In short
- Ottawa averages 21.3 C in July and minus 9.6 C in January, with 184.5 cm of snow a year (Environment Canada, 1991–2020).
- Snow is rare from May to September and heavy from December to March: 42.7 cm in December, 44.5 cm in January.
- Mid-month weekdays are the easy slots: the last weekend of the month and the first of the next are the hardest to book.
- Ottawa firms print peak rules: weekends, month-end, long-weekend Fridays and May to September can cost more.
- Freezing rain falls on 9.8 days a year on average, mostly November to March.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2 movers + truck, July–August special | $149/h | Move-Ottawa Movers’ price page, 2.5 h minimum, on the page opened 29.10.2026 |
| 2 movers + 17 ft truck, standard card | $150/h | Same page, 3.5 h minimum; rates may rise on weekends, month-end and Fridays before long weekends |
| 2 movers + truck, standard card | $150/h | Men In Trucks Moving, Kanata page; peak dates are month-end, weekends and May to September |
Sources. Seen 29.10.2026: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020, Ottawa (City); Move-Ottawa Movers, Our Prices; OttawaBestMovers.ca, Prices; Men In Trucks Moving, Kanata movers and Ottawa moving tips; First Rate Movers, Local moving; City of Ottawa, Winter Weather Parking Bans. The company that calls you quotes its own price.
Weather by month
Environment Canada’s 1991–2020 normals for Ottawa (City) show what each month asks of a crew.
| Month | Mean temp (C) | Snow (cm) | Rain (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -9.6 | 44.5 | 27.0 |
| February | -8.1 | 41.0 | 17.0 |
| March | -2.2 | 30.9 | 32.5 |
| April | 6.2 | 7.5 | 72.2 |
| May | 13.8 | 0.0 | 80.0 |
| June | 18.8 | 0.0 | 95.1 |
| July | 21.3 | 0.0 | 92.3 |
| August | 20.1 | 0.0 | 87.4 |
| September | 15.6 | 0.0 | 87.0 |
| October | 8.8 | 1.7 | 88.6 |
| November | 2.0 | 16.1 | 57.1 |
| December | -5.1 | 42.7 | 35.3 |
The year totals 184.5 cm of snow and 771.5 mm of rain. Freezing rain days, the ones that coat steps and driveways in ice, average 3.2 in January, 2.4 in December and 1.7 in February, 9.8 a year in all.
Where each season lands
May, September and October have mild mean temperatures of 13.8, 15.6 and 8.8 C and almost no snow. They are the easiest months for a crew and a truck. September is also the busiest start for students, and Men In Trucks Moving says September 1 in student neighbourhoods is harder to book than most dates.
June to August are warm and wet. July averages 21.3 C, and July has 17 days on average with a humidex of 30 or above. That makes a third-floor carry with a sofa hard work for a crew, which is one reason a moving day starts early. Summer is also the busy season on price pages. Men In Trucks Moving lists May to September as peak. Move-Ottawa Movers ran a July and August special of $149 an hour with a 2.5-hour minimum on the page we opened.
November to March are cold, with 16 to 45 cm of snow a month from November to February and a monthly mean from 2.0 C down to minus 9.6 C. Winter weather parking bans, possible from November 15 to April 1, are on the winter moving page. Icy steps slow a crew.
April averages 6.2 C with 7.5 cm of snow and 72.2 mm of rain. Melt and mud arrive together. Expect wet boots, wet cardboard and the occasional late snowfall.
Inside the month: dates and days
Firms print more about the day of the month than about the month. OttawaBestMovers.ca says its special prices run from the 5th to the 25th of every month and may change at month-end, on weekends and in high season. Move-Ottawa Movers says rates may rise at peak periods including weekends, month-end and Fridays before long weekends. Men In Trucks Moving names the last weekend of the month and the first weekend of the next as the two hardest slots to fill.
A mid-month Tuesday to Thursday is the safest ask for price and availability. If your lease or closing sits on the 31st or the 1st, book earlier and ask for a written rate for that exact date. See July 1 moving day for that date.
Booking lead times
First Rate Movers recommends booking as soon as the date is confirmed, ideally 4–6 weeks ahead, especially in summer or at the end of the month. For a date inside the next week, see last-minute movers. To see what an hour costs, open movers’ hourly rates and moving cost in Ottawa.
Choosing your date
Order your priorities. If price comes first, aim for a mid-month weekday outside May to September. If weather comes first, aim for September or May. If you rely on a lease end, ask the company for a rate on that date and keep a back-up date. Condo and apartment buildings often book elevators ahead; see apartment moving.
Who answers about your date
Ottawa Moving Desk sends your dates to one independent mover. Its office checks the calendar for the dates you gave and quotes its own rate for that week.
Questions to ask the company
- Does your hourly rate change for my date: weekend, month-end, summer?
- How far ahead do you book for the month I picked?
- If the weather turns on the day, what is your rule for rescheduling?
- Is a weekday earlier in the month cheaper for the same crew?
- What is your deposit and cancellation rule for this date?
Have this ready for the call
- Two or three dates in order of preference, one of them a mid-month weekday.
- Your lease end or closing date, and the keys or elevator times attached to it.
- A note if you can move out and in on different days.
- Home size and floor at both addresses.
Questions people ask
What is the cheapest month to move in Ottawa?
The Ottawa price pages we opened print no price by month. The patterns they print are peak surcharges for weekends, month-end and May to September, and a July–August special at one firm. Compare dates with a written quote for each, because the same crew can cost more on a Saturday.
Is it safe to move in January?
Movers work all winter, but January is the coldest month, at minus 9.6 C on average, and wind chill falls below minus 20 on 14.7 days. Snow and ice slow every carry. Read the winter page for parking bans and snow rules before you pick a January date.
How early should I book for summer?
First Rate Movers recommends 4–6 weeks ahead in the summer and at month-end. Men In Trucks Moving says September 1 is harder than most in student areas. Book once you have a confirmed date and ask the company what notice it needs for your month.
Does rain delay a move?
Rain in Ottawa is steady through the warm months: 87–95 mm in each of June through October. It rarely stops a move, but it slows carries over wet steps and makes cardboard weak. Ask the company how it protects furniture on the walk to the truck.
Is there a month with no snow?
From May to September the average snowfall is 0.0 cm. October averages 1.7 cm and April 7.5 cm, so those months mostly bring cold rain with a snowy day now and then. November averages 16.1 cm.
