The honest answer: it depends on volume, access and distance. The more useful answer: here's exactly what moves the number, so you can compare quotes like a pro.
How removalists charge
Most Brisbane removalists charge by time. At Phoenix it's from $79.50 + GST per half hour, quoted upfront, and the clock only covers your move. What you're really paying for is speed with care: a trained two or three person crew with trolleys, blankets and a truck that fits your whole home in one trip.
What changes the price
- Volume: the biggest factor by far. A one bedroom apartment and a four bedroom house are different days entirely.
- Access: stairs, lifts, long carries and tight driveways add time. Tell your removalist upfront, surprises on the day cost more.
- Packing: pre-packed and labelled boxes make the day dramatically faster. We can pack for you, or you can DIY.
- Distance and timing: local versus interstate, and weekends versus mid-week flexibility.
The trap in cheap quotes
A low hourly rate with an untrained casual crew usually costs more by day's end, and sometimes costs you a damaged sofa too. Ask any mover two questions: are your crews your own employees, and is my move fully insured? At Phoenix the answers are always yes and yes, because we've never used a subcontractor in five years.
What a move actually costs, by size
Every home is different, but people want a number to plan against, so here are realistic ranges for a Brisbane metro move with reasonable access. These assume you are packed and ready when the crew arrives.
- Studio or one bedroom unit: typically 2 to 4 hours with a two person crew.
- Two bedroom unit or small house: typically 3 to 5 hours.
- Three bedroom house: typically 5 to 7 hours, often with a three person crew.
- Four bedroom or larger: usually a full day, sometimes two trucks running together.
At $79.50 + GST per half hour you can do that arithmetic yourself, which is rather the point. A quote that will not give you an hourly rate and a realistic duration is not a quote, it is a hook.
The costs that catch people out
The headline rate is rarely where budgets break. These are the line items worth asking any removalist about before you book.
- Depot to depot travel time. Many companies charge from the moment the truck leaves their yard until it returns. Ask how it is calculated, because on a cross city move that can be an extra hour or more.
- Minimum call out. Almost everyone has one. Ours is an hour, which is $159 + GST, and we say so upfront.
- Stairs and long carries. Not usually a separate fee with us, but they absolutely add time, so they belong in the estimate rather than as a surprise.
- Materials. Boxes, paper, wrap and tape. Ask whether they are included, charged at cost, or marked up.
- Weekend and end of month loading. Some operators charge a premium for the last Friday of the month. We do not, but you should ask.
How to compare three quotes properly
Put them side by side and make each one answer the same five questions. Anyone who dodges these is telling you something.
- What is the hourly rate, and when does the clock start and stop?
- How many people and what size truck, for how many hours?
- Are your movers employees or subcontractors?
- What insurance applies, and what is excluded?
- What happens if it takes longer than estimated?
That third question matters more than people realise. Every person on a Phoenix job is our employee, trained by us and accountable to us. When a company subcontracts, the crew at your door may have no relationship with the business you hired, and no stake in your move going well.
Why the cheapest quote is often the dearest
An hourly rate well below market usually means one of three things: a smaller truck that needs two trips, a crew of two where the job needs three, or a clock that starts earlier than you expected. The total is what you pay, not the rate. We would rather quote you honestly and have you compare like for like.
Get a real number
Book a free survey and we will give you the truck, the crew, the hours and the price, in writing. No deposit to get a quote, and no obligation to book.
