Pricing
What a move actually costs, and why.
Nobody can quote your move from a web page, and any mover who publishes one flat price is either guessing or leaving something out. What we can do is explain exactly how the number is built, so the estimate you get makes sense before you agree to it.
The model
Local moves are priced by the hour.
Two things set the number: how many movers the job needs, and how long it takes. A bigger crew costs more per hour and finishes sooner, which is why sending too few people is rarely the cheaper option.
The clock starts when the crew arrives at your first address and stops when the last box is placed at the last one, including the drive between them.
Crew sizes and what they suit
- 2 movers and a truck Studios and one-bedroom apartments
- 3 movers and a truck Two-bedroom homes and small offices
- 4 movers and a truck Three-bedroom houses
- 5+ movers, one or two trucks Four-bedroom houses and full offices
Rates depend on the date, the crew size and the access at both ends, so they are confirmed in your written estimate rather than published as a single figure. Ask and you will have one the same business day, with no obligation.
What the hourly rate includes
- The truck, the fuel and the mileage
- The crew, with no separate labour charge
- Furniture blankets, straps, dollies and floor runners
- Wrapping and unwrapping every piece of furniture
- Disassembly and reassembly of standard beds and tables
- Basic liability coverage on the goods we carry
What is charged separately
- Packing materials
- Boxes, paper, tape and specialty cartons, charged at cost for what you actually use. Unused boxes come off the invoice.
- Packing labour
- If you want us to pack, that is time on top of the move itself. Booked in advance, usually the day before.
- Heavy and awkward items
- Pianos, safes, gun cabinets, treadmills and slate pool tables need extra people and equipment, so they are quoted separately.
- Long carries and stair flights
- Where the truck cannot park near the door, or the walk-up is high, the extra time is real and we say so up front rather than letting the clock run.
- Shuttle service
- Streets a full-size truck cannot enter need a smaller vehicle and a second load. Common in older city blocks.
What moves the number
The same house can cost two different amounts.
Almost every surprise on a moving invoice comes from one of these. None of them are hidden fees; they are just time, and time is what you are paying for.
Pushes it up
- More or larger items than described when you got the estimate
- Stairs, no lift, or a long walk from door to truck
- Packing needed on the day that was not booked in advance
- Waiting on keys, building management or a lift reservation
Brings it down
- Everything boxed, sealed and labelled before the crew arrives
- A midweek date in the middle of the month
- Parking reserved at both ends so the carry is short
- Furniture emptied, beds stripped, cables already unplugged
Practical
Five things that genuinely save money.
Not tricks. Just the things that shorten the day, told to you by the people being paid by the hour.
- 01
Book midweek and mid-month if you can. The last weekend of the month is the busiest slot in the industry, and it books out first.
- 02
Do your own packing, but do it properly and finish it. A half-packed house on moving day costs more than not packing at all, because the crew boxes it under time pressure.
- 03
Get rid of things before the move, not after. You pay to move every box, including the ones you will never open again.
- 04
Reserve the parking. A permit costs a few dollars and can save an hour of carrying.
- 05
Be honest about the hard items when you ask for the estimate. A piano discovered on the day costs more than a piano quoted in advance.
Pricing questions
Asked before every booking
More general questions are on the main FAQ, and the contractual detail is in our terms.
How much does a local move cost?
Local moves are priced by the hour, based on how many movers the job needs and how long it takes. A studio with two movers is a very different number from a four-bedroom house with a five-person crew, which is why we quote each job rather than publish one price. Tell us the size of the home and the access at both ends and you will have a written figure the same business day.
Is the hourly rate the whole cost?
For most local moves, yes. The rate covers the truck, the fuel, the crew and all the moving equipment. Packing materials, packing labour and specialty items like pianos are listed separately on the estimate so you can see exactly what each one adds.
When does the clock start and stop?
It starts when the crew arrives at your first address and stops when the last item is placed at the last address, including the drive between them. It does not run while the crew takes a break.
Do you charge for travel time?
Most local movers add a travel charge to cover getting the truck to you and back to the yard. Whatever applies to your job is named on your written estimate before you book, not added afterwards.
Is there a minimum charge?
Yes. Sending a crew and a truck has a fixed cost regardless of how small the job is, so there is a minimum. It is stated on your estimate, and for very small jobs it is often cheaper to book labour-only loading and unloading instead.
Can the price change on moving day?
Only if the job is not the job we quoted: significantly more items, access that turns out to be different, or packing that was not booked. If that happens, the crew leader tells you what it changes before continuing, not afterwards on the invoice.
Do I have to pay a deposit?
Seeing the estimate costs nothing and there is no obligation to book. Deposit terms for a confirmed date are set out on our terms page and repeated on your written estimate.
How do I get an exact price?
Send the quote form or call. For larger homes we may do a short video or in-person walkthrough, which takes a few minutes and makes the estimate accurate rather than approximate.
Ready for your next move?
Tell us where you're going. You'll get a written estimate and a real person to plan the day with.
