Best movers in Oakland, Calif.

Preparing your Oakland move? There's no shortage of good moving companies to choose from, but when it comes to the movers who will be handling and transporting all your household goods, you want to find the best. And that's where we come in. At Yahoo Local, we've done the legwork to vet and objectively rank the very best movers in the greater Oakland area to identify the companies worthy of your trust. We scoured customer reviews, licensing sites and Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditations , and then we reached out to the best of the best to make sure we had all the most up-to-date information about prices, policies and more.

Top Oakland movers

The best moving company in Oakland for YOU

Picking the best moving company isn't easy: There are a lot of choices to sort through, and so many factors to consider. But at the end of the day, the best moving company for you will be one that fits your needs, financially and logistically. What to consider? You'll want to take into account how far you'll be moving (can you use a local specialist, or do you need a firm with a national footprint?); how large your house and apartment is; and whether you need just the basics or extra services (do you need help packing and unpacking? A place to store your belongings between move-out and move-in?); and how soon do you need to move. There's no one-size-fits-all answer.

That being said, we think the best overall moving company in Oakland is NorthStar Movers , a full-service company with the expertise to handle moves of all lengths, challenging situations and has hundreds of satisfied customer reviews to prove it. The company can handle tricky items (including pianos and works of art), and it has its own storage facility. NorthStar is BBB-accredited , and we think your move, no matter where, is in good hands with them.

Table of contents

• Best overall mover in Oakland

• Top alternative Oakland mover

• Best national moving company

• More best Oakland movers

• Why you can trust Yahoo Local moving advice

• California moving FAQs

• Methodology

Best moving companies in Oakland, Calif.

NorthStar is the best overall Oakland moving company

NorthStar Moving Company has been a fixture in California since its 1994 founding in Los Angeles, with a fleet of biodiesel trucks that serve moves both local and interstate. The company can handle all kinds of moves and all kinds of goods (even artwork), and it maintains its own facility for secure and easy storage. The company is a full-service firm that puts a premium on customer satisfaction, and we are highlighting it as the best mover in Oakland.

Moving prices vary by inventory list, but the representative from NorthStar we spoke to said a local move for an average three-bedroom home would run between $2,200 and $2,500. A $250 deposit is required, but it is refundable if you cancel at least 72 hours before your move. There are no additional fees for rescheduling. 

To create your estimate, NorthStar will send an estimator to your property to take an inventory and assess your needs — or you can schedule a video call to walk through. The company maintains its own storage facility in San Leandro, Calif., so if you need to store your belongings before delivering to your new address, they can arrange to take them directly. Weekends and ends-of-the-month are the busiest periods for moves, so the company recommends booking at least two weeks in advance. It accepts payment by Visa and MasterCard, with no additional fees for payment by credit card for a local move (long-distance moves will incur a 3% fee). NorthStar has a 3-hour minimum for jobs.

Services offered

• Local moves

• Long-distance moves 

• International moves

• Storage

• Packing and unpacking

• Art and piano moving

• Production and celebrity moves

The company, which was founded in Los Angeles, maintains its industry connections, too. The website name-drops tons of celebrities the brand has moved , including Angelina Jolie, the Jonas Brothers and Diana Ross, and says the company can sign NDAs or send decoy trucks if requested. (The NorthStar representative we talked to said, "You can imagine the list of names we can't put on the website!") Maybe thanks to that history, NorthStar can accommodate moving pianos, artworks and full media productions. All their movers are employees and pass background checks.

NorthStar Moving is accredited by the BBB and maintains an A+ rating, with three answered complaints over the past three years related to service or repair issues. Reviews for the business are outstanding: NorthStar has a 4.9-star rating on Google from 869 reviews, a 4.6-star rating on Yelp across 961 reviews and a 4.8-star rating on Angi after 802 reviews.

To get a quote, visit the NorthStar website or call 800-275-7767. The company's San Francisco office is located at One Bush Plaza, Suite B-182, San Francisco, Calif., 94104, and is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Customer testimonial

Just finished my second move with Northstar and I'm so glad I called them... again! Moving is always stressful, but these guys made it as easy and painless as possible. They were courteous, responsive, flexible with my timing needs, and the crews on both ends of the move were extremely professional, thorough, and efficient. I've had bad experiences in the past with other movers and I feel truly thankful that there are companies like Northstar that operate professionally and ethically. For any moves in the future, they will absolutely be my first call. Thank you, NorthStar! - Christy W., Google reviews (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

* See Google reviews * See Yelp reviews

One Big Man & One Big Truck Moving Company is our top alternative Oakland mover

One Big Man & One Big Truck Moving Company is a small-move specialist that's been serving Oakland and the greater Bay Area since 1983, and their commitment to customer service and transparent pricing makes them our alternative pick for the best moving company in Oakland.

One Big Man's pricing is straightforward: You pay a base fee (it's $240 for a three-man crew; $320 for a four-man crew), then an hourly rate per person of $85 for each hour, billed at 15-minute increments, that the crew is there, for a minimum of 15 minutes That covers the truck, quilted moving pads, stretch wrap, wardrobe boxes, straps and handcarts and dollies. The crew will come ready to assemble beds and furniture.

To create your estimate, One Big Man will request a list of the items they'll be moving, which can be supplemented with photos and video. When we spoke with One Big Man, they let us know that for a one-story, three-bedroom house (which is about as large a job as they normally do), they normally recommend a four-person crew, which would be a $320 base rate plus $340 an hour. For a smaller move, a three-person crew has a base rate of $240 and an hourly rate of $255. If you need packing and unpacking services, the company will send out a crew, generally the day before, for the same rate plus supplies. While One Big Man & One Big Truck doesn't do background checks on their employees, the company's representative told us most of their employees are with the company long-term.

Services offered

• Packing and unpacking service

• Single item and small moves

• Same-building moves

• Same-day pack and move

• Emergency moves

The firm doesn't take checks, but you can pay by cash or credit card via Square, with no additional fees for credit cards. Big Man can accommodate last-minute emergency moves (including same-day packing and moving), but their bookings are first-come, first-served, so they recommend securing your date at least three weeks in advance for best availability.

While the company isn't accredited by the BBB , it does have an A+ rating, with one complaint filed in the past three years. Reviews for One Big Man & One Big Truck are stellar, with a 4.7-star rating across 95 reviews on Google and a 4.8-star rating on Yelp across 886 reviews.

Visit the One Big Man & One Big Truck Moving website and fill out the " Request a Quote" form to start a quote, or call 415-821-9697. The office, located at 696 Amador Street, San Francisco, Calif., 94124, is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Customer testimonial

Absolutely great team of movers from start to finish! Everyone I interacted with was so helpful and courteous; from getting the initial quote, to the final signature, they were so professional, quick, and efficient. I will definitely be using these movers again for my next local move! - Lyra L., Google reviews (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

* See Google reviews * See Yelp reviews

BLVD Moving is the best national moving company

At Yahoo Local our goal is to help people feel confident when making moving decisions. We value showcasing local businesses, but depending on your circumstances, a national mover may be the better fit. If you are deciding between the two, see our local vs. national movers guide . For those choosing a nationwide provider, our top pick is BLVD Moving .

BLVD Moving is led by a management team with decades of relocation experience. The company runs out of four California offices, yet it provides both local and cross-country moving services. It stays family-owned and independent, operating its own fleet of trucks and full-time staff. The ster of service explain that subcontractors or third-party partners may be used during peak demand, which is common in the moving industry.

We reached out to BLVD Moving for a quote on a 500-mile move requiring about 1,340 cubic feet of space, close to a three-bedroom home without large appliances. The estimate came to about $6,700, which is comparable to other national movers. To reserve a move, the company asks for a 33% deposit, then half of the balance at pickup, and the final portion at delivery.

Services offered

• Local and long-distance moves

• Residential, commercial, and office relocations

• Professional packing

• Short- and long-term storage

• Financing options for eligible customers

If you need to cancel, BLVD Moving will refund deposits as long as the cancellation is made at least two business days before pickup. Delivery windows run from two to 21 business days, depending on distance. The clock starts on your selected delivery date, so if you are not ready to receive items right away, the process can stretch to just over a month.

Booking a month in advance is advised, especially during busy times like summer or the beginning and end of each month. Getting a quote is simple since you can arrange a virtual walkthrough or fill out an online inventory form. Financing is also offered to eligible customers, with interest rates beginning at 0%.

This mover is accredited by the BBB and maintains a B+ rating . The company has 89 complaints on record. While this may seem high, it's fairly typical for national movers. Customer reviews include a 4.3-star rating on Google (1,215 reviews) and a 2.3-star rating on Yelp (372 reviews). All movers are employees, not contractors, and they undergo background checks.

The headquarters is located at 21622 Plummer St., Chatsworth, Calif. 91311. Business hours run daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time. To get a quote, you can call BLVD Moving at 844-274-0500 or visit the company's website .

Customer testimonial

I hired BLVD Moving for a long-distance move from the East Coast to the West Coast, and Jhon and Alex were outstanding. They were professional, reliable, and very careful with all of my belongings, keeping great communication throughout the process. Everything arrived on time and in perfect condition, and they made what could have been a stressful move feel smooth and easy. - Liya L., Google reviews (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

* See Google reviews * See Yelp reviews

More best Oakland movers

You can count on Yahoo Local moving advice, and this is why

Yahoo has been in the local information business for decades, and we're proud to continue that tradition with Yahoo Local guides. Our tailored Yahoo Local guides are designed to give you the most up-to-date, useful, and accurate information possible about the service providers in your area so you can make the best possible choices for you and your budget.

Using a custom ranking system designed by our team, we're committed to ranking the best local companies in your area so you get objective, thoroughly researched picks. We're also committed to being transparent about how we made them, providing the methodology we use and what we consider to make our recommendations. We don't accept payment for inclusion, ever, and we don't allow sponsored picks. Want to know more? Visit our full methodology page .

Below is everything that went into the rankings for our list of the best moving companies in Oakland:

• 47 movers evaluated

• 24,717 customer reviews and ratings from five sources

• 14 ranking criteria incorporated

• Interviewed or connected with all three featured movers

• Independent price quotes sourced from all three featured moving companies

• Independently researched and fact-checked by Yahoo

• Recommendations are maintained and updated regularly

California moving FAQs

What info should you have when requesting an estimate?

If you're ready to get an estimate for your upcoming move, there are certain details almost every mover will want to get from you upfront. Be prepared to tell the company:

• The zip codes you're moving from and the zip code you're moving to. Providing an exact address can often help make the estimate even more accurate, but just the zip code is usually enough to get started.

• The square footage of your home, and how many bedrooms and other rooms it comprises

• Whether either destination is a house or an apartment

• Whether you want the company to pack and/or unpack for you

• If you can, the dates you're planning to move

Other information that can be useful to have on hand is whether either location has stairs or elevators and how closely they will be able to park.

Many companies will want to assess how much you'll have to have and what kind of items (heavy furniture? Lots of books?) you have, whether that's by an in-person appointment with an estimator or a virtual consultation over video call. They will also want to go over any specialized moving needs you might have to make sure they are able to accommodate them. Not every mover can handle moving things like fine art, musical instruments or aquariums, for example, so if you have possessions that need special care, you'll need to do some due diligence.

What should you know about packing and storage in Oakland?

Oakland weather cycles between hot summers and cold, damp winters: If you're going to be storing your belongings, a climate-controlled facility will offer the most protection for your things. Water is your enemy when it comes to storage: check out our tips for preventing water damage in self-storage units .

Unusual items or valuable items — antique furniture, fragile items, instruments, and art and collectibles, among others — may require specialized storage. You can check out our guide to moving antiques and other valuables for more tips.

What's different about condo and apartment moving in Oakland?

If you're moving out of or into an apartment building or a condominium, it's worth taking some extra time to coordinate with the super or building manager to see if there are any restrictions on noise or elevator usage on certain days or times that will affect your move. If you live in an elevator building, you may also need to "reserve" the elevator in advance.

Some buildings require that movers have a certificate of insurance (COI) that certifies your moving company carries sufficient insurance to cover any damage to the building. If yours does, you'll want to verify with your moving company that they can provide one and if they can, if they charge to provide it.

Do you need moving permits or licenses to move in Oakland?

Yes. If you'll be blocking any street parking during your move or obstructing traffic for longer than 15 minutes, you will need an Obstruction Permit (OB) from the city of Oakland. If you'll be moving within the city, you will need two permits, one for each address.

In most cases, it's the responsibility of the people moving, not the moving company, to obtain the permit. Ask your movers what size truck they plan on using and how long they expect the move to take, since you'll need to provide both the number of parking spaces (metered or non-metered) the truck will occupy and how long you will be occupying the space or spaces for the permit.

Applications for the OB permit must be made in person at the Oakland Permit Center . Prices for the permit vary, but start at $35 per day for one metered space or $17 per day for one non-metered space. (Each parking space is 25' long, and many moving trucks are 30' long, so be sure to account for the space you'll need.) The permit itself is $76, with an additional 14.75% record processing and technology fee assessed. To learn more about all the rules for moves in California, check out our guide to California moving company licensing and regulations . 

How much should you tip movers in Oakland?

It's never mandatory to tip your movers, but it's an appreciated gesture, especially if the movers went out of their way to make the process seamless. A good rule of thumb is to tip 10% to 20% of the move cost, split evenly between the movers. Alternately, you can tip per mover per hour: $10 per person per hour is a common formula. Cash is always a popular option, but you can also ask your mover if you can include a tip with your final payment. For more, read our guide to tipping movers .

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