Moving House at Christmas in Melbourne: 2026 Dates & Costs
By Move Near Me team ·
Short answer: Moving house at Christmas in Melbourne costs the same as any other time with Move Near Me: $105/hour for two removalists and a 4.5 t truck on weekdays, including Christmas Eve (Thursday 24 December 2026). Saturdays add $10/hour, Sundays $20/hour and the 25, 26 and 28 December public holidays $35/hour, excluding GST. Book once your date is fixed.
Moving house at Christmas in Melbourne: which December days are best?
Weekdays from late November to Christmas Eve are the cheapest pre-Christmas moving days, and earlier weeks leave more time to sort services. Christmas Eve is a normal weekday in Victoria, not a public holiday.
| Week (2026) | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 23 – Fri 27 Nov | Most choice of dates; four weeks to unpack | Spring settlement season still under way |
| Mon 30 Nov – Fri 4 Dec | Time to connect services before offices close | Saturdays may already be taken |
| Mon 7 – Fri 11 Dec | Two weeks to settle in | End-of-year work events |
| Mon 14 – Fri 18 Dec | In before the holiday week | Little buffer if settlement slips |
| Mon 21 – Thu 24 Dec (incl. Christmas Eve) | Weekday rates right up to Christmas | Busy roads near shopping centres; no buffer |
In every week, Monday to Friday is at the weekday rate and Saturday and Sunday at weekend rates.
After that come the Victorian public holidays: Christmas Day (Friday 25 December), Boxing Day (Saturday 26 December) and the additional public holiday on Monday 28 December, per Business Victoria’s 2026 public holiday list. We move on those days at the public holiday rate. Moving after Christmas with kids? See moving house in Melbourne’s school holidays for term dates and January options.
How far in advance should you book removalists for Christmas?
Book as soon as your settlement or lease date is confirmed. Weekend dates are popular, so weekdays are often easier to get, and they cost less.
- Pick a back-up day in case settlement moves.
- Get an estimate early: our instant online estimate takes minutes; we call back within 2 business hours to confirm.
- Know the cancellation terms: you can cancel free up to 48 hours before the move. Inside 48 hours, a $150 late cancellation fee applies, or 50% of the estimate if that’s less.
Do removalists charge more at Christmas?
Move Near Me doesn’t add a seasonal or Christmas surcharge. The rate is $105/hour for 2 removalists and a 4.5 t truck all year, and only the day type changes it: Saturday +$10/hour, Sunday +$20/hour, public holiday +$35/hour.
Every job has a 2-hour labour minimum plus a fixed 30-minute call-out, so the smallest weekday job is 2.5 hours × $105 = $262.50 + GST. After that, time is billed in 15-minute blocks, from crew arrival at the first address until the last item is unloaded. Prices exclude GST.
Worked example 1: 2-bed unit, Preston to Thornbury
A 2-bed unit in Preston moving to Thornbury (both City of Darebin), no stairs or extras, with 2 removalists and a 4.5 t truck. Our quote form estimates 4.25–5.75 billable hours, including the 30-minute call-out, on any day. Say the crew takes 4.5 hours from arrival to the last item unloaded: with the call-out, that’s 5 hours.
| Move date | Day type | Team rate | Labour, 5 hrs incl. call-out | Inc GST | Form’s range (ex GST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 16 Dec 2026 | Weekday | $105/hr | $525.00 | $577.50 | $446.25–$603.75 |
| Thu 24 Dec 2026 (Christmas Eve) | Weekday | $105/hr | $525.00 | $577.50 | $446.25–$603.75 |
| Sat 19 Dec 2026 | Saturday +$10/hr | $115/hr | $575.00 | $632.50 | $488.75–$661.25 |
Christmas Eve costs the same as the Wednesday before it; the Saturday adds $50 + GST. Every rate is in what removalists cost in Melbourne.
Settlement before Christmas: when should moving day be?
Book the truck for after you have the keys. In Victoria, you can usually inspect the property through the agent in the week before settlement, and once settlement is complete you collect the keys from the agent and take possession, unless something else has been arranged. Consumer Affairs Victoria explains the steps before settlement and on settlement day.
Billable time runs from crew arrival until the last item is unloaded, so a truck waiting for keys is paid time. Two ways to avoid it:
- Load the morning after settlement, with keys in hand. After a Friday settlement that’s a Saturday (+$10/hour), which can still cost less than waiting.
- Ask your conveyancer about the settlement time and whether an earlier one is possible, then confirm key collection with the agent.
Ask your conveyancer and lender about their own pre-Christmas cut-offs early rather than assuming a date.
Worked example 2: 3-bed house, Box Hill to Blackburn
A 3-bed house in Box Hill moving to Blackburn (both City of Whitehorse), settling Friday 18 December 2026. The quote form recommends 3 removalists and an 8 t truck: $105 + $45 (third mover) + $20 (8 t truck) = $170/hour on a weekday. It estimates 4.5–6 billable hours including the 30-minute call-out ($765–$1,020 + GST). That estimate assumes no waiting.
| Item | Keys in hand (Fri 18 Dec) | Truck waits 1.5 hrs for keys (Fri 18 Dec) | Next morning (Sat 19 Dec) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team rate | $170/hr | $170/hr | $180/hr |
| Billable hours (incl. 0.5 hr call-out) | 5 | 6.5 (1.5 hrs waiting) | 5 |
| Labour (ex GST) | $850.00 | $1,105.00 | $900.00 |
| GST (10%) | $85.00 | $110.50 | $90.00 |
| Total | $935.00 | $1,215.50 | $990.00 |
Waiting 1.5 hours for keys adds $255 + GST, while moving the next morning adds $50 + GST. The Saturday form range for this move is $810–$1,080 + GST. Packing adds 6–8 packer-hours at $55 ($330–$440 + GST), per our quote form.
Renting instead? See moving out of a rental in Victoria, and check current notice rules on Consumer Affairs Victoria’s giving notice as a renter page, and bond claims with the RTBA.
What closes over Christmas when moving house?
Many offices and trades close or run reduced hours between Christmas and New Year, so book anything that needs a business day before then. Christmas Day and Monday 28 December are public holidays.
- Electricity and gas: the Essential Services Commission says electricity is usually connected within one business day of asking a retailer
- Compare energy offers on Victorian Energy Compare. Concessions don’t carry over automatically, so give the retailer your concession card details again
- Internet: request a connection date as soon as your moving date is set
- Mail redirection: Australia Post redirection runs for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months and needs ID. The start date must be at least 3 full business days after you apply
- Cleaners: book the end-of-lease clean early
- Conveyancer and lender: ask about their last working day before the break
- Packing help: book packing services Melbourne if you’re short on time
Is it safe to move house in Melbourne’s December heat?
Yes, with planning: start early, drink water and keep vulnerable people out of the heat. The Better Health Channel advises drinking water even before you feel thirsty and planning essential activities for the coolest part of the day.
- Start early: ask for an early start so the heavy carrying is done before the afternoon
- Keep people and pets away: children, older relatives and pets should be somewhere cool, away from the loading path
- Pack heat-sensitive things last: medicines, a chilled food box and candles travel in your air-conditioned car, not the truck
- Know the warning signs: heatstroke is a medical emergency. Call 000
How to pack Christmas presents, decorations and the tree
Presents should travel with you, not in the truck; decorations need padding and clear labels.
- Presents: box them, label the box neutrally if kids are around, and carry it in your car
- Baubles: wrap in tissue or use egg cartons, in a small carton marked fragile
- Lights: wind each string around cardboard so it doesn’t tangle
- Artificial tree: take it apart into its original box or a long carton
- Real tree: dispose of it before you move, or buy one after you arrive
More tips: how to pack for a move.
Pre-Christmas moving checklist: 4 weeks to moving day
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks out | Confirm the settlement or lease date; get a moving house quote Melbourne; book cleaners |
| 2 weeks out | Arrange electricity, gas and internet; apply for mail redirection; pack decorations and rooms you don’t use |
| 1 week out | Pre-settlement inspection; confirm key collection and the crew’s start time |
| Day before | Pack medicines, chargers and a chilled food box for the car; put presents in your car |
| Moving day | Collect keys before the crew arrives; drink water; final walk-through with the crew |
For the full 8-week plan, see our moving house checklist for Melbourne.
FAQ
Q: Can you move house on Christmas Eve in Melbourne? Yes. Christmas Eve is a normal weekday in Victoria, so on Thursday 24 December 2026 Move Near Me charges the weekday rate of $105/hour for 2 removalists and a 4.5 t truck, excluding GST.
Q: Do removalists charge more at Christmas? Move Near Me doesn’t add a Christmas or seasonal surcharge. Only the day type changes the rate: Saturdays add $10/hour, Sundays $20/hour and public holidays (25, 26 and 28 December 2026) $35/hour, excluding GST.
Q: Can you move house on Christmas Day or Boxing Day? Yes. Move Near Me moves on Christmas Day (Friday 25 December 2026), Boxing Day (Saturday 26 December) and Monday 28 December at the public holiday rate: $35/hour on top of the weekday team rate, excluding GST.
Q: How far in advance should I book removalists for Christmas? Book as soon as your settlement or lease date is fixed, with a back-up day. Weekdays are often easier to get than weekends and cost less, and Move Near Me allows free cancellation up to 48 hours before.
Q: When do I get the keys if my settlement is just before Christmas? In Victoria, the buyer usually collects the keys from the agent after settlement is complete, unless something else has been arranged. Book removalists for after you have the keys, because time a crew spends waiting is billable.
Q: How long does it take to get electricity connected when moving house in Victoria? The Essential Services Commission says electricity is usually connected within one business day of asking a retailer. Christmas Day and Monday 28 December 2026 are public holidays, so arrange it well before the break.
Moving before the break? Get your instant online estimate in a few minutes, or see our house removals Melbourne service.