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Best Santa Cruz Movers

Updated Jun 8, 2025

Side-by-side comparison of Santa Cruz moving companies

Looking for reliable Santa Cruz movers? See our top 10 recommended movers in Santa Cruz, CA based on extensive analysis. We analyzed 45 moving companies in Santa Cruz across 48,047 review data points and more than 18,000 movers nationwide using our 11-point rating system to help you determine which Santa Cruz moving company to hire. See the top 10 Santa Cruz movers, get data-based information on Santa Cruz moving costs, the cheapest movers in Santa Cruz, and our top recommendation for Long distance movers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Caremore Moving & Storage is our overall top recommended moving company in Santa Cruz
  • 5 star moving is the most affordable movers in Santa Cruz
  • Expect to spend somewhere between $1,164 and $1,953 on local Santa Cruz moving services
  • Our rankings and results are unbiased & backed by data… NOT paid promotions

Best Moving Companies in Santa Cruz, CA

RankCompanyScoreBBB RatingAvg Move DurationAction
1Caremore Moving & Storage9.56NR3 hours
25 star moving9.52A+2 hours
3Ace Moving9.52C+3.75 hours
4Lambert & Son Moving9.51A+4.5 hours
5Lunardi Moving Services9.50NR4.25 hours
6Santa Cruz Moving Services9.50NR3 hours
7A2B Movers San Jose9.40F5 hours
8Tbs movers9.36NR3 hours
9D&L Movers9.35A+4 hours
10Joshua's Moving Packing & Storage LLC9.25A+4 hours

Our Top Recommendations

TOP PICK
Caremore Moving & Storage featured image

Caremore Moving & Storage

Best moving company overall in Santa Cruz, CA

9.56/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
5 star moving featured image

5 star moving

Most affordable

9.52/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
Ace Moving featured image

Ace Moving

Longest running moving company

9.52/10
ExceptionalView details

Caremore Moving & Storage

Exceptional
9.56/10

925 Palou Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94124

11-Point Rating

9.7
9.7
9.6
9.7
9.5
9.8
9.9
9.7
9.7
8.4
9.5
Caremore Moving & Storage featured image

Best moving company overall in Santa Cruz, CA. Caremore Moving & Storage takes the #1 spot for our overall ranking and is the top recommended movers in Santa Cruz.

Caremore Moving & Storage is the number 1 ranked moving service in Santa Cruz, CA with an overall score of 9.56 out of 10. Based on our extensive analysis, this is an Exceptional score and places it in the top 98.54% of all movers in California and the top 99.19% of moving companies nationwide. They score better than 44 other Santa Cruz moving companies and better than 1,917 movers in California. Caremore Moving & Storage is also one of the top 150 movers nationwide (out of more than 18,000 total moving companies).

Our Research

  • Analyzed 277 total reviews
  • Reviewed 7 social profiles and review listings
  • Checked for license verification at BHGS & FMCSA
  • Crunched 1,516 data points pertaining to the above

11 Point Rating

MetricScorevs NationwidePositive ReviewsNegative ReviewsPositive Score
Quality9.70↑ 16.5%255697.7%
Punctuality9.71↑ 21.5%93198.9%
Affordability9.55↑ 25.9%730100.0%
Communication9.72↑ 30.6%131298.5%
Stick to Prices9.53↑ 60.1%44197.8%
Speed9.83↑ 16.0%136199.3%
Friendliness9.86↑ 12.6%192199.5%
Will Hire Again9.66↑ 19.6%255697.7%
Professionalism9.68↑ 18.1%167497.7%
Conflict Handling8.45↑ 107.9%17289.5%
Precision & Care9.47↑ 19.4%123695.3%

Recent Caremore Moving & Storage Reviews

Quality - 9.70/10

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

Recent Customer Praises
absolutely love this company
great services
absolutely love this company
They were wonderful and I wouldn't hesitate to use them again
total cost came out lower with Caremore
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Positive
255 (97.7%)
Negative
6 (2.3%)

Additional Details

Moving Services Offered by Caremore Moving & Storage

  • Full Moving and Storage Services
  • Best Moving Services
  • Full Service Storage
  • Professional Packing
  • Boxes & Materials
  • Licensed and Insured Moving Company
  • Complete Tool Set
  • Moving Resources
  • Labor-only Loading & Unloading Services
  • Furniture Disposal

5 star moving

Exceptional
9.52/10

1738 Shasta Street, Richmond, CA, 94804

11-Point Rating

9.7
9.5
9.6
9.8
8.7
9.7
9.8
9.7
9.8
8.9
9.5
5 star moving featured image

Best Santa Cruz movers to hire if you're on a very tight budget. 5 star moving is the most affordable moving company on our list.

5 star moving is the number 2 ranked moving service in Santa Cruz, CA with an overall score of 9.52 out of 10. Based on our extensive analysis, this is an Exceptional score and places it in the top 98.02% of all movers in California and the top 98.92% of moving companies nationwide. They score better than 43 other Santa Cruz moving companies and better than 1,906 movers in California.

Our Research

  • Analyzed 228 total reviews
  • Reviewed 7 social profiles and review listings
  • Checked for license verification at BHGS & FMCSA
  • Crunched 1,052 data points pertaining to the above

11 Point Rating

MetricScorevs NationwidePositive ReviewsNegative ReviewsPositive Score
Quality9.69↑ 16.4%194498.0%
Punctuality9.49↑ 18.6%77495.1%
Affordability9.62↑ 26.7%430100.0%
Communication9.78↑ 31.4%960100.0%
Stick to Prices8.73↑ 46.6%17289.5%
Speed9.72↑ 14.7%89297.8%
Friendliness9.82↑ 12.0%116199.1%
Will Hire Again9.74↑ 20.5%191299.0%
Professionalism9.75↑ 18.9%109199.1%
Conflict Handling8.93↑ 119.5%18194.7%
Precision & Care9.47↑ 19.4%81495.3%

Recent 5 star moving Reviews

Quality - 9.69/10

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

Recent Customer Praises
excellent professional service
they made it work with my weird new place
great work by movers
couldn't be happier with their service
best moving company I've ever had
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Positive
194 (98.0%)
Negative
4 (2.0%)

Additional Details

Moving Services Offered by 5 star moving

  • Local residential moving
  • Labor services
  • Packing services
  • Piano moving
  • Last minute moving
  • Furniture wrapping
  • Furniture disassembly or assembly
  • Advice & assistance on packing
  • Heavy lifting for home organization & staging
  • Office relocation

Ace Moving

Exceptional
9.52/10

2220 Twin Hills Dr, Santa Cruz, CA, 95065

11-Point Rating

9.7
9.7
9.3
9.7
9.3
9.8
9.8
9.7
9.7
8.4
9.6
Ace Moving featured image

Best movers to hire in Santa Cruz with a proven track record. Ace Moving has been moving since 1983.

Ace Moving is the number 3 ranked moving service in Santa Cruz, CA with an overall score of 9.52 out of 10. Based on our extensive analysis, this is an Exceptional score and places it in the top 97.97% of all movers in California and the top 98.91% of moving companies nationwide. They score better than 42 other Santa Cruz moving companies and better than 1,905 movers in California.

Our Research

  • Analyzed 176 total reviews
  • Reviewed 4 social profiles and review listings
  • Checked for license verification at BHGS & FMCSA
  • Crunched 707 data points pertaining to the above

11 Point Rating

MetricScorevs NationwidePositive ReviewsNegative ReviewsPositive Score
Quality9.71↑ 16.6%126199.2%
Punctuality9.72↑ 21.5%480100.0%
Affordability9.27↑ 22.2%25196.2%
Communication9.72↑ 30.6%670100.0%
Stick to Prices9.33↑ 56.7%170100.0%
Speed9.82↑ 15.8%630100.0%
Friendliness9.79↑ 11.7%840100.0%
Will Hire Again9.68↑ 19.9%123199.2%
Professionalism9.68↑ 18.0%73198.6%
Conflict Handling8.42↑ 106.9%70100.0%
Precision & Care9.58↑ 20.9%69198.6%

Recent Ace Moving Reviews

Quality - 9.71/10

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

Recent Customer Praises
Moving was a breeze with this company
My expectations were surpassed
Santa Cruz Movers provided a better experience than expected
made move much easier and super professional
Recent Customer Complaints
Overall Review Distribution
Positive
126 (99.2%)
Negative
1 (0.8%)

Additional Details

Moving Services Offered by Ace Moving

N/A

Lambert & Son Moving

Exceptional
9.51/10

2638 17th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, 95065

11-Point Rating

9.7
9.9
9.2
9.5
9.6
9.8
9.9
9.6
9.8
7.9
9.7

Lunardi Moving Services

Exceptional
9.50/10

2577 Scott Blvd, Santa Clara, CA, 95050

11-Point Rating

9.7
9.9
8.9
9.5
8.9
9.8
9.9
9.7
9.8
8.7
9.7

Santa Cruz Moving Services

Exceptional
9.50/10

Santa Cruz, CA

11-Point Rating

9.7
9.7
9.5
9.8
9.5
9.8
9.8
9.7
9.7
7.6
9.7

A2B Movers San Jose

Exceptional
9.40/10

1432 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA, 95126

11-Point Rating

9.7
9.6
9.2
9.3
9.1
9.6
9.8
9.7
9.6
8.3
9.6

Tbs movers

Exceptional
9.36/10

380 N 26th St, San Jose, CA, 95116

11-Point Rating

9.7
9.5
9.3
9.5
8.9
9.8
9.7
9.7
9.7
7.4
9.7

D&L Movers

Exceptional
9.35/10

1563 Bahama Way, Campbell, CA, 95008

11-Point Rating

9.7
9.5
9.3
9.2
8.8
9.9
9.9
9.5
9.6
7.8
9.7

Joshua's Moving Packing & Storage LLC

Exceptional
9.25/10

San Carlos, CA, 94070

11-Point Rating

9.6
9.6
9.0
9.5
8.9
9.8
9.8
9.4
9.7
6.9
9.6

How Much Do Movers Cost in Santa Cruz, CA?

The average moving cost in Santa Cruz, CA is $1,363, which is based on an analysis from 62 customer reports across 12 different moving companies. In general, expect to pay somewhere between $1,164 and $1,953 for a typical move.

  • Median Reported Cost: $1,363
  • Expected Range: $1,164 - $1,953
  • Expected Time To Complete: 4 hours
  • See detailed Santa Cruz Moving Costs for a full breakdown
COMPANYMEDIAN REPORTED MOVING COSTAVG MOVE DURATION
Mod Movers$6182.5 hours
Eagle Moving And Storage Inc.$1,0414 hours
All in Moving Systems $1,1505 hours
Clutch Moving Company$1,1773.75 hours
MC Movers$1,2134 hours
Fairprice Movers$1,3613.5 hours
Ninja Movers$1,3654.5 hours
Southwest Movers$1,4134 hours
A2B Movers San Jose$1,6685 hours
Ship Smart Inc.$2,237-
Lunardi Moving Services$2,7994.25 hours
Ace Relocation Systems, Inc.$3,2962.75 hours

*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 Santa Cruz-based companies in our dataset.

How we ranked the top Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz, CA.

Rating Methodology

Here's the methodology we used to come up with the best movers in Santa Cruz:

Our data scientist working on the years of experience formula

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 45 companies that offer moving services in the Santa Cruz area.

From these 45 companies, we analyzed a total of 13,608 reviews dating all the way back to May 2007.

We also reviewed a total of 15 state and federal moving licenses from these 45 companies and 216 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~13,000 reviews was scored according to our detailed 11-point rating criteria

This gave us a total of 48,047 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 2,706 Santa Cruz 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 D&L Movers) vs older more established companies (like Ace Moving).

The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

Our 11-point rating criteria scores every Santa Cruz moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.71/10 avg in Santa Cruz from 8,661 reviews

Punctuality

Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?

8.56/10 avg in Santa Cruz from 3,643 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

8.13/10 avg in Santa Cruz from 2,137 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

8.06/10 avg in Santa Cruz from 3,795 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

7.26/10 avg in Santa Cruz from 1,523 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.87/10 avg in Santa Cruz from 4,184 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.12/10 avg in Santa Cruz from 4,641 reviews

Will Hire Again

How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again.

8.50/10 avg in Santa Cruz from 8,654 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.61/10 avg in Santa Cruz from 5,030 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

5.13/10 avg in Santa Cruz from 883 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.56/10 avg in Santa Cruz from 4,896 reviews

Charts & Visualizations

With 48,047 data points across 45 moving companies and 13,608 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 Santa Cruz.

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 Santa Cruz movers have performed over time

11-Point Rating Comparison

Detailed breakdown of Santa Cruz moving company 11-point ratings

California-wide 11-Point Percentile Comparison

See how the top movers in Santa Cruz compare to all movers in California

Quality iconQuality
Punctuality iconPunctuality
Affordability iconAffordability
Communication iconCommunication
Stick to Prices iconStick to Prices
Speed iconSpeed
Friendliness iconFriendliness
Will Hire Again iconWill Hire Again
Professionalism iconProfessionalism
Conflict Handling iconConflict Handling
Precision & Care iconPrecision & Care
Caremore Moving & Storage Logo

Caremore Moving & Storage

Exceptional9.56
94
95
97
98
98
96
96
94
94
98
86
5 star moving Logo

5 star moving

Exceptional9.52
94
84
98
99
88
90
93
97
97
99
86
Ace Moving Logo

Ace Moving

Exceptional9.52
95
95
88
98
97
96
91
95
94
97
91
Lambert & Son Moving Logo

Lambert & Son Moving

Exceptional9.51
95
99
86
93
99
95
98
92
99
95
94
Lunardi Moving Services Logo

Lunardi Moving Services

Exceptional9.50
95
99
75
94
90
93
98
94
99
98
97
Santa Cruz Moving Services Logo

Santa Cruz Moving Services

Exceptional9.50
95
94
96
99
98
96
94
96
95
92
95
A2B Movers San Jose Logo

A2B Movers San Jose

Exceptional9.40
92
88
83
88
93
86
93
94
90
97
93
T

Tbs movers

Exceptional9.36
95
86
90
94
90
92
83
95
94
91
96
D&L Movers Logo

D&L Movers

Exceptional9.35
92
84
89
84
89
99
96
88
91
94
95
Joshua's Moving Packing & Storage LLC Logo

Joshua's Moving Packing & Storage LLC

Exceptional9.25
86
89
78
92
90
92
93
86
96
86
89

Percentile Ranking

0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
*Note: the above data points reflect a moving company's percentile ranking compared to all moving companies in California.

List of All Santa Cruz Moving Companies Analyzed

See all of our Santa Cruz moving company reviews

  • A2B Movers San Jose
  • All in Moving Systems
  • Fairprice Movers
  • Ace Relocation Systems, Inc.
  • Air 1 Moving & Storage
  • Lunardi Moving Services
  • Silicon Valley Moving & Storage
  • San Jose Movers
  • California Movers Local & Long
  • Clutch Moving Company
  • Caremore Moving & Storage
  • Starving Students Movers, Inc.
  • Joshua's Moving Packing & Storage LLC
  • Macy Movers, Inc.
  • Eagle Moving And Storage Inc.
  • PODS Moving & Storage
  • Tony's Movers The New Way To Move
  • MC Movers
  • D&L Movers
  • Califast Movers
  • Ninja Movers
  • 5 star moving
  • Umove
  • Finch Moving Company
  • Tbs movers
  • Lambert & Son Moving
  • Southwest Movers
  • Leibbrandt transport moving and storage
  • Ace Moving
  • Rational Moving
  • Ship Smart Inc.
  • Zorn Moving & Storage
  • Santa Cruz Moving Services
  • Mod Movers
  • Go Green Box Bend - Rent Moving Boxes
  • Hollister Moving & Storage
  • Trek Movers. Local & Long-Distance Moving Company in San Jose.
  • White Red Moving & Storage
  • Central Coast Movers
  • Any Way Moving
  • Shaka Movers
  • Santa Cruz Movers
  • Commander Moving Inc.
  • Warriors Moving Services LLC
  • North American Van Lines

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving in Santa Cruz

How much should you tip movers in Santa Cruz, CA?

In Santa Cruz, tipping your movers is a great way to show gratitude for their hard work—most people give 10-20% of the total moving cost or about $5 per mover per hour. From carrying heavy furniture up Mission Street hills to navigating narrow roads in the Beach Flats, movers in Santa Cruz often go above and beyond. A tip acknowledges their effort and helps them cover any extra travel-related expenses. You might also consider offering them something refreshing inspired by the local scene, like an iced organic juice from a nearby café.

Is it cheaper to make a DIY move in Santa Cruz?

Some people in Santa Cruz decide on a DIY move to save money, but it can be trickier than expected. Extra costs for packing supplies, fuel, and rental trucks—even for short trips along Highway 1—can add up fast. You’ll also want to consider the time and effort involved in lifting heavy furniture or dealing with parking near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Check out a moving truck rental search in Santa Cruz before you commit, so you know where to find the right vehicle for your move.

Should I hire labor-only movers?

If you have your own truck or just need help loading and unloading in Santa Cruz, labor-only moving services can be a smart choice. Whether you’re settling into a new apartment in Downtown Santa Cruz or rearranging your home in Soquel, these movers handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on other details. You can hire hourly movers in Santa Cruz, which can give you flexibility in controlling costs and timing. This option is especially handy if you’re confident in handling bits of your move on your own but need extra muscle for bulky items.

What if I need to move something special like a piano or pool table?

Some belongings require special care, like pianos, pool tables, hot tubs, or statues. If your Santa Cruz home has a treasured instrument used for beachside jam sessions, you’ll want experienced piano movers to handle it safely, especially when navigating twists on Highway 17. A massive pool table in your Westside game room may also need the help of pool table movers who know how to dismantle and reassemble it properly. Going with specialists is a smart choice to protect your valuables and reduce stress during the move.