Moving in Ottawa? Tell us the move, a local crew calls with a quote.
Write what moves, from where to where, and when. We pass the work order to one local moving company, and its crew calls you to price the job.
In short
- 01Two movers with a truck: about $110–130 an hour in Ottawa listings, with a 2–3 hour minimum plus a travel fee.
- 02Stairs, elevator waits and long carries add hours, and hours drive the bill.
- 03Long-distance moves are quoted by volume or weight and distance, with a written estimate.
- 04Ontario rule: a mover can bill at most 10% over the written estimate, unless you agree to extra services or supplies.
Typical ranges
Source Rates listed by Ottawa companies, checked October 2026: U-Haul Moving Help, Ottawa ON; Kijiji Ottawa moving & storage ads (2026); MovingWaldo company pages for Professional Movers Ottawa and UpMove. Parking, permit and winter rules: City of Ottawa, Parking and Temporary construction-related encroachments. Estimate and contract rules: Ontario, Hiring a mover. The company that calls you quotes its own price.
What to ask before you book
- Q1Is the hourly rate for the whole crew and the truck, and how many movers come?
- Q2What is the minimum, and how is travel charged: a flat fee or an extra hour?
- Q3Will you give me a written estimate after seeing the home, in person or on video?
- Q4What changes the price on the day: stairs, a long carry, waiting for the elevator?
- Q5How are my things covered if something breaks in transit, and up to what amount?
Before the visit
- Condo: book the service elevator at both buildings and ask about a deposit and paperwork the building wants from the mover.
- Check the street signs where the truck will park. Unsigned streets allow 3 hours, 7 am to 7 pm.
- List the big pieces room by room: beds, sofas, dressers, appliances, piano, safe.
- Measure the tightest door, stair turn and elevator at both addresses.
- From November to April, clear snow and ice from the driveway, walk and steps the night before.
What a local move costs here
Most moves inside Ottawa are billed by the hour. Two movers with a truck typically list $110–130 an hour, with a minimum of 2 or 3 hours. Travel is charged on top: a flat fee, or one extra hour at the same rate. A bigger home means more hours, a bigger crew, or both.
Two quotes only compare when they use the same base. Check that both include the truck, both count travel the same way, and both state the minimum. The moving cost guide walks through the arithmetic and the published ranges by home size.
Neighbourhood pages
Each suburb moves a little differently. Routes, housing and parking change the hours.
- Kanata: west end along the 417, townhouses and stacked towns near the Town Centre, single-family homes toward Terry Fox Drive.
- Orléans: east end along the Ottawa River, reached by Highway 174, a suburb built on single-family homes.
- Barrhaven: south of the Greenbelt between Highway 416 and the Rideau River, streets of townhouses.
- Piano moving: uprights, grands, stairs and tuning after the move.
Parking the truck
A moving truck parked within the posted rules needs no City permit. On a street with no signs, the general limit is 3 hours between 7 am and 7 pm, and a full house move often runs longer. Look at the signs on both ends before moving day and tell the crew what you find.
Keep the truck at least 9 metres from an intersection and 3 metres from a fire hydrant. Vehicles longer than 6.5 metres may not park overnight on the street, so a two-day move with a big truck needs a driveway or a lot for the night.
A portable storage container is a different case. Any container on the road allowance needs a Temporary Construction-related Encroachment permit from the City. In 2026 a simple permit costs $101, plus a road rental charge of at least $41 a day, and processing takes at least 10 business days.
Condo buildings and elevators
Condo and apartment buildings set their own moving rules. Most ask you to book the service elevator ahead, and many ask for a damage deposit and a certificate of insurance from the moving company. Rules and windows vary by building, so ask your property manager for the moving form at both addresses. Put the elevator times in your work order. The crew plans the truck and the hours around them.
Winter moves
From November 15 to April 1, overnight parking bans apply when the City forecasts 7 cm of snow or more. Keep the truck off the street that night. Check the forecast two days out and keep the move inside daylight hours if you can. Salt the steps and lay down floor runners: wet boots and slush cost time at every door.
July 1 and moves to Quebec
In Quebec, July 1 is the traditional Moving Day, a custom tied to fixed lease terms. Summer is the busiest season for moving companies across Canada. If your move crosses into Gatineau or heads to Montreal around the end of June, send the work order early and keep a second date in mind.
Your rights under Ontario rules
Ontario does not license moving companies, so the paperwork protects you. Get written estimates, ideally three. Any moving contract worth more than $50 must be in writing, with the company’s name, address and contact details, an itemized price list, the total, the dates and the payment terms. The mover cannot charge more than 10% above the contract estimate unless you agree to extra services or supplies. Holding your goods until you pay extra is an unfair practice under the Consumer Protection Act.
The Competition Bureau describes how rogue movers work: a cheap quote by phone, then a different contract on moving day. Ask for the estimate after the company has seen the home, in person or on a video call.
What to write in the work order
Short is fine. The crew calls to fill gaps.
- From and to: the area or postal code at each end.
- Home size and floor: “2-bedroom condo, 9th floor” or “3-bedroom townhouse, two storeys”.
- Heavy or awkward items: piano, safe, treadmill, sectional sofa.
- Access: stairs, elevator booking, long walk from the street.
- Date and how flexible it is.
Fill in the work order at the top of the page. One local moving company gets it and calls you with a quote.
Questions
01How much do movers cost in Ottawa?
Ottawa listings put two movers with a truck at about $110–130 an hour, with a 2–3 hour minimum plus a travel fee. Some larger companies list $150–155 an hour with a 3-hour minimum and one travel hour. The total depends on hours, crew size and travel. See Moving cost in Ottawa.
02What happens after I send the work order?
We pass it to one local moving company that does this kind of job. The company contacts you to ask about the move and give a quote. You decide whether to book.
03Do I need a parking permit for the moving truck?
A moving truck that follows the posted parking rules needs no City permit. A portable storage container on any part of the road allowance needs a City encroachment permit, applied for at least 10 business days ahead.
04Can the mover charge more than the estimate?
Under Ontario rules, a mover can charge at most 10% above the estimate in your contract, unless you need extra supplies or services and agree to the increase. Contracts over $50 must be in writing.
05Can I send a request for a move to Gatineau, Montreal or Toronto?
Pick Long-distance move in the work order and give both cities. Long-distance moves are usually priced by volume or weight and distance, so expect the company to ask for an inventory or a walkthrough.