The ultimate Adelaide removalists price guide
It’s not just the world-class wine regions and stunning churches that are attracting people to South Australia’s capital city, Adelaide has more to offer than meets the eye. Green leafy suburbs, beaches within 20 minutes of the CBD, historical architecture and affordable housing are just a few reasons people are taking a fancy to the city.
Settling down in Adelaide will require some insights into the SA removalist industry and know-how to accurately budget for your next move. Here’s our guide to booking removalists in Adelaide.
Topics in this article:
How to navigate Adelaide removalists successfully
The goal, when moving house, whether you’re moving interstate, to a different suburb or just down the road, is typically to get a good deal and save as much cash as you can. Use these simple guidelines and be ahead of the rest when you pack up and shift your life from A to B.
- Provide accurate details – Your removals team will want to know what exactly they’re shifting. To get a realistic and precise quote, it comes down to having an accurate inventory of all your stuff. Your removalists will be forgiving if you forgot to mention one or two items, but your team will need a specific outline of your biggest belongings. Using an inventory calculator will save you time and potentially dollars when moving day comes since the number of items, their weight, size and the time it takes will determine the cost of your move. Keep in mind heavier items will add to the bill as well as the space requirements on the truck. When it comes to packing the easier your items stack, the better, as they take up less surface area and less time to manoeuvre.
- Purge what you can – Downsizing, decluttering, and minimisation, where possible is another helpful tip when prepping to move home. If you have unwanted or unused items perhaps look at selling, donating or throwing these away before the move. You will ultimately be paying the cost to move things you no longer want in your home anyway. You’ll retain as much money as possible by shifting less if you can.
- Be clear about access to both properties – When you’re moving the removalist will want to know as much about access to both properties as possible. Generally, they will prompt you and ask, if not, be upfront. It is important to share any information that will impact the ease of getting things in and out the front door. The reason this is so important as things like multiple flights of stairs, lifts, gated communities and no street front parking will change the cost of your quote as they’ll have further to walk with your heavy items.
- Tips to save on your next Adelaide move – Start as early as possible, even request to be the first job of the day when booking. You want to be sure you get the very best out of your removalists. Being the first job will usually result in a team that has more energy, will mean they are more likely to be on time and can generally get the job done quicker. When sorting through a comparison site, opt for a removalist that is the closest to your pick up or drop off property since you’re looking to save on transport and travel charges. Removalists usually will charge a fee for them to drive to and from their home base, the closer you can get to their base on one end or another, the better.
To get some clarity around pricing for your next move, check out the price guides below.
Estimate pricing for your move in Adelaide
| Residence size | Total items size | Average Adelaide removalist price | Time needed for 2 people (loading and unloading) |
| Studio apartment | 8m3 | $210 | 2 hours |
| 1 bedroom apartment | 15m3 | $418 | 3.8 hours |
| 2 bedroom apartment | 23m3 | $638 | 5.8 hours |
| 3 bedroom apartment | 32m3 | $880 | 8 hours |
| 4 bedroom apartment | 42m3 | $1155 | 10.5 hours |
| 2 bedroom house | 26m3 | $726 | 6.6 hours |
| 3 bedroom house | 35m3 | $979 | 8.9 hours |
| 4 bedroom house | 48m3 | $1342 | 12.2 hours |
| 5 bedroom house | 55m3 | $1540 | 14 hours |
Source: Muval
To find the best deal for your move, look for removalists that offer pricing per half hour rather than hourly rates. A half-hourly rate will allow you to save as you are only paying for the exact amount of time used. In Adelaide, the average price per half hour is $55.00 for your removalist, so you can save money by hunting around for the best deal.
Discuss with your chosen removalist if they will allow you to be involved during the move and help shift some boxes or items that are easy to carry, which will help save them time and most importantly save you money. Here are some more ways to plan a smooth and affordable move:
- Disassemble and reassemble your furniture yourself such as bed frames, dining tables, cots, and change tables. Having furniture disassembled will create more space on the truck, and therefore they will be able to fit more items in and depending on how many things you have may mean you only have to make one trip. Remember to take a photo of the furniture before disassembling and hold onto all the nuts and bolts to make it easier to put items back together again.
- Make a central and accessible space for boxes and other items to be moved in an easy access zone, e.g. your garage or living room. Moving as many of the boxes yourself into a central area will allow movers to grab and move your items to their truck swiftly.
- Label boxes with which room or space you want them placed in the new home. Having someone dedicated to directing the removalists to the right rooms at the other end will clear up any confusion and save you having to hunt for specific items you need the first night after moving. Label any boxes with precious items as ‘fragile’ to ensure they’re handled with care. Here’s a guide to moving fragile items and how to protect them.
The smooth way to move interstate to Adelaide
Interstate removalists in Adelaide have the option to send your goods by rail or truck. Depending on when you need to move in by, you can save quite a lot of money by being flexible. By allowing for a longer delivery window, you may be able to take advantage of a rail service that only leaves and delivers on certain days. Rail services will mean your container of household items can go on a mass transit system that allows for a lower price than other forms of transit.
The cost of an interstate move is calculated using the total size or volume of the goods being moved (known as a cubic metre/m3), and how much space they take up in the truck or container. The best thing about this is, you’ll be able to get a set price early on for your move, regardless of how long the move itself generally takes.
Know your cubic metres!
When arranging initial quotes for an interstate move, you’ll find yourself always getting asked ‘How many cubic metres are you moving?’. Knowing this answer will speed up the quotation process and helps you more easily compare different moving companies. To figure out how many cubic metres you intend to move, think about a box that is one metre high, one metre deep, and one metre wide. Within a cubic metre, you’ll find you can fit around eight tea chests or medium-sized moving boxes.
Approximate volume of items depending on residence size
| Residence size | Space needed |
| Studio apartment | 12m3 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | 18m3 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | 28m3 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | 35m3 |
| 3 bedroom house | 40m3 |
| 4 bedroom house | 45m3 |
| 5 bedroom house | 60m3 |
How much do Adelaide interstate removalists cost?
The cost of your move will always vary depending on the distance and route travelled between your destinations. Here is a general guide to the average costs of moving between different major cities in Australia and Adelaide.
Moving between Adelaide and Melbourne
The average cost of moving from Adelaide to Melbourne is $93.53 per cubic metre. From Melbourne to Adelaide, on average, is $125.47 per cubic metre.
Interstate removalist prices from Adelaide to Melbourne
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $898 – $1,122 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $1,347 – $1,684 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $2,095 – $2,619 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $2,619 – $3,274 |
| 3 bedroom house | $2,993 – $3,741 |
| 4 bedroom house | $3,367 – $4,209 |
| 5 bedroom house | $4,489 – $5,612 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Adelaide to Melbourne on Muval
Interstate removalist prices from Melbourne to Adelaide
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $1,205 – $1,506 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $1,807 – $2,258 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $2,811 – $3,513 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $3,513 – $4,391 |
| 3 bedroom house | $4,015 – $5,019 |
| 4 bedroom house | $4,517 – $5,646 |
| 5 bedroom house | $6,023 – $7,528 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Melbourne to Adelaide on Muval
Moving between Adelaide and Sydney
The average cost of moving from Adelaide to Sydney is $139.04 per cubic metre. From Sydney to Adelaide, on average, is $130.14 per cubic metre.
Interstate removalist prices from Adelaide to Sydney
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $1,335 – $1,668 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $2,002 – $2,503 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $3,114 – $3,893 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $3,893 – $4,866 |
| 3 bedroom house | $4,449 – $5,562 |
| 4 bedroom house | $5,005 – $6,257 |
| 5 bedroom house | $6,674 – $8,342 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Adelaide to Sydney on Muval
Interstate removalist prices from Sydney to Adelaide
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $1,249 – $1,562 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $1,874 – $2,343 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $2,915 – $3,644 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $3,644 – $4,555 |
| 3 bedroom house | $4,164 – $5,206 |
| 4 bedroom house | $4,685 – $5,856 |
| 5 bedroom house | $6,247 – $7,808 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Sydney to Adelaide on Muval
Moving between Adelaide and Brisbane
The average cost of moving from Adelaide to Brisbane City is $155.11 per cubic metre. From Brisbane City to Adelaide, on average, is $178.00 per cubic metre.
Interstate removalist prices from Adelaide to Brisbane City
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $1,489 – $1,861 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $2,234 – $2,792 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $3,474 – $4,343 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $4,343 – $5,429 |
| 3 bedroom house | $4,964 – $6,204 |
| 4 bedroom house | $5,584 – $6,980 |
| 5 bedroom house | $7,445 – $9,307 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Adelaide to Brisbane City on Muval
Interstate removalist prices from Brisbane City to Adelaide
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $1,709 – $2,136 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $2,563 – $3,204 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $3,987 – $4,984 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $4,984 – $6,230 |
| 3 bedroom house | $5,696 – $7,120 |
| 4 bedroom house | $6,408 – $8,010 |
| 5 bedroom house | $8,544 – $10,680 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Brisbane City to Adelaide on Muval
Moving between Adelaide and Perth
The average cost of moving from Adelaide to Perth is $186.28 per cubic metre. From Perth to Adelaide, on average, is $110.01 per cubic metre.
Interstate removalist prices from Adelaide to Perth
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $1,788 – $2,235 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $2,682 – $3,353 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $4,173 – $5,216 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $5,216 – $6,520 |
| 3 bedroom house | $5,961 – $7,451 |
| 4 bedroom house | $6,706 – $8,383 |
| 5 bedroom house | $8,941 – $11,177 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Adelaide to Perth on Muval
Interstate removalist prices from Perth to Adelaide
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $1,056 – $1,320 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $1,584 – $1,980 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $2,464 – $3,080 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $3,080 – $3,850 |
| 3 bedroom house | $3,520 – $4,400 |
| 4 bedroom house | $3,960 – $4,950 |
| 5 bedroom house | $5,280 – $6,601 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Perth to Adelaide on Muval
Moving between Adelaide and Canberra
The average cost of moving from Adelaide to Canberra is $132.87 per cubic metre. From Canberra to Adelaide, on average, is $139.49 per cubic metre.
Interstate removalist prices from Adelaide to Canberra
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $1,276 – $1,594 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $1,913 – $2,392 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $2,976 – $3,720 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $3,720 – $4,650 |
| 3 bedroom house | $4,252 – $5,315 |
| 4 bedroom house | $4,783 – $5,979 |
| 5 bedroom house | $6,378 – $7,972 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Adelaide to Canberra on Muval
Interstate removalist prices from Canberra to Adelaide
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $1,339 – $1,674 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $2,009 – $2,511 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $3,125 – $3,906 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $3,906 – $4,882 |
| 3 bedroom house | $4,464 – $5,580 |
| 4 bedroom house | $5,022 – $6,277 |
| 5 bedroom house | $6,696 – $8,369 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Canberra to Adelaide on Muval
Moving between Adelaide and Tasmania
The average cost of moving from Adelaide to Tasmania is $233.33 per cubic metre. From Tasmania to Adelaide, on average, is $492.50 per cubic metre.
Interstate removalist prices from Adelaide to Tasmania
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $2,240 – $2,800 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $3,360 – $4,200 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $5,227 – $6,533 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $6,533 – $8,167 |
| 3 bedroom house | $7,467 – $9,333 |
| 4 bedroom house | $8,400 – $10,500 |
| 5 bedroom house | $11,200 – $14,000 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Adelaide to Tasmania on Muval
Interstate removalist prices from Tasmania to Adelaide
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $4,728 – $5,910 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $7,092 – $8,865 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $11,032 – $13,790 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $13,790 – $17,238 |
| 3 bedroom house | $15,760 – $19,700 |
| 4 bedroom house | $17,730 – $22,163 |
| 5 bedroom house | $23,640 – $29,550 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Tasmania to Adelaide on Muval
Moving between Adelaide and Alice Springs
The average cost of moving from Adelaide to Alice Springs is $233.64 per cubic metre.
Interstate removalist prices from Adelaide to Alice Springs
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $2,243 – $2,804 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $3,364 – $4,206 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $5,234 – $6,542 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $6,542 – $8,177 |
| 3 bedroom house | $7,476 – $9,346 |
| 4 bedroom house | $8,411 – $10,514 |
| 5 bedroom house | $11,215 – $14,018 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Adelaide to Alice Springs on Muval
Moving between Adelaide and Darwin
The average cost of moving from Adelaide to Darwin is $200.55 per cubic metre. From Darwin to Adelaide, on average, is $119.10 per cubic metre.
Interstate removalist prices from Adelaide to Darwin
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $1,925 – $2,407 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $2,888 – $3,610 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $4,492 – $5,615 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $5,615 – $7,019 |
| 3 bedroom house | $6,418 – $8,022 |
| 4 bedroom house | $7,220 – $9,025 |
| 5 bedroom house | $9,626 – $12,033 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Adelaide to Darwin on Muval
Interstate removalist prices from Darwin to Adelaide
| Residence size | Price range |
| Studio apartment | $1,143 – $1,429 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | $1,715 – $2,144 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | $2,668 – $3,335 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | $3,335 – $4,169 |
| 3 bedroom house | $3,811 – $4,764 |
| 4 bedroom house | $4,288 – $5,360 |
| 5 bedroom house | $5,717 – $7,146 |
Source: Interstate removalists from Adelaide to Darwin on Muval
Get your hands on the correct supplies
Something you don’t often think about when moving house is the moving supplies. Things such as packing tape, bubble wrap, packing paper and blankets can add costs to your move; however, they are necessary items that you shouldn’t forget. Re-using old boxes, seeking them out from friends or the hardware store or bottleshops are a great way to save some money on purchasing heavy-duty boxes.
If you’re out of options and still need boxes, storage companies, as well as Bunnings stores, have a wide range of moving and packing boxes for sale which are usually weight rated. Be sure to pick boxes sturdy enough so they can deliver your belongings safely to your new home.
Average costs of moving boxes
| Residence size | Estimated cost of boxes |
| Studio apartment | $60 – $80 |
| 1-2 bedroom apartment | $99 – $110 |
| 3-4 bedroom house | $150 – $200 |
Source: Muval’s ultimate moving box price guide
Do your due diligence and compare prices
Whilst we all want to save money when moving house, we also want the assurance of our belongings arriving safely and feeling taken care of by your removalists. Online mover comparison services allow you the peace of mind knowing that you’re being provided with a list of quality vetted removalists that’ll get your job done right.
Disclaimer: Please note, the prices and space estimates noted in this article should only be used as a guide and not a concrete indication of exactly how much your move will cost or how much space is required. All prices shown in this article do not factor in complexities that may arise in your personal situation like availability of your desired move dates, access constraints of your property, or heavy/difficult items like pianos or pizza ovens.
Looking for a home in Adelaide? View properties in some of the most popular suburbs:
- Property for sale in Sheidow Park, SA 5158
- Property for sale in Evandale, SA 5069
- Property for sale in Aldgate, SA 5154
- Property for sale in Vale Park, SA 5081
- Property for sale in Ridgehaven, SA 5097
Want to learn more about what it’s like to live in Adelaide?
View Adelaide’s top-rated suburbs as well as Adelaide’s local forums and discussions to get all your questions answered. Here’s a helpful guide on how to find the best suburb for you.
Written by:
James Morrell, CEO and Co-founder of Muval
Share this article
Muval is an online price comparison and booking platform for the furniture removals industry. Muval believes that life’s big moves should be celebrated, not dreaded. The first step in that process is finding a quality, vetted removalist that you can trust. Head to muval.com.au to find out more.
Find the
latest properties
to hit the market
We'd like to hear from you!
2 comments
Wow! Great content about removalists . We really need a professional and best removalists when we are planing to move our house, furniture or office etc. I have great experience with Bright Removalists. They have best mover and packers. Get a quote Removalists Adelaide
Thank goodness this Informative article is interesting and clear. Others I’ve read made me feel like I needed a degree to decipher them. I agree with a lot of your material and think you are gifted.
https://realmovers.com.au/