Quick answer: Most long-distance moves out of Montreal cost between $1,100 and $5,000 in 2026. A regional move inside the Quebec, Ontario and Maritimes corridor (roughly 200 to 1,000 km) is the most common, and starts at about $1,100 to Ottawa and $2,250 to Toronto.
Cross-country moves are a different category and run $4,000 to $12,000. Long-distance pricing is based on the weight or volume of your shipment plus the distance, not on an hourly rate.
Here is how that number is built, what should be included, and the questions worth asking before you sign anything.
What counts as a long-distance move?
A long-distance move is any move priced by distance and shipment size rather than by the hour. In practice, once a move passes roughly 100 km, most companies switch from hourly billing to a flat long-distance price.
There are two very different types:
- Regional long-distance: roughly 200 to 1,000 km. Montreal to Ottawa, Quebec City, Toronto, Fredericton or Moncton. Usually one truck, loaded and delivered over one or two days.
- Cross-country: 2,000 km and up. Montreal to Calgary or Vancouver. Usually a consolidated shipment sharing a trailer with other households, with a delivery window measured in weeks.
The distinction matters more than most people expect, because it changes your price, your delivery date, and how many times your belongings are handled.
How is long-distance moving priced?
Local moves are billed hourly. Long-distance moves are not. Your price is built from four things:
- Weight or volume of your shipment. The single biggest factor. A three-bedroom home usually weighs 5,000 to 9,000 lb.
- Distance. Fuel, driver hours and equipment time.
- Access at both ends. Stairs, elevators, long carries, and whether a full-size truck can reach the door.
- Services added. Packing, materials, storage, specialty items.
The result is a flat quote rather than a running clock. If you want to see how the hourly model compares, our guide to moving company prices in Montreal breaks down local rates in detail.
Binding vs non-binding estimates
This is the term that decides whether your quote can change:
- A binding estimate is a guaranteed total. The price does not move even if the final weight differs.
- A non-binding estimate is an assessment. The final bill is set by the actual weight or volume on moving day.
For a long-distance move, a binding written estimate protects you. If a company gives you only a verbal number, you have nothing to hold them to.
Long-distance moving prices from Montreal in 2026
Typical starting prices on common routes, for a modest household:
| Route | Distance | Typical starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal to Ottawa | 220 km | from about $1,100 |
| Montreal to Toronto | 540 km | from about $2,250 |
| Montreal to Mississauga | 600 km | from about $2,400 |
| Montreal to London, Ontario | 720 km | from about $2,700 |
| Montreal to Fredericton | 840 km | from about $3,200 |
| Montreal to Moncton | 1,000 km | from about $3,500 |
Those are entry points. The size of your home moves the number more than the route does:
| Home size | Typical range, 200 to 600 km |
|---|---|
| Studio or 1 bedroom | $1,100 to $2,500 |
| 2 bedroom | $2,000 to $3,800 |
| 3 bedroom | $2,800 to $5,000 |
| 4+ bedroom house | $4,000 to $7,000 |
For a closer look at the largest of these, see our breakdown of the average cost to move a 3-bedroom house.
What is included in a long-distance quote?
| Usually included | Usually extra |
|---|---|
| Truck, fuel and highway costs | Full packing service |
| The crew, loading and unloading | Boxes and packing materials |
| Blankets, pads, dollies and straps | Specialty items such as a piano, pool table or safe |
| Basic disassembly and reassembly | Hoisting or craning |
| Transit coverage for your goods | Storage between dates |
| Shuttle truck where a full-size truck cannot reach |
Always ask for the exclusions in writing. Most long-distance disputes come from an item someone assumed was included.
Specialty pieces are the most common surprise line. If you own one, our piano moving cost guide explains how those are quoted.
Dedicated truck or consolidated shipment?
This is the part almost nobody explains, and it changes both your price and your delivery date.
Consolidated shipment. Your belongings share a trailer with several other households. It is cheaper per kilogram, but delivery arrives inside a window of several days to several weeks, and your goods are loaded, transferred and reloaded at depots along the way. Every transfer is a chance for damage or a missing box.
Dedicated truck. Your shipment is the only one on board, or shares with one other household. It loads at your door, drives direct, and unloads at the destination. You get a known delivery date and far fewer handling points.
For regional moves, a dedicated truck is usually the better value once you account for the delivery certainty. At Dynamic Moving, we run our regional long-distance moves this way, one or two customers per truck, across Quebec, Ontario and into parts of New Brunswick, so your delivery date is a date rather than a window.
What raises the price
- Peak season. Summer, month-end, and July 1 in Quebec.
- Weight you do not need. Every kilogram travels the full distance. Decluttering has a direct, measurable payoff on a long-distance move.
- Difficult access. Stairs, no elevator, or a street a 53 ft trailer cannot enter, which triggers a shuttle.
- Packing service. Convenient, and typically the largest add-on.
- Storage. Charged monthly when your dates do not line up.
- Extra stops. Splitting a load across two destinations.
Deposits, payment and red flags
A few things worth knowing before you hand over money:
- Deposits should be small. Canadian Association of Movers guidelines cap deposits at about 10% of the estimate. Anything approaching half your total is a warning sign.
- Never pay in full before delivery. The balance is normally due on delivery.
- Get the estimate in writing. Verbal quotes are not binding.
- Read the bill of lading. It is your contract, and it lists every charge. Read it before you sign, not after the truck is loaded.
- Be wary of cash-only demands. Legitimate movers accept traceable payment.
- Check whether you are hiring a carrier or a broker. Brokers subcontract your move to someone else, and subcontracting is one of the largest sources of consumer complaints in this industry. Ask directly: will your own employees be moving me?
- Declare high-value items. Under transportation law, a mover is not liable for goods of extraordinary value, such as artwork, unless that value has been declared in advance.
- If your quote is weight-based, ask to see the weigh ticket for the empty truck before loading.
How to lower a long-distance moving bill
- Declutter aggressively. Weight is the price. Sell, donate or recycle before you pack.
- Move off-peak. Mid-week, mid-month, outside summer.
- Pack yourself. Keep professional packing for fragile or high-value items only.
- Be flexible on dates if the company offers a better rate for a particular week.
- Get three written quotes and compare what is included, not just the total.
Our full list of tactics is in how to save on moving costs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a long-distance move cost from Montreal?
Between roughly $1,100 and $5,000 for a regional move within about 1,000 km, depending on home size and distance. Cross-country moves run $4,000 to $12,000.
What is considered a long-distance move?
Any move priced by distance and shipment size rather than by the hour, generally anything beyond about 100 km.
Is long-distance moving priced by weight or by volume?
Either, depending on the company. Both are then multiplied by distance. Ask which method applies to your quote and how it will be verified.
How long does long-distance delivery take?
On a dedicated truck within 1,000 km, usually one to two days. On a consolidated cross-country shipment, anywhere from several days to several weeks.
Is a deposit normal for a long-distance move?
A small deposit is common. Industry guidance puts it around 10% of the estimate, with the balance due on delivery.
Are my belongings insured during a long-distance move?
Reputable movers carry cargo coverage, but default protection is often calculated by weight rather than replacement value, which can pay out far less than an item is worth. Ask what the coverage pays out, and declare anything valuable in advance.
When is the cheapest time to move long distance?
Mid-week and mid-month, outside the summer peak and away from July 1.
Should I insist on a binding estimate?
For a long-distance move, yes. A binding written estimate is the only version of your price that cannot grow on moving day.
Can you move a piano or pool table long distance?
Yes, with the right equipment. These are quoted separately from the main shipment because they need specialized handling.
Do you move across the country?
We handle regional long-distance moves across Quebec, Ontario and into parts of New Brunswick, up to about 1,000 km, on a dedicated truck. Cross-country consolidated shipping is a different service model.
Get an exact number for your move
Ranges are useful for budgeting, but only a proper quote is accurate. Tell us your home size, your dates, the access at both ends, and where you are headed, and we will give you one clear written price with no hidden fees. You can request a free long-distance moving quote or call 514-551-0155.
Prices in this guide are typical 2026 figures for general planning. Your exact cost depends on your shipment, your route and your dates, and is confirmed in your written quote.