MOVING REVIEWS / PLANNING TOOLS
Moving Cost Calculator
How to use this tool, example and FAQs
Build a moving budget using the rate and charges from your own quote. See the cost breakdown, add a reserve, and account for a deposit.
All moving tools · Compare company quotes
Keep this budget in your moving plan
Saved locally in this browser. No account or email needed.
1. Enter your quote details
Use pre-tax amounts throughout. The hourly rate is for the whole crew and truck, not per mover. For a fixed-price quote, use our quote comparison tool.
Currency labels the amounts; it does not convert exchange rates.
The worked example illustrates the arithmetic. It is not a market rate or a quote.
2. Your budget breakdown
TOTAL INCLUDING YOUR RESERVE
CAD 0.00
| Billable hours used | 0.00 |
|---|---|
| Crew + truck | CAD 0.00 |
| Additional charges | CAD 0.00 |
| Pre-tax subtotal | CAD 0.00 |
| Tax | CAD 0.00 |
| Planning reserve | CAD 0.00 |
| Budget remaining after deposit | CAD 0.00 |
Your deposit exceeds this calculated budget. Check the amounts and quote terms.
How the calculator works
Billable hours are the larger of your expected hours and the company’s minimum. The tool multiplies those hours by the crew-and-truck rate, adds the extra charges, applies the tax rate to that subtotal, and then adds your optional reserve. The deposit reduces the remaining budget rather than increasing the moving cost.
What to check against your written quote
- Whether travel is billed by the hour, as a flat charge, or both for different parts of the job.
- Whether packing supplies, stairs, carrying distance, storage, and redelivery are already included.
- Whether tax applies to all entered charges. This simple tool applies one tax rate to the whole subtotal.
- The billing increments and what happens if the inventory, access, or services change.
This is a planning calculation from your inputs, not a company offer. Blank amounts count as zero; negative amounts are treated as zero. Use Save budget to keep a copy on this device, and Restore saved budget after reopening the page. You can review saved sections in My Moving Plan or print a copy.
Next step
Compare up to three written quotes, or use the moving checklist to prepare your details before contacting companies. For local context, see our Toronto moving guide.
How to build a useful moving budget
Use this calculator when you have an hourly crew-and-truck rate and want to see how the quoted charges fit your budget. Gather the written estimate first; a blank charge contributes zero even when the mover may charge for it.
Step-by-step instructions
- Enter the hourly price for the complete crew and truck. Enter the expected billable time and the company’s minimum separately; the calculator uses whichever is higher.
- Add travel, packing, storage and other agreed charges only when they are outside the hourly amount. Ask the mover to identify anything already included.
- Enter the tax rate that applies to your figures. Add an optional reserve for your own planning, then enter any deposit already paid.
- Review the breakdown, resolve missing charges with the company, and select Save budget on this device when you want to keep the current version.
Example: the minimum booking changes the result
With an illustrative CAD 150 hourly crew rate, two expected hours and a three-hour minimum, labour is CAD 450. Add CAD 50 travel and the subtotal is CAD 500. An example 10% tax makes CAD 550; a 10% reserve adds CAD 55. Your planning total is CAD 605, or CAD 505 remaining after a CAD 100 deposit. These invented figures explain the calculation; they are not market prices or a prescribed tax rate.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a fixed-price moving quote here?
Use the Compare Moving Quotes tool for a fixed-price base. This calculator is built around an hourly rate and minimum hours; forcing a fixed quote into those fields can obscure its scope.
Is the reserve part of the mover’s invoice?
The reserve is your optional cushion. The tool calculates it on the subtotal including tax. Keep it separate when comparing the company’s quoted amount with your personal budget.
What if travel is already part of the billable hours?
Do not enter the same travel again as a flat charge. If the company charges separate dispatch time or mileage as well, ask for an itemized explanation before entering it.
Why might my final invoice differ?
The tool does not round time to a company’s billing increments or predict delays, inventory changes or additional work. Enter the hours and charges the company actually expects to bill, then confirm its written change terms.