Texas to California
Moving from Texas to California
Reviewers who moved from Texas to California paid a median $3,450. 45,447 people made the move in 2024, and 77,161 went the other way. Houston to Los Angeles, the most common run in our file, is 1,548 miles.
Anthony BaleMoving industry professional, author and writerReviewed 23 September 2026
Reviewers paid
$3,450
median, 84 priced reviews
Moved last year
45,447
TX to CA, 2024
Typical drive
1,548 mi
Houston to Los Angeles
Cost of living
+14.1%
CA vs TX, US = 100
Sources: Haulest licensed review file (MoveAdvisor), 21 Sept 2026 (reviewer-reported); US Census Bureau, ACS state-to-state migration, 2024; OSRM on OpenStreetMap data (driving route); BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
What it costs
Texas to California moving cost
Across 84 priced reviews of moves from Texas to California, the median was $3,450 and the middle half paid $2,100 to $6,100. Home sizes and distances are mixed; the table below is by size.
Planning ranges for 1,000–2,000 miles moves, by home size, as of September 2026. Research fallback, not a first-party median and not a bid.
| Home size | Full-service range |
|---|---|
| Studio | $2,200–$4,000 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,000–$5,200 |
| 2 bedroom | $4,000–$7,200 |
| 3 bedroom | $5,400–$9,400 |
| 4+ bedroom | $7,000–$12,000 |
Source: Haulest research bands, September 2026 (band set by the Houston to Los Angeles drive).
Live numbers: US on-highway diesel $5.60 per gallon for the week of 2026-08-31 (EIA weekly US on-highway diesel via FRED GASDESW). A fuel surcharge on a long lane follows the diesel line; ask how the mover sets it.
From the review file
Movers with reviews on the Texas to California run
How this list was made. Every mover here has at least two reviews in our file for a move from Texas to California. Sorted by how many matching reviews each mover has, not by rating. Corpus as of 21 Sept 2026. Not a ranking and not a recommendation.
| Mover | Based | Record | Matching reviews | All reviews | Median reported, this run | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Hours Moving | Dallas, TX | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 1811306 | 4 | 573.4 mean, dated | $5,327 | 27 Jan 2015 |
| Move US to Relocation | Lake Dallas, TX | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 3174388 | 3 | 282.9 mean, dated | $2,700 | 11 Mar 2020 |
| Element Moving & Storage | Dallas, TX | CarrierUSDOT 2038052 | 2 | 1274.6 mean, dated | $14,692 | 14 Mar 2024 |
| Texas Movers Group | Dallas, TX | CarrierUSDOT 2303340 | 2 | 552.6 mean, dated | $6,500 | 29 May 2023 |
| All Services Movers | Los Angeles, CA | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 2454804 | 2 | 542.6 mean, dated | $5,000 | 27 Jan 2015 |
| All Over The State Moving & Storage | Addison, TX | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 2258113 | 2 | 371.8 mean, dated | $2,100 | 28 Feb 2020 |
| Across U.S.A. Moving & Storage | Dallas, TX | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 1489126 | 2 | 302.4 mean, dated | $3,200 | 1 Sept 2015 |
| Starline Moving & Storage LLC | Beachwood, NJ | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 3450534 | 2 | 303.9 mean, dated | $1,790 | 4 Apr 2024 |
| Proline Moving and Storage Inc | Dallas, TX | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 2802994 | 2 | 153.1 mean, dated | $4,855 | 12 Sept 2018 |
| Elephant Moving and Storage | Austin, TX | CarrierUSDOT 1710619 | 2 | 142.4 mean, dated | $5,300 | 16 Aug 2012 |
| Triple Crown Moving & Storage | The Colony, TX | No FMCSA match | 2 | 122.0 mean, dated | $3,100 | 25 Aug 2021 |
| Viking Moving and Storage | Oakland, CA | No FMCSA matchUSDOT 2043648 | 2 | 122.3 mean, dated | $6,995 | 23 May 2012 |
Sources: Haulest licensed review file (MoveAdvisor), 21 Sept 2026; FMCSA Licensing and Insurance, household-goods authority (record column).
Recent reviews
People who moved Texas to California
5 of 5 · 18 Sept 2026 · reported $4,500
“I used Global Trans Van Lines for my move from Texas to California, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. They packed everything professionally and efficiently, and our delivery arrived earlier than expected. I also really appreciated the consistent communication throughout the entire…”
1 of 5 · 20 Jul 2026 · reported $3,000
“Please DO NOT trust these people. My couch piece is missing, my matress is damaged, and my walls are damaged. They will coerce you to signing a waiver form to waive your rights and get compensated .60 cents per pound of whatever article is damaged or missing. They insisted on only being able to…”
5 of 5 · 10 Jan 2025 · reported $2,200
“They were great at keeping in touch and let me know how everything was going. The moving team was professional and worked quickly, making sure to handle all my things carefully. I was really impressed with how detail-oriented they were and how much they cared about making me happy. I definitely…”
What went wrong on this run: of 85 reviews, 39% mention damage and 21% a delay or a no-show. Reviewer-reported, counted by phrase.
Who makes this move
Texas has no tax on wages.
45,447 people left Texas for California. Census ACS 2024 counts 45,447 movers from Texas to California, with a margin of plus or minus 6,640. In the other direction, 77,161 people moved from California to Texas. The file records both flows and does not add a reason.
Price levels and wage tax differ by state. BEA price parity for 2024 sets the US at 100. Texas is 97.1 and California is 110.7. Texas has no tax on wages. California taxes wages. The two states do not match on either measure.
What the job looks like
Delivery is a window set on the order for service, not a single clock time.
The common run is Houston to Los Angeles. That pair covers 1,548 miles and about 26 hours of driving. A long-distance household move on this lane is priced by weight and miles, and the load is out for days rather than one afternoon. Delivery is a window set on the order for service, not a single clock time.
The review file holds 85 reports for this run. The median reported price is $3,450 across 84 priced reviews, and the middle half runs from $2,100 to $6,100. Those prices mix home sizes and distances. 39% of the reviews mention damage, and 21% mention a delay or a no-show.
Before you book
On a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver on payment of 110 percent of the estimate.
Confirm the carrier before you talk price. Interstate household moves need a mover with an active USDOT number and FMCSA household-goods authority. Check the number in the license lookup before you sign anything. Haulest is not a carrier and does not haul the load for you.
Get the estimate type in writing. Ask for a binding or not-to-exceed estimate and read the line items with the estimate guide. On a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver on payment of 110 percent of the estimate. The 110 percent rule is the part to read before you hand over a deposit.
Put the window and the deposit on paper. The delivery window belongs on the order for service, in writing, before the truck is loaded. Deposit terms belong in that same packet, and the deposit guide lists what to ask. A handshake is not a delivery window.
Leaving Texas, arriving in California.
| Texas | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living (US = 100) | 97.1 | 110.7 |
| Median home sale price | $356,100 | $887,400 |
| Median days on market | 56 | 33 |
| State income tax on wages | No tax on wages | Taxes wages |
| People who moved in 2024 | 77,161 arrived from California | 45,447 arrived from Texas |
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024; Data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage, read 22 Sept 2026; State revenue departments (wage tax, 2026); US Census Bureau, ACS, 2024.
When to go: in Texas, the busiest month for home sales over the last year was Jun 2025 and the quietest was Jan 2026. Movers fill up on the same calendar. Check your date.
Source: Data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage (Texas homes sold by month).
Ask out loud
Questions people ask
- How many people move from Texas to California?
- Census ACS 2024 counts 45,447 people moving from Texas to California, with a margin of plus or minus 6,640. The reverse flow is 77,161 people moving from California to Texas. The counts are the record; they do not say why anyone moved.
- How long is the common Texas to California run?
- The most common run in our file is Houston to Los Angeles, 1,548 miles and about 26 hours of driving. A household-goods shipment on that distance is priced by weight and miles. Delivery is a window set on the order for service, so the truck is not tied to one clock time.
- What do reviews report for price on this lane?
- Across 84 priced reviews the median reported price is $3,450. The middle half of those prices falls between $2,100 and $6,100. The figures mix home sizes and distances, so read them as a spread rather than a quote for one home.
- How often do reviews on this run mention damage or a delay?
- Of 85 reviews on this run, 39% mention damage. 21% mention a delay or a no-show. Both shares come from the same review file and apply to this state pair.
- What should I confirm before booking an interstate mover?
- Use a mover with an active USDOT number and FMCSA household-goods authority. Ask whether the estimate is binding, not-to-exceed, or non-binding, keep the delivery window in writing, and get the deposit terms on the same paperwork. On a non-binding estimate the mover must deliver on payment of 110 percent of the estimate.
Next
Keep going
- California to TexasThe same run the other way.
- Long distance moversWeight, miles, and where the bill grows.
- What movers costNational medians by year and lane.
- The 110% ruleWhat you can be made to pay on delivery day.
Other state-to-state runs
About Anthony Bale
A moving industry professional, author and writer. Anthony has been at different positions in the industry for the last 10 years, gaining significant knowledge on the relocation process. He himself has moved 6 times already, which helped him explore the other side of the moving process.
At Haulest he writes the US cost, hiring, and rights pages, reading the licensed review file every week so the numbers on the page are the numbers people reported.
Call for a written Texas to California quote
From, then To. Date and home size after that. A person on the phone is faster if you already know the dates.
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Haulest is a research desk and quote line. We are not a carrier.