The honest answer is that an LA move is priced on three things: how much you are moving, how hard it is to reach your door, and how far the truck drives. A one-bedroom in a Koreatown elevator building and a one-bedroom at the top of a Silver Lake stair-street weigh the same on paper and cost very different money to carry. Here is how Pro Express Moving actually builds a number, with the rates our Burbank dispatch quotes off today.
What actually moves the price
Two moves in the same ZIP can land $400 apart. The variables that swing it:
- Home size and how packed it is; a full 2BR weighs more than a sparse 3BR
- Access: stairs, walk-up floors, elevator reservations, and how far the truck parks from the door
- Long carries on hillside streets like the ones off Beachwood Drive or up Mount Washington
- Packing scope: labor-only, a partial pack, or full-service packing
- Specialty items such as a piano, a gun safe, or oversized art that need extra hands and gear
- Day and season; the last week of the month and all of summer book out first
LA flat-rate bands and hourly rates
Inside the LA metro we quote most jobs two ways. Hourly for smaller or flexible moves, or an all-in flat rate once the inventory is set. Both include the truck, moving pads, and a W-2 crew. These are the local moving bands:
| Home size | LA metro flat rate (all-in) |
|---|---|
| Studio | $495–$695 |
| 1 bedroom | $695–$1,050 |
| 2 bedroom | $1,150–$1,750 |
| 3 bedroom | $1,850–$2,800 |
| 4 bedroom | $2,800–$3,900 |
Prefer to pay by the hour? A crew and 26-ft truck bill at these rates:
| Crew + 26-ft truck | Hourly rate |
|---|---|
| 2 movers | $149/hr |
| 3 movers | $199/hr |
| 4 movers | $249/hr |
There is a three-hour minimum on hourly jobs, and a $100 deposit holds the date and comes off your final bill. Piano work starts at $275, a gun safe at $375, and labor-only (you drive the truck or POD) runs $99/hr for two movers.
All-in means the crew, the 26-ft truck, moving pads, shrink wrap, and basic disassembly and reassembly of beds and tables. Boxes and packing labor are the usual add-ons when you want them.
A real shape of it: a full 2-bedroom in a Los Feliz duplex with one flight of stairs and legal parking out front usually lands mid-band, around $1,400 to $1,600 all-in, and finishes in a five to six-hour window. Add a tight elevator reservation in a Downtown high-rise or a long carry from a permit block, and the same inventory drifts toward the top of the band.
What a long-distance move out of LA runs
Once you cross county lines the price shifts to a per-route flat band set by distance and load. A few of the runs our trucks make most, priced for a typical 2-bedroom:
| Route | Freeway / distance | 2BR flat band |
|---|---|---|
| LA to San Diego | I-5, ~120 mi | $3,295–$11,500 |
| LA to Las Vegas | I-15, ~270 mi | $3,895–$13,500 |
| LA to Phoenix | I-10, ~370 mi | $4,395–$15,500 |
Long-distance loads carry the same $1M cargo coverage and 9-month claim window as a local job. For the full route list and per-size bands, see our long-distance moving page.
How to bring the number down
A few moves you can make before we ever load the truck:
- Book midweek. A Tuesday or Wednesday off-peak beats a Saturday at month-end, on both rate and truck availability.
- Purge before estimate day. Every box you skip is weight and time you do not pay for; donate or sell first.
- Pack what you can. Labor-only or a partial pack drops the bill while we still wrap the fragile pieces and furniture.
- Reserve the elevator and parking. A held freight elevator and a legal truck spot near the door cut the long carry that eats hourly time.
- Get it in writing. A written flat price locks the figure so a slow day cannot inflate an hourly clock.
People call expecting a runaround. I hand them a written flat number off the yard and it does not move on move day. That is the whole business. Andre Park, owner, Pro Express Moving
Quick answers
The questions we field most from LA callers:
Is the deposit refundable?
The $100 deposit holds your date and applies to the final bill. It is not an extra charge, and there is no penalty if you reschedule with reasonable notice.
Do you charge for stairs or a long carry?
Flat-rate quotes fold known access into the price up front. On hourly jobs, stairs and long carries cost time, which is why we ask about floors and parking before quoting.
What is the minimum for a local move?
Three hours plus the drive time between our yard and your job. Most studios and one-bedrooms in the LA metro finish inside that window.
How far ahead should I book?
A week is comfortable; the last few days of any month and most of summer fill first. We hold overnight dispatch for last-minute and emergency moves.
Do you move on weekends and holidays?
Yes, seven days a week. Weekend and month-end dates are the first to fill, so lock a Saturday early or take a midweek slot for the better rate.