Moving house in Perth is expensive enough without discovering on moving day that the original estimate did not account for stairs, difficult parking, extra furniture or a longer-than-expected trip between suburbs.
For a small move, costs can start from a few hundred dollars. A full household move can run well beyond $1,000 once volume, crew size, travel distance and property access are taken into account.
When comparing quotes from house removalists the overall cost goes beyond just the headline price. The quote you receive will be the most helpful when you give a detailed description of the contents to be moved and the circumstances present at both locations.
What can you expect to pay a Perth removalist?
These price ranges are estimates based on the Urgent Pro 2026 indicative pricing for residential removals in Perth. The ranges are to give you a ballpark figure and are not definitive.
| Move size | Indicative total (GST incl.) | Typical crew |
|---|---|---|
| Single item or small partial load | From $220 | Solo |
| 1-bedroom unit | $350–$600 | Solo or 2-person |
| 2-bedroom home | $500–$900 | 2-person |
| 3-bedroom home | $700–$1,400 | 2-person |
| 4-bedroom home | $1,000–$2,200+ | 2–3 person |
| Large or complex move | Bespoke quote | 3+ person |
All prices are planning guides only and are inclusive of GST. Quotes provided by removalists will vary based on the circumstances of the job as described by the customer at the time of booking.
The minimum price to book a removalist using the platform is $220 for a single item move which meets the platform’s eligibility requirements. A full household move is substantially different and a number of factors will affect the cost, including volume, crew, truck capacity, loading and unloading time, access, and the distance to be travelled.
Smarter Comparison of Removalist Quotes
When looking over removalist quotes in Perth, consider the following:
- how many removalists are sent
- truck shipping capacity
- how long the booking has to be
- if the price is GST inclusive
- when you get charged by the hour
- the nature of the travel charge
- if increased charges apply on weekends or holidays
- charges that apply for stairs, lifts, or long carries
- charges for specialist items
- charges for packing or wrapping as well as furniture assembly
When considering quotes to determine which is the better price, consider that a lower hourly charge may cost you more overall for a higher quote.
Five Things That Change The Quote
1. Volume of Goods
General descriptions may be convenient, but removalists are estimating a charge based on the weight and volume of the goods.
Consider two properties each with three bedrooms. One may have three beds, a sofa, a dining set, and a few appliances with 20-30 boxes. The other may have a double garage and may have a large outdoor and a large modular sofa, several TVs, gym equipment, and a large set of tools with 60 boxes. These are not the same jobs.
When estimating volume for a quote, consider all areas including the garage, shed, balconies, and storage. For large moves, take pictures of all areas or short videos.
2. Access at Both Properties
Added time is needed for stairs, apartment lifts, lift booking restrictions, loading docks, narrow hallways and tight doorways, long carries of about 20 metres, gated entrances, and limited truck parking.
This looks different depending on the location around Perth.
- Inner-City Apartments. Northbridge, East Perth, West Perth and Subiaco all have loading bays that need coordination and booked lifts with waits if another tenant is using the lift.
- Established inner suburbs. Mount Lawley, Cottesloe and Nedlands have narrow street access, and can have heritage restrictions and tight doorways.
- Outer north. Joondalup, Wanneroo and Clarkson have newer houses with wider driveways and better access for trucks, but longer distances to the metro adds travel costs.
- Outer south. Areas like Mandurah, Rockingham and Baldivis have newer estates with good access but travel distance between addresses adds the most cost.
If a crew is required to carry something an additional 30 metres, that distance will be multiplied for every single trip necessary to complete the entire job.
3. Distance between pickup and delivery
Using the Urgent Pro indicative pricing for Perth, if the distance between pickup and delivery is under 30 kilometres, moves will be priced in the standard metropolitan pricing range, subject to the specific conditions of the booking.
Longer runs may incur per-kilometre or travel charges. This applies to moves from the northern and southern suburbs of Perth, from the coastal strip to the Perth Hills, or from any point to any point where the addresses are on opposite sides of the metropolitan area.
Distance should be measured with the actual addresses, not simply by whether both addresses are in the metropolitan area.
4. Crew size and timing
Single-item, partial load, and small apartment moves can be handled by a one-person crew. Most moves of a full household require a two-person crew. A three-person crew or larger is needed for large 4 or 5-bedroom houses, large moves, moves with difficult access, or moves that need to be done quickly.
The cost of move is directly related to the additional labour for adding a third person, but the cost of a large crew is frequently less than the cost of a small crew for a long move, since the move will be completed much faster.
Timing is important also. The last few days of the month and weekend dates tend to be the highest demand dates due to the end of monthly leases and weekend moves, and are the first to be booked. The two to three week booking lead time is especially important for moves on Saturdays at the end of the month and the busy December to February period. Working back from the move date with an eight-week moving house checklist makes that booking window easier to hit.
5. Specialist and heavy items
Routine moves of standard furniture can be safely accomplished with typical moving equipment. Additional planning and equipment, or special handling may be required for some items.
These include pianos, pool tables, large and heavy appliances and equipment, large and heavy furniture items, large and heavy decorative items, and large and heavy equipment.
Safes and grand pianos are especially important to disclose prior to booking because weight and dimensions, along with the location of the items, can drastically change the equipment and crew needed. We can not stress enough, please do not write just “piano” on a booking form! Include as much information as possible, including the dimensions and weight if available, along with photos and the details of the route from the item to the truck.
What does a standard removalist booking include?
A typical booking for a residential removal will include a suitably sized vehicle along with the booked crew, moving blankets, padding and straps, all necessary equipment, along with a walkthrough and delivery inventory if applicable.
The booking terms and conditions or quotes will specify what will be included.
Services that are typically offered separately include packing, providing packing materials, professional packing and unpacking, extensive wrapping, disassembly and reassembly of furniture, storage, and other special handling. Please ask for these services prior to moving day.
Damage, insurance, and your rights
Insurance and legal responsibility are not the same.
You should ask what insurance a removalist has, what the policy covers and what the removalist will not be liable for.
Australian Consumer Law will also apply to removal services. A business cannot contract out of its legal obligations for a service and provide a service without the skill or care required.
WA Consumer Protection reports that the complaints it receives about furniture removalists most often involve damage to goods, late arrivals, disputed quotes, and operators who claim to carry insurance when they do not. Its guidance to consumers is to agree the price in advance and in writing, ask for proof of current insurance, photograph or video the goods before they are loaded, and avoid paying in full before the job is finished.
If the move is out of a rental, the property itself needs the same photographic record, because the condition report decides your bond at the end of the tenancy.
If you packed the boxes yourself, removalists’ insurance may only cover loss/damage due to packing when the insurance does not cover loss/damage due to inadequate packing. If the removalists’ insurance excludes packing, the removalists may be liable for loss/damage due to failure to adhere to professional packing standards.
How to get a tighter quote
The difference between a good quote and a bad quote usually comes down to information given at booking.
1. Provide a comprehensive inventory. When counting, be sure to include equipment such as tools or exercise equipment, and be sure to check outside. An example inventory would include all equipment and state something like “3-bedroom house, 45 boxes, 3 beds, large sectional couch, 6-seat table, 2 large appliances, 2 TVs, yard equipment/tools, and the contents of a garage.” This is far better than “3-bedroom house” or “3 bedroom”.
2. Photograph anything that could obstruct access or require special handling. Send a photo of the staircase, door, lift, and any specialised equipment both at the old and new locations.
3. Check truck parking at both properties. Confirm driveway clearance, street parking restrictions, loading bay requirements, and height restrictions. Check building management for apartment loading bays and elevators.
4. Request a quote with full addresses. A suburb name is not always sufficient. The specific route and access at each address are what a Perth house removalist needs to provide an accurate figure.
5. Get the charging method in writing. Pricing may be either fixed or charged per hour. A commitment in writing is required for the crew size, minimum charge, and the terms that define the start and end of the charge, the duration of the charge, and the inclusion of GST. A charge may be applied for travelling, for an item, or under specific conditions.
What this looks like in practice
Consider a typical move of a 2-bedroom apartment from Subiaco to Victoria Park.
With no access issues at ground floor at both locations and both packing and moving being facilitated with the truck parked at either entrance, the typical quote for a 2-bedroom apartment move may fall in the range of $500–$900.
Now consider moving from a 3rd floor apartment with the additional issues of sharing the lift with residents, the truck parking 40m away with the entrance obstructed, the need to disassemble the dining table, packing marble table tops, and the customer not having completed the packing.
Distance between suburbs has not changed much. However, the time needed to do the job has increased. What would have previously taken about 3.5 hours may now take about 5.5–6 hours due to the limitations. Taking the indicative 2-bedroom rate, we would estimate the cost to be in the range of $900–$1,100, or even higher, depending on the provider and access charges.
Access, inventory, and preparation have an impact on cost, just like distance.
DIY versus hiring a removalist
The cost of hiring a truck in Perth is between $100 and $200 plus fuel. If hiring a truck and moving a 1-bedroom apartment is considered, and friends are helping, a DIY move can make sense financially, unless there are access issues.
Many factors can affect the decision:
- if there are stairs, lifts, or difficult access
- if the move involves large or specialised items
- if the date has to be a certain date due to a lease or settlement
- the cost of furniture damage or personal injury is greater than whatever would be saved
The Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) is the peak professional body in Australia for removalists. AFRA accredits only removalists that hold the equipment, vehicles, premises and staff training needed for a professional move, and all members carry public liability insurance. Membership is industry accreditation rather than a legal requirement, so it is worth checking alongside reviews and quote terms.
If you are moving out of a rental, the move date is often dictated by the last day of your lease. A vacate clean timed for the handover and rubbish removal before the final inspection are frequently booked alongside a removalist job to avoid any gaps in the schedule. What WA tenancy law actually requires of a departing tenant is a lower standard than most lease clauses imply, which is worth knowing before you book anything.
Frequently asked questions
Do Perth removalists charge for suburbs further out like Mandurah or Joondalup?
This really depends on the removalists and the nature of your pick up and drop off locations. For longer trips, removalists may charge time and travel, or a per kilometre rate, or charge for the trip from their depot to yours and a trip back. They should explain how they charge for distance and if they charge for travel before you book.
Do all removalists charge more for stairs and long carries?
Some removalists charge a standard rate and some removalists charge for stairs and carries as defined access charges. Even if no specific surcharge applies, difficult access may increase the total cost because the job takes longer. Total job cost is affected by stairs and carries and should be explained when quoting.
What happens if my move takes longer?
That usually depends on the nature of your booking. If your booking was an hourly charge, then the agreed upon rate for the additional time applies. If your booking was an estimate or a fixed price quote, then your removalists should explain any changes to the conditions of the booking before any additional work is done.
Can removalists move pianos and pool tables?
Some removalists are able to transport these items, however, you should never assume these will be included in your standard removal booking. Transporting upright pianos and pool tables typically requires additional staff and may incur a surcharge. Transporting grand pianos and very heavy safes requires a specialist assessment to determine cost and feasibility. Photos and measurements of the items should be sent when requesting transport.
How far in advance should I book a Perth removalist?
If your move is during the week and is flexible, the booking may be easier to obtain on short notice. For Saturday moves, and moves that coincide with the expiration of your lease, closing dates, and moves that require access to the building, a 2–3 week notice is preferred. Several weeks notice is preferred when moving during the peak months of December, January, and February.
What a Perth move is likely to cost
During 2026, the removal pricing for Perth moves is highly variable. Under the indicative pricing scheme for Urgent Pro, the pricing for small moves begins at $220, however the pricing for large full-house relocations may easily exceed $2,000 depending on the size of the job, requested crew size, distance, access, and the presence of specialist items.
Urgent Pro connects customers with verified independent removalist providers across Perth. The booking request should include a detailed description of the move, access at both addresses, and the presence of any specialist items. The accuracy of the booking request will determine how closely the quote matches the final invoice.