Published 2026 prices from selected Ottawa moving companies range from $119 to $189 per hour for two movers and a truck, and from $175 to $259 per hour for three movers and a truck. These advertised rates are starting points, not a citywide average or a complete moving bill. Your moving date, minimum booking time, travel charges, property access, additional services, and applicable taxes all affect the final cost.
To understand how much it will cost to hire movers in Ottawa, consider the complete job: what needs to move, how belongings will leave the first property, where they will be delivered, and which services the crew will handle. This produces a more useful budget than multiplying a headline rate by a rough time estimate.
Pricing note: All amounts are in Canadian dollars. Rates were reviewed in November 2026 and can change. Unless stated otherwise, figures exclude tax and additional charges. The prices and examples below are reference figures from selected published listings, not Next Movers quotations.
Ottawa Movers: Published Hourly Rates
Moving companies package their services differently. Some advertise a lower starting rate for selected weekdays, while others charge according to the season, crew size, truck capacity, or requested date.
| Crew and Truck | Published Hourly Range | What to Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Two movers and a truck | $119 to $189 per hour | Truck size, date restrictions, minimum hours, travel fees, and included equipment |
| Three movers and a truck | $175 to $259 per hour | Expected completion time, truck capacity, minimum hours, and additional services |
These ranges reflect selected advertised prices rather than every available moving service in Ottawa. A small weekday booking may qualify for a starting rate, while a larger move on a busy weekend may be quoted differently.
Request the exact rate for your moving date, pickup address, destination, inventory, and service requirements before comparing estimates.
What Might the Whole Move Cost?
A complete estimate needs more than a bedroom count. Boxes in a storage locker, basement furniture, garage contents, or a long walk between the entrance and the truck can change the workload without changing the size of the home.
The following published examples show how different rates and billing arrangements can produce different totals:
| Move Example | Calculation or Assumptions | Published Charge Before Tax |
|---|---|---|
| One bedroom apartment | Two movers and a truck for three working hours, plus a one hour truck fee, at $119 per hour | $476, including the stated truck fee |
| Two bedroom home | Three movers for four to six hours at published summer and weekend rates | $916 to $1,554, excluding travel |
| Three bedroom house | Three movers and a truck for six working hours, plus a one hour truck fee, at $175 per hour | $1,225, including the stated truck fee |
These examples come from different published pricing arrangements and should not be treated as a single price schedule. The apartment and three bedroom examples include a stated truck fee, while the two bedroom range excludes travel.
They also demonstrate why a larger home does not automatically have a higher quoted total than every smaller home. Date specific rates, crew size, estimated hours, and included charges can change the comparison.
None of these examples guarantees the price of your move. Request an estimate based on your actual belongings and access conditions for Ottawa Moving Services.
Read These Four Parts of the Quote
Crew and Truck
Confirm how many movers are included and which truck will arrive. If the truck cannot accommodate the agreed inventory, an additional trip or a revised vehicle arrangement may be necessary.
Ask the estimator to explain the recommended crew size. For a larger inventory, compare the expected total for the proposed crew rather than considering only the hourly price of an additional mover.
Minimum Booking Time
A quick move may still trigger a minimum charge. Published booking arrangements include examples such as two working hours plus a one hour truck fee, or three working hours plus a one hour travel fee.
Under those specific arrangements, a $119 hourly rate produces a minimum of $357 before tax, while a $150 hourly rate with four total billable hours produces a minimum of $600 before tax. Date premiums, mileage, or requested extras may increase those amounts.
For a small apartment, a few furniture items, or a storage transfer, ask: What is the minimum total payable for my booking?
Travel and Billing Rules
Moving companies do not all start and stop the clock at the same point. Some begin billing when the crew reaches your property and add a separate travel charge. Others include travel from a dispatch location within the billable period.
Have the written estimate distinguish travel between your homes from dispatch or return charges. Also confirm the billing increments and how waiting time is handled.
Ask whether loading, unloading, furniture protection, disassembly, and reassembly are included in the billable moving time. Included materials do not necessarily mean the time spent using them is free.
Taxes
Ontario’s HST rate is 13%. For a taxable local Ottawa moving service, a $1,000 subtotal becomes $1,130 after HST.
Ask for an estimated total that includes applicable tax. If the move crosses a provincial boundary, request the tax treatment for the actual route rather than automatically applying a local Ottawa calculation.
Why Access Can Change the Price
Apartment and Condo Access
Stairs, elevator waits, long hallways, and difficult truck access can increase moving time. A short drive between two apartments can still involve substantial carrying and waiting.
Before requesting a quote, confirm the following details at both properties:
- The service elevator reservation window
- The loading entrance and its opening hours
- The distance between the truck and the unit
- The number of stairs or floors involved
- Any restrictions on moving hours
- Required protection for elevators, doors, and hallways
- Security access, keys, and entry codes
Ask building management about separate moving fees and refundable deposits. Keep these amounts outside the moving company’s estimate unless the written agreement expressly includes them.
Houses, Townhouses, and Outlying Addresses
Describe more than the number of bedrooms. Include basement contents, garden equipment, garage shelving, outdoor furniture, narrow stairs, and entrances that require a longer carrying route.
For a move involving Kanata, Barrhaven, Orléans, Stittsville, or a rural address, ask whether both properties fall within the quoted local service area. Additional mileage or a different travel calculation may apply outside a company’s standard coverage.
Photographs of driveways, stairs, large furniture, and difficult entrances can help the estimator understand conditions before moving day.
Street Parking
Confirm where the truck can legally stop and whether the move requires reserved space, temporary authorization, or another arrangement. Do not assume that a residential parking arrangement automatically covers a moving vehicle.
Clarify who is responsible for arranging access and paying any applicable fee. If the truck must park farther from the entrance, ask how the longer carrying distance will affect the estimate.
Services That Need Separate Pricing
Ordinary moving labour does not necessarily include every service needed for a relocation. Confirm each requested item before treating an estimate as complete.
| Service or Item | Question to Ask |
|---|---|
| Packing assistance | How many packers are included, what is the minimum booking time, and when will packing take place? |
| Boxes and materials | Are cartons, tape, packing paper, and specialty containers included or charged according to use? |
| Furniture assembly | Does the quote cover basic beds and tables, or also wardrobes, bunk beds, and fitness equipment? |
| Heavy or fragile belongings | Are extra crew members, specialized equipment, or separate handling fees required? |
| Storage | What are the storage, handling, access, and later delivery charges? |
| Additional stops | How will another pickup, storage locker visit, or second delivery affect the price? |
| Protection options | What liability limits, exclusions, optional coverage, and claims procedures apply? |
Do not assume that included furniture protection makes all preparation work free. Wrapping, dismantling, and reassembling furniture can still form part of the billable time.
Does the Moving Date Matter?
Yes. Published Ottawa pricing includes examples of lower starting rates on selected weekdays and higher rates during summer, weekends, month end periods, or other busy dates.
If your schedule is flexible, request prices for two or three available dates. Compare the complete estimated amount, including minimum charges and travel, instead of assuming a weekday automatically produces the lowest invoice.
For winter moves, discuss snow clearance, safe walking routes, floor protection, and severe weather policies. Difficult weather and access conditions can extend the work even when the hourly rate is lower.
Local, Gatineau, and Longer Moves
An Ottawa to Gatineau move crosses a provincial boundary, but the pricing method still depends on the mover. Some services use local hourly arrangements for moves across the river, while others apply different travel or booking conditions.
For a move to Toronto, Montreal, Kingston, or farther across Canada, request a route specific estimate. Ask whether the shipment will use a dedicated truck or shared space, whether delivery is a firm date or a window, and what happens if storage becomes necessary.
Do not extend a local hourly rate across a long distance route without confirmation. Shipment size, vehicle allocation, delivery timing, and crew travel can change the pricing structure.
Request an Ottawa Moving Quote
Prepare a move brief that clearly describes the work you need:
- Pickup and destination addresses
- Preferred moving date and acceptable alternatives
- Property type, floors, stairs, and elevator details
- Furniture inventory and approximate box count
- Basement, garage, locker, and outdoor contents
- Parking location and carrying distance
- Heavy, fragile, or oversized items
- Packing, assembly, storage, and additional stop requirements
- Key release times and building access deadlines
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