A studio is the most predictable move in Los Angeles. The inventory is small, one truck is plenty, and most of the variables that make bigger moves expensive — multiple floors, garages, a second truck — simply don’t apply. That also means the minimum charge matters more for a studio than for any other home size, so it is worth understanding how the bill is built before you compare quotes.
How a studio bill adds up
A typical LA studio — a bed, a sofa, a dresser or two, a small table, a TV and 15 to 25 boxes — takes a two-person crew about an hour to load and 45 minutes to an hour to unload. California bills the drive between your two addresses at double time, so a 15-minute drive adds 30 minutes to the clock. Put together, most studio moves come in under three hours of billable time, which is why the 3-hour minimum ($264) is the most common studio bill we write.
The bill rises above the minimum when the drive is long or the access is slow. A studio going from Venice to Pasadena, for example, carries almost two hours of doubled drive time on its own.
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Studio moves on real LA routes
| Route | Distance · off-peak drive | Crew | Hours | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Lake → Glendale | 5 mi · 10 min | 2 movers | 3 (minimum) | $264 |
| West Hollywood → Culver City | 7 mi · 15 min | 2 movers | 3–3¼ | $264–$286 |
| Hollywood → Santa Monica | 14 mi · 30 min | 2 movers | 3–3¾ | $264–$330 |
| Santa Monica → Burbank | 20 mi · 40 min | 2 movers | 3¼–4 | $286–$352 |
| Venice → Pasadena | 28 mi · 55 min | 2 movers | 3¾–4½ | $330–$396 |
Estimates use Best Movers LA’s $88/hour 2-mover rate with off-peak drive times. Each route page shows the rush-hour version too.
When a studio costs more than the minimum
- A walk-up. Three or four flights on either end can add 30–45 minutes. There is no stair fee; it is simply more time.
- Parking far from the door. In Koreatown, Hollywood or Venice the nearest legal curb can be half a block away. Reserving the curb, or a loading zone, keeps carries short.
- Elevator waits. High-rise studios in Downtown LA or Century City move fastest with a reserved service elevator and the building’s certificate of insurance sent ahead.
- Unfinished packing. A studio that is still half in drawers when the crew arrives is the most common reason a “three-hour” move becomes four.
- Rush-hour driving. Starting at 10 AM rather than 8 AM usually trims the doubled drive.
Two movers, one mover or DIY?
Best Movers LA also offers one mover with a truck at $68/hour (2-hour minimum), but that service is built for single items and small loads of under about 15 pieces. A furnished studio has a mattress, a sofa and a dresser that need two people on the stairs, so two movers is the right crew. Renting a truck yourself removes the labor bill but adds the rental, fuel, mileage, and your own day; for a studio that goes straight into the minimum, the difference is often smaller than people expect.
What studio moves cost elsewhere in LA
MoveAdvisor (March 2026) estimates a Los Angeles studio move at $420–$600 for 2 movers and 3 hours, and reports that most companies set a 3–4 hour minimum. Best Movers LA’s studio range of $264–$330 sits well below that because the $88 hourly rate already includes the truck and materials. The full Los Angeles moving cost guide compares every home size side by side.
Add-ons for a studio
- Packing: $40/hour per packer, materials included. Most studios are packed in about an hour by two packers.
- Storage: from $99/month per vault; a studio usually fits in one or two vaults if your move-in date is later than your move-out.
- Same-day moves: call before 1 PM; same hourly rate, no rush surcharge.
Related: how to move a studio apartment in LA, cost to move a 1-bedroom, and the moving cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to move a studio apartment in LA?
With Best Movers LA a studio move in Los Angeles usually costs $264–$330: 2 movers and a truck at $88 per hour for 3 to 3¾ hours, with the truck, fuel, blankets, wrap, assembly and stairs included.
How long does a studio move take?
Loading and unloading a typical studio takes a two-person crew about two hours combined; the doubled drive between addresses is added on top. Most studio moves in Los Angeles bill between 3 and 3¾ hours.
Why is there a 3-hour minimum for a studio?
The minimum covers dispatching a crew and truck for part of a day. Best Movers LA’s 3-hour minimum with 2 movers is $264, and many Los Angeles moving companies set a minimum of 3–4 hours.
Can one mover move a studio?
Best Movers LA’s one-mover service at $68 per hour is designed for single items and small loads under about 15 pieces. A furnished studio with a bed, sofa and dresser needs two movers for safe carrying on stairs.
What’s the cheapest way to move a studio in Los Angeles?
Be fully packed, book a weekday start after 10 AM to avoid rush-hour drive time, and reserve parking close to both doors. With Best Movers LA a short studio move then usually bills the $264 minimum.
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