Prices checked September 2026. Local moves in the GTA are almost always billed by the hour: the crew’s rate multiplied by the time from arrival to the last box, plus travel time or a flat truck fee. That makes the real cost depend less on the rate and more on how fast the job goes, which is why two quotes with the same hourly rate can end up hundreds of dollars apart.
How much do movers charge per hour in Toronto?
Published 2025 and 2026 rate guides from Toronto moving companies and a GTA moving marketplace put two movers with a truck at about $120 to $180 an hour, most often $130 to $160, and three movers at $150 to $240. Summer weekends and the last days of the month are the most expensive, with peak surcharges of 10% to 30%. Moves in the 905 suburbs tend to cost less than the same move in downtown Toronto because of parking, elevators and traffic.
For context, Government of Canada Job Bank data puts the median wage for furniture movers in the Toronto region at $21 an hour. A two-person crew plus a truck, fuel, insurance, equipment and dispatch is what brings the hourly rate into the $130 to $160 range.
| Move or extra | Low | Typical | High | What drives it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 movers + truck, per hour | $120 | $130–$160 | $180 | Season, day of the week, company size |
| 3 movers + truck, per hour | $150 | $180–$220 | $240 | Same, plus truck size |
| Minimum booking | 2 hours | 3 hours | 4 hours | Company policy, peak dates |
| Truck or travel fee | $50 | $100–$200 | $300 | Distance from the depot, flat fee vs billed time |
| Studio or one-bedroom move | $300 | $450–$800 | $1,100 | Elevator waits, walk-up stairs, amount of stuff |
| Two-bedroom move | $550 | $700–$1,600 | $2,000 | Condo vs house, packing done or not |
| Three-bedroom house | $1,100 | $1,300–$2,400 | $4,500 | Distance, heavy items, crew size |
| Stairs, per flight | $25 | $50–$75 | $75+ | Often billed as extra time instead |
| Piano | $150 | $200–$300 | $395+ | Upright vs grand, stairs |
What does a local move cost on Doyo?
On Doyo, Local Move is $100.80 an hour, $302.40 minimum. Packing Help is $56 an hour, $112 minimum, and Junk Removal is $196 per quarter truck load. These are the full prices, Doyo’s service fee included; nothing is added at checkout. For hourly jobs, Doyo shows the rate, the estimated time and the total before you book, and your card is charged only when the job is marked complete.
Crew size and truck are agreed per job. Say what you need when you book: both addresses, the floors, elevator or stairs, and the big items. The pro confirms in the order chat whether a truck is included and how many people are coming, so it is in writing before the day. Compare that with market quotes on the same basis, because a market rate for two movers and a truck is not the same thing as a rate for one mover.
What extra charges do movers add?
- Travel time or a truck fee, charged either as a flat amount or as time from the depot and back.
- Stairs and long carries, either per flight or as the extra time they take.
- Heavy or awkward items: pianos, safes, gun cabinets, large aquariums.
- Packing materials: boxes, tape, mattress bags and wardrobe boxes, if the movers supply them.
- Disassembly and reassembly of beds, desks and wall units, sometimes billed as extra time.
- Peak-date pricing for summer weekends and the end of the month.
How do condo moves change the cost?
Condo moves usually take longer because the crew waits for elevators and walks further from the loading dock. Most Toronto condo buildings also have their own move rules: booking the service elevator a week or more ahead, a refundable deposit, sometimes a non-refundable move fee, and a certificate of insurance from the moving company. Amounts are set by each building’s condo corporation, so ask your property manager before you book movers.
What changes the cost of a move?
- How ready you are. Boxes packed, taped and labelled before the crew arrives is the biggest single saving on an hourly move.
- Access at both ends. Elevators, loading docks, parking and walk-up stairs decide how fast things move.
- Date and time. Mid-month weekdays are usually 10% to 15% cheaper than summer weekends and month-end.
- Distance and traffic. A move from North York to downtown at rush hour costs more than the same move at 9 in the morning on a Tuesday.
- Crew size. Three movers cost more per hour but often less in total on a larger home.
- Heavy items and assembly. Each one adds time.
- Amount of stuff. Moving things you plan to throw out is paying twice; clear junk before the move.
How do I avoid being overcharged by movers?
- Get written estimates from at least three movers, as the Ontario government and the Canadian Association of Movers both advise, and prefer estimates based on seeing your home or a detailed inventory.
- Know the 10% rule. Under Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act, 2002, a mover cannot charge more than 10% above the estimate unless you agree to a new price.
- A mover cannot hold your belongings to force you to pay more. If it happens, pay under protest, keep records and contact Consumer Protection Ontario.
- Keep any deposit small. Large up-front deposits are a common warning sign of moving scams.
- Ask how damaged items are covered. Basic cover based on weight pays very little; ask about declared value.
- Ask whether the hourly rate includes tax, and write down start and finish times on the day.
Questions people ask
Sources
- Ontario.ca — Hiring a mover · ontario.ca
- Canadian Association of Movers — Getting an estimate · mover.net
- Canadian Association of Movers — Moving scams · mover.net
- Government of Canada Job Bank — Furniture mover wages, Toronto region · jobbank.gc.ca