How much does it cost to hire movers?
Starting at $50 per hour on average
Updated on July 9, 2026
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Moving is one of the most significant logistical and financial undertakings most Canadians will face. Whether you're relocating across town in Toronto, moving from a condo in Vancouver to a house in the suburbs, or heading cross-country from Halifax to Calgary, understanding what you're likely to spend before you book movers is essential.
This guide breaks down moving costs across Canada, explains what drives prices up or down, and gives you the tools to budget smartly and hire with confidence. Using market research and Taskrabbit platform insights, you can generally expect to pay $50 per hour on average for moving services.
Average cost for moving services in major Canadian cities
Moving costs are not uniform, with labour markets, housing density, traffic conditions, and local demand influencing what movers charge in different cities. The table below provides a general overview of estimated hourly rates and typical total costs across major cities in Canada.
| City | Avg hourly rate | Avg invoice total |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto | $33 | $89 |
| Montreal | $32 | $82 |
| Vancouver | $31 | $99 |
| Calgary | $28 | $92 |
| Winnipeg | $30 | $92 |
| Ottawa / Gatineau | $26 | $79 |
| Windsor/London | $26 | $61 |
| Halifax | $30 | $144 |
| Quebec City | $29 | $81 |
What impacts the cost of hiring movers?
A number of variables will shape your final moving bill. Understanding these factors ahead of time helps you anticipate costs and, in some cases, make choices that reduce them.
Distance
The further you're going, the more you'll pay. Local moves within the same city tend to be charged by the hour. Once you cross into long-distance territory, pricing typically shifts to a flat rate based on mileage and the weight or volume of your shipment.
As a rough guide:
Under 50 km: $400 - $900
50 to 200 km: $700 - $1,800
200 to 1,000 km: $1,500 - $4,500
1,000 km or more (cross-country): $3,000 - $10,000+
Home size and belongings
Larger homes mean more belongings, more time, and more labour. A one-bedroom apartment move is a very different proposition from moving a four-bedroom detached house. Expect costs to scale accordingly:
Studio or 1-bedroom: $400 - $900
2 bedrooms: $900 - $2,500
3 bedrooms: $1,500 - $3,500
4+ bedrooms: $2,500 - $7,000+
Remember, these estimates would also be influenced by the distance of your move, and other factors below.
Type of moving service
The level of service you choose has a direct impact on your total cost. Different service models offer varying degrees of convenience and require different levels of involvement on your part.
Full-service moving: The company handles everything from packing your belongings to loading, transporting, unloading, and unpacking at your new home. This is the most convenient option but also the most expensive, as it includes the highest amount of labour and materials.
Partial service: You handle the packing and unpacking yourself, while the movers take care of the heavy lifting, loading, transport, and unloading. This is a popular middle-ground option that balances cost savings with professional help for the most physically demanding parts of the move.
Labour-only service: You rent your own truck and hire movers strictly for loading and unloading. This is the most affordable professional option and works well for local moves where you're comfortable driving a larger vehicle yourself.
Packing and unpacking services: These services can be added to any move and involve professionals carefully wrapping, boxing, and protecting your belongings before the move, then unpacking and placing items in your new home afterward. This option is ideal if you're short on time, have fragile or valuable items, or simply want to avoid the most tedious part of moving.
DIY with truck rental: You handle almost the entire move on your own, renting only the vehicle. This option offers the greatest cost savings but requires the most time, effort, and coordination on your part.
Specialist or heavy items
Standard furniture and boxes are straightforward. Certain items require extra care, equipment, or expertise, and movers typically charge accordingly:
Piano: $200 - $700 for a local move; significantly more for long-distance
Pool table: Up to $800
Safe: Up to $600
Large appliances: Up to $200 per item
Antiques or artwork requiring custom crating: $250 - $1,200+
Hot tub: Up to $1,200
Timing and seasonality
When you move matters as much as where. Peak demand periods in Canada include:
Summer months (June to August): The busiest moving season. Rates can increase by as much as 20 to 40 per cent compared to off-peak periods.
Month-end: Most Canadian leases run from the first of the month, making the last few days of any month extremely busy for movers.
Weekends: Friday through Sunday are the most popular days to move. Weekday moves are often cheaper and easier to schedule.
Booking during off-peak times, particularly mid-week and mid-month in the autumn or winter, can lead to meaningfully lower rates and better availability.
Minimum charges
Many moving companies have a minimum charge of two to three hours, even for small jobs. This means that even if your move only takes 90 minutes, you'll still be billed for the minimum. Factor this in when budgeting for a studio or one-bedroom move, as it can significantly affect the overall cost-effectiveness of hiring professional movers for smaller relocations.
Building type and accessibility
Canada's urban housing stock means many moves involve condominiums, apartment buildings, or townhouses with specific logistical challenges. Factors that are important to consider for your move, and that you should let movers know about, include:
Elevator access: Many condo buildings require movers to book the elevator in advance. If the elevator is unavailable or shared, this can slow the job and increase your hourly bill.
Stairs: Moving items up or down multiple flights of stairs takes more time and effort. Some companies add a per-flight staircase fee.
Long carries: If the moving truck cannot park close to the entrance, movers must carry items over a longer distance. This adds time and may trigger a long-carry fee.
Narrow corridors or doorways: Common in older buildings, tight spaces slow things down and can require furniture disassembly.
Packing supplies
Packing materials are easy to underestimate in your moving budget, but they add up quickly. Whether you're doing the packing yourself or supplementing what a moving company provides, here's what to expect:
Standard moving boxes: $2 to $5 per box, depending on size. You may need 20 to 60 boxes for a typical home.
Wardrobe boxes: $15 to $25 per box
Dish and glass packing boxes: $12 to $22 per box
Packing tape: $3 to $20 depending on quantity
Bubble wrap: $5 to $40+ depending on how many fragile items you own
Mattress bags: $8 to $25 depending on size
Permanent markers: $2 to $5 for labelling
Furniture blankets or pads: $10 to $20 each, or often available to rent from moving companies
Dolly or hand truck: $15 to $50 to rent, or $60 to $150 to buy
Overall, expect to spend $75-$350 on packing supplies for a one- to three-bedroom home. To save money, source free boxes from local grocery stores, liquor stores, or community groups online. Use towels, linens, and blankets to wrap fragile items rather than purchasing bubble wrap.
Hidden or additional moving service costs to consider
Even with a solid budget in place, some costs catch people off guard. Being aware of these in advance can save you from an unpleasant surprise at the end of moving day.
Fuel surcharges: Most moving companies include a fuel surcharge, particularly for long-distance moves. This can add anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars to your bill, so ask about it upfront when requesting quotes.
Parking permits and condo fees: In dense urban areas like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, parking a large moving truck on a city street often requires a permit. Many condominium buildings also charge a move-in or move-out fee ranging from $100 to $500, so contact your building management well in advance.
Move-out cleaning: A professional move-out cleaning service typically costs between $200 and $450 in most Canadian cities, depending on the size of the unit. Factor this into your moving budget if you're vacating a rental and want to recover your security deposit.
Storage: Self-storage units in Canada typically cost $80 to $250 per month depending on size and city, with Toronto and Vancouver at the higher end. Some moving companies offer storage-in-transit as part of their service, but it usually comes at a premium.
Insurance and valuation coverage: Standard liability coverage offered by most Canadian moving companies is minimal, often covering only a fraction of the replacement value of your belongings. If you have high-value items, ask about full replacement value protection or check whether your home insurance policy covers goods in transit.
Common moving tasks and their typical costs
Moving is rarely a single transaction. It involves a series of tasks, many of which can be handled separately or outsourced individually. The table below gives a sense of what common moving-related services typically cost. Please note these figures are estimates and more closely aligned with local moves. Actual costs will be determined based on a variety of factors discussed earlier.
| Moving task | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Junk removal | $200–$500 |
| Single item move | $150–$300 |
| Unpacking service | $400–$900 |
| Truck-assisted moving | $400–$800 |
| Move-in/move-out cleaning | $200–$450 |
| Full service moving (2-bed) | $1,000–$2,500 |
| Packing service (full home) | $500–$1,200 |
| Furniture disassembly/reassembly (per item) | $75–$200 |
How to save on moving costs
Moving services can be a significant expense, but there are several practical ways to reduce what you spend without compromising the quality or safety of your move.
Book mid-week and mid-month: Avoiding weekends and month-end dates can meaningfully reduce your rate and improve availability, particularly in cities like Toronto and Vancouver where month-end demand is intense.
Move in the off-season: Autumn and winter moves are significantly less expensive than summer moves. If your timeline is flexible, even shifting your move from July to October can save hundreds of dollars.
Declutter before you pack: Every item you don't take with you is an item that doesn't need to be packed, loaded, transported, and unloaded. Donate, sell, or discard anything you no longer need before getting quotes. Fewer items means less time and a lower bill.
Do your own packing: Hiring movers to pack for you is convenient but adds substantially to the cost. Packing your own belongings reduces labour hours and gives you control over how your things are handled.
Disassemble furniture in advance: Having your bed frames, shelving units, and flat-pack furniture already broken down when the movers arrive speeds up the loading process considerably.
Get at least three written quotes: Moving costs vary widely between companies, and the first quote you receive is rarely the best. Comparing at least three estimates ensures you're paying a fair market rate.
Ask what's included: Some companies include packing materials, furniture blankets, and dollies in their rate. Others charge extra for these. Understanding exactly what's covered avoids bill shock at the end of the job.
Source free packing materials: Boxes from liquor stores, grocery stores, and online community boards are often free and perfectly serviceable for most items.
DIY vs. hiring movers
Deciding whether to handle a move on your own or hire help isn't a one-size-fits-all decision. What makes sense for you comes down to your budget, how much time you have, whether you're physically up for the work, and how complicated the move itself is going to be.
When to DIY
A do-it-yourself move can be a smart, budget-friendly choice in the right circumstances. Consider handling the move on your own if any of the following apply to your situation:
You're moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment with a modest amount of furniture
You're moving locally and can complete the job in a single day
You have friends or family who can genuinely help
You're on a tight budget and have the time and energy to manage the logistics yourself
Your building allows easy access and there are no significant stair or elevator complications
You're comfortable driving a rented cargo van or moving truck
When to hire help
Hiring movers becomes the smarter choice when the complexity, distance, or physical demands of your move exceed what you can reasonably handle on your own. Consider bringing in the pros if any of these situations apply to you:
You're moving a two-bedroom home or larger, where the volume of items makes a DIY approach genuinely difficult
You're moving long-distance or cross-country, where a rental truck over several days becomes expensive and exhausting
You have specialty items such as a piano, large appliances, or valuable antiques that require proper equipment and expertise
You're moving into or out of a high-rise condo with elevator booking requirements and strict building rules
You're working within a tight timeline and cannot afford delays or injuries
You have physical limitations that make heavy lifting unsafe
You're a renter and need to ensure your building's common areas and walls are not damaged during the move
How to choose the right moving company
The moving industry in Canada includes a wide range of providers, from large national companies to small independent operators. Quality and reliability vary, so it's worth doing your homework before committing. Here's what to look for when choosing a moving company:
Check reviews and reputation: Read reviews on Google, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau to get a sense of the company's track record. Look for consistent feedback about punctuality, care with belongings, and transparency with pricing. A pattern of complaints about hidden fees or damaged goods is a serious warning sign.
Watch for red flags: Common warning signs include quotes that seem dramatically lower than all other estimates, requests for full payment upfront in cash, and no written contract or itemised quote. Legitimate moving companies will provide a written quote, a clear contract, and a reasonable deposit structure. Take your time and don't be rushed into a decision.
Understand your quote: Ask whether your quote is binding or non-binding. A binding quote guarantees the price regardless of how long the job takes, while a non-binding estimate can change based on actual time or weight. For long-distance moves, get a binding quote in writing wherever possible.
Frequently asked questions about moving services
Overall, for a local move, most Canadians spend somewhere between $400 and $1,500, with smaller moves at the lower end and larger homes or more complex buildings pushing costs higher.
For moves within the same city or region, Canadian movers almost universally charge by the hour. The standard model includes two movers and a truck, and the clock typically starts when the crew arrives at your door and stops when the job is complete.
Typical hourly rates for local moves:
2-person crew with truck: $80 - $150/hr depending on city
3-person crew with truck: $120 - $200/hr
4-person crew with truck: $160 - $250/hr
Most local moves take between two and six hours, depending on the size of your home and how prepared you are when the crew arrives. A well-organised one-bedroom apartment with boxes already packed and furniture disassembled can be done in two to three hours. A three-bedroom house with minimal pre-packing could take a full day.
Long-distance moves, generally defined as moves over 100 km or across provincial borders, are priced differently from local moves. Most companies switch from hourly billing to a flat-rate model based on the distance travelled and the total weight or cubic footage of your shipment.
Estimated long-distance moving costs:
1-bedroom apartment, under 500 km: $1,500 - $3,000
1-bedroom apartment, cross-country: $2,500 - $5,000
3-bedroom home, under 500 km: $3,000 - $6,000
3-bedroom home, cross-country (e.g., Toronto to Vancouver): $6,000 - $12,000+
Cross-country moves in Canada are among the most expensive in the world on a per-km basis, simply because of the distances involved. Moving from the Maritimes to British Columbia is a genuinely significant undertaking, and budgeting conservatively is strongly advised.
Tipping is not mandatory but is a widely appreciated gesture when movers do a good job. A common guideline is $20 to $50 per mover for a standard local move, or roughly 10% to 15% of the total bill for larger or more complex jobs.
The last few days of June, July, and August are the busiest period for movers across Canada, driven by lease renewals and families wanting to move before the school year starts. Month-end dates throughout the year are also extremely busy. During these peak periods, rates can be 20 to 40 per cent higher than off-peak, and availability fills up weeks in advance. Booking early is essential if you must move during these windows.
