Berkeley to San Francisco movers: the Bay Bridge crossing, morning arrival windows, how the bridge drive is billed and what to expect at a city drop-off.
1-877-417-6060
Berkeley and San Francisco face each other across the bay, and the direct road between them for a moving truck is the Bay Bridge. We see this lane in both directions: San Francisco renters heading to Berkeley, and Berkeley grads and faculty moving to the city. We also get combined requests, such as a storage unit in Daly City going to an apartment in either San Francisco or Berkeley.
The move is local and hourly. The drive from your Berkeley curb to your San Francisco curb is usually 25 to 45 minutes, I-80 to the bridge and into the city, so it is counted twice under California's double drive time rule. The drive to your pickup and from your drop-off is free. No mileage or fuel charge.
So a 45-minute bridge drive is billed as 1.5 hours. With 3 movers at $175 an hour, that part of the bill comes to $262.50; the rest is the time spent loading and unloading.
Berkeley has a lot of older brown-shingle houses, duplexes and walk-up apartments, many with front stairs and no driveway. Students and staff often move at the end of a lease or semester, when blocks near campus fill with trucks. Book early and ask a neighbor to keep curb space open. East Bay pickups have a 9 to 11 AM arrival window.
Our 26 ft truck needs about 40 feet for itself and its ramp. If your new block has no legal spot, a temporary permit can be processed through SFMTA; our permit guide explains how. Double-parking tickets are added to the bill. Large condo buildings usually want a certificate of insurance, which we provide free.
| From Berkeley to | Approx. miles |
|---|---|
| SoMa / Mission Bay | 12 |
| Mission District | 14 |
| Pacific Heights | 15 |
| Sunset District | 18 |
Rounded map estimates.
Going east is the same structure. A San Francisco pickup is also 9 to 11 AM. Which end takes longer depends on access: a Berkeley house with a driveway unloads faster than a city flat with stairs, while a hillside house above the campus can be the slower end. North Berkeley and the hills have narrow, winding streets; if access looks tight, David checks it before move day and tells you whether a shuttle is needed.
If you are moving a studio or one-bedroom, start with the minimum, which is 3 hours: 3 x $175 = $525 with 3 movers, or 3 x $145 = $435 with 2 movers for a very small move. David's planning ranges are 3 to 4 hours for a studio and 3 to 5 for a one-bedroom, including the bridge drive counted twice. Have everything boxed and sealed. We do not move plastic bags, and loose items slow the load.
Only as part of the drive between your two homes, which is counted twice under California's double drive time rule.
9 to 11 AM, the East Bay window. The crew calls 30 minutes before.
Yes. A storage unit can be a pickup or an extra stop. Local extra stops have no fee, only time.
Yes. Grand pianos always get 4 movers. Uprights get 4 if there is a flight of stairs.
The 3-hour minimum: $435 with 2 movers or $525 with 3, before supplies.