Moving cost calculator

How much does it cost to move house?

Local moves are billed by the hour; interstate moves are priced on the space you take up on the truck. Pick your move below for a planning estimate built from real Muval bookings — hourly benchmarks for 27 cities and per-cubic-metre benchmarks for every major interstate route.

Rough price guide

Pick your city and home size.

Estimated time

Savings data
Packing supplies
Estimated boxes for this home size — see the packing guide.

Based on completed Muval local moves since June 2023. Estimates only — final price depends on access, dates and inventory.

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Friday is Australia's favourite day to move — Saturdays book out first, so midweek is your best value.
November to January is peak season. Book 2–3 weeks earlier than usual if you're moving over summer.
~8 days is the median gap between booking and move day for local moves — interstate movers lock in 2+ weeks out.
Behind the numbers

How removalist pricing actually works

Local moves: you pay for time

Local crews charge per half hour, door to door, usually with a two-hour minimum that's collected as a deposit when you book. Your final cost is the hourly rate multiplied by how long the job really takes — so everything that saves the crew time saves you money: good parking, packed-and-labelled boxes near the exit, disassembled furniture.

Bigger homes are often quoted with three or four movers. The hourly rate is higher but the job finishes faster — for large homes it usually nets out cheaper than a small crew on a long day.

Interstate moves: you pay for space

Interstate pricing is based on the volume your belongings fill on the truck, in cubic metres, and the route. If your dates are flexible, ask about backloading — sharing space on a truck already driving your route — which is usually the cheapest way to move interstate.

Not sure what a cubic metre looks like? Our cubic metre explainer makes it concrete, and the interstate moving costs page has route-by-route detail. Or skip the guesswork entirely: build a room-by-room inventory and this calculator will price your exact volume.

Why comparing quotes matters

On most routes, customers who compared quotes on Muval and booked below their average competing quote saved a meaningful chunk — often 20–30% on interstate moves. Quotes vary because trucks have different amounts of spare space on different days; comparing finds the mover who genuinely wants your job.

Watch for hidden fees, get everything in writing, and read our guide to requesting a removalist quote before you commit.

What can push your price up (or down)
  • Access: stairs, lifts, long carries and tricky parking all add time or surcharges
  • Dates: end of month, weekends and November–January run at peak demand
  • Inventory: pianos, pool tables and fragile art need special handling
  • Packing: DIY packing is cheaper; pro packing is faster and better protected
  • Flexibility: flexible dates unlock backloading discounts interstate

Watch: 10 tips to make & save money when moving house, from Muval's Moving Guru.

Next step: once you have a ballpark, put your real dates in front of real movers — the checklist tells you when to book, and quotes are instant.