How Much Does Moving Cost in Montreal in 2026?

What Does Moving Actually Cost in Montreal in 2026?

Whether you're relocating from a cozy studio in the Plateau to a 5½ in Villeray, or upsizing from a Verdun walk-up to a family home in Ahuntsic, the number-one question is always the same: how much is this going to cost? Up & Out local moves use package pricing based on crew size, truck setup, hours, travel, access, packing, and specialty items.

For 2026, Up & Out's confirmed local packages are Essential at $140/hour plus $140 travel, Pro at $180/hour plus $180 travel, and Elite at $290/hour plus $290 travel. Taxes are not included.

Average Hourly Rates for Montreal Movers in 2026

Most Montreal moving companies price local moves by the hour. Up & Out uses three confirmed 2026 packages:

Up & Out 2026 Package Rates

• Essential: 2 movers and a 20 ft truck at $140/hour plus a $140 travel fee.
• Pro: 3 movers and a 20 ft truck at $180/hour plus a $180 travel fee.
• Elite: 4 movers and 2 × 20 ft trucks at $290/hour plus a $290 travel fee.

Up & Out's Essential package has a 3-hour minimum, even for small moves. Travel is listed separately, so ask about this when comparing quotes. At Up & Out, our hourly rates and travel fees are transparent — what we quote is what you pay before tax and any selected add-ons.

Tipping is customary in Montreal but not mandatory. Most people tip $20–$40 per mover for a standard local move, or more if the crew handled a particularly difficult job — say, wrestling a sectional sofa down a narrow spiral staircase in a Mile End triplex.

Moving Cost by Apartment Size in 2026

The size of your apartment is the single biggest factor in your final bill. Here's a realistic range for local moves within the Montreal area (under 30 km), including labour, truck, and basic equipment:

Studio / 1½

• Typical Up & Out setup: Essential package, often near the 3-hour minimum
• Crew: 2 movers
• Time estimate: 2 – 3 hours
• Notes: A straightforward move — bed, desk, a few boxes. Ideal if you're a student moving near Concordia or a young professional in a Griffintown micro-unit.

1 Bedroom / 3½

• Typical Up & Out setup: Essential package, often 3-4 hours depending on access
• Crew: 2 movers
• Time estimate: 3 – 4 hours
• Notes: A typical one-bedroom in Rosemont or Hochelaga with a couch, dining set, queen bed, and 15–25 boxes.

2 Bedrooms / 4½

• Typical Up & Out setup: Essential or Pro package, often 4-6 hours depending on inventory
• Crew: 2 – 3 movers
• Time estimate: 4 – 6 hours
• Notes: The most common apartment size in Montreal. Think a couple in a Plateau 4½ with a full living room, two bedroom sets, and a washer-dryer combo. A third mover can shave an hour or more off the job.

3 Bedrooms / 5½

• Typical Up & Out setup: Pro package, often 5-7 hours depending on stairs and volume
• Crew: 3 movers
• Time estimate: 5 – 7 hours
• Notes: Families in Côte-des-Neiges, Outremont, or Parc-Extension typically fall in this range. More furniture, more boxes, likely a kids' room worth of gear.

4+ Bedrooms / 6½ and up

• Typical Up & Out setup: Pro or Elite package, often 6-10 hours or a two-day plan
• Crew: 3 – 4 movers
• Time estimate: 6 – 10 hours (sometimes two days)
• Notes: Large family homes in NDG, Town of Mount Royal, or Westmount. May require two trucks. Expect the higher end if you have a garage full of items, a home gym, or large outdoor furniture.

These ranges assume standard furniture and household items. If you have specialty items, stairs, no elevator, or a long carry from door to truck, the estimate usually increases because the move takes longer.

What Affects Your Moving Price?

Your final invoice depends on more than just apartment size. Here are the factors that push the price up — or help you keep it down.

Stairs and Walk-Ups

Montreal is famous for its triplexes, and most of them don't have elevators. If you're moving out of a 3rd-floor walk-up on rue Fabre in the Plateau and into another walk-up on avenue De Lorimier in Rosemont, your movers are hauling every single item up and down those narrow outdoor staircases. Stairs or no elevator typically add 0.5-1.0 hours, depending on the number of flights and how tight the turns are.

Spiral staircases — iconic in Montreal but a mover's nightmare — can cost even more. If your couch doesn't fit around the turns, the crew may need to use ropes or a balcony lift, which adds time and cost.

Elevator buildings (think condos in Griffintown, Le Sud-Ouest, or downtown towers) avoid stair fees, but you'll typically need to reserve the freight elevator in advance and may need to pay a building deposit of $100–$500. Still, elevator moves tend to go faster overall.

Distance Between Locations

A move from Saint-Henri to Verdun (5 km) costs less than a move from Pointe-Claire to Rivière-des-Prairies (45 km). For local moves, the main cost impact of distance is the time spent driving the loaded truck between addresses. For longer moves that cross off the island — to Laval, Longueuil, Brossard, or further — companies may add a distance surcharge or switch to flat-rate pricing.

Time of Year

This is the biggest scheduling variable most people underestimate. Up & Out keeps the same package rates year-round, but January usually has more available crews and July 1st can sell out months ahead. If you have flexibility on your moving date, you get more choice.

Packing and Unpacking Services

If you want the movers to pack your belongings for you, Up & Out estimates packing add-ons by home size: studio $125-$250, 1-bedroom $200-$400, 2-bedroom $350-$550, 3-bedroom $500-$750, and 4+ bedrooms $650-$1,000.

Self-packing saves money. Grab free boxes from the SAQ (wine and spirit boxes are sturdy and perfectly sized for books) or buy them from Canadian Tire, Walmart, or a moving supply store. A typical 4½ needs 30–50 boxes, costing $75–$150 if purchased new.

Specialty and Heavy Items

Certain items require extra care, equipment, or manpower:

• Upright piano: $150 – $300 surcharge
• Grand piano: $300 – $600+ (may require specialized piano movers)
• Pool table: $200 – $450 (disassembly and reassembly)
• Hot tub / spa: $400 – $800+
• Gun safe / large safe: $150 – $400
• Treadmill or elliptical: $75 – $150

Always disclose specialty items when requesting a quote. Up & Out usually estimates specialty handling as an extra 0.5-1.5 hours, depending on weight, access, and equipment needs.

Peak Season Availability: The July 1st Effect

If you're not from Quebec, here's something you need to know: July 1st is Quebec's unofficial Moving Day. Historically, most residential leases in the province expire on June 30, which means hundreds of thousands of households across Quebec move during the same narrow window. In Montreal alone, an estimated 100,000+ people change addresses in the last week of June and first week of July.

The result? Availability plummets. And if you haven't booked your movers by April, you may be scrambling.

Peak Season Details (June 15 – August 31)

• June 15 – June 29: Demand climbs and preferred morning slots start disappearing.
• June 30 – July 3: The busiest moving window in Canada. Crews, trucks, elevators, and parking windows can be fully booked.
• July 4 – August 31: Still busy, especially around weekends and student move-in dates.

The streets around the Plateau, Mile End, Villeray, and Rosemont turn into a moving carnival during this period — trucks double-parked on Saint-Laurent, mattresses strapped to car roofs, and couches abandoned on sidewalks (the city actually deploys extra pickup trucks for curbside furniture during la semaine du déménagement).

If your lease forces a July 1st move, book your movers as early as possible — ideally by March or April. At Up & Out, we start taking July reservations in January, and our most popular time slots fill up fast. Call us at 438-900-9990 to lock in your date.

Long-Distance Moving Costs from Montreal

Planning a move beyond the greater Montreal area? Long-distance moves are typically quoted as flat rates based on the volume of your belongings and the distance. Here are approximate ranges for a standard 2-bedroom household:

• Montreal to Quebec City (250 km): from $750 – $1,500
• Montreal to Ottawa / Gatineau (200 km): from $800 – $1,600
• Montreal to Toronto (540 km): from $1,100 – $2,500
• Montreal to Sherbrooke (150 km): from $600 – $1,200
• Montreal to Trois-Rivières (145 km): from $550 – $1,100
• Montreal to Mont-Tremblant (130 km): from $500 – $1,000

Prices increase significantly for larger homes. A 5½ moving from Montreal to Toronto could easily run $2,500–$4,500. Long-distance quotes usually include fuel, tolls (the A25 and A30 both have tolls), loading, unloading, and basic insurance.

For interprovincial moves (Montreal to Ontario or the Maritimes), make sure the moving company is licensed to operate across provincial lines. Ask for proof of commercial vehicle registration and adequate insurance coverage.

7 Ways to Control Your Montreal Moving Cost

Moving doesn't have to break the bank. Here are proven strategies to keep total hours and avoidable add-ons down:

1. Move When Availability Is Better

The easiest months to schedule a Montreal move are usually November through March. Yes, it's cold — you might be navigating icy stairs and your breath will fog up in the stairwell. But movers have wider availability, which gives you better control over start times and crew selection.

2. Choose Mid-Week and Mid-Month

Weekends and the 1st of the month are the busiest times for movers year-round. Moving on a Tuesday or Wednesday can give you more time-slot options. Combine a mid-week move with a mid-month date and you're usually looking at a smoother schedule.

3. Declutter Before You Move

Every box you eliminate is time and money saved. Go room by room and be ruthless. Donate furniture and clothing to Renaissance or the Salvation Army — both offer free pickup in Montreal for large donations. Post items on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji. Drop off old electronics at an Insertech depot for responsible recycling. The less you move, the less you pay.

4. Pack Yourself

Self-packing can avoid the packing add-on. Hit the SAQ for free wine boxes (great for books and kitchen items), or check behind grocery stores and pharmacies for clean cardboard. Stock up on packing tape and bubble wrap from Dollarama or Canadian Tire. Start packing non-essentials two weeks before your move so you're not scrambling the night before.

5. Get Multiple Quotes

Always get at least three written quotes from different companies. Compare carefully — make sure each quote covers the same scope of work (number of movers, truck size, insurance, stair fees). The cheapest quote isn't always the best if it doesn't include things the others do. At Up & Out, we provide detailed, transparent quotes with no hidden fees.

6. Book Early

Booking two months ahead gives you the best selection of dates and times. For July moves, book by March. Early booking protects your preferred crew size, truck setup, and start time.

7. Be Ready When the Movers Arrive

Time is money — literally, when you're paying by the hour. Have everything packed, disassembled, and labelled before the crew shows up. Clear pathways to the door. Reserve a parking spot in front of your building (you can request a temporary no-parking zone from the borough for about $50–$100). The faster the movers can work, the less your bill.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving Costs in Montreal

How much should I budget for a basic local move in Montreal?

For a standard 2-bedroom (4½) local move, many customers use Essential or Pro. Essential is $140/hour plus $140 travel, while Pro is $180/hour plus $180 travel. Your total depends on hours, access, packing, specialty items, and taxes.

Are moving costs tax-deductible in Quebec?

If you're moving for work or to start a business, and your new home is at least 40 km closer to your new workplace, you may be able to deduct moving expenses on your Quebec and federal tax returns. Eligible expenses include mover fees, travel costs, temporary lodging, and lease-cancellation penalties. Keep all receipts and consult Revenu Québec's guide on moving expenses (line 228 of your federal return).

Do movers charge extra for walk-ups?

Yes. Most Montreal moving companies charge $25–$75 per flight of stairs per location. A third-floor walk-up at both your old and new address could add $100–$300 to your total. Some companies include the first flight free and charge for additional flights.

Should I tip my movers?

Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. A common guideline in Montreal is $15–$25 per mover for a half-day job, or $25–$40 per mover for a full day. If the crew went above and beyond — handled tricky stairs, protected fragile items, stayed cheerful in a July heatwave — a generous tip is a great way to show appreciation.

What's included in a standard moving quote?

A standard quote typically includes the labour (movers), truck rental, fuel for local distance, basic moving blankets and straps, and basic liability coverage. It usually does not include packing materials, packing/unpacking services, specialty item handling, or full-value insurance. Always ask what's included and what's extra.

How far in advance should I book movers in Montreal?

For off-season moves (September – May), two to four weeks is usually sufficient. For summer moves, book at least six to eight weeks ahead. For the July 1st window specifically, the earlier the better — we recommend booking by March to guarantee your preferred date and time.

Can I move on July 1st without paying peak rates?

It's very difficult. July 1st is the single busiest moving day in Quebec, and demand far exceeds supply. However, some strategies help: book very early for the best available rate, move a few days before or after the 1st if your lease timing allows, or negotiate with your landlord for a lease start date later in July. Even shifting your move to July 5th or 6th can save you hundreds.

Ready to Get Your Free Moving Quote?

At Up & Out, we've been helping Montrealers move since day one — from tiny studios in the McGill ghetto to sprawling family homes in Outremont. We offer transparent pricing, professional crews, and a stress-free experience whether you're moving across the street or across the province.

Call us at 438-900-9990 or request a free online quote to get an accurate price for your 2026 move. No hidden fees, no surprises — just honest rates and movers who actually care about your stuff.