Did you know that moving ranks among life’s most stressful events? What counts as overwhelming is often subjective, but moving is a big transition to handle. Emotionally, physically, and financially, it asks a lot of you all at once.
You can’t control everything about a move. But you can control the cost, and that’s exactly where your energy is best spent.
- In the following sections, we'll get into what drives the cost of your move and how to keep it as low as possible with 15 ways to save.
Compare 5 free quotes and save a substantial amount of money on your next move, anywhere in Canada.
What affects your moving cost?
When you move your expenses depend on whether you hire movers or do it yourself, the distance you’re traveling from point A to point B, and how much boxes and furniture you’re bringing with you.
Before making a decision regarding your moving options, it is imperative for you to know which factors drive the cost.
- Distance in km (local vs long-distance vs cross-country)
- House size and volume of personal items
- Moving date
- Type of service used
- Accessibility of the area (stairs, elevators, parking distance)
- Additional services employed (packing, storage, insurance)
Understanding how each factor applies to your move puts you in a better position to keep the price down.
Key takeaways on how to save money on your move
Before discussing the 15 ways to save money on your upcoming move, here are a few important points to keep in mind throughout this whole process:
Know how much you should pay: Once you know where your move sits, budgeting gets a lot more realistic.
Focus on what drives your cost: Distance, home size, timing, and service level are all levers you can pull. To save money, adjust them in your favour.
Don't underestimate small savings opportunities: Minor smart choices might not feel like much on their own, but when you stack them together, you’ll see how much more you can save.
What are the 15 best ways to save money on your move in Canada?
The biggest savings come from three things: planning, packing smart, and choosing the right service level for your budget. If you get those three right, you’ll control most of the moving costs.
Let’s see how to tackle each one.
Before you set a time and a date for your move
The choices you make before booking anything – your budget, your quotes, and your date – have more impact on your final cost than almost anything else.
Assess potential expenses and set a realistic budget
Start by listing every likely cost such as:
It's easy to budget for the move itself and forget the smaller costs around it, like a storage unit for a few weeks or a pet-sitter for the day.
A realistic budget set early gives you a number to measure every quote and decision against.
Get 3 to 5 quotes from local and reputable moving companies
Ask three different companies for a detailed quote, and you'll see the numbers jump around, tens, sometimes hundreds of dollars apart.
So settling for just one quote is a bit like buying the first car you test drive: you'll never really know if you got a good deal.
Tips:
Ask what discounts you qualify for (senior, student, military)
Many moving companies offer reduced rates for seniors, students, military members, and sometimes first responders. It costs nothing to ask when you request your quote.
Same goes for loyalty or referral discounts. Used the company before, or got referred by someone who did? Mention it.
If possible, avoid moving during summer, on weekends or at the end of the month
In Canada, movers are slammed from May to September, and it’s even worse on weekends and around the 1st and 30th of the month.
So if your schedule gives you any wiggle room at all, aim for a mid-week move. It's one of the easiest ways to save without changing anything else about your move.
Book early to lock in your rate
Reputable movers get booked up weeks, sometimes months, in advance. Booking 4 to 12 weeks ahead, depending on the type of move, gives you access to better rates and a wider pool of companies to compare.
Pack smart and spend less
Packing is where a lot of people either overspend without noticing or leave savings right on the table.
Purge and sell unwanted items
Every box you don't have to pack is money saved. Go room by room and set aside anything you haven't used in the past year. Then sell what has value on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji and donate the rest.
Beyond the space and time you'll save, you'll likely walk away with a bit of extra cash to put toward the move itself.
Get boxes for free
Sold at $2 to $8 each, new boxes add up fast. Once you account for a full household, the total budget goes from $60 to $400.
If you’re willing to put in a little bit of effort, hardware stores, grocery stores, liquor stores, and pharmacies usually have sturdy boxes to give away. Also, local Facebook groups often have people offloading boxes right after their own move. Just check that the boxes are clean, dry, and sturdy.
Wrap fragile items with what you already own
Bubble wrap and packing paper aren't the only way to protect breakables. Towels, blankets, socks, and even clothing you're already packing can cushion dishes, glasses, and picture frames just as well.
By doing this, you could save between $30 and $100.
Tape and identify your own boxes
If you pack your own boxes, you reduce costs because packing services charge for labour separately on an hourly basis.
Be sure to write the room where each box will go and its contents on the box itself. It will help you and your movers know where to place it without having to ask you. It will also speed up unpacking.
Use suitcases and bins instead of buying new ones
Suitcases, laundry baskets, storage bins, and even dresser drawers can double as moving containers for clothes and soft items. Using stuff you already own reduces the number of boxes you’ll need to buy or source.
Pick the moving option that fits your budget
Not every move needs a full professional service, and not every move should be fully DIY either. The right call depends on your budget, timeline, and how much physical work you’re able and willing to take on.
Compare DIY move to hiring movers
A DIY move can save you hundreds of dollars if you're moving a small space over a short distance, but the savings shrink fast for larger homes or long-distance moves.
| Move | DIY (truck rental) | Hiring movers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lower upfront, but add fuel, insurance, and your own time | Higher upfront, but includes labour, equipment, and liability coverage |
| Effort | You handle loading, driving, and unloading | Movers handle the heavy lifting and logistics |
| Best for | Small moves, tight budgets, comfortable driving a truck, friends and family members available | Larger homes, long distances, limited time or mobility |
| Risk | Injury, vehicle damage, and no liability coverage on your belongings | Lower physical risk, and companies carry liability coverage |
Ask friends and family to help
For a local move, a few friends and a rented truck can replace a moving crew, especially if you're only moving light to mid-sized furniture. Cover fuel, food, and drinks as a thank-you, and it's still almost always cheaper than paying for full-service labour.
If you hire movers, you can ask friends to help with packing, cleaning, disassembling furniture, and looking after your children and pets for the day.
Schedule utility transfers to avoid paying double bills
It's easy to forget to cancel or transfer utilities on time, and that oversight can mean paying for two homes' worth of electricity, gas, or internet.
Set your cancellation and connection dates a few days before and after your move, giving yourself a short buffer without overlapping a full billing cycle.
Review insurance policies
Before paying extra for a mover's insurance or liability coverage, check what your renters' or homeowners' insurance already covers in transit. Many policies include some coverage for belongings during a move.
If you're not fully covered, ask your moving company about their basic liability coverage versus the cost of full-value protection.
Keep your valuables with you
Important documents, jewellery, cash, prescription medication, and small electronics should travel with you, not in the moving truck.
This isn't just about avoiding loss or damage. Most movers' insurance policies won't cover high-value or irreplaceable items unless they're declared and insured separately. Usually, it isn't worth the added cost for a handful of items you can carry yourself.
Get ready to move out by comparing 5 free quotes from local moving companies
You now know what drives your moving cost and where the savings are hiding. The next step is putting that knowledge to work.
The fastest way to save is to see what movers are charging for your specific move and stop relying on estimates alone.
- Fill out one quick form and get matched with up to 5 licensed, reputable movers near you, ready to quote your move.
It’s free, there’s no obligation, and it might just save you hundreds.
FAQs on moving costs in Canada
1
How much does the average move cost in Canada?
Most Canadians spend $600 to $1,700 to move locally, and according to MTS Moving, $2,500 to $8,500 for a long-distance or cross-country move, depending on home size, distance, and the services included.
2
How much do moving supplies cost?
Depending on how much you need to protect, buying new moving supplies like boxes, tape, and bubble wrap, cost $50 - $150 for a small apartment, and $150 - $300 for a bigger house.
3
How do you calculate moving expenses?
Start with the base cost and the hourly rate, then layer on every extra: packing supplies, insurance, storage, cleaning fees, and any specialty item charges like a piano or a safe.
4
What time of year is cheapest to move?
The cheapest time of year to move is during fall and winter, from October through April.
5
What is the cheapest day to move house in Canada?
Especially when scheduled in the middle of the month, Tuesday and Wednesday are the cheapest days to move.
6
Is it cheaper to move yourself or hire movers?
Moving yourself is usually cheaper than hiring movers, especially for a small and local move. However, for bigger or long-distance moves, the savings shrink quickly, making hiring a moving company a smarter financial choice.
7
Can you claim moving expenses on your taxes in Canada?
In Canada, moving expenses are tax-deductible if you move for work, run a business, or study full-time, and your new home is at least 40 kilometres closer to the new job or school.
8
How do I get the best moving quote?
Make use of our moving network to receive quotes from up to five local and certified moving companies. This process is quick, easy, completely free, and does not place you under any obligation to hire movers.
9
What should I not pay a mover to save money?
Packing materials you can get for free, professional packing if you're comfortable doing it yourself, and duplicate insurance coverage you may already have through your renters' or homeowners' policy.
10
How far in advance should I book movers to save money?
Book at least 4 to 6 weeks ahead for a local move, and 6 to 8 weeks for long-distance or cross-country moves, since fewer companies handle interprovincial routes and their schedules fill up faster. If your date isn't flexible, whether it's a lease deadline or a job start date, book 2 to 3 months out, to guarantee availability and avoid paying a premium for last-minute scheduling.