Best Salinas Movers
Want help with the heavy lifting?
Updated Jun 22, 2025
Looking for reliable Salinas movers? See our top 10 recommended movers in Salinas, CA based on extensive analysis. We analyzed 20 moving companies in Salinas across 9,318 review data points and more than 24,000 movers nationwide using our 11-point rating system to help you determine which Salinas moving company to hire. See the top 10 Salinas movers, get data-based information on Salinas moving costs, the cheapest movers in Salinas, and our top recommendation for Long distance movers.
Key Takeaways:
- Lambert & Son Moving is our overall top recommended moving company in Salinas
- Santa Cruz Moving Services is the most affordable movers in Salinas
- Expect to spend somewhere between $636 and $10,901 on local Salinas moving services
- Our rankings and results are unbiased & backed by data… NOT paid promotions
Best Moving Companies in Salinas, CA
| Rank | Company | Score | BBB Rating | Avg Move Duration | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lambert & Son Moving | 9.49 | A+ | 4.5 hours | |
| 2 | Santa Cruz Moving Services | 9.47 | NR | 3 hours | |
| 3 | Lambert & Son Moving | 9.29 | NR | 5 hours | |
| 4 | G Brothers Transportation | 9.26 | NR | 3.75 hours | |
| 5 | White Glove Movers | 8.99 | NR | 4.5 hours | |
| 6 | Mod Movers | 8.80 | A+ | 2.5 hours | |
| 7 | Power Moves Services,LLC | 8.76 | B- | 3.5 hours | |
| 8 | Scarr Moving and Storage | 8.30 | A+ | - | |
| 9 | Poulos Moving Systems | 8.27 | A+ | 2 hours | |
| 10 | Tavares Packing & Loading | 8.26 | A+ | 3 hours |
Our Top Recommendations
Lambert & Son Moving
2638 17th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, 95065
11-Point Rating
Best moving company overall in Salinas, CA. Lambert & Son Moving takes the #1 spot for our overall ranking and is the top recommended movers in Salinas.
Lambert & Son Moving is the number 1 ranked moving service in Salinas, CA with an overall score of 9.49 out of 10. Based on our extensive analysis, this is an Exceptional score and places it in the top 98.19% of all movers in California and the top 99.06% of moving companies nationwide. They score better than 19 other Salinas moving companies and better than 2,410 movers in California.
Our Research
11 Point Rating
| Metric | Score Out of 10 | vs Nationwide Comparison between Lambert & Son Moving & the average of all
moving companies nationwide | Positive Reviews The total number of reviews that rated the metric positively (a score of 7-10) | Negative Reviews The total number of reviews that rated the metric negatively (a score of 1-6) | Positive Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | 9.68 | ↑ 19.8% | 250 | 7 | 97.3% | |
| Punctuality | 9.84 | ↑ 26.3% | 130 | 1 | 99.2% | |
| Affordability | 9.19 | ↑ 24.0% | 63 | 3 | 95.5% | |
| Communication | 9.49 | ↑ 30.9% | 113 | 5 | 95.8% | |
| Stick to Prices | 9.64 | ↑ 64.8% | 41 | 0 | 100.0% | |
| Speed | 9.79 | ↑ 18.9% | 115 | 1 | 99.1% | |
| Friendliness | 9.88 | ↑ 16.1% | 172 | 0 | 100.0% | |
| Will Hire Again | 9.57 | ↑ 22.1% | 250 | 9 | 96.5% | |
| Professionalism | 9.81 | ↑ 23.0% | 161 | 1 | 99.4% | |
| Conflict Handling | 7.87 | ↑ 97.8% | 11 | 2 | 84.6% | |
| Precision & Care | 9.63 | ↑ 24.4% | 148 | 5 | 96.7% |
Recent Lambert & Son Moving Reviews
Quality - 9.68/10
Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.
Overall Review Distribution
Punctuality - 9.84/10
Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?
Overall Review Distribution
Affordability - 9.19/10
How affordable was the moving service?
Overall Review Distribution
Communication - 9.49/10
Was the office staff quick to respond to questions prior to moving day? Did the moving crew notify you on the day of move regarding any changes to the original schedule? If there were any issues to resolve after moving day, was an office manager quick to respond and address problems encountered?
Overall Review Distribution
Stick to Prices - 9.64/10
Was a lowball quote provided to earn business only to see the final moving day price increase substantially?
Overall Review Distribution
Speed - 9.79/10
Did the movers seem to take their precious time in an attempt to increase the overall cost of the move? Remember, moving is HARD work and some breaks should be expected!
Overall Review Distribution
Friendliness - 9.88/10
Was the moving crew cordial and friendly to be around on moving day?
Overall Review Distribution
Will Hire Again - 9.57/10
How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again for their next move.
Overall Review Distribution
Professionalism - 9.81/10
Did the moving crew behave in a professional manner on moving day?
Overall Review Distribution
Conflict Handling - 7.87/10
Accidents can and will likely happen at some point on moving day. How a moving company responds to these accidents can say a lot about the company.
Overall Review Distribution
Precision & Care - 9.63/10
Were walls scratched? Did furniture get scuffed, broken, or lost?
Overall Review Distribution
Additional Details
Moving Services Offered by Lambert & Son Moving
N/A
Licenses
State & federal license information
California Moving License
Status: Active (last checked: 12/06/24)California Moving License Information
- License Number: CAL-T189973
- License Status: Active
- Date Issued: -
USDOT Interstate License
Status: Authorized for Interstate Moves (last checked 9/11/26)- USDOT: 3528657
- MC: 1220611
- ENTITY TYPE: Carrier
4
Registered Trucks, Tractors, or Vans
7
Registered Drivers
5/22/25
Most Recent USDOT Update
100,000
Annual Interstate Miles (2024)
Detailed Customer Insights
Based on our analysis of Lambert & Son Moving's customer reviews:
3 hrs
Hourly Minimum
based on 3 reviews
4.5 hrs
Local Move Duration
based on 13 reviews
3 days
Interstate Move Duration
based on 6 reviews
Santa Cruz Moving Services
Santa Cruz, CA
11-Point Rating
Get the best bang for your buck hiring Santa Cruz Moving Services of Santa Cruz. They have the best affordability index score which measures both quality and affordability.
Santa Cruz Moving Services is the number 2 ranked moving service in Salinas, CA with an overall score of 9.47 out of 10. Based on our extensive analysis, this is an Exceptional score and places it in the top 97.86% of all movers in California and the top 98.92% of moving companies nationwide. They score better than 18 other Salinas moving companies and better than 2,402 movers in California.
Our Research
11 Point Rating
| Metric | Score Out of 10 | vs Nationwide Comparison between Santa Cruz Moving Services & the average of all
moving companies nationwide | Positive Reviews The total number of reviews that rated the metric positively (a score of 7-10) | Negative Reviews The total number of reviews that rated the metric negatively (a score of 1-6) | Positive Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | 9.69 | ↑ 19.9% | 144 | 2 | 98.6% | |
| Punctuality | 9.65 | ↑ 24.0% | 48 | 0 | 100.0% | |
| Affordability | 9.50 | ↑ 28.1% | 40 | 0 | 100.0% | |
| Communication | 9.75 | ↑ 34.4% | 83 | 0 | 100.0% | |
| Stick to Prices | 9.50 | ↑ 62.4% | 23 | 0 | 100.0% | |
| Speed | 9.79 | ↑ 19.0% | 72 | 0 | 100.0% | |
| Friendliness | 9.78 | ↑ 15.0% | 92 | 0 | 100.0% | |
| Will Hire Again | 9.68 | ↑ 23.5% | 144 | 1 | 99.3% | |
| Professionalism | 9.67 | ↑ 21.3% | 88 | 1 | 98.9% | |
| Conflict Handling | 7.51 | ↑ 88.9% | 4 | 0 | 100.0% | |
| Precision & Care | 9.65 | ↑ 24.6% | 81 | 1 | 98.8% |
Recent Santa Cruz Moving Services Reviews
Quality - 9.69/10
Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.
Overall Review Distribution
Punctuality - 9.65/10
Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?
Overall Review Distribution
Affordability - 9.50/10
How affordable was the moving service?
Overall Review Distribution
Communication - 9.75/10
Was the office staff quick to respond to questions prior to moving day? Did the moving crew notify you on the day of move regarding any changes to the original schedule? If there were any issues to resolve after moving day, was an office manager quick to respond and address problems encountered?
Overall Review Distribution
Stick to Prices - 9.50/10
Was a lowball quote provided to earn business only to see the final moving day price increase substantially?
Overall Review Distribution
Speed - 9.79/10
Did the movers seem to take their precious time in an attempt to increase the overall cost of the move? Remember, moving is HARD work and some breaks should be expected!
Overall Review Distribution
Friendliness - 9.78/10
Was the moving crew cordial and friendly to be around on moving day?
Overall Review Distribution
Will Hire Again - 9.68/10
How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again for their next move.
Overall Review Distribution
Professionalism - 9.67/10
Did the moving crew behave in a professional manner on moving day?
Overall Review Distribution
Conflict Handling - 7.51/10
Accidents can and will likely happen at some point on moving day. How a moving company responds to these accidents can say a lot about the company.
Overall Review Distribution
Precision & Care - 9.65/10
Were walls scratched? Did furniture get scuffed, broken, or lost?
Overall Review Distribution
Additional Details
Moving Services Offered by Santa Cruz Moving Services
- Local moving services
- Long-distance moving services
- Cross-country moving services
- Small moving services
- Piano moving services
- Packing services
- Residential moving services
- Office/business moving services
- Furniture moving services
- Storage services
Licenses
State & federal license information
California Moving License
Status: Active (last checked: 12/06/24)California Moving License Information
- License Number: CAL-T190725
- License Status: Active
- Date Issued: -
USDOT Interstate License
Status: Not Authorized for Interstate Moves (last checked 9/11/26)- USDOT: 2769204
- ENTITY TYPE: Carrier
4
Registered Trucks, Tractors, or Vans
4
Registered Drivers
5/01/26
Most Recent USDOT Update
10,000
Annual Interstate Miles (2018)
Detailed Customer Insights
Based on our analysis of Santa Cruz Moving Services's customer reviews:
3 hrs
Local Move Duration
based on 7 reviews
Lambert & Son Moving
Pacific Grove, CA, 93950
11-Point Rating
Lambert & Son Moving is the number 3 ranked moving service in Salinas, CA with an overall score of 9.29 out of 10. Based on our extensive analysis, this is an Exceptional score and places it in the top 95.14% of all movers in California and the top 97.01% of moving companies nationwide. They score better than 17 other Salinas moving companies and better than 2,336 movers in California.
Our Research
11 Point Rating
| Metric | Score Out of 10 | vs Nationwide Comparison between Lambert & Son Moving & the average of all
moving companies nationwide | Positive Reviews The total number of reviews that rated the metric positively (a score of 7-10) | Negative Reviews The total number of reviews that rated the metric negatively (a score of 1-6) | Positive Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | 9.69 | ↑ 19.9% | 150 | 2 | 98.7% | |
| Punctuality | 9.80 | ↑ 25.8% | 82 | 0 | 100.0% | |
| Affordability | 9.16 | ↑ 23.6% | 38 | 2 | 95.0% | |
| Communication | 9.06 | ↑ 24.9% | 63 | 6 | 91.3% | |
| Stick to Prices | 9.39 | ↑ 60.5% | 32 | 1 | 97.0% | |
| Speed | 9.85 | ↑ 19.6% | 95 | 0 | 100.0% | |
| Friendliness | 9.79 | ↑ 15.1% | 99 | 0 | 100.0% | |
| Will Hire Again | 9.57 | ↑ 22.1% | 133 | 3 | 97.8% | |
| Professionalism | 9.69 | ↑ 21.6% | 103 | 1 | 99.0% | |
| Conflict Handling | 6.61 | ↑ 66.2% | 7 | 3 | 70.0% | |
| Precision & Care | 9.56 | ↑ 23.5% | 100 | 3 | 97.1% |
Recent Lambert & Son Moving Reviews
Quality - 9.69/10
Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Punctuality - 9.80/10
Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Affordability - 9.16/10
How affordable was the moving service?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Communication - 9.06/10
Was the office staff quick to respond to questions prior to moving day? Did the moving crew notify you on the day of move regarding any changes to the original schedule? If there were any issues to resolve after moving day, was an office manager quick to respond and address problems encountered?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Stick to Prices - 9.39/10
Was a lowball quote provided to earn business only to see the final moving day price increase substantially?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Speed - 9.85/10
Did the movers seem to take their precious time in an attempt to increase the overall cost of the move? Remember, moving is HARD work and some breaks should be expected!
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Friendliness - 9.79/10
Was the moving crew cordial and friendly to be around on moving day?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Will Hire Again - 9.57/10
How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again for their next move.
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Professionalism - 9.69/10
Did the moving crew behave in a professional manner on moving day?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Conflict Handling - 6.61/10
Accidents can and will likely happen at some point on moving day. How a moving company responds to these accidents can say a lot about the company.
Overall Review Distribution
Precision & Care - 9.56/10
Were walls scratched? Did furniture get scuffed, broken, or lost?
Recent Customer Praises
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Additional Details
Moving Services Offered by Lambert & Son Moving
N/A
Licenses
State & federal license information
California Moving License
Status: Active (last checked: 12/06/24)California Moving License Information
- License Number: CAL-T189973
- License Status: Active
- Date Issued: -
USDOT Interstate License
Status: Authorized for Interstate Moves (last checked 9/11/26)- USDOT: 3528657
- MC: 1220611
- ENTITY TYPE: Carrier
4
Registered Trucks, Tractors, or Vans
7
Registered Drivers
5/22/25
Most Recent USDOT Update
100,000
Annual Interstate Miles (2024)
Detailed Customer Insights
Based on our analysis of Lambert & Son Moving's customer reviews:
5 hrs
Local Move Duration
based on 17 reviews
2 days
Interstate Move Duration
based on 9 reviews
G Brothers Transportation
11455 Wood St # 4, Castroville, CA, 95012
11-Point Rating
White Glove Movers
495 Elder Ave # 2, Sand City, CA, 93955
11-Point Rating
Mod Movers
1118 Airport Way STE 100, Monterey, CA, 93940
11-Point Rating
Power Moves Services,LLC
1011 El Camino Real, Salinas, CA, 93907
11-Point Rating
Scarr Moving and Storage
1353 Dayton St, Salinas, CA, 93901
11-Point Rating
Poulos Moving Systems
222 Commission St, Salinas, CA, 93901
11-Point Rating
Tavares Packing & Loading
1321 Burton Ave, Salinas, CA, 93901
11-Point Rating
How Much Do Movers Cost in Salinas, CA?
The average moving cost in Salinas, CA is $4,497, which is based on an analysis from 9 customer reports across 3 different moving companies. In general, expect to pay somewhere between $636 and $10,901 for a typical move.
- Median Reported Cost: $4,497
- Expected Range: $636 - $10,901
- Expected Time To Complete: 3.25 hours
- See detailed Salinas Moving Costs for a full breakdown
| COMPANY | MEDIAN REPORTED MOVING COST | AVG MOVE DURATION |
|---|---|---|
| Mod Movers | $636 | 2.5 hours |
| Southbay Moving Systems, Inc. | $4,497 | 4 hours |
| North American Van Lines | $10,901 | - |
*Please be aware that the listed prices derive from historical customer feedback spanning several years and might not mirror the exact current rates of a company. Additionally, the anticipated cost range provided represents the 25th to 75th percentiles from the comprehensive reports of all Salinas-based companies in our dataset.
How we ranked the top Salinas movers
Why you should trust us
We take reviews seriously to protect people just like you! Our team has been crunching data on moving companies since 2010. Our math-based ranking system uses data, manual review, and statistical analysis to help you hire the best movers in Salinas, CA.
Rating Methodology
Here's the methodology we used to come up with the best movers in Salinas:
Our original review-based ranking algorithm
We started with a total of 20 companies that offer moving services in the Salinas area.
From these 20 companies, we analyzed a total of 3,235 reviews dating all the way back to December 2007.
We also reviewed a total of 10 state and federal moving licenses from these 20 companies and 85 different 3rd party review and social profiles.
Each of the ~3,000 reviews was scored according to our detailed 11-point rating criteria
This gave us a total of 9,318 data points to compute individual company scores.
Reviews are time-weighted so that more recent reviews carry more weight. This helps you understand how a mover is doing today... not 5 years ago. We have 26 Salinas moving company data points from the past 2 years that carry more weight.
Bayesian averages calculated to fairly account for the differences between companies that are newer(like Mod Movers) vs older more established companies (like Scarr Moving and Storage).
The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown
Our 11-point rating criteria scores every Salinas moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.
Quality
Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.
Punctuality
Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?
Affordability
How affordable was the moving service?
Communication
Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.
Stick to Prices
Was the final price consistent with the original quote?
Speed
Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.
Friendliness
Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?
Will Hire Again
How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again.
Professionalism
Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?
Conflict Handling
How well the company responds to accidents and issues.
Precision & Care
Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?
Charts & Visualizations
With 9,318 data points across 20 moving companies and 3,235 reviews, we've got a lot of data to work with. Here are some of the charts and visualizations we've created to help you understand the moving industry in Salinas.
Comparing ratings, review history, and total data points
Bubble size represents the number of analyzed data points. Hover over bubbles for details.
Ranking history
How the currently ranked top 10 Salinas movers have performed over time
11-Point Rating Comparison
Detailed breakdown of Salinas moving company 11-point ratings
California-wide 11-Point Percentile Comparison
See how the top movers in Salinas compare to all movers in California
 Quality |  Punctuality |  Affordability |  Communication |  Stick to Prices |  Speed |  Friendliness |  Will Hire Again |  Professionalism |  Conflict Handling |  Precision & Care | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lambert & Son Moving Exceptional9.49 | 95 | 99 | 86 | 93 | 99 | 95 | 98 | 92 | 99 | 95 | 94 |
2 | Santa Cruz Moving Services Exceptional9.47 | 95 | 94 | 96 | 99 | 98 | 96 | 94 | 96 | 95 | 92 | 95 |
3 | G Brothers Transportation Exceptional9.26 | 92 | 95 | 94 | 94 | 96 | 89 | 84 | 93 | 92 | 79 | 97 |
| 4 W | White Glove Movers Superb8.99 | 84 | 93 | 97 | 88 | 89 | 87 | 90 | 87 | 88 | 51 | 86 |
5 | Mod Movers Superb8.80 | 77 | 81 | 42 | 75 | 51 | 90 | 74 | 75 | 78 | 93 | 81 |
| 6 P | Power Moves Services,LLC Superb8.76 | 74 | 77 | 85 | 85 | 51 | 74 | 86 | 77 | 89 | 68 | 86 |
| 7 S | Scarr Moving and Storage Very Good8.30 | 53 | 43 | 53 | 65 | 78 | 41 | 60 | 45 | 58 | -- | 59 |
8 | Poulos Moving Systems Very Good8.27 | 52 | 68 | 61 | 55 | 69 | 80 | 55 | 48 | 51 | 68 | 43 |
| 9 T | Tavares Packing & Loading Very Good8.26 | 53 | 62 | 79 | 35 | 84 | 80 | 42 | 47 | 45 | 52 | 52 |
Percentile Ranking
List of All Salinas Moving Companies Analyzed
See all of our Salinas moving company reviews
- Cardinale Moving & Storage
- Poulos Moving Systems
- Power Moves Services,LLC
- PODS Moving & Storage
- Tavares Packing & Loading
- Southbay Moving Systems, Inc.
- Scarr Moving and Storage
- Monterey Transfer & Storage, Inc.
- Lambert & Son Moving
- Santa Cruz Moving Services
- Mod Movers
- Hollister Moving & Storage
- Central Coast Movers
- White Glove Movers
- G Brothers Transportation
- J & M Moving & Storage Inc
- North American Van Lines
- Lambert & Son Moving
- American Movers Inc
- Bekins Central Coast Movers
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving in Salinas
How much should you tip movers in Salinas, CA?
Whether you’re moving from a cozy neighborhood near Oldtown Salinas or a spacious property by the Salinas River, tipping your movers is a considerate gesture. In Salinas, a good rule of thumb is 10–20% of your total moving cost or around $5 per mover per hour, depending on the level of service. As a final touch, you could offer them some fresh strawberry lemonade from a nearby farm stand in the Salinas Valley to keep them energized and show your appreciation.
Is it cheaper to make a DIY move in Salinas?
Some people in Salinas decide to go the DIY route, especially if they’re only moving a short distance in Monterey County. However, keep in mind that truck rentals, gas, mileage, and potential damage fees can quickly add up, and you’ll be handling all the heavy lifting on your own. If you’re thinking about renting a truck, consider checking out rental locations in Salinas to compare rates and availability before committing.
Should I hire labor-only movers?
If you already have a truck booked and only need help loading and unloading, labor-only services can be a fantastic option in Salinas. This is especially handy if you’re tackling a move in a busy area like the South Main Street corridor or around Alisal. To explore this option, check out labor-only movers for the extra muscle you need—without the full-service cost.
What if I need to move something special like a piano or pool table?
Salinas is no stranger to unique moves, from shifting a priceless piano in the Maple Park Historic District to relocating a hefty pool table near Blanco Road. To handle these delicate jobs, you could seek out Salinas piano movers for instruments and pool table movers for game tables, ensuring your fragile or bulky items receive the careful treatment they deserve.
