Removalists love to advertise hourly rates without telling you how many hours the job takes. The result: a "$149/hr" company can quietly turn into a $1,800 move. Here's the honest breakdown by home size for moves within South East Queensland.
Studio / 1 bedroom
Typically 2-3 hours with 2 movers and a 6-tonne truck. Budget $400-$780 all up for a local move within Brisbane, Gold Coast, or Sunshine Coast.
2 bedroom unit or small house
Usually 4 hours with 2 movers. Budget $720-$1,090 for a local move. Add $100-200 if you're crossing between Brisbane and Gold Coast/Sunshine Coast.
3 bedroom house
5-7 hours with 3 movers. Budget $1,090-$1,520 local. We almost always recommend 3 movers for a 3-bedroom — the extra hourly rate ($219/hr vs $169/hr) pays for itself in saved time.
4-5 bedroom family home
Full day job — 7-9 hours with 3-4 movers. Budget $1,520-$2,200. Pre-pack the night before to keep this from running into overtime.
What adds to the cost
A few things genuinely cost more — and you should be wary of quotes that don't mention them.
- ✓Stairs and walk-ups (slows the job 20-30%)
- ✓Long carries from truck to door
- ✓Packing service if requested
- ✓Special items (piano, pool table, gun safe)
- ✓Interstate moves (priced flat, not hourly)
- ✓After-hours, weekends, public holidays
What shouldn't cost extra
Some companies sneak these in. Watch out for:
- ✓GST (must be included in the quote)
- ✓Insurance (basic cover should be standard)
- ✓Trolleys, blankets, straps (all should be included)
- ✓Travel time between properties
Now stop reading, let's do it.
Get a fixed quote in under 60 seconds. No phone tag, no pressure — just an honest price.