Everything people ask before booking.
Fifty odd questions covering how renting totes works, what it costs, which days we run, what the totes can take, and how office moves differ from house moves. If yours is not here, call us.
The basics
How renting moving totes works if you have never done it.
How does renting moving totes actually work?
You book online, we deliver clean totes with lids to your door for free on a Tuesday or a Thursday, you pack and move at your own pace, then we collect them on a later Tuesday or Thursday. There is nothing to assemble, no tape to buy and nothing to get rid of when you are finished.
Is renting totes cheaper than buying cardboard boxes?
For most moves, yes, once you count everything. Cardboard means boxes, packing tape, a tape gun and markers, plus the fuel and the time to go and collect it all. A 25 tote rental for two weeks is $125 before HST, delivered and collected, with reusable labels included and nothing to dispose of afterwards.
Why not just use free used cardboard boxes?
Free boxes cost you a week of driving around collecting them, and they arrive in unknown condition. Cardboard absorbs moisture, dirt and whatever was in it last, the sizes never match so the truck packs badly, and the bottoms give out on the stairs. Our totes are all one size, rigid, and washed between every single move.
How many totes do I need for my home?
A rough guide: 25 totes for a studio or one bedroom, 35 for two bedrooms, 50 for three bedrooms and 75 for four bedrooms or a small office. Books, records, tools and kitchen gear push the number up. Adding totes mid move is free and they arrive on the next run, so it is safe to start conservative.
Is there a minimum order?
Yes. The smallest rental we run is 25 totes for one week, which is $87.50 before HST. That is roughly what a studio or a one bedroom needs and it is the smallest order that makes a delivery run worthwhile. Above 25 you can order any count you like in the quote builder, not just the four package sizes.
How far in advance should I book?
Aim to have totes delivered on the Tuesday or Thursday before your move date, and book about two weeks ahead so you get the run you want. The end of the month fills up fastest. If you need totes inside 72 hours, add rush delivery for $35 and we will do our best to fit you in.
Can I rent totes for storage, staging or a renovation?
Yes. After the first week the rate is a flat $1.50 per tote per week for as long as you keep them, so plenty of people hold totes through a renovation, a staging period or a gap between closing dates. Tell us roughly how long you expect to need them and we will plan the pickup around it.
Do you do the packing or the moving?
No, we deliver and collect the totes. The packing and the move are yours, or your movers. Many moving companies in the area are happy to work with rented totes, and some prefer them because uniform containers load faster and tighter.
Delivery & pickup
Where we go, which days we run, and what happens if you are not home.
Is delivery and pickup really free?
Yes, everywhere inside our service area. There is no delivery fee, no pickup fee, no stair or elevator fee, no long carry fee and no fuel surcharge. The only two charges that exist are rush delivery for orders placed inside 72 hours, and a one time fee if you need a drop off or pickup outside our Tuesday and Thursday runs.
Which communities do you deliver to?
Hamilton and its communities of Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Waterdown and Binbrook, plus Burlington, Oakville, Brantford, Grimsby and St. Catharines. Delivery and pickup are free everywhere on that list.
What if I am outside the service area?
Send us your postal code and your dates. Places just outside, like Mississauga, Toronto, Milton, Guelph, Cambridge, Niagara Falls, Brampton, Kitchener and Woodstock, are quoted as a paid delivery rather than turned away. We would rather give you an honest number than say no.
What days do you deliver and pick up?
Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on both days. You choose a two hour slot when you order and we text before we head over. That applies to every community we serve, so a Brantford booking runs on the same schedule as a Hamilton one.
Can I get a different day?
Yes. Special drop off and pickup schedules outside Tuesdays and Thursdays can be arranged for a one time fee. Ask when you book and we will tell you what is possible for your date before you pay anything.
Do I need to be home for drop off or pickup?
No. Leave a note when you order telling us where to put them, whether that is a porch, a garage, a lobby or with a concierge. We send a photo once they are down.
Will I get a confirmation before you arrive?
You get a booking confirmation as soon as you order and a text on the day with your two hour window. If anything about the run changes we call rather than leave you guessing.
Will you carry them up to my apartment?
We deliver to your door, whatever floor that door is on, at no extra charge. For buildings that need a service elevator booked, tell us the window when you order so we arrive inside it.
What happens in a snowstorm or bad weather?
If the roads are unsafe we call you straight away and move the delivery to the next run, or to another day if your move cannot wait. We do not charge for a weather reschedule.
What if my move date changes?
Tell us as early as you can and we will move the booking to a different Tuesday or Thursday. Dates shift constantly in this business and we do not charge a change fee for reasonable notice.
Can you drop off at one address and collect from another?
Yes, as long as both addresses are inside the service area. That is normal for a move. Tell us the pickup address when you book, or message us once you know it.
How do I arrange pickup when I am done?
Call or message us and we collect on the next Tuesday or Thursday run. Leave the totes nested by the door with the lids off and walk away.
What if I am not ready when you come to collect?
Let us know before pickup day and we move you to the next run. The weekly rate simply keeps applying, so a few extra days costs $1.50 per tote for that week and nothing else.
Pricing & payment
What it costs, what is included and what happens if plans slip.
How is the rental priced?
Per tote, per week. It is $3.50 per tote for the first week and $1.50 per tote for every week after that, with a minimum order of 25 totes. As an example, 25 totes for two weeks is $87.50 for week one plus $37.50 for week two, so $125 before HST. The quote builder on the pricing page does the maths live.
What does a typical order cost?
For two weeks, before HST: 25 totes is $125, 35 totes is $175, 50 totes is $250 and 75 totes is $375. One week costs less and every extra week adds $1.50 per tote. Any count above the 25 tote minimum can be priced in the quote builder.
Is HST included in the prices you show?
No, every price we publish is before tax. HST of 13% is added at checkout, and the quote builder shows the tax line and the final total so nothing is a surprise.
What is included in the price?
The totes and lids, a set of reusable labels, free delivery and free pickup within the service area. There is no cleaning fee and no deposit charge.
What if I need the totes longer than I booked?
Keep them. Each additional week is $1.50 per tote and is added to your final invoice at pickup. There is no penalty rate and no limit on how long you can hold them.
What if I finish early?
Tell us and we will collect them on the next run. If you return the totes before a full week you have paid for begins, we refund that week. Partial weeks are not refunded.
Do you take a deposit?
We keep a card on file rather than taking a deposit. It is only charged for totes or lids that are not returned, or for damage well beyond ordinary use such as a cracked wall or a melted lid.
What if I need more totes after delivery?
Extra totes are the same rate, $3.50 for the first week and $1.50 for each week after, and they arrive on the next Tuesday or Thursday run at no delivery charge. The 25 tote minimum applies to your original order, not to top ups.
Are there any other charges?
Only four, and none of them are hidden. Extra totes at the usual $3.50 plus $1.50 a week. Rush delivery at $35 for orders placed inside 72 hours. A quoted fee for addresses outside the service area. And a one time fee if you need a drop off or pickup outside our Tuesday and Thursday runs. That is the entire list.
How do I pay?
Card when you book covers the rental. Extensions and any add ons are charged after pickup once the final count is confirmed. We take Visa, Mastercard and Amex.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancel more than 48 hours before your delivery window for a full refund. Inside 48 hours we keep a small handling amount because the run and the stock are already committed.
The totes
Size, strength, cleanliness and what not to put in them.
How big are the totes?
64 litres, roughly 27 by 18 by 13 inches, which is about 2.3 cubic feet. That is comparable to a medium cardboard box. Every tote we rent is the same size, which is exactly why they stack square and load tight.
Why only one size?
Because mixed sizes waste space. A truck loaded with identical rectangles packs with almost no gaps, which often means fewer trips and a smaller bill if you hired movers. One size also means you never stand in a hallway working out which lid belongs to which box.
How much weight can one tote hold?
Up to 50 pounds. Books and dishes hit that limit long before the tote looks full, so spread heavy items across several totes rather than filling one to the brim.
Are the totes clean?
Every tote is washed and sanitized between moves, and any tote with a cracked wall or a warped lid is pulled out of rotation permanently. You never pay a cleaning fee, even if they come back dusty.
What about bedbugs and pests?
This is one of the strongest arguments against second hand cardboard. Cardboard is soft, porous and holds moisture, which is exactly the environment pests like. Hard plastic is not, and every tote is washed between customers, so nothing carries over from the last move.
Do I need to clean them before returning?
No. Empty them, stack them by the door and leave the rest to us. We only ask that you do not return them with food waste or liquid inside.
Do the totes lock or seal?
The lids snap on at four points and stay clipped, which keeps contents in and rain out. They are not lockable or airtight, so treat them as secure against spills rather than against theft.
Can I stack them?
Yes, that is the point. Loaded totes stack up to six high when the lids are clipped and the heavy ones sit at the bottom. Empty totes nest inside each other, so 25 of them take up roughly the floor space of three.
Will they fit through a standard doorway?
Easily. At 27 inches long and 18 inches wide they clear any standard door, and the recessed handles at both ends mean two people can carry one without the tote twisting.
Do you rent wardrobe boxes or packing supplies?
No. We rent one thing, the 64 litre tote, and we do it well. Keeping a single product means one price, one size and no upselling at the door. For hanging clothes, lay them flat in a tote or move them on the rail in your car.
Is there anything I should not pack in them?
No wet paint, solvents, fuel, chemicals, food waste or anything hazardous. Live plants and anything that leaks are also a bad idea. Everything else that fits and weighs under 50 pounds is fine.
What if a tote or a lid gets damaged or goes missing?
Normal wear is expected and costs you nothing. We only charge for totes or lids that are not returned, or for damage well beyond ordinary use. If something breaks during your rental, tell us and we will swap it on the next run.
Are the contents insured?
No. The rental covers the totes themselves, not what you put in them. Your own home or tenant insurance, or your mover's coverage, is what protects your belongings in transit.
Commercial & office
Office relocations, retail fit outs and anything with a facilities manager attached.
Do you handle office and commercial moves?
Yes, and they are a good fit. Uniform totes move desk contents, files and IT gear far faster than mixed cardboard, and staff can pack their own station without needing tape or a box tutorial.
How many totes does an office need?
A useful rule of thumb is five to eight totes per employee for a standard desk based office, plus extra for storage rooms, kitchens and server or IT equipment. Send us your headcount and floor area and we will put a count together.
Can you deliver more than 75 totes?
Yes. The published packages stop at 75 because that covers most homes, but larger volumes are quoted directly at the same per tote rate. Call us with your dates and headcount and we will price the whole job including delivery.
Do you invoice businesses instead of taking a card?
For commercial bookings we can set up invoicing with standard terms once the first order is complete. Tell us when you enquire and we will send the paperwork.
Can you deliver outside business hours?
Our standard runs are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Office moves often need an evening or a weekend, and we can arrange a special schedule for a one time fee. Loading dock and freight elevator bookings are no problem as long as we know the window in advance.
Do you provide labels or a numbering system for a bigger move?
Reusable labels come with every order. For larger relocations we can supply extra label sets so you can run a room by room or desk by desk numbering system, which makes the unpack side dramatically faster.
Can we keep the totes for a phased move?
Yes. Phased relocations often run four to eight weeks. The rate continues at $1.50 per tote per week and we can collect in stages as each floor or department finishes.
Waste & recycling
The environmental side, without the greenwashing.
Are rented totes actually better for the environment than cardboard?
A tote gets used for hundreds of moves before it retires, whereas a cardboard box is typically used once or twice. Even accounting for the plastic and the delivery trips, spreading one container across hundreds of moves compares well against manufacturing, shipping and recycling a fresh set of boxes for every household.
What are the totes made of?
Heavy duty moulded plastic, the same family of material used for household recycling bins. It is rigid, water resistant and straightforward to recycle at the end of the tote's life.
What happens to a tote at the end of its life?
Totes that crack or warp come out of rotation and are recycled rather than landfilled. Lids and bodies are the same material, so they go the same way.
Do I have to recycle anything after my move?
No, and that is most of the appeal. There is no cardboard to flatten, no tape to peel off and no trip to the depot. You leave the totes by the door and they are gone.
Are the labels reusable too?
Yes. They peel off cleanly and come back with the totes, so nothing is written directly on the container and nothing gets thrown away.
Ask us the awkward one.
If your question is not here it is probably a good one. Give us a call during business hours and you will get a straight answer from a person, not a chatbot.
Answered? Go pick a size.
Free delivery and pickup inside the service area, $3.50 per tote for week one and $1.50 a week after that. Two minutes to book.
