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10 Best Moving Companies in Santa Cruz, CA

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Written By Bradford Cuthrell

Last Updated April 2024

No one looks forward to moving – it's stressful and busy, and it feels like there's always more jobs that need your attention. Even if you think you've anticipated every obstacle, roadblocks and stressors could crop up around your move in Santa Cruz. Depending on what month you move, low temperatures may impact your plans, causing you more stress.

Use our guide to the best movers in Santa Cruz to eliminate the headaches of moving by getting everything taken care of by experts.

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  • Works with moving providers in all 50 states
  • Offer special services, like piano moving, antique transportation, and more
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Top 10 Best Moving Companies in Santa Cruz

North American Van Lines

North American Van Lines Logo

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112 Encinal St Suite 100, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 201-5876 northamerican.com

Free quotes

Punctual service

Good customer service

Transparent pricing

Reliable service

Helps educate customers

Services Offered

Tracking
Residential moving
Packing
International
Long distance
Interstate
Storage

Lambert & Son Moving

Lambert & Son Moving Logo

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311 Nevada St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 420-0419 lambertmoving.com

Helps educate customers

Good customer service

Transparent pricing

Reliable service

Free quotes

Services Offered

Long distance
Art and antiques
Interstate
Tracking
Residential moving
Packing
Storage
Pianos

Fairprice Movers - Santa Cruz

Fairprice Movers - Santa Cruz Logo

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696 Pacific Ave STE6, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 440-7939 fairpricemovers.com

Free quotes

Transparent pricing

Helps educate customers

Services Offered

Storage
Residential moving
Packing
Pianos
Long distance
Art and antiques

Southwest Movers

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325 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (831) 204-9770 swmovers.net

Transparent pricing

Good customer service

Helps educate customers

Reliable service

Free quotes

Services Offered

International
Long distance
Residential moving
Storage
Packing

831 Movers

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2234 Thomas Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (831) 212-3330 831movers.com

Transparent pricing

Helps educate customers

Good customer service

Reliable service

Free quotes

Punctual service

Services Offered

Storage
Residential moving
Packing

Santa Cruz Movers

Santa Cruz Movers Logo

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1055 17th Ave suite 2, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (831) 600-5747 santacruzmoversco.com

Short-notice moves

Transparent pricing

Helps educate customers

Good customer service

Free quotes

Services Offered

Storage
Packing
Long distance
Residential moving

Ship Smart Inc.

Ship Smart Inc. Logo

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783 Rio Del Mar Blvd Suite 9, Aptos, CA 95003 (866) 530-7564 shipsmart.com

Transparent pricing

Services Offered

Packing
Appliances
Art and antiques
Residential moving
Storage
International

Scotts Valley Movers

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5900 Butler Ln Suite 250, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 (831) 621-9050 scotts-valley-movers.business.site

Reliable service

Punctual service

Free quotes

Transparent pricing

Helps educate customers

Good customer service

Services Offered

Residential moving

Leibbrandt transport moving and storage

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815 Almar Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 457-9520 santacruzmovers.com

Free quotes

Helps educate customers

Punctual service

Reliable service

Services Offered

Storage
Residential moving

Shaka Movers

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723 30th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (831) 665-6360 shakamovers.co

Good customer service

Free quotes

Transparent pricing

Services Offered

Packing
Pianos
Residential moving
Today's Homeowner Ranking Methodology

Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on moving companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:

  • Company Experience
  • Real User Reviews
  • Company Reputation
  • Accreditations and Licenses
  • Service Area
  • Customer Service
Have questions about our methodology or company ratings? Reach out to FindAPro@TodaysHomeowner.com.

Choosing a Santa Cruz Moving Company

To choose a moving company, you'll first need to finalize the details of your move to know whether a local or national mover is better for your needs. Movers can further be split into full-service and self-service companies. Full-service movers provide packing and loading services, which are a big stress-reliever if you are someone who dreads packing boxes. Self-service movers provide a truck and driver, but you'll be expected to have your things packed when they arrive.

Once you know what you need, find which local movers meet California's mover licensing requirements. Other easy ways to research a moving company's credibility include reading online reviews and checking its rating on the BBB website. All of the companies on our list of the best movers in Santa Cruz are well-reviewed and selected by our team of experts.

After you've found a few companies you like, you can begin asking for estimates. We recommend speaking to at least one or two of the companies from our list above. When you do reach out, make sure that you explain all of the services you think you'll require. You should also verify that the company provides you with a "binding estimate" – otherwise, it may be subject to change.

How Much Do Movers in Santa Cruz Cost?

Something that most people worry about as they prepare to move is the price tag. In Santa Cruz, the typical hourly cost for movers is:

  • Average: $199 an hour for two movers and a truck
  • Range: $163 to $235 an hour for two movers and a truck
The amount you can expect to spend on moving can also be estimated using the size of your home. The usual cost to move homes of various sizes in Santa Cruz is:
  • One bedroom: About $3,699
  • Two bedrooms: About $4,357
  • Three bedrooms: About $5,038

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving in Santa Cruz, CA

The best mover in Santa Cruz, according to Today's Homeowner, are North American Van Lines.

To figure out which movers in Santa Cruz are the best, our team asks many questions, including:

  • Does the mover have a wide operating area? Can they handle moves between states or countries?
  • What add-on services does the company offer, such as electronics setup or packing assistance?
  • What is the quality of the mover's insurance options?
  • Does the mover have BBB accreditation, excellent user reviews, and a good reputation among others in the industry?
  • To check a mover's reputation, you can:

    • investigate ratings from past customers and the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
    • ask for references from friends and family who have used a particular mover in the past
    • visit the mover's website to get an idea of their customer service philosophy
    • ask the mover for their licensing and insurance information

    Some moving companies provide specialty services for items like pianos, antiques, and other valuables. During the estimate process, tell the company's representative about the high-value items you need to move. Ensure that the team has the proper tools and experience to move your valuables, and make sure that they have superior insurance in case of damage, theft, or loss.

    A few signs that you shouldn't use a specific mover include:

    • The company avoids questions about its insurance, experience, and licensure.
    • The company offers quotes, promotions, or discounts that sound too good to be true.
    • The company can't direct you to references.
    • The company demands that you pay upfront.
    • The mover has complaints against them at the Better Business Bureau or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Agency.

    Santa Cruz's cost of living index is 212.3. This figure considers mortgage or rent payments, food, childcare, transportation, and other essential expenses. (100.0 is the national average.)

    The price of a home in Santa Cruz will be based on several factors, including the part of town you want to live in, the size of the home, and the amenities it offers. The median home price in Santa Cruz is $1313772.

    If you choose to rent in Santa Cruz, the cost for an apartment is roughly $3,399 per month.