Proudly Canadian
Moving Costs in Canada
Published Canadian data puts two movers and a truck at roughly $130 to $150 per hour, a typical local move at $1,200 to $1,600, and a long distance move at around $4,500 on average.
Moving quotes confuse people because the same move gets priced two completely different ways. Local moves are billed by the hour, so the final number depends on how long the crew actually takes. Long distance moves are billed by weight and distance, quoted up front. Comparing an hourly estimate against a flat quote only works if you understand which one you are looking at.
The figures below come from published Canadian sources, named beside each row and linked at the bottom. They are reference ranges, not quotes. What you pay depends on how much you own, how far it is going, and how much of the packing you do yourself.
Typical moving costs in Canada
Published ranges in Canadian dollars. Local moves are hourly; long distance moves are quoted by weight and distance.
| Job | Low | Typical | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local move, two movers and a truck, hourly (national)Larger crews cost more per hour but finish faster | $130 per hour | $130 to $150 per hour | $150 per hour | Paramount Moving |
| Local move, hourly rate (national guide)Minimum booking hours usually apply | $139 per hour | $139 to $150 per hour | $150 per hour | Let's Get Moving |
| Typical local move, total (national)Average apartment or small home, same city | $1,200 | $1,200 to $1,600 | $1,600 | Paramount Moving |
| Small local move (Ontario/Calgary data)Studio or one-bedroom, minimal furniture | $1,000 | $1,000 to $1,500 | $1,500 | Simple Moves |
| Medium local move (Ontario/Calgary data)Two to three bedroom home | $3,000 | $3,000 to $5,000 | $5,000 | Simple Moves |
| Large local move (Ontario/Calgary data)Four bedrooms and up, or heavy specialty items | $5,000 | $5,000 and up | $5,000 and up | Simple Moves |
| Long distance move, average (national)Quoted by weight and distance, varies widely by route | $4,500 | $4,500 average | $4,500 average | Paramount Moving |
Figures gathered October 2026. Published third-party ranges, not CentFix pricing.
What actually drives a moving quote
Volume is everything. Movers price on how much space your belongings take in the truck and how long they take to load. Two homes with the same number of bedrooms can be a truckload apart, which is why any quote given without an inventory, an in-home visit or a video walkthrough is a guess.
Access is the second lever. A ground-floor house with a driveway loads fast. A fourth-floor walk-up, a condo with a booked elevator window, or a long carry from the truck to the door all add hours, and on an hourly move those hours are your money.
Timing changes the rate. End of month, weekends and the summer peak are the most expensive days to move in Canada. If you can move mid-month on a Tuesday, the same crew often costs less.
- Volume and weight of what is being moved
- Stairs, elevators, long carries and parking access at both ends
- Distance and, for long distance, the route
- Packing: whether the movers pack or you do
- Specialty items: pianos, safes, antiques, large appliances
- Date: month-end, weekends and summer carry premiums
- Whether storage is needed between homes
Local versus long distance pricing
Local moves within the same city are almost always hourly, with a minimum booking of two to four hours plus travel time. The published national rate for two movers and a truck runs $130 to $150 an hour. The total depends entirely on how long the job takes, which is why decluttering before the move is the single most effective way to cut the bill.
Long distance moves are quoted flat, based on the weight of the shipment and the distance. Get the quote in writing and ask whether it is binding. A non-binding estimate can be adjusted after the truck is weighed, and that surprise is the most common long distance moving complaint.
What a fair moving quote should itemize
A moving quote you can compare names the crew size, the hours or the weight, and every surcharge. Verbal ballpark figures over the phone, with no inventory taken, are not quotes.
- Crew size and the hourly rate, or the weight-based price for long distance
- Minimum hours and how travel time is billed
- Whether the quote is binding, for long distance moves
- Charges for stairs, long carries, elevators or shuttle trucks
- Packing services and materials, priced separately
- Valuation coverage for damage, and what it actually pays out
- Fuel surcharges and any date-based premiums
Coverage and what happens when something breaks
Basic mover coverage in Canada is minimal by default, typically a set amount per pound of the damaged item, which values a broken television at a fraction of its worth. Ask what coverage is included, what upgraded valuation costs, and whether your home insurance covers goods in transit — some policies do.
Do a walkthrough at both ends and note damage on the paperwork before the crew leaves. Claims filed days later with no notation on the bill of lading are hard to win.
Keeping the cost down
Move less stuff. Every box you donate or sell before the move is loading time you do not pay for, and on a long distance move it is weight you do not pay to ship.
Pack yourself if you can. Professional packing is worth it for kitchens and breakables, but paying movers to pack books and linens is the most expensive way to fill a box.
Be ready when the truck arrives. Boxes sealed and labelled, hallways clear, elevator booked, parking sorted. An hourly crew that waits while you finish packing is the most frustrating line item on any moving invoice.
Common questions
Published national data puts two movers and a truck at roughly $130 to $150 per hour, with minimum booking hours and travel time usually on top. Larger crews cost more per hour but can reduce the total by finishing faster.
Published national figures put a typical local move at $1,200 to $1,600. Published Ontario and Calgary data runs $1,000 to $1,500 for a small move, $3,000 to $5,000 for a medium home, and $5,000 and up for a large one.
Published national data puts the average around $4,500, but the real number depends on weight and route. Get a binding written quote based on an actual inventory, not a phone estimate.
Mid-month, mid-week, outside the summer peak. Month-ends, weekends and June through August are the most expensive dates across Canada.
No. CentFix does not set prices or do the work. These figures come from the published Canadian sources listed at the bottom of this page. Quotes through CentFix come from independent local movers, with no obligation to hire.
Sources
- Paramount Moving, How Much Do Movers Cost Across Canada
- Let's Get Moving, Moving Cost Calculator Canada
- Simple Moves, Moving Company Rates
Prices move. These figures were gathered in October 2026 and are national or city level references from third-party publishers. CentFix does not set prices or perform the work.