How Much Does It Cost To Hire Movers in Toronto
When it comes time to move, many people wonder what the average price of hiring movers is in Toronto. When hiring moving companies, as with most services, you get what you pay for. Some companies do not supply anything other than the movers; and some just don’t give special care to your possession. In this article, we will outline some of the things to be aware of when getting quotes for moving, and provide you with the average cost to hire professional movers in Ontario.
Know What’s Included in Your Moving Quote
Moving quotes can be provided as hourly rates or per job basis, and it could range dramatically from different moving companies depending on what is included. When you are calling around for moving quotes, keep in mind to ask all relevant questions. Some examples of questions to ask:
- What is included in the moving quote? Will travel time, mileage or fuel be charged extra?
- Will you be providing any moving supplies?
- How many movers are included in the quote?
- Are there extra charges for large items, such as pianos or treadmills?
- Is the moving company fully insured for any damages to your possessions?
- Do you offer discounts to mid-week/mid-month or seasonal moves?
Make sure you look out for telltale signs of common moving scams – avoid fly-by-night operators. You can search the Ontario Government’s Consumer Beware List to see if the moving company have previously been charged for moving scams. For added peace of mind, check reviews from past customers for the moving company and choose a moving company that has a storefront to avoid moving companies that simply change names when they receive numerous complaints.
Average Cost of Movers In Ontario
Based on the hundreds of moves we have done in the Greater Toronto area, below is a chart of the average cost for hiring movers based on the size of your home. These prices should include dollies, moving blankets, stretch wrap (to wrap household furniture with moving parts like doors or drawers), tools which the movers will use to assemble/disassemble furniture and specialty boxes such as wardrobe boxes which are on loan to use for the day of the move. It is for moves within the serviced area specified and gas surcharges (minimum $75) may be applicable to moves outside of the area.
Note that these are average costs for straight forward moves. It is recommended to request for a free estimate from the moving company for a more precise quote. We provide our moving quote in writing with the total cost of the move (i.e. $109/hour and will take 6 hours totaling $654 + tax) rather than just an hourly rate.
| Size of Home (Approx Sq. Ft) | Approx. Time Required | Average Cost of Moving | Recommended Number of Movers |
| Studio (<600 sq. ft.) | 4 hours | $400+ | 2 movers |
| One Bedroom (500-700 sq. ft.) | 4-6 hours | $400+ | 2 movers |
| Two Bedroom (700 – 1200 sq. ft.) | 6+ hours | $600+ | 3 movers |
| Larger Homes (> 1200 sq. ft.) | 8+ hours | $1500+ | 3 movers |
At Boxed Inn, for homes that are larger than 2 bedrooms or over 1500 sq ft, we will generally do a walk-through of the property for a more accurate quote. Specialty items like pianos, exercise equipment (i.e. treadmill) or precious artwork will incur additional charges (minimum $150) and will be quoted on a per job basis. The degree of difficulty (i.e. if stairs are involved) and size/type (i.e. stand up piano versus grand piano) will determine the cost of the extra fee. Another add on service that some moving companies provide is the packing and unpacking of your possessions which will also be quoted on a per job basis.
The maximum load for a truck is approximately an 1800 sq ft home worth of furniture and moving boxes. So if your home is larger than 1800 sq ft – you will generally need more than a single truck load. Options will be to either add a second load if there is enough time (it takes roughly 8 – 10 hours in length to load and unload a 5-ton truck) or adding an extra day to the move. This will be determined on a per project basis and factors include the proximity of the moves and bookings on the next day.
Contact Boxed Inn for your Moving Needs
At Boxed Inn, we are a fully insured, full service moving company servicing local Toronto residents since 2003. Voted by the Readers’ Choice as the Best Moving Company in Etobicoke, we make sure our customers have a seamless and stress-free move. Visit our store in Etobicoke or contact us with any moving inquires you have and one of our representatives will be happy to assist you.
