.8/5 | 482 | Yes |
| Von Paris Moving and Storage | None | - | - | Yes |
| Wellknown Moving Company | Active | - | - | Yes |
| Your Moving Men | Active | 4.9/5 | 321 | Yes |
| Zip Moving and Storage | Active | 4.7/5 | 783 | Yes |
Student Moving Costs in California
| Move Type | Cost Range | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Dorm room (local) | $200 to $500 | 2 movers, 1 to 2 hours. Boxes, small furniture only. |
| Studio apartment (local) | $300 to $800 | 2 movers, 2 to 3 hours. Includes bed, desk, boxes. |
| 1BR apartment (local) | $500 to $1,500 | 2 to 3 movers, 3 to 4 hours. Full furniture. |
| Cargo van rental (DIY) | $20 to $40/day | Plus $0.69 to $0.99/mile. Best for dorms under 10 miles. |
| Labor-only (you drive) | $100 to $200 | 2 movers for loading/unloading only, 1 to 2 hours. |
Add $50 to $150 per flight of stairs for walkup buildings. Weekend and end-of-month moves cost 15 to 20% more.
Student Moving Guide
How to Move on a Student Budget
Cargo van rental: $20 to $40/day for a dorm or studio. U-Haul, Budget, Enterprise. Add mileage ($0.69 to $0.99/mi).
Labor-only movers: Hire 2 movers for loading and unloading only ($100 to $200 for 2 hours). You drive the truck.
Full-service for 1BR: $500 to $1,500 depending on distance. Worth it if you have furniture beyond dorm basics.
Free boxes: Campus recycling centers, liquor stores near campus, Buy Nothing groups. Most students need 10 to 15 boxes max.
Timing: Mid-week moves are 15 to 20% cheaper. Avoid the last weekend of May and first weekend of August.
Dorm Move-In and Move-Out Logistics
Move-in windows: Most universities assign 2 to 4 hour slots. Book movers for the START of your window.
Certificate of Insurance (COI): Check if your campus requires one from the moving company. Request this 7 to 10 days before.
Elevator access: Some dorms restrict elevator use during peak move-in. Confirm with housing office.
Parking: Campus parking for moving trucks is usually limited to 30 to 60 minutes in designated zones. Have a plan.
Storage between semesters: Campus storage programs ($200 to $400/summer), off-campus storage units ($50 to $100/month), or ship boxes home via UPS/FedEx ($15 to $30/box).
What to Bring vs. What to Buy There
Ship or move: Clothes, bedding, laptop, personal items, small electronics.
Buy at destination: Cleaning supplies, hangers, desk lamp, shower caddy, basic kitchen items. Target or Walmart near campus is cheaper than shipping.
Don't bring: Large furniture (unless off-campus apartment), full desktop PC setup (laptop is enough for dorms), excessive kitchen equipment.
Sell before you go: Textbooks (campus buyback or Chegg), mini fridge (sell to incoming students), furniture (Facebook Marketplace, dorm swap groups).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a student move cost in California?
A dorm or studio move in California costs $200 to $800. A 1BR apartment move costs $500 to $1,500. Price depends on stairs, distance, and whether you need packing. Hiring 2 movers for 2 to 3 hours for a small move is the most common student option.
When should college students book movers?
Book 2 to 3 weeks ahead for August and May moves. These are peak periods when every student is moving simultaneously. Mid-semester moves (October, March) are cheaper and easier to schedule. Mid-week moves are 15 to 20% cheaper than weekends.
Do movers handle dorm moves in California?
Yes. Most local movers handle dorm and small apartment moves. Key requirements: ability to navigate narrow hallways, elevators, and time-restricted building access. Some campuses require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) and have scheduled move-in windows of 2 to 4 hours.
What is the cheapest way for a student to move?
For a dorm or studio under 10 miles: rent a cargo van ($20 to $40/day) and recruit friends. For anything larger or longer distance, hiring 2 movers for 2 to 3 hours ($200 to $500) is usually worth it compared to the time, risk of injury, and potential damage.
Related
54 of 165 movers serving California, MD list student or college moving as a service: Aben Moving, Able Moving & Storage, AE Services LLC, Affix Movers, AK Movers +49 more.
Market Overview
83 profiled movers in MD. average Google rating 4.7. 13 flagged to avoid.
Moving in California
California is a census-designated place in St. Mary's County in southern Maryland, located near Patuxent River Naval Air Station (NAS Pax River). It is about 70 miles south of DC and serves as a commercial hub for the surrounding rural area. Housing consists primarily of single-family homes and newer townhome developments catering to military families and defense contractors working at the naval base. The significant distance from DC means higher travel charges.
California Moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move in California, MD?
A 2-bedroom move in California costs approximately $1,300–$1,900. A 3-bedroom runs $2,200–$3,200. California is about 70 miles from both In and Out Movers in Rockville and Movers USA in Jessup. The distance means significant travel charges — expect these moves to cost more than inner-suburb moves of similar size.
Do movers handle military relocations from Pax River?
Yes. Both In and Out Movers and Movers USA (GSA-certified) service NAS Patuxent River and the surrounding California/Lexington Park area. Military PCS moves are common here — book 2-3 weeks ahead, especially during summer PCS season (May–August) when demand spikes.
Is California, MD considered local or long-distance from DC?
At about 70 miles from DC, California MD exceeds most movers' 50-mile local radius. Moves to/from the DC metro area are typically priced as long-distance. However, moves within St. Mary's County — California to Lexington Park or Leonardtown — are firmly local.
More in California