How much do removalists cost in Australia?

Moving to a new house can be both exciting and stressful. You’ll need an extra pair of helping hands to safely transport your family’s belongings. This is where removalists come in. These pros have the right skills and equipment to help move things safely. They can also lift very heavy or delicate appliances and furniture, reducing the risk of injuries. 

In this guide, learn about removalist costs, including the factors that can affect the total price. Also, find out some insider tips on how to save costs and what to look for when hiring removalists. 

What are the average costs of removalists in Australia?

In Australia, hiring removalists can cost between $111 and $200 per hour, which is the standard rate for two men and a truck. However, prices can still change, depending on various factors such as the size of your property, the volume of items, the distance of the move, and whether additional services are required. 

Here are the typical hourly rates for removalists in some cities in Australia: 

Keep in mind that some removalist companies charge based on half-hour or even 15-minute increments. This gives customers more control over their budget, paying only for the exact time spent on their move. 

For example, if a 2-hour move has extended to 10 minutes, companies charging based on a 15-minute increment would charge the job for 2 hours and 15 minutes. This is cheaper than those charging per hour, as the 2-hour and 10-minute job could be rounded up to 3 hours, so the total bill costs more. 

What factors affect the costs of removalists?

Airtasker removalist handling moving tasks inside a residential space

Budgeting is one of the most stressful parts of moving out. Prices can fluctuate, so it helps to know the various things affecting the cost of hiring a removalist. Read on so you can plan your big move with confidence. 

Distance of the move

The longer the distance, the higher the cost. Removalists spend more hours on the road, so labour charges are increasing. You’ll also have to consider the fuel levies or extra fuel costs, especially for moving interstate. Typically, a fuel levy of 5% to 20% is added to the base cost of the move. 

Local moves

Local moves or moving out within the same city only are the most affordable, with removalist hourly rates around $80 to $160. The rates may vary by city and truck size, but small and medium-sized removal trucks of around 3.5T to 8T are most often used. As for the extra fuel charges, there’s an additional 5% for moves under 20 km, while a 10% to 15% increase is charged for moves exceeding 40km. 

Note that prices can increase depending on your home’s accessibility. For instance, removalists may charge extra for the extra time and labour if you live in an apartment with stairs or no lifts. The same goes for those living in townhouses or terrace homes with limited parking and access. 

Regional moves

Also called short interstate moves, regional moves require removalists to travel and move things from one city to another. Since this requires more driving time, you’ll most likely have to pay a flat hourly rate of $140 to $170 plus the travel time. 

Unlike local moves, regional moves require larger trucks, with fuel levies escalating to around 20% for distances over 80 km. Toll fees might add to the cost, which could be around $15 to $50, depending on the route. 

Moving from the rural areas to the metro and vice versa could also pose some logistical challenges because of gravel roads and long driveways. Removalists may need a longer time to load and unload, increasing labour costs. 

Interstate moves

For across-state lines or interstate removal, for instance, Melbourne to Sydney, distance is the most significant cost driver. However, other factors such as the volume of the items, toll fees, accommodation, and meal allowances for drivers and removalists can further increase the cost of interstate removalists. Not to mention, large 10T trucks, 52-ft semi trailers, and 20-ft containers are required for longer moves, and using them could cost around $3,500 to $9,500.

Cross-country moves also involve multiple refuels, which could cost more than $1500, depending on the truck size and distance. Usually, a fuel levy of 10% to 20% is built into the price. 

Moving into a difficult-access home could increase costs like local and interstate moves. Plus, large trucks can have difficulty accessing some inner parts in Sydney or Melbourne, so you’ll have to opt for shuttle trucks, which could add to the cost.

Here’s a comparison table showcasing local and interstate removalists’ costs in Australia for different move types: 

*Standard price of two removalists and a truck

Number of removalists needed

Although most removalist companies offer two men and a truck as the standard package, you may want to request additional manpower for a faster and more efficient move. This could be helpful when moving large, fragile items like a piano or pool table. 

Now, how much would an additional mover cost? It depends on your property type. For instance, a 3-bedroom house requires three movers and a truck, which can cost between $1,430 and $2,210. Meanwhile, for a 4-bedroom house, the standard package of 3 movers and a truck would be around $1,950 and $2,730. 

Requesting an additional removalist outside of the standard package often requires a customer to pay by hourly rates, which are around $175 to $300. 

Type and volume of items

Removalist prices also depend on the weight of your items. Of course, the heavier the items, the higher the average removalist cost because more people and larger trucks are needed for a safe and efficient move. So, if your family needs to move multiple appliances, expect the prices to increase. The same goes for moving mattresses since they’re bulky and require heavy lifting. 

Remember that moving pets and plants can also increase the cost. These fall under moving specialised items, and the fees may vary by type and size of the animal or plant. For reference, some would charge an extra $500 to $5,000 for specialised item moves. 

Access and logistics

Removalist in Airtasker uniform taking measurements during a moving job

As mentioned earlier, homes with limited access can drive up the cost. Moving items is difficult if your property has no elevator, and it may require more labour and specialised equipment. 

Meanwhile, if you move to a house with limited parking, expect higher moving costs because trucks can’t park nearby. The drop-off location will be far, so you’ll be charged a ‘long carry’ fee, as they’ll need to walk farther to load and unload the items. The same applies if your property is on a long, narrow street. 

Timing of the move

Moving on a weekend is the most expensive because most people would prefer to schedule their move during this time to avoid missing work or school. Expect prices to be 20% to 30% more than the base rate during weekends. The same increased rate applies during the peak moving season from November to January. School holidays and vacations happen during these times, so the demand is higher. 

End-of-month dates, too, are considered peak season because most tenants’ lease agreements end during this time. To save costs, you need to plan well and book a moving schedule mid-month. 

Below is a table illustrating the price increase during peak seasons and whether there are discounts and promos available. 

Insurance and liability

Hiring professional removalists gives us peace of mind, not just because of their expertise but also because all the extra equipment provided ensures our belongings are safe while on the move. 

Plus, the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) guarantees that services like these must be provided with due care and skill within a reasonable time. So, if your items are damaged due to their negligence, you may claim compensation even without insurance. 

However, unexpected mishaps can still happen during the move. No matter how careful professional movers are, expect some minor damage to some fragile items. Availing insurance is recommended when hiring removalists since it offers protection for damaged and lost items. 

Removalist insurance

Although most removalist companies include some insurance in their services, you may want to explore other options. The insurance usually only covers goods while inside the moving vehicle. 

Plus, removalists usually have public liability insurance that protects their movers in case they accidentally damage your property or injure a person while doing the job. However, this doesn’t cover your damaged, lost, or stolen items, so getting additional insurance is highly recommended. 

Here are some of the other insurance claims you can choose for your move: 

Basic

Basic insurance is the most affordable but has limited coverage. Even though the removalist is liable for an item that is lost or damaged during transit, the compensation is based on the weight of the item and not its actual value. You’ll still have to cover the remaining cost if the replacement value is higher than your payout, which is the amount that the insurer or removalist agrees to pay you if an item is lost. 

Full value protection

Availing full-value protection is the most expensive option because it’s based on the declared full replacement value of your belongings. The insurance covers the repair, replacement, or cash reimbursement if your items are damaged, lost, or stolen. 

Plus, this coverage applies in the whole process of moving, whether during transit, loading or unloading the items, and even when the items are in temporary storage. So, you won’t stress if there’s an accident, theft or some natural disasters like flood or fire that might occur. 

However, bear in mind that although the removalist or insurer is fully responsible for your belongings, you’ll still have to pay the excess or the contribution you must share to make an insurance claim.

Declared value protection

Declared value protection is based on the total value of your belongings, or the ‘lump sum’. It’s more affordable than full value protection insurance and has the same coverage, but be careful with the declared lump sum. Otherwise, you’ll receive a lower payout than the actual value of your items combined. 

Third-party insurance

Third-party insurance is an insurance claim you’ll purchase separately through an insurance company or broker, not the removalist. This is a good option if you need extra protection for fragile or high-value items because it offers flexible coverage. You can choose whether to avail of an insurance claim that covers transit, loading or unloading, temporary storage, or even international shipping. 

Check out this table to compare each insurance claim and determine which one’s the best for you:

Additional services

Moving involves more than transporting goods from one place to another. You’ll also have to consider packing and unpacking costs, as well as those of furniture removals. Some removalist companies offer these services as add-ons at an extra cost, so remember to ask about them when gathering quotes from various service providers.

Storage could also be a problem during the move, especially if unexpected delays happen. Whether it’s short-term or long-term storage, take this into account when budgeting for a move. 

What are some ways to save on removalists?

Moving can cost a fortune, but you can save money with these tips and tricks:

Declutter before the move

Settling into another home or office is the best time to declutter. Get rid of all the things that are no longer needed and hire removal services to reduce the number of items to move and transport. 

Since the volume and weight of items affect the total cost of hiring removalists, fewer belongings result in a lower quote. Plus, it means less packaging, helping you lower costs easily. 

Major decluttering also helps you identify the things that shouldn’t be included in the move. Aside from dangerous goods, removalist companies often don’t allow moving some items, like cleaning supplies, perishable items, and other high-value objects. You may need to arrange different transportation for these goods.

Pack smartly

Group of labeled moving boxes stacked in a sunlit corner of a room

Although removalists can do the packing, it is an additional service that can further increase costs, so consider doing it yourself. To save money on packing supplies, you could use towels or blankets instead of purely styrofoam and bubble wrap to pack fragile items. 

Additionally, pack strategically by nesting items inside one another. Consider utilising the space within furniture drawers to fit more into fewer boxes. This reduces the items removalists must manage. 

Here’s a tip: Let the kids help move and pack. The tedious work can be made more fun with the little ones helping move things around (and it’s a chance for bonding time!). 

Aim for off-peak seasons

Plan and book during off-peak seasons to reduce costs. Although booking during summer and holidays is convenient, removalists’ costs are much higher during these times. 

Aim for weekdays, specifically Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They’re the cheapest times with removal companies offering competitive prices to attract more customers to book.

What should you look for in a removalist?

Finding the right removalist takes time and effort. In addition to checking their background and experience and reading previous customer reviews, here are some of the most important things to look for:

Compliance

Go to the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) website and check if the removalist is accredited. AFRA sets professional standards for removalists, covering the equipment and vehicles they typically use and staff training. 

Checking a removalist’s history of compliance with heavy vehicle regulations and standards is also important. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has a record of accredited operators from removals companies, and you may check it out in their Active Vehicle Module (AVM) search. 

Fair and detailed quotes

Whether it’s a local or long-distance move, ask for a detailed and accurate cost estimate. It’s illegal for removalist companies to provide an initial quote to a customer without considering other cost implications (such as weight, distance, and extra services), as this enables them to charge much higher fees after the customer gets to pack and move. This is considered a deceptive pricing practice, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). 

Specialised equipment and expertise

As a customer, you want your belongings handled with extra care and effort, so find an expert who can provide you with the right equipment and tools, such as dollies, furniture pads, or moving blankets. It would be great if they could also help you with the disassembly and reassembly since this is another time-consuming part of the move.

Seamless communication

Relocation often takes days, even with local moves. This is why it’s essential to look for removalists with dedicated online platforms where you can easily track the progress. Their platform should at least have shipment tracking, customisable moving timelines, and interactive checklists to make things more streamlined and organised. Plus, having access to these tools gives you peace of mind during a move. 

Make relocation easier with Airtasker

Moving doesn’t have to be a monumental task. The stress of packing, coordinating, and executing a move can be overwhelming, often turning what should be an exciting new chapter into a logistical nightmare. 

At Airtasker, connecting with reliable and verified removalists is easy. Simply post a moving task, receive offers from qualified pros, and choose a Tasker who best fits your needs and budget.

Find the help you need to settle in your new home with Airtasker.