How Much Does It Cost to Move Interstate in Australia?

By the Smart Taurus team · Updated 13 July 2026

Interstate removalist prices in Australia swing enormously depending on whether you book a dedicated truck or share space on one already making the trip — this guide breaks down what drives the difference.

In short: Interstate backloading in Australia typically costs around $60–$75 per cubic metre, and can be up to 50% cheaper than dedicated truck hire, according to figures published by Muval and Localsearch. A dedicated removalist truck for a three-bedroom house on a corridor like Melbourne–Brisbane can run roughly $8,000–$10,000, per Muval's interstate estimates. Smart Taurus lets you post your interstate move free and compare quotes from verified removalists, including backload offers, in one app.

What does an interstate move actually cost?

The honest answer is that there is no single price — the same three-bedroom house can cost $3,000 or $10,000 to shift depending on how the truck is booked. The two figures worth anchoring on: backloading at roughly $60–$75 per cubic metre interstate (Muval/Localsearch), and dedicated truck hire for a full 3-bed Melbourne–Brisbane move at around $8,000–$10,000 (Muval's published interstate estimates). A typical 3-bed home is 30–40 cubic metres of belongings, so a backloaded version of that same move might come in at a fraction of the dedicated price.

Everything else — access at both ends, packing services, stairs, storage, insurance level, and how flexible your dates are — nudges the price up or down from those anchors.

Backload or dedicated truck — which should you book?

Book a backload if your dates are flexible and your budget matters more than speed; book a dedicated truck if you need guaranteed pickup and delivery days. A backload fills spare space on a truck already driving your route (often the return leg of another family's move), which is why removalists can sell it so cheaply — the truck was going anyway.

Option	Typical pricing	Best for	Trade-off
Backloading	~$60–$75 per m³ interstate (Muval/Localsearch)	Flexible dates, partial loads, budget moves	Wider delivery windows, shared truck
Dedicated truck	~$8,000–$10,000 for a 3-bed Melbourne–Brisbane move (Muval)	Fixed settlement dates, whole-house moves	You pay for the whole truck, including empty space

If backloading is new to you, our guide to what backloading is and how it works covers it in depth, and Smart Taurus has a dedicated backloading service page for posting these jobs.

Which interstate corridors are cheapest?

The busiest east-coast corridors are the cheapest per cubic metre, because trucks run them constantly and empty return legs are common. The main routes Australian removalists quote daily:

Sydney–Melbourne — the highest-volume corridor in the country; backloads appear in both directions almost every week.
Melbourne–Brisbane — long enough that backloading savings are substantial; the benchmark 3-bed dedicated move here is roughly $8,000–$10,000 (Muval).
Sydney–Brisbane — heavily trafficked, with frequent shared-load departures.
East–west to Perth — the long haul across the Nullarbor is where backloading matters most, since paying for a dedicated truck over ~3,400 km from Sydney is rarely economical for a partial load.

Moving to or from regional towns off these corridors costs more per cubic metre, because fewer trucks pass through and pickups may need a detour.

How much does date flexibility actually save?

Flexibility is the single biggest lever on interstate price — Muval and Localsearch put backloading savings at up to 50% versus dedicated hire, and flexibility is what unlocks it. A removalist with three spare cubic metres on Thursday's Brisbane run can offer you a sharp price only if you can hand over your goods when the truck is passing. If you must move on one exact Saturday, you are effectively buying certainty, and certainty is priced like a dedicated truck.

Tip: give a pickup window of 3–7 days and a delivery window of 1–2 weeks in your job post. Wider windows attract more backload quotes, and you can still choose a faster offer if one arrives.

What else affects your interstate quote?

Volume in cubic metres — the core unit removalists price on; declutter before you measure.
Access — stairs, lifts, long carries and tight driveways add labour time at both ends.
Packing services — professional packing adds cost but can reduce damage claims.
Season — summer holidays and end-of-month weekends book out first and price higher.
Vehicles — sending a car with the move? Backload car transport averages AUD $400–$1,300 according to Truckit.net; see our car transport service.
Storage — a gap between settlement dates means paying for storage plus a second handling.

How does an interstate move work on Smart Taurus?

Post your move free — list rooms or cubic metres, both addresses, access details, photos and your date windows.
Receive quotes from verified removalists — including transporters with spare backload space on your corridor, so prices are frequently lower than dedicated hire.
Compare, book, track and pay — check profiles and reviews, book the quote that fits, follow the job in real time and pay securely in-app.

Before you post, run through our moving house checklist so nothing gets missed, and browse house removals for what to include in your listing.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move a 3-bedroom house interstate in Australia?

A dedicated removalist truck for a three-bedroom house on a route like Melbourne–Brisbane runs roughly $8,000–$10,000 according to Muval's interstate estimates. Booking the same volume as a backload at around $60–$75 per cubic metre can bring a 30–40 m³ home down dramatically — flexibility on dates is what unlocks the saving.

Is backloading safe for an interstate move?

Yes — it is the same professional removalists and trucks, just with your goods sharing space on a trip that is already happening. On Smart Taurus you can check each removalist's verified profile and reviews before booking, and track the job in real time.

How long does an interstate backload take to arrive?

Longer than a dedicated truck, because the schedule follows the truck's route rather than your calendar. Sydney–Melbourne backloads often deliver within a few days; east–west runs to Perth can take one to two weeks. Ask each removalist for their delivery window before booking.

What is the cheapest way to move from Sydney to Perth?

Backloading, almost without exception. The Sydney–Perth run is about 3,400 km, so paying for a dedicated truck's empty space over that distance is rarely economical for a household load. Post the job with a flexible delivery window and compare backload quotes from removalists already crossing the Nullarbor.

Can I send my car with my furniture interstate?

Often yes — some interstate carriers move vehicles and household goods together, or you can book car transport separately. Backload car transport in Australia averages around AUD $400–$1,300 according to Truckit.net, depending on route and vehicle.

How do removalists calculate cubic metres?

From your inventory: each item has a known approximate volume (a queen bed base is about 1.2 m³, a three-seat sofa around 1.5–2 m³). Listing every large item with photos in your Smart Taurus job post lets removalists estimate volume accurately, so quotes match the final price.

When is the most expensive time to move interstate?

School summer holidays (December–January), end of month and weekends. Trucks book out and dedicated pricing firms up. Mid-week, mid-month moves outside holiday periods attract more competing quotes and better backload availability.