Updated for 2026 by Men In Trucks Moving Inc. — Ottawa’s licensed, insured movers since 2010.
Student moves in Ottawa are their own animal. Tight budgets. Tight elevator windows. May 1 and September 1 chaos. Walk-up apartments at uOttawa, Centretown, Sandy Hill, the Glebe, and Old Ottawa South. Plus the realities of student loads — dorm furniture, IKEA assemblies, mini fridges, gaming setups — that don’t survive being thrown into a parent’s SUV. This page covers how we move students in Ottawa, what it costs, and how to get the price as low as possible without taking on risk.
Who We Move
- uOttawa students moving in/out of Sandy Hill, Côte-de-Sable, Lowertown, ByWard Market
- Carleton students moving in/out of Old Ottawa South, the Glebe, Riverside, Findlay Creek
- Algonquin students moving in/out of Nepean, Hunt Club, Centrepointe, Carlingwood
- Saint Paul University students moving in/out of Sandy Hill
- Co-op students arriving from out of town for spring/summer terms in Kanata Tech Park
- Graduates relocating to Toronto, Montreal, Kingston, and beyond after convocation
Student Move Pricing — Real Numbers
Most student moves fit one of three packages. Pricing reflects 2026 rates and our 3-hour minimum + 1-hour travel structure.
| Move type | Crew | Realistic time | Total billed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorm room → apartment (in-city) | 2 movers + truck @ $150/hr | 3 hr min + 1 hr travel | $560 |
| Studio apartment → apartment (in-city) | 2 movers + truck @ $150/hr | 4 hr + 1 hr travel | $700 |
| 2-bedroom student rental → apartment | 3 movers + truck @ $195/hr | 4 hr + 1 hr travel | $900 |
For full pricing detail and how to keep costs down, see our Student Movers Ottawa page and Affordable Movers Ottawa options.
10% Student Discount
Show a current uOttawa, Carleton, Algonquin, or Saint Paul student card and we apply a 10% discount on labour for any move under 8 hours, year-round. The discount is automatic — just mention it at booking.
How to Make Your Student Move Cheaper
1. Pack Yourself, Smart
Hourly billing means every minute counts. Pack everything before crew arrives. Boxes labelled by destination room. Furniture disassembled. Cords bagged and taped to the appliance. We routinely cut moves from 4 hours to 3 just by having the customer ready. Order boxes from us with free delivery on orders over $100, or have us pack everything if you can’t.
2. Avoid the May 1 / September 1 Premiums (Ours Don’t Have Them)
Most Ottawa moving companies charge premiums on the two big rental turnover days. We don’t. Same rate, every day of the year. But the calendar fills up fast. Book 4–6 weeks ahead for May 1 or September 1, even with us.
3. Pick a Mid-Day Slot
Morning slots (7–8 AM) are popular because elevator bookings open then. But mid-day slots (11 AM–1 PM) often have less elevator wait time at student-heavy buildings and the same rate. Ask our dispatcher.
4. Book the Smaller Truck if You Can Fit
A 16-ft or 20-ft truck handles most studios and 1-bedrooms. The 26-ft truck rate is the same crew rate but you might pay an extra fuel margin. We’ll quote both options when you book — pick what fits your inventory honestly.
5. Use Our Junk Removal Service Instead of Moving Trash
Don’t move things you don’t want. We offer junk removal as part of any move at a flat-rate per cubic-yard, often cheaper than the alternative of dragging stuff to the curb yourself.
The Walk-Up Reality
Sandy Hill, Centretown, the Glebe, Old Ottawa South — many student rentals are 2nd or 3rd floor walk-ups. We don’t charge stair fees for under 4 flights. Above 4, there’s a small flat fee disclosed at quote time. Either way, it’s in writing before we show up.
Highrise Student Buildings — Elevator Booking is Critical
Buildings like 1Eleven Parkdale, U District, Place Bell, Smart Living, and the larger Sandy Hill purpose-built student housing all require elevator booking 1–2 weeks in advance. Show up without a booking and you wait, on the clock, while we share the freight elevator with delivery drivers and other movers. Our apartment movers team handles elevator booking and COI filing as part of standard service for every Ottawa highrise.
Co-Op and Internship Moves
If you’re a co-op student moving from out of town for a spring/summer placement at Shopify, Ciena, OpenText, Nokia, or one of the other Kanata Tech Park employers, we coordinate with destination buildings on key handoff and can store your dorm contents at home in our Ottawa storage warehouse until your fall lease starts. Often cheaper than two short-term rentals.
Graduating? Long-Distance Move After Convocation
Lots of our spring student-moving volume is graduates relocating for jobs in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, or back home. We do long-distance moves Canada-wide at written flat-rate prices. Common routes for new grads:
What to Pack the Night Before
- Bedding (you’ll want it that night at the new place)
- Charger, laptop, headphones, two days of medications
- 2 changes of clothes
- Toiletries
- Important documents (passport, lease, ID, banking)
- Valuables you’d rather hand-carry — laptops, jewellery, cash
Everything else: boxed by 7 AM the day of the move.
Frequently Asked Questions: Student Movers Ottawa
Do you offer flat-rate prices for student moves?
For local moves we use hourly billing because most student moves are short and predictable. For long-distance grad moves, we offer written flat-rate quotes. Both options are quoted in writing.
What’s the cheapest student move you’ll do?
The 3-hour minimum at $150/hr (2 movers + 26-ft truck) plus 1-hour travel = $560 before any tip. Add a 10% student discount and you’re at $504. That’s our floor.
Can you move a single bed and a desk?
Yes. Same minimums apply. Often makes more sense to bundle with a roommate’s move and split the time.
Do you assemble IKEA furniture at the destination?
Yes, on the clock. Bring your tools and instructions, or we’ll bring our own kit (extra fee). Be realistic — assembly time is part of the booking, not a free add-on.
How early should I book for September 1?
4–6 weeks. Ottawa’s September 1 rental turnover is the biggest moving day of the year. Book early, get morning slots.
Do you handle moves between residences and off-campus housing?
Yes — most student volume is dorm to apartment or apartment to apartment. Walk-ups, elevators, condo COIs, all standard. Our condo team files COIs for any building that requires one.
Book Your Student Move
Get a written quote in 60 seconds. Show your student card, save 10%.
Request a Student Move Quote
Or call 613-800-0917.
Men In Trucks Moving Inc. — licensed, insured, $2M coverage. Trusted by uOttawa, Carleton, and Algonquin students since 2010.
