In short
- Ottawa Pro Movers' flat-rate ranges start at $1,500 for Montréal and reach $3,700 for Québec City; Toronto runs $2,150–3,500.
- Move-Ottawa lists 17-foot truck starting prices of $1,450 to Montréal and $2,099 to Toronto, plus HST.
- Long-distance prices follow the load and the distance. Hourly rates apply to local moves.
- Ontario law holds the final bill to the contract estimate plus 10%, unless you approve extra supplies or services.
- Ontario does not licence movers, so the contract and the insurance wording are your protection.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ottawa to Montréal | $1,500–2,400 | Ottawa Pro Movers, flat-rate range |
| Ottawa to Kingston | $1,700–2,600 | Ottawa Pro Movers, flat-rate range |
| Ottawa to Toronto | $2,150–3,500 | Ottawa Pro Movers, flat-rate range |
| Ottawa to Québec City | $2,200–3,700 | Ottawa Pro Movers, flat-rate range |
| Ottawa to Montréal, 17-ft truck | from $1,450 | Move-Ottawa starting price plus HST; 20-ft from $1,950, 24-ft from $2,350 |
| Ottawa to Toronto, 17-ft truck | from $2,099 | Move-Ottawa starting price plus HST; 20-ft from $2,880, 24-ft from $3,950 |
Sources. Checked 29.10.2026. Ottawa Pro Movers, Moving costs 2026 (seen 29.10.2026); Move-Ottawa Movers, Our prices (seen 29.10.2026). Rules: Ontario, Hiring a mover (updated 19.06.2026, seen 29.10.2026). Other pages seen 29.10.2026: First Rate Movers, Local moving; OttawaBestMovers.ca, Prices; Canada Revenue Agency, Line 21900 moving expenses; Wikipedia, Highway 417 and Highway 401. Each figure belongs to the firm that printed it. The company that calls you sets its own price.
Moves that leave the city
A long-distance move starts in Ottawa and ends in another city. The common routes run to Toronto by Highway 416 and the Highway 401 corridor, east on Highway 417 to the Québec border and on to Montréal and across the river to Gatineau. Ottawa Pro Movers also prints ranges for Kingston and Québec City, and Move-Ottawa publishes a service map for Montréal, Kingston and Toronto.
The job is built differently from a local move. A local crew bills hours. A long-distance crew prices the load and the road. Read moving cost in Ottawa for the hourly side and long-distance moving cost for the route table.
What the company looks at
The quote starts with the inventory. The company wants rooms, large pieces, boxes already packed, and anything that needs special handling such as a piano or a safe. It wants the two addresses, with stairs, elevators, driveways and the walk from the door to the truck. It wants a date range, because the truck and crew schedule drives price and availability.
Move-Ottawa states that a binding estimate needs an on-site visit and that a phone number alone cannot give one. Send photos of the rooms with the request. The more complete the list, the less the final number moves.
Estimate types you may meet
- Binding estimate. A fixed price for the listed load. Move-Ottawa describes it as the price you quote being the price you pay.
- Non-binding estimate. A forecast based on the listed load. The final figure depends on what goes on the truck.
Whatever the type, the Ontario 10% cap from the summary above applies. The full contract list is on moving contracts in Ontario.
What drives the number
Truck size sets the base. Move-Ottawa shows the effect: Ottawa to Montréal starts at $1,450 in a 17-foot box, $1,950 in a 20-foot box and $2,350 in a 24-foot box. Ottawa to Toronto starts at $2,099, $2,880 and $3,950 for the same trucks. Those are starting prices plus HST.
Packing, advanced disassembly and heavy items add lines. Stairs and long carries add crew time at either end. A date at the end of the month, or on the Friday before a long weekend, can raise the price, as one Ottawa firm states on its price page.
Insurance and protection
Ontario does not licence moving companies. The province tells consumers to check references, ask about insurance coverage, find out who is responsible for damaged or lost items and ask to visit any storage facility. It suggests checking whether the home insurance policy covers the goods. Read the valuation wording line by line. See moving insurance and valuation for the terms to look for.
Timing and the Ottawa season
Winter adds travel risk on the highways and slower loading on icy driveways, covered in winter moving in Ottawa. If your lease or closing date is fixed, tell the company early. More on dates is in timing for a move.
A written quote should include
Both addresses, the load description, the truck size and the crew size, the price type, the pickup and delivery dates or windows, the insurance terms, the payment terms and any stair, packing or material lines. The province adds its own must-haves for any contract over $50; they are on the contracts page linked above.
Who handles a long move
Ottawa Moving Desk sends the request to one independent company. It asks to see the load and writes its own quote. The form on this page starts it.
Questions to ask the company
- Is the price a binding flat rate or an estimate, and who sees the load before you write it?
- Which truck size and how many movers does the quote assume?
- What does the insurance cover per item or per pound, and what is excluded?
- Is the delivery date fixed, or a window of several days?
- What happens to the price if the load grows or access at the new address is difficult?
Have this ready for the call
- Write the room-by-room inventory with large items, and note anything over 275 lb.
- Photograph storage areas such as the garage, attic and shed that a quick walkthrough might miss.
- Confirm both addresses, with floor, elevator access and the length of the carry from door to truck.
- Decide what travels with you: documents, jewellery, medication, chargers.
Questions people ask
How is a long-distance move priced?
The company prices volume or weight, distance and the crew time at both ends. Ottawa firms print flat-rate ranges by route, as in the table above. An hourly rate belongs to local moves, so ask which method the quote uses.
What is a binding estimate?
A binding estimate fixes the price for the load listed in the document. Move-Ottawa states that a binding quote needs an on-site visit. Ask each company to say in writing which type it gives you and what voids it.
How far ahead should I book a move out of Ottawa?
Once the date is firm, book. First Rate Movers names four to six weeks for summer and month-end dates, and OttawaBestMovers.ca says its prices may change on weekends, at month-end and in high season. The company that calls tells you which dates are open for your route.
Can I share a truck with other customers?
Move-Ottawa advertises consolidated moves between Montréal, Ottawa, Kingston and the Greater Toronto Area. A shared load suits a small volume and a flexible date. Delivery then follows the truck’s schedule, so ask for the window.
Can the moving fee be a tax deduction?
The Canada Revenue Agency allows moving expenses when the new home is at least 40 km closer to a new work location or school. Transportation and storage of household goods are on its list. Keep the contract and the invoice.