Best movers in San Mateo, Calif.

Finding a moving company you trust can be harder than it seems, especially when you're comparing over 80 local options. To make the process easier for you, we reviewed and ranked moving companies in San Mateo based on customer reviews, proper licensing and insurance, Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation , overall service quality and more. We then spoke with our featured picks to get more information about how they interact with customers, pricing, deposit policies and everything else you need to make an informed decision.

Top San Mateo movers

The best moving company in San Mateo for YOU

Comparing movers in San Mateo can take a lot of time. Each has its own minimum number of hours for jobs, hourly rate, travel time, deposits and other fees that all affect your total cost. Choosing the right mover for you means understanding what you need, your budget and picking a company that can support it.

NorthStar Moving Company is our top pick with over three decades of experience serving San Mateo and the surrounding communities. It boasts hundreds of five-star customer ratings across Google and Angi, and offers a diverse range of services. Rates start at $199 per hour for a three-person crew and a truck.

Pure Moving Company is our top alternative, offering a slightly lower hourly rate of $179 per hour for a three-person team. It doesn't require a deposit and is also highly rated by customers across review sites. Both companies are open seven days a week, which is helpful if you're planning a weekend move.

Table of contents

• Best overall mover in San Mateo

• Top alternative San Mateo mover

• Best national moving company

• More best San Mateo movers

• Why you can trust Yahoo Local moving advice

• California moving FAQs

• Methodology

Best moving companies in San Mateo, Calif.

NorthStar Moving Company is the best overall San Mateo moving company

NorthStar Moving Company started in California in 1994 and now also serves Arizona and Texas. The company is privately owned and offers a variety of moving services to fit your needs, whether you're a homeowner, business owner or celebrity. It supports local, long-distance and international moves along with packing and storage service options.

For local moves, NorthStar charges $199 per hour for a three-person crew and a truck and $259 per hour for four movers. There's a four-hour minimum that includes travel time to and from both addresses. You can receive a total price estimate after completing a video-chat appointment to review what you plan to move.

The hourly rate includes labor and standard moving equipment, such as dollies and blankets. Packing materials are an added charge and the price varies depending on what you need. Scheduling your moving date requires a $215 deposit, which is refundable up to three days before your move. You can pay by cash, cashier's check, credit or debit card without any added fees.

Services offered

• Residential and celebrity moving

• Commercial moving

• Office and production moves

• Packing and unpacking

• Specialty item moves

• Personal and commercial storage services

• Boxes and moving materials

In addition to its moving services, the company emphasizes its environmentally friendly initiatives, including biodiesel-powered trucks and 100% recyclable boxes. You can receive 25% of the original cost back when you return boxes to the company to use again. The company also offers eco-friendly bubble wrap and packing paper.

NorthStar is also involved in the local community. It supports local organizations such as Make-A-Wish, Habitat for Humanity, Claire's Place and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

The company's team consists of all in-house employees who have undergone background checks. It's backed by a 4.9 customer rating on Google (891 reviews), 4.5 on Yelp (83 reviews) and 4.8 on Angi (802 reviews). It has been accredited by the BBB since 2000 with an A+ rating and three registered complaints.

The office is located at One Bush Plaza, Suite B-182, San Francisco, Calif., 94104. It's open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays or 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Call 800-275-7767 or visit its website to get an estimate.

Customer testimonial

Miguel, Eric and Jose were awesome. They took care of our stuff, even agreed to moved plants when they normally don't. They took care of our floors, covered them up not to scratch them. Super diligent and friendly people. You guys rock. NorthStar was also very professional in scheduling and checking in! - Mert D., Google reviews (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

* See Google reviews * See Yelp reviews

Pure Moving Company is our top alternative mover in San Mateo

Pure Moving Company is a licensed San Mateo mover that handles local and long-distance moves for residents and businesses in the Bay Area. The company specializes in full-service relocations with crews that manage packing, furniture wrapping and logistics support from start to finish. It's a great choice for full-service support and a highly rated team.

The rate for three movers and a truck is $179 per hour with a three-hour minimum. Local moves include a one-time truck fee of $39, while moves between 40 and 50 miles have an $80 fee. Longer distances have a travel fee based on mileage to and from your home.

The hourly price includes furniture disassembly and reassembly, blanket protection, furniture wrapping and use of wardrobe boxes. Packing materials such as wrapping paper, rubber bumpers and other supplies are an extra fee. Pure Moving does not require a deposit to book your move.

Services offered

• Residential and celebrity moving

• Commercial moving

• Military and senior moves

• Packing services

• Furniture moves

• Same-day services

Payment options include credit card, debit card or cash. There is no credit card processing fee and the company offers a 7% discount for cash payments. Its team includes full-time movers who have passed background checks. The company provides helpful online resources to inform you about what to expect from its team and how to prepare for moving day.

Pure Moving is licensed, insured and has an A+ rating from the BBB . It has no complaints on the platform and holds an accreditation. It has an impressive five-star rating from over 1,600 customers on Google. On other sites, Pure Moving is rated 4.9 on Yelp (833 reviews) and 4.8 on Angi (42 reviews).

The local mover's office is at 401 Terry A Francois Blvd., #118, San Francisco, Calif., 94158. The company is available by phone daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 800-816-5121 or visit its website .

Customer testimonial

Amazing experience! Paul, Alex and Arthur were fantastic. They handled all of our furniture very carefully and were extremely fast while doing so! They also disassembled/reassembled whatever we needed and did it really good. Will definitely be coming back for our next move! - Niki H., Google reviews (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

* See Google reviews * See Yelp reviews

BLVD Moving is the best national moving company

At Yahoo Local, we're here to help make choosing a mover easier, especially if your plans involve crossing state lines. While we love showcasing local businesses, sometimes a national moving company is the better fit, depending on where you're headed. If you're still weighing your options, check out our guide on local vs. national movers . For national moves, we recommend BLVD Moving .

BLVD Moving operates out of four locations in California and offers both local and long-distance services across the U.S. It's a family-run, independent company with its own trucks and crews. According to its terms , it may also use subcontractors or agents to assist with certain jobs, which is something that's pretty common in the moving industry, especially during high-demand times.

We asked BLVD Moving for a quote on a 500-mile move that included about 1,340 cubic feet of belongings, or roughly what you'd expect for a three-bedroom home without oversized appliances. The estimate came in around $6,700, which is comparable to quotes from other national moving companies. To confirm your booking, it requires a 33% deposit, with half of the remaining balance due at pickup. The rest is paid upon delivery.

Services offered

• Local and long-distance moves

• Interstate moves

• Residential and commercial moves

• Office moves

• Full-service packing

• Storage options

• Financing plans

If your plans change, BLVD Moving will refund your deposit as long as you cancel at least two full business days before your scheduled pickup. The delivery window ranges from two to 21 business days, depending on the distance of your move. That window starts from your chosen delivery date, so depending on timing, you might be waiting just over a month to receive your shipment.

The company recommends booking your move at least a month in advance, or earlier if you're planning a move during the summer or at the beginning or end of a month. (Check out our full guide to the best and worst times to move .) Getting a quote is straightforward: you can set up a virtual walkthrough or submit an inventory form online. BLVD also offers financing to qualified customers, with interest rates starting at 0%.

BLVD Moving is accredited by the BBB and currently holds a B rating, with 98 complaints on file. That number might seem high, but it's typical for large national movers. It also holds a 4.5-star rating on Google from 1,451 reviews and a 2.4-star average on Yelp from 394 reviews. All of its movers are full-time employees who undergo background checks.

The company's headquarters is located at 21622 Plummer St., Chatsworth, Calif., 91311. It's open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time. You can contact BLVD Moving at 844-274-0500 or visit its website to request a quote.

For more, read our review of BLVD Moving .

Customer testimonial

BLVD Moving helped some friends move. 10/10 customer service and top-notch furniture wrap jobs. Everything was disassembled properly and covered with blankets before being wrapped. They also added barcodes to each piece of furniture to make sure they could keep track of every item. Kevin, Victor, and Edwin were an impeccable team. Alyssa H., Google reviews (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

* See Google reviews * See Yelp reviews

More best San Mateo movers

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

Yahoo is known for its dedication to helping people find the best local businesses in their area. Our Yahoo Local guides continue that tradition to help you determine the best bang for your buck. Your time is valuable, so we aim to offer quality suggestions based on our custom ranking system. Each pick is based on factors that truly matter to you, with no paid placement or sponsors. If you want to learn more about how we choose companies, read our full methodology page .

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

• 81 movers evaluated

• 47,532 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?

Many movers ask a similar set of questions when you call for an estimate. You'll need to share your home's size, current and future addresses, and any heavy or delicate items you're moving. Some companies go more in-depth about driveway access and the use of stairs or elevators. You may be asked to provide a full inventory of items you plan to move or do a home walkthrough for the company to provide an accurate estimate . The more information you can provide, the better the company can prepare its team and show you a correct price.

What should you know about packing and storage in California?

Moving can be a lot of work, but one way to reduce the load is to have a professional moving team pack your items for you. Packing services will add to your total cost, but might be worth it if you're limited on time. If you choose the do-it-yourself approach, be sure to use sturdy boxes and label them clearly.

San Mateo has pretty mild seasons, but summer moves can expose your belongings to high temperatures inside trucks and storage units. When packing, keep electronics, artwork and other heat-sensitive items in a climate-controlled area. If you're planning to store items in a unit for a short or long period, consider temperature-controlled units to protect your belongings.

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

Apartment and condo moves in California have a few different planning steps than a typical single-family home. Stairs, elevators and long hallways can slow down the process and may increase your final cost. Busy areas might require specific parking instructions, such as using a loading dock space or needing a permit. Communicate with your property manager to understand any moving instructions and communicate them with your crew to prevent delays.

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

You don't have a specific license to move your own belongings, but any moving company you work with should be licensed by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) . Licensed movers will have a Cal-T number from the Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS) .

Verifying that your chosen mover is properly licensed, insured and bonded can help prevent scams and problems down the road. Read more in our full guide to California moving company licensing and regulations

How much should you tip movers in California?

Tipping isn't a required part of your move, but it's how you can show appreciation to your crew. A 10% to 20% tip on the total bill is typical, but you can base your amount on how complex the job was and your satisfaction. If your team trekked up and down flights of stairs, moved delicate items without a scratch or offered high-quality customer service, consider a tip closer to the 20% mark or more. Get more advice in our complete guide on how to tip moving crews .

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