Apartment Movers in Sacramento
Lifts that have to be booked, loading windows that close at five, and a certificate of insurance the building wants before anyone touches a door. We deal with all three before your move day.
always on time
The building is the hard part, not the furniture
A two-bedroom apartment holds less than a house, so people assume it’s the easier job. Then the elevator turns out to be reserved until noon, the loading dock closes at five, and the property manager won’t let the crew start without paperwork nobody mentioned. That’s what turns a four-hour move into a day — not the sofa.
Not sure how many hours your move will take, or whether your building's rules will slow the day down? Send us the two addresses and roughly what's moving, and we'll tell you straight — no site visit, no sales call.
Why apartment moves go wrong, and how we stop it
We handle the building, not just the boxes
Tell us the building when you book and we’ll sort the lift reservation, the loading window and the insurance certificate with the property manager. It costs you a sentence and saves the day.
Our own crew, and they've done your building
The people on your job are on our payroll — trained, certified and background-checked. We’re licensed, insured and bonded: MTR0192675 with the California Bureau of Household Goods and Services, USDOT 3810402 with FMCSA, carrying up to $1,000,000 in general liability cover — which is usually exactly what the building is asking to see.
What we move
Studios and one-bedrooms. Two movers and a 16ft truck, usually a half-day.
Two and three-bedroom apartments. Three movers and a 26ft truck.
Walk-ups. No lift, third floor, narrow stairwell — the job most movers quote badly.
High-rise. Where the freight elevator and the loading dock decide the schedule.
Apartment to storage, or storage to apartment. Including part-loads.
Room shares. Moving one person out of a shared apartment, not the whole unit.
Get an apartment moving quote
Two addresses, the floor you’re on at each end, and whether there’s a lift. That’s what sets the price — tell us and it holds.
Ask your building these four things
Is the elevator reserved, and for how long? Most buildings require booking and give you a window.
What hours can movers work? Many buildings won’t allow moves in the evening or on Sundays.
Do they need a certificate of insurance? Almost all larger buildings do, and they usually need it days in advance.
Where can the truck actually park? A long carry from the street adds more time than a flight of stairs.
Send us the answers when you book and we’ll plan the day around them. Or give us the building’s name and we’ll ask them ourselves.
What it costs. Hourly from $159, plus a flat $99 truck and fuel charge. Drive time doubles if your two addresses are more than 10 miles apart. A $200 handling fee applies to any single item over 250 lbs — worth checking if you own a safe or a piano.
Related services
If you’re moving further than across town, start at local moving; for a short hop inside the same city, in-town moves. Moving into a house instead? House moves. Most apartment customers add packing because a lift queue is a bad place to still be taping boxes, and furniture assembly for anything that has to come apart to clear a doorway. If you own a safe, a treadmill or a piano, read heavy item moving first.
Further reading
Best movers for Bay Area apartments · A guide to local moving costs
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FAQ
How much does a move cost?
Rates start at $159/hour for two movers and a 16ft truck, $199/hour for three movers and a 26ft truck, $249/hour for four, and $299/hour for five. Add a one-time $99 flat rate for truck and gas, whatever truck size you need. You price the job yourself online — pick your crew, date and addresses and the quote comes back in minutes. No in-home visit, no sales call.
What isn’t included in the hourly rate?
Six things, all of them listed up front: the $99 flat rate for truck and gas; packing supplies such as boxes, paper and bubble wrap; a $200 handling fee for any single item over 250 lbs (piano, gun safe, pool table, treadmill, massage chair); double drive time when your two addresses are more than 10 miles apart; overnight storage; and custom crating or specialty handling for antiques and delicate pieces.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Smoove holds MTR0192675 with the California Bureau of Household Goods and Services and USDOT 3810402 with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and carries up to $1,000,000 in general liability cover. Basic cargo protection for your household goods is included in every move. Both license numbers are public records — look them up before you book, with us or anyone else.
What areas do you serve?
The Sacramento region and the Bay Area — more than 70 cities, from Auburn and Elk Grove through to San Jose and Walnut Creek. We also handle long-distance moves within California, originating in either region. We are not currently authorized for interstate moves, so if you are leaving the state we will tell you straight away and point you to a carrier who is.
For thirteen of those cities we have written up the local parking rules, permits and truck access, and what each one actually means on move day: Sacramento, West Sacramento, Folsom, Rocklin, Placerville, El Dorado Hills, Stockton, Manteca, San Francisco, San Mateo, Walnut Creek, Vallejo and Petaluma.
Learn more before your move
23 September 2026
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