In short
- Local moves are billed by the hour for crew and truck, plus one flat travel hour; three Ottawa firms print this.
- Where 'local' ends differs by firm: 20 km from City Hall at one firm, a flat travel hour within 30 km at another, a second travel hour from 60 km at a third.
- Load-and-unload time on one Ottawa firm's list: 4–5 hours for a studio or 1-bedroom, 9–12 hours for a 3–4 bedroom house.
- An Ontario mover may bill at most 10% over the written estimate, plus extras you agree to.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2 movers + 20 ft truck | from $129/h | OttawaBestMovers.ca’s price page; its local rule adds one flat travel hour |
| 2 movers + 17 ft truck | $150/h | Move-Ottawa Movers, 3.5 h minimum, 1–2 bedrooms |
| 3 movers + 24 ft truck | $185/h | Move-Ottawa Movers, 5 h minimum, 3–4 bedroom house |
| 3-bedroom house, typical total | $1,645–$2,120 | First Rate Movers’ typical cost, which moves with time of week, truck, crew and access |
Sources. Seen 29.10.2026: OttawaBestMovers.ca, Prices; Move-Ottawa Movers, Our Prices; First Rate Movers, Local Moving in Ottawa. Rules: Ontario, Hiring a mover, seen 29.10.2026; City of Ottawa, Parking, seen 29.10.2026. The company that calls you sets its own price.
What a local move is
A local move starts and ends inside the Ottawa area. A crew and a truck load at the first address, drive, unload at the second and bill the hours. Three Ottawa firms print the same structure: an hourly rate set by crew and truck, a minimum, and one flat travel hour on top.
The edge of “local” depends on the firm. OttawaBestMovers.ca counts a move as local within 20 km of City Hall. First Rate Movers applies its flat travel hour inside 30 km and adds time in 15-minute steps beyond. Move-Ottawa Movers charges two travel hours when the pickup is 60 km or more from its office. Name both addresses in the request, whether in Kanata, Orléans or Barrhaven.
Crew, truck and the clock
OttawaBestMovers.ca starts at $129 an hour for a pair of movers and a 20 ft truck, $139 when the pair takes a 26 ft truck, and $175 for a three-person crew on the 26 ft truck. Move-Ottawa Movers prices 2 movers with a 17 ft truck at $150 and 3 movers with a 24 ft truck at $185.
Read the clock in the contract. One firm starts it on arrival and stops it when the last item is off the truck and the floor runners are back on. Another counts from the moment the crew leaves its office when a move has several stops. Ask for both points in writing. The full tables are on movers’ hourly rates.
How long it takes
Move-Ottawa Movers publishes load-and-unload times before the travel hour: 4–5 hours for a studio or 1-bedroom, 5–6 for a 2-bedroom on the first floor, 6–8 on the second floor, 8–9 for a 2–3 bedroom house and 9–12 for a 3–4 bedroom house. A shared elevator, a far parking spot or a walk-up adds hours.
First Rate Movers prints an example: a 2-person crew at $175 an hour starts in Kanata at 9:00 am and finishes unloading in Orléans at 2:00 pm. Five hours elapsed plus one travel hour is 6 hours, so 6 x $175 = $1,050 plus tax.
Hourly estimate or flat price
An hourly estimate gives the rate, the crew and a range of hours. A written binding estimate fixes the total. OttawaBestMovers.ca says it needs an on-site look to give one, recalculates if the inventory changes, and notes a flat rate usually runs 15% to 20% above the hourly one.
Ontario sets a ceiling either way: the bill can exceed the contract estimate by 10% at most, unless you ask for added supplies or services. The written-contract rules are on moving contracts in Ontario; questions for the call are on the quote checklist.
Lines outside the hourly rate
Move-Ottawa Movers adds $30 per flight of 7 stairs at each address and $45 per piece to reassemble basic items. OttawaBestMovers.ca may charge for walk-ups of 6 stairs or more and for items over 150 lb on stairs. It moves items over 275 lb, such as pianos and pool tables, for a flat $250, main level to main level (piano moving). Packing is billed at the hourly rate and materials cost extra; see packing services.
Parking and buildings
The City’s parking by-law allows 3 hours on unsigned streets between 7 am and 7 pm. It prohibits parking within 9 metres of an intersection, within 3 metres of a fire hydrant and on a roadway 6 metres wide or less. A vehicle over 6.5 metres long cannot stay overnight on the roadway, so unload before dark. Apartments and condos add elevator bookings and time windows; read apartment moving and condo moving.
When to book
Book four to six weeks out for a summer or month-end date, First Rate Movers advises. OttawaBestMovers.ca keeps its special prices for the 5th through the 25th. See the month-by-month guide. For a date inside the next few days, read last-minute movers.
Who sends the crew
One independent Ottawa moving company receives your request from us. It phones, confirms the addresses and the crew size, and bills the move at its own rates.
Questions to ask the company
- How many movers and which truck size do you plan for my home, and who decides if the crew grows on the day?
- Where does your clock start and stop, and is the travel hour flat or does it depend on my addresses?
- Is this an hourly estimate or a written binding estimate, and what is the gap between them?
- Which items are charged apart: stairs, heavy pieces, reassembly, packing materials?
- Do you move electrical appliances, or do I need a technician to disconnect them first?
Have this ready for the call
- Both addresses with floor numbers, and whether there is an elevator, a loading dock or a long carry from the curb.
- A room-by-room list of the large pieces: beds, sofas, wardrobes, appliances, anything over 150 lb.
- Photos of the tightest door, stair turn or hallway at each address.
- Elevator booking times from both buildings, if either is a condo or apartment.
- Your move date and a second date that would also work.
Questions people ask
What counts as a local move in Ottawa?
Each firm sets its own line. OttawaBestMovers.ca treats a move as local when it starts and ends within 20 km of City Hall, First Rate Movers uses a flat travel hour within 30 km, and Move-Ottawa Movers adds a second travel hour when the pickup is 60 km or more from its office.
How long does a local move take?
Move-Ottawa Movers lists load-and-unload times of 4–5 hours for a studio or 1-bedroom, 5–6 hours for a 2-bedroom on the first floor, 8–9 hours for a 2–3 bedroom house and 9–12 hours for a 3–4 bedroom house. Add the travel hour. Access and stairs move these numbers.
Who disconnects appliances with electrical or gas lines?
OttawaBestMovers.ca states its crews will not disassemble anything with electrical connections, such as a treadmill or a fridge with electrical parts. Disconnecting gas or water lines is trade work. Ask the company what it expects you to arrange before the crew arrives.
Where can the truck park on my street?
Under the City’s parking by-law, unsigned streets allow 3 hours between 7 am and 7 pm. Parking is prohibited within 9 m of an intersection and 3 m of a hydrant, and on a roadway 6 m wide or less. Check the signs at both addresses before the date.
Do I pay for the drive between my two addresses?
Yes. First Rate Movers counts the time between the customer’s addresses as moving time, and all three Ottawa price pages add one flat travel hour on top for the crew’s trip to the job and back to base.
