Sydney to Melbourne backloading
The busiest interstate freight lane in Australia — about 200 trucks a day, ~40% of them coming back empty. Backloading turns that empty space into your move.
Real prices for this lane.
Indicative starting prices, GST + goods-in-transit insurance to $20k included. Final price locks when we confirm capacity.
| Home size | Volume | From | What fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 8 m³ | $800 | Bed, sofa, desk, ~10 boxes |
| 1-bed apt | 15 m³ | $1,200 | Queen bed, sofa, dining set, fridge, ~20 boxes |
| 2-bed home | 25 m³ | $2,200 | 2 bedrooms + lounge + dining + white goods |
| 3-bed home | 35 m³ | $3,500 | 3 bedrooms + study + full kitchen, ~50 boxes |
| 4-bed home | 50 m³ | $5,000 | Larger family home with multiple living areas |
Who moves on this lane.
Inner-city → inner-city
Most common — Surry Hills / Newtown / Glebe to Carlton / Fitzroy / Brunswick. Tight access both ends, often a 4-hour pickup window. ~$2,200 for a 2-bed, transit Tuesday → Wednesday delivery.
Eastern Sydney → Bayside Melbourne
Bondi / Coogee / Randwick to St Kilda / Brighton / Elwood. Common for couples relocating for work. ~$1,800 for a 1-bed, slight surcharge for narrow Bayside streets.
Northern Sydney → Outer-east Melbourne
Manly / Mosman to Glen Waverley / Box Hill / Doncaster. Often family moves with bigger volumes. ~$3,200-3,800 for a 3-bed, weekend pickups available with surcharge.
Tips for Sydney to Melbourne
- 01Tuesday and Wednesday pickups are cheapest — trucks are fullest those days, so empty-space rates are lowest.
- 02Friday afternoon pickups face traffic on the Hume — book a Friday morning to avoid stalling.
- 03If your delivery date is flexible by ± 1 week, you save 10% automatically. SYD↔MEL has the most slots, so flex pays off here.
- 04Hume Highway weather is rarely a delay factor; the route's well-maintained year-round.
- 05Most pickups are AM (8am-12pm); deliveries are PM next day (12pm-6pm). Plan to be at both ends.
Lane questions.
Anything else, call (02) 9056 2992 or start a quote and add a note.
How fast can I pick up?
Can my piano travel SYD→MEL?
What about my plants?
Ready to book Sydney to Melbourne?
60-second estimate, locked when we confirm capacity. Cancel free up to 7 days before pickup.