Fixed price or hourly rate: which one is right for your move
Most removalists give you one way to pay. We give you two, and you pick. Hourly means you pay for the time we actually spend, in 15-minute blocks. Fixed price means you know the whole number before we lift a thing, and it stays put if the day throws you a curveball.
Either way you get the same two Truckers, the same little red truck and the same damaged goods guarantee. Here is how each one works, so you can choose which is best for your next move.
The short version
Go hourly
Go fixed price
How an hourly rate move works
- You pay an hourly rate billed in handy 15-minute blocks. We do not round up to the next half hour or hour as some companies do.
- There is a fixed callout and return time to cover our travel to and from your move. It’s included in every estimate and does not change if traffic is bad on the day.
- You get an estimate up front, built from your item list and the access at both ends. Because of this, 9 in 10 of our hourly moves finish within 30 minutes of it.
- You choose a two-hour arrival window: 7am–9am, 9am–11am, 11am–1pm or 1pm–3pm.
The quickest hourly moves have one thing in common: the customer was ready. Boxes packed and taped, drawers emptied, beds already in pieces, a park saved out front. Got a couple of mates keen to help carry? Even better. It is your move and you can control the final cost.
Hourly suits: small moves, people who have packed well ahead, easy access at both ends, and anyone looking to control the final cost of the move.
How a fixed price move works
- Your price is set before move day. It is based on the item list you agree with us, the access at both ends, and any extras you add, like an extra stop and help with disassembling furniture.
- That one price covers everything we’ve run through at the time of booking. A traffic jam, an out-of-service lift or a slow afternoon is our responsibility, not yours.
- You can choose how precise your arrival time is: a morning or afternoon window, a standard two-hour window, or a priority exact start time.
What can change a fixed price: We’ll provide you with one guaranteed price for the items and access your move involves. Everyone has a few little things they forget and this is no problem. Bigger changes to items or access that materially change the scope of the job will mean that price has to be reviewed on the day. If that happens, we stop and talk it through with you before agreeing to any changes. No surprises or ransom demands.
Fixed price suits: bigger homes, tight budgets, and anyone who would rather not watch the clock on one of the bigger days of their year.
How it all works in the wild
Both of these were Little Red Trucks moves in September 2026. Both came in at $687 when booked, and both moved about 11 cubic metres (a bit over half a Little Red Truck). One was booked hourly and one was fixed price. Here is how each one played out.
Hourly: Brunswick West to Brunswick East, $171.75 under estimate
The move: a two-storey house to a ground-floor apartment, street parking at both ends, on a Monday. Moving a queen bed, three-seater couch, fridge, washing machine, dining table, bookshelf, desk, a bike and the usual bits and pieces.
The estimate: 3 hours, including the fixed callout and return. $687.
On the day: loading and unloading took 45 minutes less than estimated, so the billed time came to 2 hours 15 minutes.
They paid: $515.25, which is $171.75 less than the estimate.
Why hourly made sense: a short hop with simple access at both ends. When the day runs smoothly, every minute saved comes off the bill.
Fixed price: Burnley to Richmond, 90 minutes longer but the price didn’t change
The move: a single-storey house to a first-floor apartment on a Saturday. We moved an L-shaped couch, queen bed, chest of drawers, washing machine, three bar stools, a big pot plant, 12 boxes and 4 tubs.
The fixed price: $687, agreed at booking and planned around 2.5 hours.
On the day: it took 4 hours. Loading and unloading alone ran 90 minutes over plan because of a very narrow staircase at the drop-off.
They paid: $687, the price agreed at booking.
Why fixed made sense: tight stairs at the drop-off and some busy Saturday traffic are the kind of day that can stretch. On an hourly booking those extra 90 minutes would have been billed. On a fixed price they were ours to carry.
The upshot: two moves, both quoted at $687. One finished early and paid less. The other ran long and paid exactly what was agreed.
A side-by-side breakdown
| Hourly rate | Fixed price | |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Time used, in 15-minute blocks, plus a fixed callout and return | One agreed price for the whole move |
| Know the total before the day | You get an estimate | Yes |
| Traffic, broken lift, slow day | Adds to your time | Our risk, not yours |
| Finish early | You pay less | Price stays the same |
| Your prep on the day | Directly affects the cost | Only matters if it causes avoidable delays |
| Surcharges for stairs, fuel or heavy lifting | None | None |
| When you pay | After the move | After the move |
| Insurance and damaged goods guarantee | Included | Included |
Which one suits your move
Everything is boxed, the beds are already flat-packed and your brother is coming to help. Hourly. You have done the work, so pay for the time it takes.
Third-floor apartment, a lift with a mind of its own and keys to hand back by 3pm. Fixed price. Let us carry the risk.
A couch and a fridge across Brunswick. Hourly. Small, quick and simple.
The budget is set and there is no room for a surprise. Fixed price. You know the number before we arrive.
Still on the fence? Get a price online for your move and compare.
What you get either way
- Two removalists per Little Red Truck, fully trained in-house at our Brunswick HQ.
- Heavy-duty blankets, trolleys, straps and floor protection on every job.
- Help with dismantling and reassembling beds, wardrobes and flat-pack. Just let us know when you book.
- Public liability and transit insurance on every move, plus a certificate of currency for your building manager.
- Our damaged goods guarantee. If something is damaged because we did not take due care, we repair it, replace it, or compensate you (up to $1,000 per item for functional damage, $500 for cosmetic), as set out in our terms.
- No deposit. Your card holds the booking and is only charged after the move. Cancel more than 48 hours out and there is no fee.
A cheap hourly rate is only half the story
Your total cost is the rate multiplied by the time. A lower hourly rate from a slower team can easily cost you more by the end of the day. When you compare quotes, check four things:
- How time is billed. 15-minute blocks or rounded up to the hour?
- Whether there is a minimum number of hours.
- What the callout and travel charges are, and whether they move with traffic.
- Whether stairs, fuel or heavy items carry an extra charge.
Our guide to choosing a removalist without getting ripped off goes into more detail.
Why people book Little Red Trucks
We have been moving Melbourne from Brunswick since 2008, more than 50,000 moves and counting. What feels like the biggest day of your year is a pretty normal Tuesday for us, so it is usually sorted before we have even parked.
You get a real price online in a couple of minutes without handing over your phone number or waiting on a callback. Our estimates hold up: 9 in 10 hourly moves finish within 30 minutes of what we said.
And you are paying for the people who show up. Our Truckers are musicians, artists and students who move homes by day and chase their own thing by night. They are quick, careful and good company on a stressful day, which is probably why we sit at 4.9 stars on Google.
Fixed price vs hourly: common questions
Is a fixed price move more expensive?
Usually a little, because we take on the risk of the day running long. If your move goes smoothly, hourly will often come in cheaper. If it does not, our fixed price protects you.
What happens if my fixed price move finishes early?
The price stays the same. That is the trade: you get certainty, we carry the risk both ways.
What if I have extra items on the day?
Tell us as early as you can so your price stays accurate. If the move turns out bigger than booked, we will talk you through your options before anything changes, including extra Truckers or another truck if it makes sense.
Is there a minimum charge on hourly moves?
The only fixed charge is the callout and return. Everything else is billed in 15-minute blocks.
Which days are cheapest to move?
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Do I need to pay a deposit?
No. You add a card to hold the booking and nothing is charged until after your move.
Get a clear price for your move
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