Small Move Ottawa — Studio, 1-Bedroom & Partial-Move Specialists
A small move gets its own playbook at Men In Trucks. No 4-mover upsell you don’t need. No 6-hour minimum. Just 2 movers, a 26-foot truck, a 2-hour minimum, and honest hourly pricing — exactly what a studio, 1-bedroom, or partial move actually needs. This page is part of our full Ottawa moving services lineup.
Call 613-800-0917 or book online in under 2 minutes.
Small moves should not be priced like full-house moves
Some Ottawa movers refuse small jobs under a 4-hour minimum. Others charge a fixed $800 “small move package” that is 60% profit. We just run the real clock — 2 movers at $150/hr, 2-hour minimum, done.
Right-sized crew — just 2 movers
A studio or 1-bedroom does not need 3 or 4 movers. 2 professionals with proper gear handle it in 2-3 hours.
No inflated minimums
Our 2-hour minimum matches the industry standard. Some Ottawa movers push 4-hour minimums on every job — that is a flat-fee dressed up as hourly.
Same gear, same quality
You get the same 26-foot truck, same blankets, same dollies, same crew training as a 4-bedroom house move.
What a small move actually costs in Ottawa
Honest estimates based on hundreds of small moves. Includes 2 movers, truck, blankets, basic wrap, fuel, a one-hour travel fee, and basic liability.
2 Movers + Truck
Studios, 1-bedroom apartments, light loads. 2-hour minimum.
3 Movers + Truck
2-bedroom apartments, small houses. Fastest per-dollar option.
4 Movers + Truck
3+ bedroom houses, heavy loads. Cuts clock time nearly in half.
Recent small moves — real numbers
Three recent studio and 1-bedroom moves, actual times and totals.
Sandy Hill studio, 2 movers
Ground-floor exit, 3rd-floor walk-up destination in Vanier. 3 hours + travel. Total: $520.
ByWard Market 1-bedroom, 2 movers
Condo-to-condo within downtown. 3.5 hours including elevator time. Total: $590.
Single-room move from Hintonburg
One bedroom out of a shared 3-bed house to Westboro. 2 hours (minimum). Total: $420.
The small-move situations we run every week
If your move fits one of these patterns, you are in the sweet spot of our pricing.
Studio / bachelor (under 500 sq ft)
2 movers, 2-3 hours total. Typical cost $420-$580. Often completes in the 2-hour minimum.
1-bedroom (500-800 sq ft)
2 movers, 3-4 hours total. Typical cost $560-$760. Most common small-move booking.
Partial move (heavy items only)
10-15 pieces — bed, couch, desk, dresser, boxes. 2 movers, 2-3 hours. $420-$580.
Single-room move (out of a shared house)
One bedroom of furniture + personal items. 2 movers, 2-3 hours.
Storage unit → small apartment
Loading from a 5×10 or 10×10 unit to your new place. Usually 2 hours flat.
Specialty single items
Piano, safe, treadmill, large sectional — single-item moves starting at $325 (2-hour minimum + travel).
Full Ottawa region coverage
We cover all of Ottawa plus Gatineau, Hull, Aylmer, Stittsville, Manotick, Rockland and surrounding communities. Every Ottawa neighborhood — Centretown, The Glebe, Westboro, Hintonburg, Alta Vista, Rockcliffe Park, Kanata, Barrhaven, Orleans, Nepean, Sandy Hill, ByWard Market, Vanier — is within our standard dispatch radius.
Explore every moving service we offer in Ottawa
Whatever your move — one piece, one bedroom, a full house, an office, or just a storage gap — we have a service tuned for it. All priced on the same transparent hourly rates.
Small move FAQ
What is the minimum charge for a small move?
A 2-hour minimum on the hourly rate ($325 for 2 movers, plus a one-hour travel fee). Most small moves finish in the 2-hour window.
Do I need 2 movers for a studio?
Almost always yes. One mover cannot safely handle a mattress, couch, or anything requiring two hands at each end.
Can you move just a few items instead of the whole apartment?
Yes — partial moves are common. Tell dispatch which pieces and we will quote an honest 2-3 hour estimate.
What about a single-item move — like just a sofa or piano?
Single-item moves are 2-hour minimum ($325) plus travel. Pianos require a specialty team — see our piano-movers page.
Do I pay the same $150/hr for a small move?
Yes. Our rates do not change based on job size. $150/hr for 2 movers is what every small-move booking pays.
How do I get a binding flat-rate for a small move?
For local Ottawa small moves, hourly is nearly always cheaper. If you still want a flat-rate, call dispatch with exact details — we can issue a firm quote within 24 hours.
Can I help carry items to save money?
Yes — we do not mind if you carry lighter items in parallel. Just do not get in the crew way on tight stairways.
Is a small move cheaper than renting a U-Haul?
By the time you factor U-Haul rental + fuel + dolly rental + your own time + potential damage, a 2-hour Ottawa small move at $420 is usually within $50-$100 of DIY and saves you a full weekend.
Do you do small moves in Kanata, Barrhaven and Orleans?
Yes — suburban small moves are common. Hourly rate is identical; travel fee is $150 (one-hour) regardless of suburb.
Get your small-move quote now
Studios, 1-bedrooms, single-room moves, specialty single items — all billed the same transparent $150/hr. Book online in 2 minutes or call dispatch.
Small Moves in Ottawa — What Counts as a Small Move
A small move in Ottawa is any job that can be completed with 2 movers and a single truck in 3-5 hours. Common examples include: a bachelor or studio apartment; a single room from a shared house; a home office being relocated within Ottawa; a few large items (sectional sofa, bed frame, appliances) moving from one address to another; and furniture bought from a private seller that needs delivery and placement. We do not require a full household to dispatch a crew — if you have 10 items that need a truck and two experienced movers, we take that job.
Our small move rate is $150 per hour for 2 movers and a 26-foot truck. The 3-hour minimum covers origin loading, the drive to the destination, and full unloading. For jobs we estimate at under 2 hours of physical work, we suggest you tell us the inventory in advance so we can confirm the 3-hour minimum is the right billing structure or offer a flat-rate option for very simple single-item deliveries.
Small moves in Ottawa can be booked with as little as 24-48 hours notice outside of peak season (May through September). During peak season, 1-2 weeks notice is recommended to secure your preferred date. We can often fit a small move onto a morning or early afternoon slot when a larger job has already booked the crew for the second half of the day.
Other Ottawa Moving Services
- Movers Ottawa — all-size household moves in Ottawa and surrounding areas
- Hourly Movers Ottawa — flexible hourly billing for moves of any size
- Last-Minute Movers Ottawa — same-day and next-day availability for urgent small moves
- Junk Removal Ottawa — haul away old furniture instead of moving it to the new place
- Storage Ottawa — short-term storage for items from a small move awaiting a final destination
Small Move Ottawa — Frequently Asked Questions
Can you move just a few items, not a whole household?
Yes. We move single items, single rooms, and partial loads regularly. Examples: a sectional sofa from Kijiji to your apartment, a piano from a retiring musician’s home, a hot tub from a backyard, or a single bedroom being moved out of a shared house. The 2-mover crew and 26-foot truck is available for any job that needs professional movers regardless of volume.
What is the minimum charge for a small move in Ottawa?
The minimum is 3 hours of on-site time at $150 per hour plus the travel fee (1 hour for moves within 30 km of Ottawa City Hall). The minimum bill for a straightforward small move within Ottawa is therefore $150 × 3 + $150 travel = $600 before tax. If the job finishes in under 3 hours, you still pay the 3-hour minimum.
Can you deliver furniture I bought on Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace?
Yes. Marketplace furniture delivery is one of the most common small move requests we get in Ottawa. You give us the seller’s address and your delivery address, we confirm the item dimensions and access (elevator, stairs, driveway), and we dispatch a 2-mover crew with the truck. We handle the carry-out from the seller’s home and placement at your address.
Do you offer flat-rate pricing for very small moves?
For predictable single-item deliveries within Ottawa (for example, a mattress, a couch, or a dining table), we can sometimes provide a flat rate instead of hourly. Contact us with the item, pickup address, and delivery address and we’ll quote both flat and hourly so you can choose. Flat rates are typically offered when the total job is clearly 1-2 hours.
Can I book a small move for the same day or next day?
Outside of peak moving season (October through April), same-day and next-day small moves are often available. In peak season (May through September), 1-2 weeks advance notice is recommended but we do keep last-minute availability. Call 613-800-0917 for same-day requests and we can check the schedule immediately.
Planning a long-distance move?
We also handle long-distance moves from Ottawa across Canada — popular routes include Ottawa to Toronto, Ottawa to Montreal, and Ottawa to Halifax.
Looking for all our Ottawa moving services? Visit our Ottawa movers hub for full neighbourhood coverage, transparent pricing, and online booking.
