Warehouses, 3PLs and importers
Container unloading in Calgary
Top Quality Movers Ltd. provides container unloading in Calgary for warehouses, 3PLs, importers and distributors. Our crews hand-unload floor-loaded containers, build and wrap pallets to your configuration and sort freight by SKU, for a one-off container or a recurring program. Send us the list of the next day's containers the afternoon before, and we'll schedule the crew for your start time.
- Rated 4.9 on Google
- Fully insured and bonded
- Serving Calgary since 2021
Rated 4.9 on GoogleRead our Google reviews- $5 million general liabilityCertificates on request
WCB coverageClearance letter on request
BBB A+Better Business Bureau
What's included
What container unloading in Calgary includes
The standard job, on 20, 40, 45 and 53 ft containers:
The standard job
Hand unloading
of loose, floor-loaded cartons.
Pallet building
to the configuration you agree with us.
Wrapping
each finished pallet.
Freight organization:
sorting cartons by SKU so each pallet holds what it should.
The base crew is one worker per container, and we add workers when the load or your timing calls for it.
Quoted separately
Not in the base rate: receiving, inventory reconciliation, put-away, forklift operation and transportation. Transportation can be added by agreement.
When a load isn't what was expected: heavily mixed, collapsed, wet or damaged freight takes more work. We document the condition and agree the extra work and charges with you before we carry on.
Same job, many names
Destuffing, devanning and offloading
Your team may call it container destuffing, devanning or offloading. It's the same job: getting floor-loaded cartons out of the container and onto pallets, sorted and wrapped, ready for your team to receive and put away.
Day-to-day crews
Lumper service
Many warehouses order lumpers day to day, and our lumper service works the way your receiving team already does. Email us the afternoon before with:
- each container's number and size
- the piece count and a short description of the product
- the start time
- how many lumpers you need
We schedule the crew for the start time you set.
Money
Container unloading in Calgary: starting rates
| Container | Starting from |
|---|---|
| 20 ft | $165 |
| 40 ft | $230 |
| 45 ft | $257 |
| 53 ft | $265 |
The conditions that go with these rates:
- Starting from CAD $230 per 40 ft container for qualifying, recurring high volume programs with an agreed freight profile. Final pricing depends on annual volume, carton size and weight, piece count, sorting requirements, and site conditions. We confirm the scope and rate in a written quote.
- Each rate covers a one-person base crew and up to 10 sorts.
- Extra sorts, pieces over 100 lb and loads of 50 or more pallets add set charges, which your written quote lists.
- Additional labour is $40 an hour per worker, with a 3-hour minimum.
- All rates are plus GST.
Our rates
Rates last reviewed: October 2026. Our starting rates for every service are on our pricing page for moving, transport and container work.
Recurring customers
High-volume container programs
We unload about 400 containers a year, and our crew has room for more. Custom pricing is available for recurring container programs. Contact us to discuss your annual volume and freight profile.
Transportation can be added by agreement. As a transport company in Calgary, we can take unloaded freight on to its next stop in Calgary and nearby towns, with pallet delivery.
Some of the businesses we've done work for:
Before we book
What we need before we book
Before we quote or book a container, tell us:
- the container size
- the piece count
- the SKU or sort count
- the expected pallet count
- any piece over 100 lb
- the arrival time you need
You provide the container and clear, safe access to the unloading and staging areas. The quote confirms the expected volume, the crew size, any included unloading time, who supplies the pallets, wrap and equipment, the payment terms, and any waiting, cancellation, extended-shift, weekend or holiday charges.
We're fully insured and bonded, with $5 million in general liability, cargo insurance and WCB coverage. Certificates are available on request.
Google reviews
What customers say
Excerpts from our Google reviews, quoted word for word and never reworded.
"We truly appreciated how organized and respectful the movers were throughout the entire move."
GIV Investments, September 2026, Google review "They moved 2 huge freezers into my business without a problem!!"
Lindsay, business move, April 2025, Google review "Product is picked up and unloaded without any damages."
Charles, freight transport, August 2024, Google review "The confirmation calls and texts gave me confidence that everything was organized and on track, with no worries about last-minute cancellations or surprises."
Trev, home move, May 2026, Google review "Excellent communication, attention to detail and hard working! Priced fair and upfront!"
Martin, April 2026, Google review "They checked in with us at every stage to make sure items were placed exactly where we wanted them, and they went above and beyond to ensure everything was set up properly before leaving."
Sadia, home move, September 2025, Google review "They showed up on time and carefully wrapped and taped all of our furniture so not to get scratched or damaged, and guess what? Nothing they moved was scratched or damaged!"
Chris, home move, August 2025, Google review "From day one, the communication was outstanding, they were responsive, accommodating, and incredibly careful with our belongings."
Bree, home move, July 2025, Google review "I found that the company differentiates itself from other movers by hiring its own staff."
Catherine, May 2025, Google review "Every piece of furniture was well wrapped and moved carefully. They worked like a machine, they were very efficient."
Bev, home move, March 2025, Google review "This team came the day before our official move and helped us finish packing stuff that we didn’t have time to do on our own."
Katie, home move, September 2024, Google review "The team was organized, efficient, and early to start our jobs."
Zoe, September 2024, Google review
Recent jobs
Real jobs, with photos from the day.
-
October 2026
Floor-loaded container
Warehouse dock
- Unloading
- By hand
- Pallets
- Sorted and wrapped
-
October 2026
Partial move with a storage pickup
Hounsfield Heights to North Glenmore Park
- Crew
- 3 movers, 1 truck
- Hours
- 8.5
-
September 2026
Couch over the balcony
Rental move in Airdrie
- Booked
- About 8 weeks ahead
- Deadline
- 5:00 pm inspection
Before you book
Frequently asked questions
Scope and conditions
Unload times, and shifted or damaged freight.
How long does it take to unload a 40-foot container?
It depends on the piece count, the number of sorts and how the load was stacked. We plan the crew from the counts you send us before the container arrives.
What if the freight has shifted or is damaged?
We document the condition of the load and agree any extra work and charges with you before we carry on.
Add-ons and hours
Pallets, onward freight and weekends.
Do you supply pallets and shrink wrap?
Wrapping is part of the job. Who supplies the pallets and the wrap is confirmed in your quote.
Can you move the freight after it's unloaded?
Transportation isn't in the base rate, but we can add it by agreement, on our trucks.
Do you work weekends and holidays?
Any weekend or holiday charges are set out in your quote before we start.
Have a question we didn't answer? Call us and we'll talk it through.
Containers coming in?
Tell us the container size and what's inside
Send us the size, the piece count and the start time. We'll schedule the crew and confirm the rate before the doors open.
- Fully insured and bonded
- One-off containers or recurring programs