Los Angeles to Dallas movers & cost
Moving from Los Angeles to Dallas covers about 1,400 miles. A full-service move for a typical household runs roughly $3,500–$7,500 depending on size and season; DIY and container options run lower. Here's the full breakdown by home size, move method, and what to expect on this specific corridor.
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Updated September 5, 2026
Compare moving options for this route
| Method | You do | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full-service movers | Nothing — crew packs, loads, drives, unloads | Highest |
| Moving container | Pack it yourself; a driver hauls it 1,400 miles | Mid-high |
| Freight trailer / LTL | Load a shared trailer; carrier drives | Mid |
| DIY truck rental | Pack, load, drive the full 1,400 miles yourself, unload | Lowest |
See our moving container cost guide and truck rental comparison for provider-level pricing on the container and DIY options.
Los Angeles to Dallas cost by home size
| Home size | Typical full-service cost |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $2,200–$4,000 |
| 2 bedroom | $3,500–$6,000 |
| 3 bedroom | $5,000–$8,500 |
| 4+ bedroom | $7,500–$12,000+ |
These are general ranges for a route this length, not a quote for your specific move — see our moving cost calculator for a more detailed estimate, or get written quotes from movers below.
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National carriers that serve this route
All of the major national van lines operate between California and Texas — two of the highest-volume moving states in the country, so this corridor is a routine one for any of them rather than a specialty lane. What differs between them is model (agent network vs. corporate vs. broker) and real customer experience, not whether they can physically make the trip. None of these approaches is automatically better, but they create different risk profiles around pricing, communication, and accountability. Read real customer reviews before you book, and pay attention to complaints about the specific leg of the journey — pickup in LA, line-haul across the Southwest, and delivery in Dallas — since problems tend to cluster in one of those three phases rather than the whole trip.
Or compare all 10 major van lines side by side to see the full set, including franchise and platform options better suited to smaller moves.
Distance and transit time
Los Angeles to Dallas is about 1,400 miles by road — roughly a 20–21 hour drive nonstop. Full-service interstate carriers typically deliver in 5–10 business days, since your shipment is often consolidated with other customers' shipments heading the same general direction rather than driven point-to-point immediately. This is called a "consolidated load" or "LTL-style" move in industry terms, and it keeps costs down but introduces variability. Your belongings may sit in a warehouse in Phoenix or Albuquerque for a day or two while the carrier assembles enough volume to justify sending a driver east. Weather, other customers' delivery windows, and driver hours-of-service rules all feed into that range. DIY truck rentals make the trip in 2–3 days of driving if done directly, though that assumes two drivers rotating and minimal stops. Solo drivers usually need three days minimum for safety, plus time to load and unload on each end. Factor in fuel, lodging, and the physical toll of long-haul driving when comparing the rental quote against full-service pricing.
What to know about this route
- Summer moves (June–August) hit both extreme LA traffic for loading logistics and Texas heat for the crew and your belongings during unloading — ask about time-of-day flexibility.
- Parking permits for a full-size moving truck are common in dense LA neighborhoods — arrange one in advance if you're on a street without easy truck access.
- Dallas has grown quickly in recent years, which can mean tighter mover availability and higher demand pricing during peak relocation season (May–August) specifically for inbound Texas moves.
Cost of living: Los Angeles vs. Dallas
Housing and overall cost of living are significantly lower in Dallas than in Los Angeles — this is one of the most common reasons cited for this specific move. Texas also has no state income tax, unlike California, which is a factor many movers on this route weigh alongside the physical moving cost itself.
| California | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index (U.S. average = 100) | 142.3 | 92.1 |
| Median home price | $854,000 | $341,800 |
| State income tax | Yes | None |
Statewide figures from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) composite index and public housing-market data. Los Angeles itself runs well above California's state average, and Dallas specifically is close to the Texas average — the gap between the two cities is even larger than the statewide numbers alone suggest.
Pros and cons: Los Angeles vs. Dallas
| Pros of Los Angeles | Cons of Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| Year-round mild climate, coastal access | Very high cost of living and housing |
| Major entertainment, tech, and creative industries | Heavy traffic congestion |
| Huge variety of neighborhoods and cultures | High state income tax |
| Pros of Dallas | Cons of Dallas |
|---|---|
| Much lower cost of living and housing | Hot, humid summers |
| No state income tax | Sprawling metro — car-dependent, longer commutes |
| Strong, diverse job market (finance, tech, healthcare) | Fewer natural/outdoor attractions nearby than LA |
Who oversees movers on this route
Any moving company handling an interstate shipment — crossing from California into Texas — must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and hold an active USDOT number, regardless of which state it's based in. You can check a mover's registration and safety record directly on FMCSA SAFER before booking — see our full guide on verifying a USDOT/MC number.
Extra tips for this move
- HOA rules: if your new Dallas-area home is in an HOA, check their move-in rules (elevator use, moving hours, visitor parking) before your delivery date.
- Elevator scheduling: for apartment or condo buildings on either end, book the elevator in advance so it's actually available when your crew arrives.
- Truck parking: confirm parking/permit rules for a full-size moving truck at both addresses — this is one of the most common causes of moving-day delays.
- USPS change of address: submit it at least a week before your move so mail starts forwarding on schedule.
- Moving insurance: basic released-value protection (60 cents per pound per item) is included free but covers very little — ask about full-value protection or third-party coverage for anything valuable.
Moving the other direction? A Dallas-to-Los-Angeles guide is planned for our route pages — in the meantime, the cost ranges and planning steps above apply to either direction of this corridor. The line-haul distance is identical, and most carriers price the move based on weight and mileage without much directional bias. Seasonal demand can shift slightly: more people tend to leave California for Texas in late spring and summer, which can tighten westbound truck availability heading into Texas and create more backhaul capacity going west. If your timeline is flexible, ask your estimator whether flipping your move date by a week or two could land you on a better-priced truck.
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Frequently asked questions
For a typical 2–3 bedroom household, expect roughly $3,500–$7,500 with a full-service mover, depending on total weight, the exact time of year, and add-on services like packing. Studios and 1-bedrooms run lower; 4+ bedroom homes run higher — see the table below.
The drive is about 1,400 miles. Most interstate movers deliver in 5–10 business days depending on how your shipment is routed and whether it's consolidated with other customers' shipments on the same truck — ask for a specific delivery window in writing.
A DIY truck rental is usually the cheapest option if you're willing to drive it yourself and have help loading/unloading. A moving container splits the difference — you load it, a carrier drives. See the comparison table below for how the trade-offs work on a route this long.
Fall through early spring (October–April), avoiding the last week of the month, is typically the least expensive window — summer (peak moving season) and month-end both drive demand and price up.
Many LA neighborhoods require a temporary no-parking permit to reserve curb space for a full-size moving truck, especially in denser areas without driveways. Check with LADOT or your specific city's transportation department at least a week ahead — your mover can often tell you if your address typically needs one.
Standard household moving trucks don't carry vehicles — if you're not driving your car to Dallas yourself, you'll need a separate auto transport service. Some full-service movers offer this as an add-on; others require booking a dedicated car shipping company.
Interstate moves (crossing the CA/TX state line) are regulated federally by the FMCSA regardless of which state you start or end in, so the same licensing and estimate rules apply on both ends. Verify the mover's USDOT/MC status before booking either way.