How much do removalists cost in Brisbane?
Many Brisbane removalists charge by the hour, so the honest answer is that the cost of a move comes down to three things: how long the loading, driving and unloading take, the travel to and from the job, and any extras that apply to your property or items.
Our hourly rates are $125 to $169 per hour + GST, depending on the type of move and truck size, for a moving truck and two professional movers, with blankets, pads, stretch wrap, straps, trolleys and basic dismantling included. Every charge is listed on our pricing page, and you can build an estimate there.
Two quotes with the same hourly rate can still produce very different totals. This guide explains where the differences hide, so you can compare like with like.
The hourly rate: what's actually included
An hourly rate only means something once you know what it buys. When you compare quotes, check each of these:
- Crew and truck. How many movers, and what size truck? Ours start with a moving truck and two professional movers, with additional movers and larger trucks priced in your quote.
- Equipment. Are blankets, furniture pads, stretch wrap, trolleys and straps included or charged separately? Ours are included at no extra charge, with bubble wrap and dish paper on request.
- Dismantling. Is taking apart and reassembling beds and tables part of the rate? Basic dismantling and reassembly, and the tools for it, are included in ours.
- Time increments. Is time charged by the quarter hour, the half hour or the full hour? We charge in 30-minute increments.
A cheaper rate that charges separately for wrap and blankets, or rounds every job up to the next hour, can end up costing more.
Travel: depot-to-depot or a call-out fee
Travel is the line most often missing from a quick comparison. Removalists usually charge for it in one of two ways, and a quote should say which applies.
- Depot-to-depot. Time runs from when the crew leaves the depot until it returns. Our depot is in Slacks Creek.
- Call-out fee. A set fee for travel, with the hourly rate running from arrival at your pick-up address until the move is finished at your last drop-off.
We use either basis depending on the job and location, and your quote states which. Additional travel charges may apply for outer or remote areas, and they are confirmed before booking. When you compare quotes, ask each removalist how travel is charged and roughly what it adds for your addresses.
Extras that change the total
Some properties and items take more time, more people or more equipment, and most removalists charge for them. Ask every removalist to list their extras up front. Ours are published, and each is confirmed before you book:
- Appliances, per item: $48 including GST
- Heavy items over 90kg, per item: $48 including GST
- Apartment stairs, per flight of 10 steps: $48 including GST
- Each additional pick-up or drop-off: $48 including GST
- Each extra loading or unloading trip: $48 including GST
- A driveway the truck cannot access: $48 including GST
- Hoisting, per assessed item: $48 including GST
- Piano relocation: $149 including GST, subject to an access assessment
- Waste disposal: by weight and type, minimum $95 including GST
Parking, toll and permit costs are passed on where they apply. Waiting time is charged at the quoted hourly rate when loading or delivery can't go ahead on time for reasons outside the crew's control, such as keys not being ready or a lift not being booked.
Worked examples
At our starting rate of $125 + GST and our top rate of $169 + GST, the hourly part of a move works out like this:
- 3 hours: $375 to $507 + GST
- 5 hours: $625 to $845 + GST
- 8 hours: $1,000 to $1,352 + GST
Now add the property. Say a move takes 4 hours at $125 + GST, which is $550 including GST. The new apartment is up one flight of stairs, and there is a washing machine to move. That adds $48 for the flight and $48 for the appliance, for $646 including GST before travel. These are examples only. Your quote reflects your rate, your travel basis and the extras that apply.
What drives the hours? The volume of furniture and cartons, how far the truck can park from each door, stairs and lifts, and whether everything is packed and ready when the crew arrives.
Deposits, changes and the fine print
The terms behind a quote matter as much as the number. Before you book any removalist, check:
- The deposit. Ours is two hours at your quoted hourly rate, and it comes off your final invoice.
- When the balance is due, and how you can pay. Ours is payable on completion by cash, bank transfer, Visa, Mastercard or American Express, with any card surcharge shown before you pay.
- Cancellation and rescheduling. You can cancel or reschedule ours without a fee with at least 48 hours' notice. Later cancellations incur a fee of three hours at your booked hourly rate.
- How long the quote is valid. Ours are valid for 30 days.
- Weekend and public holiday moves. Ask whether they cost more. Ours are available, with any additional charges confirmed before booking.
- Insurance. We hold public liability insurance, and goods in transit insurance that covers damage caused by our negligence. It isn't cover for your belongings against every risk, so for valuable items we recommend your own transit insurance or checking your home and contents policy.
The full details are in our Terms & Conditions.
How to get an accurate quote
A quote is only as good as the information behind it. The more a removalist knows before the day, the fewer surprises there are on it. When you request a quote, have ready:
- Both addresses, including floor levels
- Your preferred date, and whether it is flexible
- A rough inventory, or the rooms and large pieces that are moving
- Stairs, lifts, long carries, steep or narrow driveways and parking at each end
- Appliances, pianos, safes and anything over 90kg
- Whether you want packing, unpacking or junk removal
Telling us about access issues when you book lets us allocate the right crew, truck and equipment, and keeps your quote accurate. Our team aims to call you back within five minutes during business hours (8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday).
Ways to keep your moving costs down
With an hourly rate, every minute saved is money saved. The biggest savings are in your hands:
- Move less. Clear out what you don't want first. Brisbane City Council runs a free kerbside large item collection once a year in each suburb, and our junk removal can take the rest.
- Be packed and ready. Have everything packed, labelled and sealed before the crew arrives, or book our packing service ahead of time.
- Get the truck close. Book lifts, loading zones and parking at both properties so the truck can park near the door.
- Tell us everything up front. Stairs, long carries, appliances and heavy items, so the right crew and truck are allocated the first time.
- Clear the path. Move cars and bins from the driveway, and stack cartons near the front door the night before.
For the full timeline, see our moving checklist.
Seven questions to ask every removalist
- How many movers and what size truck does the hourly rate include?
- Are blankets, wrap, trolleys and basic dismantling included?
- How is travel charged, depot-to-depot or as a call-out fee?
- What time increments do you charge in?
- Which extras apply to my move, and what does each cost?
- What deposit do you need, and what are the cancellation terms?
- What insurance do you hold, and what does it cover?
