Search for San Diego movers and you will find hundreds of listings, star ratings and review snippets. What those listings rarely tell you is how each company charges, whether its state permit is published, and which kind of move it actually suits.

This guide compares five San Diego moving companies on those practical details. Every fact below comes from each company’s own website as of October 2026. Ratings and review counts change daily, so they are left out; check them yourself before booking.

Quick Comparison

1. Reliable Delivery

Reliable Delivery is a family-owned moving and storage company based in Poway that has served San Diego for more than 20 years. It handles residential, commercial and long-distance moves, plus antiques, lighting fixtures and designer furniture.

• Services: Shrink-wrap and blanket-wrap protection, fully enclosed box trucks, basic furniture disassembly and reassembly, and a private, secured storage facility.
• Pricing: Published flat-rate local specials, from $350 for packing only to $550 for a two-bedroom apartment move, with no hidden fees for stairs or long carries.
• Credentials: Cal-T 190689; uniformed crews undergo background checks and drug tests.
• Best for: Apartment moves where you want a fixed price before booking.

2. 24/7 Moving & Storage

24/7 Moving & Storage is a San Diego mover handling local moves within 100 miles of San Diego County and long-distance moves beyond that range. It also takes on single-item moves and storage unit moves.

• Services: Full-service packing, truck loading and unloading, furniture disassembly, and pad wrapping and detailed inventory statements on long-distance moves.
• Pricing: Hourly rates with no extra charges for stairs, long carries or heavy items, plus 5% military, student and weekday discounts.
• Credentials: State permit T-0191588 and USDOT 2707732; states it never uses third-party providers.
• Best for: Hourly moves where a weekday, student or military discount applies.

3. Stella Moving & Delivery

Stella Moving & Delivery is a San Diego mover handling residential, commercial, long-distance and specialty moves, including pianos, safes, and art and antiques. A dedicated Relocation Manager oversees each move.

• Services: Labor-only help, packing, furniture assembly, senior moves, and short- and long-term storage handled by its own crew.
• Pricing: All-inclusive hourly rates covering labor and travel time between locations, with a three-hour minimum billed in 15-minute increments.
• Credentials: Describes itself as licensed, bonded and insured; its permit number is not listed on the homepage, so confirm it before booking.
• Best for: Flexible scheduling, with listed hours of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.

4. Best Fit Movers

Best Fit Movers operates offices in San Diego and Santa Ana, serving San Diego County and Orange County. It handles residential and commercial moves, including corporate and employee relocation.

• Services: Local, intrastate and interstate moves, military and senior moves, piano moving, packing, and storage-in-transit or long-term storage.
• Pricing: Free estimates, flat-rate pricing on long-distance moves, and free protective furniture pads on moving day.
• Credentials: MTR 0191680 and USDOT 3051481; reports an A+ BBB rating.
• Best for: Moves between San Diego and Orange County, and corporate relocations.

5. Space Moving & Storage

Space Moving & Storage is a San Diego-based mover with more than 10 years in business and two locations in the city. It handles local, long-distance, office, piano and antique moves.

• Services: Packing, piano moving (it reports more than 350 pianos moved), antique handling, and a storage warehouse of over 40,000 square feet.
• Pricing: Free estimates, free use of blankets and moving pads, and military discounts of up to 10%.
• Credentials: MTR 192126 and USDOT 3391740; states it is fully licensed and insured.
• Best for: Moves that need significant storage space, or pianos and antiques.

How We Chose These Movers

We reviewed San Diego-based movers that publish their services, pricing approach and credentials on their own websites. The top spot goes to the mover that publishes fixed prices before you request a quote; the remaining four are listed in no particular order. Each entry follows the same format: services, pricing, credentials, and the type of move it fits best.

How to Choose a San Diego Mover

A shortlist is only the start. These checks help you compare quotes fairly and avoid costly surprises.

Verify the State Permit

California household movers must hold a permit from the Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS). Look up the permit number the mover gives you on the BHGS website before paying a deposit. For moves that cross state lines, also check the mover’s USDOT number and records through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Protect Your Move resources.

Compare Pricing Models, Not Just Totals

Flat-rate quotes fix the price for a defined scope, while hourly quotes depend on how long the job takes. For hourly moves, ask about minimum hours, billing increments, how travel time is charged, and fees for stairs, long carries or heavy items, since these extras are a common source of surprise costs when hiring professional movers. For flat-rate moves, ask exactly what is included and what triggers an extra charge.

Understand Liability Before You Sign

For interstate moves, Full Value Protection applies unless you waive it in writing. The lower-cost alternative, Released Value, provides only $0.60 per pound per item, which limits the mover’s liability for a 10-pound television to six dollars. For moves within California, ask the mover to explain its basic liability coverage in writing and what added protection costs.

Get Everything in Writing

Request a written estimate, review the bill of lading and inventory before loading, and never sign blank forms. Confirm whether the company you hire will handle the entire move or pass any part of it to another carrier.

Watch for Red Flags

Treat unusually low quotes, large deposits and cash-only demands as reasons to check further. A mover that cannot give you a permit number, a physical address or a written estimate is not worth the risk.

Ask the Right Storage Questions

If belongings need to be stored, ask whether storage is in the mover’s own facility, how items are protected, how access and retrieval work, and what handling charges apply.

Check Container Rules in the City of San Diego

The City of San Diego requires a Traffic Control Permit when a temporary storage container encroaches into the public right-of-way, including the sidewalk area. Containers cannot be placed in front of painted curbs, the permit holder must post Tow-Away/No Parking signs 72 hours before placement, and a storage container permit is valid for up to seven days.

Final Thoughts

The right San Diego mover depends on the move itself. Fixed-price apartment moves, discounted hourly jobs, flexible scheduling, Orange County relocations and large storage needs each point to a different company on this list. Verify the permit, compare pricing models side by side, and get every promise in writing before moving day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do movers cost in San Diego?

It depends on the pricing model, crew size, distance and services. Some San Diego movers publish flat rates for defined local moves, while others charge hourly with minimums and travel time. Request written quotes from at least three movers and compare what each one includes.

Do San Diego movers need a license?

Yes. Household movers operating in California need a permit from the Bureau of Household Goods and Services. Interstate movers also need a USDOT number registered with FMCSA.

Is a flat-rate or hourly mover better?

Flat rates give cost certainty when the scope is clear, such as a standard apartment move. Hourly rates can cost less for small or well-prepared moves but rise if the job runs long. Choose based on how predictable your move is.

Do I need a permit for a moving container in San Diego?

If the container will sit in the street, sidewalk or any other part of the public right-of-way, the City of San Diego requires a Traffic Control Permit. Containers placed entirely on private property are not covered by that requirement, but HOA rules may still apply.