House Moves
Four movers and a 24–26 ft truck for most family homes, with the main house, the garage and any ADU planned as separate parts of the day.
Household moving
Pasadena movers for craftsman bungalows, old houses full of heavy furniture, and apartments near Old Pasadena and the Playhouse District. We also handle moves between Pasadena and the Westside. Hourly rates start at $119 for two movers and a truck.
A lot of Pasadena homes were built a hundred years ago, and the furniture in them is often just as old: oak sideboards, upright pianos, glass-front bookcases that weigh more than they look. Add narrow doorways, front porches with steps and detached garages at the back of the lot, and you get moves that reward patience more than speed.
Sinatra Movers has been moving Los Angeles households since 2015. Our base is on the Westside, but Pasadena is a regular stop for our crews, and many of our customers move between the two. As your Pasadena movers, we plan for the old house as much as for the furniture. We measure doorways before the big pieces go through, protect original floors and trim, and pick a truck that fits the City’s permit rules.
From a one-bedroom near Lake Avenue to a four-bedroom house with an ADU out back, here is what we move most often in Pasadena.
Four movers and a 24–26 ft truck for most family homes, with the main house, the garage and any ADU planned as separate parts of the day.
Household movingUprights, grands, solid-wood armoires and marble tops. Items over 150 lbs carry a $200 fee, and we plan the route out of the house before lifting anything.
Piano movingTwo or three movers and a truck under 26 feet, which in Pasadena usually means no Moving Permit is needed.
How long a 1-bedroom takesChina cabinets, bookshelves and kitchens packed by the crew, with every box labeled by room.
Professional packersWe take apart and reassemble the furniture we move, and we can also put together new pieces that arrive flat-packed at the new house.
Fine furniture movingIf you’re selling one house before buying the next, we store your furniture in between and deliver it when you close.
Full-service storageOur hourly rates in Pasadena are the same as across Los Angeles. What changes the total most here is the house, and the distance if you’re moving across town.
| Home | Crew | Truck | Hourly rate | Typical time* | Labor estimate* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom apartment | 2 movers | 18–20 ft | $119/hr | 3–4 hrs | $357–$476 |
| 2 bedroom apartment or bungalow | 3 movers | 22–24 ft | $169/hr | 5–7 hrs | $845–$1,183 |
| 3–4 bedroom house | 4 movers | 24–26 ft | $209/hr | After a walk-through | Written estimate |
| House plus ADU or large garage | 4+ movers | 24–26 ft | $209/hr + $50 per extra mover | Often a full day | Written estimate |
*Loading and unloading only. Double drive time, packing, items over 150 lbs and long carries are extra. Every booking has a 3-hour minimum. Current rates are on our pricing page.
This is where drive time matters most. On hourly moves in California, the drive from pickup to delivery is billed twice. Inside Pasadena that adds a few minutes. Pasadena to Santa Monica can take an hour or more in traffic, so it shows up on the bill. We schedule these moves to stay out of rush hour on the 110 and the 10 when we can, and we tell you the expected drive time when we quote. Our double drive time guide explains the rule.
The other factor is the house itself. Porch steps, a long walk from the street to the door, and a garage packed to the ceiling all add hours. A short video walk-through makes the estimate much more accurate.
Moving a few pieces only? The 2-Hour Special is a flat $350 for two movers and a truck. Additional time is $150/hr.
Pasadena’s Department of Transportation has clear rules for moving trucks. These are from the City’s parking permit page:
When we checked the City’s page, the Moving Vehicle Permit cost $84 and included up to four signs. Extra signs were $1.50 each, plus a street usage fee of $1 per hour per space, or meter fees at metered spaces. Questions go to the Parking Division at (626) 744-7665.
What this means for you: most of our apartment moves use an 18–24 ft truck, so no permit is needed, and signs are optional but worth it on busy streets. For four-mover house moves with a 26-ft truck, the permit is required, so call us early enough to apply on time. Also note that Altadena and South Pasadena aren’t part of the City of Pasadena, so these rules don’t apply there.
Pasadena housing comes in a few distinct types, and each one changes how moving day goes.
Bungalow Heaven, Madison Heights and the streets around them are full of homes with original wood floors, built-ins and narrow interior doors. We lay down floor runners, pad door frames and stair rails, and measure the big pieces before we start, so nothing gets forced through a 1920s doorway.
San Rafael, Linda Vista and the streets west of the Arroyo are steeper and more winding. Some driveways are too tight for a big truck. When the photos show that, we bring a smaller one and make extra trips.
Around Old Pasadena, the Playhouse District and South Lake, newer buildings usually have elevator bookings and want a certificate of insurance. We send it straight to management. If you’re new to the area, our guide to moving to Pasadena compares the neighborhoods.
Pasadena covers more ground than most people expect, from flat blocks of bungalows to canyon streets in the hills.
Apartments and condos in older brick buildings and new mid-rises. Elevators, loading rules and metered streets.
Condos and apartment buildings near Colorado and Lake. Busy streets, so signs are worth getting.
Craftsman homes on quiet blocks with original floors and built-ins. Careful protection inside, easy truck access outside.
Large older houses with long driveways, heavy furniture and often a piano.
Hillside homes west of the Arroyo. Winding roads and steep driveways, sometimes a smaller truck.
Mid-century houses on wider streets, usually a straightforward truck setup.
For a house move with a big truck, call at least two weeks ahead so there’s time for the 10-day permit.
Reach us at (888) 777-2090 or through the quote form with both addresses, your date, and any piano, antiques or ADU.
A short video call shows us the rooms, the porch and the driveway. We choose the truck, and that tells you whether you need a permit.
For a 26-ft truck, apply for the Moving Permit 10 days ahead. For a smaller truck, picking up signs from the Parking Office is optional.
We protect floors and trim, wrap the furniture, load the truck, and deliver and reassemble everything, finishing within the City’s 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. truck hours.
Original floors, plaster walls and wood trim don’t forgive mistakes. Our crews cover them before moving anything, wrap every piece in blankets, and take furniture apart instead of forcing it through a doorway.
Wardrobe boxes, blankets, dollies and reassembly are included at no extra charge.
You know the hourly rate, the 3-hour minimum, the heavy-item fee and the expected drive time before you book. Houses get a written estimate after a walk-through.
We are licensed by the California Public Utilities Commission (MTR 0191841) and registered with the U.S. DOT (USDOT 3074703).
Real reviews from our customers on Google.
I used this moving company last year and had such a great experience that I was happy to call them again this year! Their prices are very reasonable, and booking was easy. Serg and the crew worked quickly and did a wonderful job moving my four bedroom home plus ADU from Pasadena to Santa Monica. They even helped put together my new furniture that came in boxes. Just like last year, they were on time and finished without any delays.
Working with Sinatra was the best decision ever. I had zero stress throughout my move – they took care of EVERYTHING. The guys were kind, efficient, and productive. The most peaceful moving experience. I couldn’t recommend more highly!!!!
Sinatra Movers charges $119 an hour for two movers and a truck, $169 for three movers and $209 for four, with a 3-hour minimum. A one-bedroom apartment usually takes 3 to 4 hours, so about $357 to $476 in labor plus double drive time. Houses get a written estimate after a walk-through.
Only if the truck is 26 feet or longer. Then you need a Moving Vehicle Permit, applied for at least 10 days before the move. Trucks 25 feet or shorter don’t need one, but you can still reserve the curb with Temporary No Parking signs from the Parking Office.
When we checked the City’s page, the Moving Vehicle Permit was $84 and included up to four Temporary No Parking signs. Extra signs were $1.50 each, plus a street usage fee of $1 per hour per space or meter fees. Confirm with the Parking Division at (626) 744-7665.
No. Moving trucks may park on the street only from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., can be cited after 10 p.m., and Pasadena bans street parking citywide from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. unless posted otherwise. On two-day moves, we take the loaded truck off the street overnight.
Loading and unloading take the same time as any local move of that size. The drive between Pasadena and Santa Monica or Brentwood can take an hour or more in traffic, and drive time is billed twice on hourly moves in California. We tell you the expected drive time when we quote.
Yes. Uprights and grands are wrapped, strapped to a piano board and moved with the right number of people. Tell us about porch steps or tight turns in advance. A $200 fee applies to items over 150 lbs.
Sinatra Movers is licensed by the California Public Utilities Commission (MTR 0191841) and registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT 3074703). Basic valuation coverage of $0.60 per pound per article is included, and we can send a certificate of insurance to your building.
Our Pasadena movers also work across the San Gabriel Valley and the rest of Los Angeles, including:
Send us both addresses, your date and a few photos of the house. Our Pasadena movers will choose the crew and truck, tell you whether you need a permit, and give you a realistic estimate, including drive time if you’re moving across town.
Prefer email? sinatramovers@gmail.com
Give us a call or drop by anytime, we endeavour to answer all enquiries within 24 hours on business days.
sinatramovers@gmail.com
(888) 777-2090