If you’ve ever tried to price out a move in Los Angeles, you already know: it can feel like buying a plane ticket. One day it’s one price, the next day it’s completely different. People call me all the time saying, “Why is moving in LA so expensive?” or “My friend paid half of this last year—what’s going on?”
Let me walk you through exactly what affects moving prices in Los Angeles, in plain language, from someone who lives this every day.
I’ll talk about how I (and other reputable movers) actually build quotes, what you can control, what you can’t, and how to make sure you’re not overpaying.
Los Angeles is not a simple city to move in. You’ve got hills, narrow winding streets, tight apartment stairwells, and traffic that never really ends.
All of that adds up to one thing: time. And time is the main thing you’re paying for with a moving company. When I price a move, I’m basically calculating:
Time + Labor + Truck + Risk + Overhead = Your Move Price
The trick is understanding what pushes each of those up or down.
In Los Angeles, your price structure depends first on what kind of move you’re doing.
Most local moves (e.g., Northridge to Hollywood or Reseda to West LA) are charged by the hour.
If you’re leaving LA for another state, pricing shifts to Weight/Volume + Distance. We help with this via our Long-Distance Moving service.
No surprise here: the more you own, the more it costs. But when I’m looking at your belongings during an estimate, I’m thinking about three specific things:
A studio in Silver Lake is a different job from a three-bedroom home in the Valley with a garage full of "we'll deal with it later" boxes. More volume means more trips, more time, and potentially a bigger truck.
A light IKEA bookshelf and a solid oak armoire are not the same. Heavy wood furniture, sectional sofas, and large glass pieces drive the price up because they require more muscle and care.
Pianos, large artwork, and antiques require special handling and extra risk assessment. If you have high-value items, check out our Art & Antique Moving services.
If I had to pick the one thing that surprises customers the most, it’s this: access.
Most movers don't charge "per stair," but they know that a 3rd-floor walk-up takes twice as long as a ground-floor move.
If we can't park a 26-foot truck legally in front of your building (common in Koreatown or Hollywood), we have to park further away and shuttle items. This adds significant labor time.
In Los Angeles, 10 miles can be 45 minutes—each way.
For local moves, you usually pay from the moment the crew arrives until they finish. If we are moving you across town on the 405 during rush hour, that drive time is on the clock.
Most companies (including United Prime Van Lines) build in a minimum travel time to get the crew from our base to you and back. This covers the fuel and labor to deploy the truck.
From May through September, demand is high. Expect higher hourly rates and less availability.
Saturdays are prime time. If you can move Tuesday through Thursday, you can often save money and get your preferred time slot.
Leases end on the 30th/31st. The last few days of the month are chaotic and expensive. Moving mid-month gets you a more relaxed crew and potentially better rates.
Packing is a huge "swing" factor. Two identical homes can have totally different bills based on readiness.
Misconception: "Fewer movers = Cheaper move." Reality: A 2-person crew costs less per hour but might take 10 hours. A 3-person crew costs more per hour but finishes in 6 hours.
In Downtown LA or high-rises, building rules affect the bill.
If a quote is drastically lower than everyone else, be careful. Legitimate companies cover Workers' Comp, Liability, and Licensing. Cheap quotes often mean uninsured crews, day laborers, or hidden fees added later.
Moving in Los Angeles can be complicated, but the pricing doesn’t have to be mysterious.
When you hire United Prime Van Lines, you aren't just paying for "guys with a truck." You're paying for experience navigating LA streets, proper protection for your home, and reliability.
If you want a realistic quote for your LA move—with no surprises on moving day—reach out. We’ll ask the right questions up front so the price actually matches the work.
