How Long Does a Move Take? 2 or 3 Movers?

How long a move takes, by home size

These are the working hours movers plan for a local move in their own estimate tables. Travel between the two homes comes on top, usually about 1 hour.

Typical hours for a local move (MoverDash price data, October 2026)
Home	Usual crew	Working hours	With travel
Studio	2 movers	2–3 hours	3–4 hours
1 bedroom	2 movers	3.5–5 hours	4.5–6 hours
2 bedrooms	3 movers	4–6 hours	5–7 hours
3 bedrooms	3 movers	6–8 hours	7–9 hours
House, 4+ bedrooms	4 movers	8–10 hours	9–11 hours

Where your move lands in each range depends on what you own and how easy both homes are to load. The next section covers what slows a crew down.

What makes a move take longer

Stairs. Montréal movers who charge for stairs usually bill them as extra time, about 30 minutes to an hour per floor.
Elevators. In a condo, the crew can only work while your elevator booking lasts. Condo boards set the booking rules, and the Condominium Authority of Ontario advises booking the elevator in advance (CAO).
Distance to the truck. In Toronto, moving vans may park on the street while actively loading. They must still obey posted signs (City of Toronto). In Montréal, the truck may need a parking permit. Some boroughs take up to 5 business days to issue one (Ville de Montréal, French only).
Boxes that aren’t packed. If the crew has to pack, you pay for that time at the hourly rate.
Furniture to take apart. Beds, desks and large tables add time at both ends.

Do you need 2 or 3 movers?

A bigger crew costs more per hour. In Toronto, 2 movers and a truck usually charge $135 an hour and 3 movers $180. A third mover saves money only if it finishes the job fast enough to make up for the higher rate.

When a third mover pays for itself (MoverDash price data, October 2026)
City	2 movers	3 movers	3 movers cost less if they save at least
Toronto	$135/h	$180/h	25% of the time
Montréal	$125/h	$165/h	24% of the time
Vancouver	$145/h	$200/h	28% of the time
Calgary	$135/h	$175/h	23% of the time
Ottawa	$145/h	$195/h	26% of the time
Edmonton	$145/h	$190/h	24% of the time

Rule of thumb: a third mover is worth it when there is a lot to carry over a long way. That means a 2-bedroom or bigger, stairs, or a long walk to the truck. For a studio or a 1-bedroom on the ground floor, 2 movers usually work out cheaper.

That matches how movers plan jobs: their estimate tables pair a 2-bedroom with 3 movers and a house with 4.

How to keep the hours down

Pack everything before the crew arrives, and tape every box closed.
Book the elevator for the whole move at both buildings, and tell the movers the booking times.
Save the truck a spot close to the door, and check the parking rules on both streets.
Take apart what you can, and put screws in a labelled bag taped to the piece.
Move small things yourself: plants, lamps and anything fragile you can carry in a car.

Questions people ask

How long does it take to move a 1-bedroom apartment?

Movers plan 3.5–5 hours of work with 2 movers, plus about 1 hour of travel. Stairs, a long carry to the truck or unpacked boxes push it toward the high end.

How many movers do I need for a 3-bedroom house?

Movers usually send 3 people for 2 or 3 bedrooms and 4 for a larger house. Ask each mover what crew it plans and why, and compare quotes for the same crew size.

Does travel time count toward the minimum?

It depends on the mover. Some count travel inside the minimum booking; others add it on top. In Montréal, for example, a common minimum is 2–3 hours of work plus 1 hour of travel. Check your quote.

What changed

October 13, 2026: First published.

How long does a move take, and do you need 2 or 3 movers?