Removalist Cost in Australia: Local and Interstate Moving Prices (2026)
16 September 2026
Removalists in Australia charge $120 to $180 an hour for two movers and a truck. A local one-bedroom move is $400 to $800, a two-bedroom is $700 to $1,400 and a three-bedroom is $1,200 to $2,500. Interstate moves run from $2,000 upward. Here is the breakdown, what pushes the price up, and how to avoid a surprise bill on moving day.
Prices are typical 2026 metro ranges including GST.
Removalist hourly rates
| Crew | Hourly rate |
|---|---|
| 2 removalists + truck | $120 - $180 |
| 3 removalists + truck | $170 - $240 |
| 4 removalists + truck | $220 - $300 |
| Minimum charge | 2 - 3 hours |
| Call-out / travel (depot to you and back) | $80 - $200 or 30 - 60 minutes charged |
Local move prices
| Property | Typical hours | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 2 - 4 | $400 - $800 |
| 2 bedroom | 4 - 6 | $700 - $1,400 |
| 3 bedroom | 6 - 9 | $1,200 - $2,500 |
| 4 bedroom | 8 - 12 | $2,000 - $3,500 |
| 5+ bedroom | 10 - 14 | $2,800 - $5,000 |
Assumes ground-floor or lift access at both ends and a move within the same city.
Interstate move prices
| Route (2 bedroom) | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Sydney - Melbourne | $2,000 - $4,500 |
| Sydney - Brisbane | $2,000 - $4,500 |
| Melbourne - Brisbane | $2,500 - $5,500 |
| Sydney / Melbourne - Adelaide | $2,500 - $5,000 |
| East coast - Perth | $4,000 - $9,000 |
Interstate is usually quoted by cubic metre ($100 - $200 per m³ depending on distance) rather than by the hour. A two-bedroom home is 20 to 30 m³; a three-bedroom is 35 to 50 m³. Backloading (sharing a truck already going that way) is cheaper but slower and less flexible on dates.
Extras and add-ons
| Service | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Full packing service (2 - 3 bedroom) | $300 - $1,000 |
| Boxes and packing materials | $100 - $300 |
| Piano (upright) | $300 - $600 |
| Pool table | $400 - $800 |
| Single item delivery (fridge, couch) | $100 - $300 |
| Storage (per month, per m³) | $10 - $25 |
| Weekend / public holiday surcharge | +20% - 40% |
| Stairs surcharge (per flight, some companies) | $50 - $100 |
What makes a move cost more
- Access. Stairs, long carries from the truck, no parking, tight driveways. Every extra minute is charged.
- Not being packed. Removalists arriving to an unpacked house will pack it - slowly, at the hourly rate.
- Heavy and awkward items. Pianos, safes, pool tables, large fridges, glass tables.
- Disassembly. Beds, wardrobes and desks that need taking apart and putting back together.
- Time of month. End of month and weekends are peak. Mid-week, mid-month is 20 to 40 per cent cheaper.
- Distance between addresses. Travel time is charged.
- Weather. Rain slows everything down.
Getting an accurate removalist quote
- List every large item and count the boxes. A vague “three-bedroom house” gets a vague price. A list gets a real one.
- Describe both addresses - floor, lift, stairs, parking, distance from the door to where a truck can stop.
- Get three quotes. Post the job once with your inventory and both addresses and local removalists will price it.
- Ask whether it’s hourly or fixed. Fixed-price quotes remove the risk of a slow day. Hourly is fine for small, well-organised moves.
- Ask about the minimum charge, travel time and surcharges for stairs, heavy items and weekends.
- Check insurance. Public liability is standard; transit insurance for your goods is often extra.
- Read reviews for damage and no-show complaints. These are the two things that go wrong.
How to keep the bill down
- Be fully packed and labelled before the crew arrives
- Disassemble furniture yourself the night before
- Move small and fragile items in your own car
- Reserve parking at both ends
- Book a weekday, not the last weekend of the month
- Sell or donate what you don’t want before you move it
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