1,015 miles · Regional long-distance

Moving from Los Angeles to Denver

Real 2026 pricing for the Los Angeles, CA to Denver, CO corridor, by home size, by month, from a licensed carrier rather than a broker.

The short answer

A 2-bedroom move from Los Angeles, CA to Denver, CO runs $3,700–$5,900 and takes 4–7 days in transit over 1,015 miles. Moving in January instead of July saves about $1,650.

1,015Miles
4–7Days in transit
$3,7002-bedroom from
29%Peak vs. off-peak
Licence data FMCSA public registerEstimates by Route, size and monthFree tools No email requiredCheck any mover →

How much does it cost to move from Los Angeles to Denver?

A 2-bedroom move costs $3,700–$5,900, a 3-bedroom $5,100–$8,150, and a 4-bedroom home $6,250–$10,050.

Home sizeTypical volumeFull-service costAdd full packing
Studio300 cu ft$1,850–$3,000+$150–$400
1 bedroom450 cu ft$2,450–$3,950+$250–$600
2 bedrooms800 cu ft$3,700–$5,900+$450–$1,100
3 bedrooms1,200 cu ft$5,100–$8,150+$650–$1,600
4+ bedrooms1,700 cu ft$6,250–$10,050+$950–$2,300

Planning estimates built from published industry cost ranges, not from completed-move records.

How long does the Los Angeles to Denver move take?

4–7 days door to door, covering about 1,015 miles.

The usual routing is I-15 north through Las Vegas and St George, leaving I-15 at Beaver, Utah for I-70 east across the Rockies through the Eisenhower Tunnel. Long-distance carriers quote a delivery window rather than a fixed date, because the trailer normally carries more than one shipment: ask for the window in writing, and ask how you will be updated in transit.

Pickup and delivery are each scheduled as a window rather than a single day. On a 1,015-mile run the spread is usually 4–7 days, and it widens during July when every trailer on the corridor is full.

What is the cheapest month to move from Los Angeles to Denver?

January is the cheapest and July the most expensive, a spread of about $1,650 on a 2-bedroom move.

$4,100JanFebMarAprMayJun$5,750JulAugSepOctNovDec
Midpoint estimate for a 2-bedroom move. Moving in January instead of July saves roughly $1,650, about 29%.

What to know about this specific route

Career moves in aerospace, tech and healthcare, and households who want mountain access without California housing costs.

  • I-70 crosses the Continental Divide at the Eisenhower Tunnel, 11,158 feet. That is the highest point on any corridor out of Los Angeles, and this is the most weather exposed of them.
  • Colorado chain laws on I-70 are in force from September through May and closures do happen. A winter move on this corridor should carry a day of slack that a same-distance southern route would not need.
  • Your household gains over 5,000 feet of altitude between origin and destination. Sealed containers, some electronics and certain instruments behave differently on arrival, and a few days to acclimatise before unwrapping is worth planning for.

Arriving in Denver

Why people move here
  • Outdoor access without West Coast housing prices
  • Strong job market across tech, aerospace and healthcare
  • Four-season climate with genuine outdoor access from inside the city
Delivery-day logistics
  • Winter deliveries can be delayed by I-80 and I-70 closures through Wyoming and the Front Range: build slack into any December-to-March move.
  • Older Denver neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill and Baker have narrow streets with permit-only parking; a street-use permit is often needed for the truck.
  • Altitude affects some household items: sealed containers and certain electronics can behave oddly on arrival at 5,280 feet.
The honest caveat

Denver housing has risen enough that the cost advantage over West Coast metros is narrower than most people expect.

Leaving Los Angeles

Los Angeles County lost 53,934 residents in the year to 1 July 2025, the largest decline of any county in the United States, and 76,146 more people left for other US states than arrived from them. The reasons are unusually consistent: housing cost, state income tax, and remote work that no longer requires anyone to live within reach of the basin.

  • Most Los Angeles residential streets require a temporary no-parking posting from LADOT before a moving truck can legally hold curb space, and it has to be put up days in advance. A carrier who has not raised this has not planned your move.
  • The hillside neighborhoods, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Laurel Canyon and the Hollywood Hills, have narrow winding streets with no turnaround. A 53-foot trailer physically cannot reach most of these addresses, so a shuttle truck is the norm rather than an upcharge.

All long-distance moving from Los Angeles

Shipping a car on this route?

A sedan from Los Angeles to Denver runs $600–$900 on an open carrier, separate from the household move.

Los Angeles to Denver car shipping costs

Who moves Los Angeles to Denver

Every company below is listed with its USDOT number and a link to its FMCSA record, so you can check the licence yourself rather than take a ranking on trust.

United Van Lines

Listed on merit, unpaid

SAFER lists active interstate authority as a motor carrier of household goods, a broker of household goods, and a freight forwarder of household goods. Holding all three means a booking may be carried on its own authority, brokered to another carrier, or forwarded, so ask which applies to your job.

USDOT
77949
MC
67234
Type
Carrier + broker
Operating
Interstate, nationwide
Verify DOT #77949 at FMCSA

Mayflower Transit

Listed on merit, unpaid

SAFER lists active interstate authority as a motor carrier of household goods, a broker of household goods, and a freight forwarder of household goods. The same three-way authority as United, so confirm in writing which one your booking is being taken under.

USDOT
125563
MC
2934
Type
Carrier + broker
Operating
Interstate, nationwide
Verify DOT #125563 at FMCSA

Allied Van Lines

Listed on merit, unpaid

SAFER lists active interstate authority as a motor carrier of household goods and as a broker of household goods. Its freight-forwarder authority covers property other than household goods, so a household-goods job is either carried on its own authority or brokered out.

USDOT
76235
MC
15735
Type
Carrier + broker
Operating
Interstate, nationwide
Verify DOT #76235 at FMCSA

North American Van Lines

Listed on merit, unpaid

SAFER lists active interstate authority as a motor carrier of household goods and as a broker of household goods, with freight-forwarder authority limited to property other than household goods. Same carrier-or-broker question to settle before a deposit.

USDOT
70851
MC
107012
Type
Carrier + broker
Operating
Interstate, nationwide
Verify DOT #70851 at FMCSA

Moving from Los Angeles to Denver: common questions

How much does it cost to move from Los Angeles, CA to Denver, CO?

A 2-bedroom move from Los Angeles, CA to Denver, CO typically costs $3,700–$5,900 for full-service moving, and a 3-bedroom runs $5,100–$8,150. A studio or small apartment starts around $1,850. The route covers about 1,015 miles. Prices vary by season, exact volume and access at both ends.

How long does it take to move from Los Angeles, CA to Denver, CO?

Transit typically takes 4–7 days door to door over roughly 1,015 miles. Long-distance carriers quote a delivery window rather than a fixed date, because the trailer usually carries more than one shipment. Peak summer moves can run toward the longer end of that window.

What is the cheapest month to move from Los Angeles, CA to Denver, CO?

January is typically the cheapest month on this route, and July the most expensive. Moving in January instead of July saves roughly $1,650 on a 2-bedroom move, about 29%. Demand peaks in May, June, July and August and falls off in January, February, March and November.

How far in advance should I book a move from Los Angeles, CA to Denver, CO?

Book 4–6 weeks ahead for an off-season move and 8–12 weeks ahead between May and September, when crews and trailer space on this corridor sell out first. Last-minute long-distance bookings are possible but cost more and give you far less control over the pickup date.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or hire movers from Los Angeles, CA to Denver, CO?

Renting a truck and driving it yourself is cheaper on paper for a studio or 1-bedroom, once you add fuel, lodging and your own time over 1,015 miles. From roughly a 2-bedroom upward the gap narrows quickly, and full-service moving at $3,700–$5,900 often wins outright once you price a one-way rental plus fuel for that distance.

Do I need a broker to move from Los Angeles, CA to Denver, CO?

No. A broker does not move anything: they sell your job to a carrier you have not met, which is where most long-distance moving complaints originate. Booking directly with a licensed carrier means the company quoting you is the company loading your truck. Ask for a USDOT number and verify it at the FMCSA carrier lookup before you pay a deposit.

What can change the price after I get a quote for this route?

The three usual causes are volume, access and timing. Adding items increases the shipment size the quote was built on; a truck that cannot park at either address triggers a shuttle fee; and moving during May, June, July and August costs more than the same move in January. A binding estimate from a carrier that has surveyed your inventory is the way to avoid surprises.

Moving from Los Angeles to Denver?

Get a binding estimate for your actual inventory, from the carrier that loads the truck, not a broker reselling your job.