The honest answer is that it depends on how much you're moving, how easy both homes are to get in and out of, and how far apart they are. But none of that is a mystery. Once you know how removalists work out a price, you can get a good idea of your number before you ring anyone. Here's how it works, with our own rates and maths.
How removalists in Melbourne charge
Most Melbourne removalists, us included, charge by the hour for a truck and crew, with a minimum number of hours and a call-out fee to cover getting the truck to you. Some quote a fixed price instead, which we cover further down.
Our rate is $120/hour with a 2 hour minimum, and a 45 minute call-out charged at the same rate. The call-out is included in every estimate we give you, so it's never a surprise on the day. Bigger homes get the 10 tonne truck and an extra mover or two, which is why the price per hour climbs for three bedrooms and up.
Example prices by home size
These come straight from the pricing engine behind our quote form, for a straightforward move: no stairs, the truck parked close to the door, and about a 20 minute drive between the two homes.
| Home size | Truck and crew | Hours | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| A single item | 6 tonne, 2 movers | $330 | |
| Studio | 6 tonne, 2 movers | $330 to $370 | |
| 1 bedroom | 6 tonne, 2 movers | $370 to $490 | |
| 2 bedroom | 6 tonne, 2 movers | $490 to $670 | |
| 3 bedroom | 10 tonne, 3 movers | $760 to $1,070 | |
| 4+ bedroom | 10 tonne, 4 movers | $1,200 to $1,670 | |
| Small office | 6 tonne, 2 movers | $370 to $490 |
Try your own numbers
Change the size, add stairs or packing, and watch the range move. It's the same maths our quote form uses, just without your addresses.
Instant estimate
$120/hr · 2 hr minAdd suburbs and a date (optional)
Suburbs and date carry over to your quote request. They don't change this estimate.
Estimated price
$490 to $670
About 3.3 to 4.8 hours, 6 tonne truck, 2 movers, 45 minute call-out included.
Add stairs, both suburbs and a date to firm it up.
How we got this number
- Loading and unloading, 2 bedroom home
- 3 hrs to 4.5 hrs
- Drive between addresses (assumed)
- +20 min
- Time on the job
- 3.3 hrs to 4.8 hrs
Charged at $120/hr with a 2 hour minimum, plus the 45 min call-out at the same rate. Rounded to the nearest $10.
Estimate only, assuming a 20 minute drive and easy parking. Your confirmed quote comes after we check the addresses and access.
What changes the price
- How much you're moving. More bedrooms means more to carry, and a bigger truck and crew.
- Stairs. Every flight without a lift adds carrying time, at both the old place and the new one.
- Parking. If the truck can't park close to the door, a long carry adds time. Keep a spot clear on the day if you can.
- The drive between addresses. The time on the road between your two homes is part of the job.
- How ready you are. Boxes packed, sealed and labelled load in seconds. Loose items and half-packed rooms slow everything down.
- Extras. Packing, unpacking, and taking apart and putting back together beds or wardrobes all add time, and they're shown separately in your estimate.
Hourly or fixed price?
With a fixed price you know the number upfront, but the mover has to build in a buffer in case the job runs long, and you pay that buffer whether you need it or not. With an hourly rate you pay for the time the job actually takes. If it goes smoothly, it costs less. The trade-off is less certainty, which is why we always give you a range worked out from your real move. We've written more about this in hourly rate vs fixed price.
How to keep the cost down
- Pack everything before the crew arrives, and label boxes by room.
- Take apart flat-pack furniture yourself if you're handy with an Allen key.
- Sort out parking at both ends so the truck can get close.
- Book the lift or loading bay if you're in an apartment.
- Sell or donate what you don't need before moving day, not after.
For a real range based on your addresses and access, get a free quote in a couple of minutes, or see what's included in our house removals and full pricing breakdown.