Best Moving Companies In Oceanside, California Of 2025

There are many movers available in the Oceanside metro area, but finding a qualified company that will get the job done right requires extensive vetting and research. Below are 10 of the best moving companies for your Oceanside move, both locally and nationally. Read up on each of these companies to ensure you choose the best for you and your needs.

• College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving North San Diego
• Coast Valley Moving & Storage
• Mission Minded: Moving, Deliveries & Junk Removal
• Space Moving – Moving and Storage San Diego
• AMERICAN MOVERS – SAN DIEGO
• Sullivan Moving & Storage
• JFK Moving Company in San Diego
• Chief Moving Company
• Vector Moving and Storage – Poway Moving Company

Your budget is important but price shouldn’t be the only factor you take into account when choosing the best moving company in Oceanside. The following other aspects will help you pick the ideal moving company to get all of your stuff into your new home safely.

Distance

One of the factors that will make a big impact on your overall moving cost is how far you’re moving. Moving from Oceanside to somewhere across the country will likely cost hundreds, if not thousands, more than moving to a town nearby.

Busy Seasons

The most popular time to move in many locations is between April and October thanks to great weather in much of the U.S. While you may not have that much control over what time of year you make your move, you may pay more during that time period versus in the colder months.

Regulations and Licenses

Movers in Oceanside are required to have a valid Department of Transportation (USDOT) number. If the moving company also provides moves out of state, it must register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It’s always wise to check on these numbers, as well as ensure your moving company is licensed and insured. This process will give you peace of mind that your belongings will be protected. Luckily, you can track down all of that information online.

Established Reputation

Just like picking out a restaurant or a new sweater, it’s wise to utilize ratings and reviews for any moving company that you hire. Take a look at sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot, Google, Facebook and Yelp to get a better sense of the company’s online presence and general customer sentiment. You should also take into account the number of years the company has been in business as experience is always a good sign.

Service Area Coverage

The service area that a moving company covers may vary in importance depending on the distance of your move, but it’s wise to know no matter what. If you’re only making a local move that stays within the Oceanside area, a local moving company is your best bet. But if you’re making a longer move across the state or country, be sure you’re researching companies able to take on long-distance moves.

Services Available

Most moving companies offer far more services than just moving your items from your previous residence to your new home. Many companies will also offer services like packing and unpacking, moving specialty items like pianos, precious art and vintage cars and storage services, if needed, all for an additional cost. Take stock of your items and your move and if you think you’ll need any of these services be sure to include that factor in your research.

Financing, Estimates and Insurance Valuations

Although budget isn’t the only factor you should consider, it’s still a hugely important one. You’ll absolutely want to inquire about price estimates from several moving companies before making a hire.

You may need to complete an in-person or virtual consultation before some companies will give you a final quote, but going through this process is worth it. Ensuring the company has everything it needs to give you an accurate quote will help avoid hidden fees on moving day. To help make it happen, be sure to provide the company with a complete list to ensure you get a quote that’s as close as possible to your final bill.

While you’re doing that, use that same list to determine how big of a moving truck you’ll need with our moving calculator.

Insurance is another important factor that can vary from company to company, so it’s wise to get acquainted with the options from different companies. If you’re moving particularly fragile or expensive items, opting for a pricier insurance option with more coverage could be wise.

Company Size

A moving company’s size is another, lesser-known factor you should consider. Its size can often reflect how much experience the moving company has. Larger companies can often accommodate larger moves or those that are long-distance and may offer a wider array of insurance options. These larger companies may also have more availability than smaller companies.

If you put in a bit of research and effort, you can find the best moving company in Oceanside. Follow these tips to make the process even easier.

Check Oceanside Mover Reviews

Customer reviews can help give you a peek into a company’s reputation, customer service level and trustworthiness. Browse sites like Facebook and Google to get a sense of how previous customers have fared. Of course, online reviews don’t tell the whole story, so you can also ask a company to provide some testimonials from previous customers.

Choose a Company That Knows Oceanside

You’ll likely come across a few national moving companies in Oceanside, but you should ensure that they know the area well. Choosing a company that is well-acquainted with the city layout, traffic patterns and the specific neighborhood where you’re moving to or live in can help make everything run smoothly on moving day.

Look Out for Red Flags

Like in many industries, coming across scams is possible when searching for a moving company. Asking the right questions is vital to identifying any red flags. You should also ensure that you’re working with an accredited and trusted mover by checking the BBB for any violations and requesting a written contract before paying a deposit. In fact, be sure to get everything in writing.

The cost of moving in Oceanside is typically around $2,155 on average, with prices ranging from $1,231 to $3,309 for a two-person professional moving team on a local job within 100 miles.

Keep in mind that the size of your home, number of bedrooms and distance of travel can greatly impact the final cost.

TYPE OF MOVE	LOW ESTIMATE	HIGH ESTIMATE
Local	$1,231	$3,309
Interstate	$3,386	$8,772

Source: Moving costs calculated using national averages and city-specific cost of living data from multiple databases. All averaged figures were correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.

See More See Less

Cost for Local Moves

Moving within the same town or to a nearby one is considered a short-distance move. However, it’s important not to underestimate the cost. The final price will depend on factors like the size of your current home, the number of items being moved and the number of movers required to complete your move.

Average Cost of Movers Per Hour

Generally, local moving companies charge between $30 to $60 per mover per hour. So, if you have a two-person team working for four hours, the labor cost will be at least $240 to $480. That said, it’s important to note that there are other expenses to consider, such as transportation fees, materials, gas and tips.

The table below displays the average cost of movers for a short-distance move, based on the number of bedrooms in your home. Note that this is based on $92, the typical hourly rate in Oceanside.

HOME SIZE	NUMBER OF MOVERS	NUMBER OF HOURS	AVERAGE MOVING COST
Studio / one-bedroom	2	4	$739
Two-bedroom	3	6	$1,662
Three-bedroom	4	7	$2,586
Four-bedroom	4	9	$3,324
Five-bedroom	5	12	$5,540

Source: Costs calculated using national averages and city-specific cost of living data from multiple databases. All averaged figures were correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.

See More See Less

Movers and Packers Costs

If you prefer not to handle the packing for your move, many moving companies offer this service for an additional fee. The cost is usually based on the amount of items that need to be packed, their weight and the amount of packing materials required. For specialty moving services like full-service movers, the average cost can be $2,300 and up, or $3,540 for Oceanside.

If you decide to use this type of moving service, it’s important to note that the moving company may hold your belongings for a short period (a few days or weeks) before delivering and unloading them. As a result, it’s recommended to personally pack items such as clothing, medication and important documents and keep them with you during the move.

Specialty Moving Services Cost

If you have large, fragile or specialty items such as pianos, swing sets or animal pens that need to be moved, this will likely affect the overall cost of your move. Typically, the cost of specialty moving services can add an additional $400 to $2,000 to the total cost.

If you’re planning to move to Oceanside, there are many factors to consider besides just the move itself. Whether you’re relocating for work, pleasure, family or any other reason, it’s important to understand the costs associated with living in Oceanside.

The cost of living in Oceanside is higher than the national average, so it’s crucial to feel financially prepared to live in the area. With a population of 172,199 and 60,838 households, Oceanside also has higher taxes compared to the national average

Depending on your lifestyle and family, there may be other important factors to consider such as schools in the area, quality of healthcare, nearby hospitals and typical weather patterns throughout the year.

Best Moving Companies in California by City

Looking for a moving company in Oceanside or another city in California? See our list of best moving companies by city in California here.

For this list, Forbes Home analyzed the customer service quality of nearby movers in the Oceanside area. We ranked each mover based on several data points within the category of customer experience.

Here’s the weighting assigned to each category:

Ratio of Low to High Star Ratings (50%)

We analyzed the number of Google reviews for each company against the ratings associated with those reviews. Companies with a higher percentage of positive reviews received more points than companies with a higher rate of negative reviews.

Response Time (25%)

Companies that offer speedy response times received more points than companies with longer or inconsistent response times.

Hours of Operation (10%)

Movers with longer operating hours are considered more accessible and thus received a higher score.

Ratio of Complaints to Reviews (10%)

We compared the number of complaints for each mover based on their reviews. A lower complaints ratio resulted in a higher score. The complaints ratio is based on the top five most relevant reviews according to Google.

Offers a Website (5%)

Movers with an official website received a higher score, as we believe it indicates professionalism and provides customers with additional information.

Other Important Methodology Notes

1. Bayesian rating: We computed a Bayesian rating for each mover based on their average rating and total number of ratings. This provides a more reliable score than a simple average rating, especially when comparing businesses with different numbers of ratings.
2. Response time: We estimated each mover’s response time based on their reviews. A faster response time results in a higher score. We surmised that a mover with more reviews and a higher average rating has a faster response time.
3. Total score: We then calculated the total score for each mover by applying the category weights to each data point.

Data sources

1. Population data, including number of households and number of moves: U.S. Census
2. Precipitation data: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
3. Number of sunny days: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
4. USDOT licensing information: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
5. Single filer tax rate averages: The Tax Foundation
6. Moving costs: Calculated using national averages and city-specific cost of living data from multiple databases.

Note: All averaged figures were correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.