Moving homes is one of the most important financial decisions most people have to make, and the bill from the moving company is generally the biggest cost on the day of moving. The issue is that quotes for the same move can differ by as much as several pounds, with many companies giving a low initial figure that is then increased on the day of the move.
The guide includes pricing benchmarks for 2026 according to the size of the property, the distance involved, and the level of service, together with information about any hidden fees and some tips for reducing your expenses. All the figures listed take VAT into account unless otherwise stated.
The short answer is that the average cost of moving in the UK is about £1,080 for an ordinary move, the price varying from £300 to £600 for a small flat to over £2,500 for a large house, with most moves involving two or three bedrooms coming in at between £800 and £1,700 when just removals are considered.
Average Removal Company Costs by Property Size (2026)
The size of the property is the main factor when getting a removal quote, even though the companies charge according to the volume of your possessions (measured in cubic feet or cubic metres) rather than the number of bedrooms. A three-bedroom house filled with books, furniture and having a fully used garage will cost more to move than a similarly sized property that is only lightly furnished.
| Property Size | Local Move (under 30 miles) | Long Distance (50–150 miles) | Full Service (incl. packing) |
| Studio / 1-bed flat | £300 – £600 | £600 – £900 | £550 – £900 |
| 2-bed house | £600 – £900 | £900 – £1,300 | £900 – £1,400 |
| 3-bed house | £900 – £1,400 | £1,250 – £1,800 | £1,450 – £1,780 |
| 4-bed house | £1,400 – £2,000 | £1,800 – £2,500+ | £1,900 – £2,800 |
| 5+ bed house | £2,000 – £3,500+ | £2,500 – £4,500+ | £2,800 – £3,800+ |
The costs reported by Britain’s largest removals company usually lie between about £400 for a small one-bedroom flat and over £2,800 for a large family house when optional services such as packing, storage or the handling of special items are included. The invoice for the average person moving into a two- or three-bedroom house generally amounts to between £800 and £1,700.
The cost generally increases by between £400 and £750 for each extra bedroom.
Why Removal Costs Have Risen in 2026
Any quote you got in either 2023 or 2024 is probably going to be less than the one you’ll receive now. The industry was affected at the same time by three cost pressures between 2025 and 2026:
- Between February and March 2026, diesel prices increased by 17.6 pence per liter to 158.7 pence per liter, the highest level since November 2023.
- The rate of Employer National Insurance increased from 13.8% to 15% from April 2025, and the threshold at which employers became liable for NIC fell from £9,100 to £5,000 per year.
- Approximately 940,000 employers experienced an increase in their NIC liability.
- The National Living Wage will increase to £12.21 per hour starting in April 2025, which is a rise of 6.7 percent. For removal companies, crew wages are the highest single cost.
As a result, higher removal costs are factored into your budget.
Cost by Distance: Local, Regional and Long-Distance
Distance influences cost in two main ways: fuel and the driver’s time.
Local moves (under 25–30 miles)
Most removal firms charge either a half-day rate or a full-day rate. Expect figures comparable to those in the table above.
Regional moves (25–150 miles)
Increase the local figures by about 25–35 percent. When a three-bedroom house moves from Reading to Manchester, the cost is between £1,450 and £1,900, including packing.
Long-distance moves (150+ miles)
Increase the local figures by 45 to 60 percent. The cost per mile tends to decrease on long-distance moves because loading and unloading costs are fixed, while driving costs are proportional.
A three-bedroom house moved 200 miles to Manchester usually costs between £2,400 and £2,800, an increase of 50 to 75 percent caused entirely by distance, fuel costs, and the number of hours the driver has to work.
Man and Van vs Full Removal Company
The kind of service you need will depend on the amount you’re moving and the amount of work you want to do.
Man and Van
Ideal for studios, one-bedroom flats, individual items and students moving in. The rates are usually on an hourly basis with a minimum booking of two hours.
| Setup | Typical Hourly Cost | Typical Full-Day Cost |
| Small van, driver only | £30–£50 | £240–£400 |
| Medium van, driver + 1 helper | £50–£80 | £300–£550 |
| Luton van, driver + 2 helpers | £90–£200 | £720+ |
The cost of moving a median-sized van in the UK is £165, hourly rates for drivers averaging £47 when using a medium van with one assistant are based on 1,514 completed bookings, and Manchester has the lowest cost of any city in the index at £120, whereas Dover is the most expensive at £335.
Full Removal Company
When moving an entire house, a full crew and a larger vehicle or vehicles are used, and the cost is a fixed fee rather than an hourly rate. This is a reasonable option when moving a 2- to 5-bedroom house or when the move is long distance. The minimum charge for standard moves in the case of a full removal is £800+.
DIY Van Hire
If you hire a van and do the job yourself, including fuel, the cost is usually between £50 and £150 per day. Although you can save between £200 and £400 on a small local move, you will lose the crew, speed, and goods-in-transit insurance included with a professional service.
What Actually Drives the Price
Understanding the factors behind a removal quote will help you have more productive discussions with providers and find real savings.
| Factor | Impact |
| Volume of belongings | The primary driver. Measured in cubic feet or lorry loads. |
| Access | Long carry from door to lorry parking, narrow staircases, restricted-parking streets. |
| Distance | Fuel and driver time. |
| Packing service level | None, fragile-only, or full-pack. |
| Storage | Bundled overnight or short-term storage is usually cheaper than a separate self-store contract. |
| Day of week | Friday and end-of-month are the most expensive days. |
Hidden Fees to Check Before Signing
Nine out of ten quote websites provide a general range such as “£300–£1,500,” which is useless to people. The following lists the fees you should check before deciding.
- For overtime charges: “The quoted price is £480, but if the job takes longer then it will be £85 per crew member per hour.” Request the fixed total.
- The fuel surcharge may be added on the day if diesel prices have gone up; a reputable company sorts this out in writing.
- The congestion charge and the ULEZ at Dartford Crossing should be included and not charged separately.
- The charge for using the stairs is that certain companies charge between £15 and £30 for each flight above the ground floor.
- As for the late completion waiting fee, if the keys are not handed over until 4 pm, then the company should cover the first two hours.
- Any professional quote should include materials such as boxes, wrapping, and wardrobe cartons.
Other surprise expenses include fees for carrying items up or down stairs, handling antiques and valuable items, and parking permits if your move is to a large city with restricted parking.
What is the cost of packing?
Packing services cost extra and vary widely based on your home’s size and how many items you need packed.
| Property Size | Average Packing Cost |
| 1 Bedroom | £250 |
| 2 Bedroom | £325 |
| 3 Bedroom | £400 |
| 4 Bedroom | £600 |
Source: MyJobQuote
When you add full packing to a three-bedroom local move, the total cost usually rises from £580 to £950 (transport only) to £1,050 to £1,450.
Regional Cost Variations
Removal costs vary widely by region; London and the South East are the highest because of congestion charges, parking limitations, higher demand, and longer journey times, while Scotland and the North are generally lower.
| City | Man and Van Hourly | Man and Van Daily | Full Removal (3-bed local) |
| London | £40–£60 | £320–£480 | £900–£1,600 |
| Birmingham | £35–£50 | £280–£400 | £800–£1,400 |
| Manchester | £35–£55 | £280–£440 | £800–£1,400 |
| Leeds | £30–£40 | £240–£320 | £750–£1,300 |
| Bristol | £35–£45 | £280–£360 | £800–£1,400 |
| Glasgow | £30–£40 | £240–£320 | £750–£1,300 |
For The Man and Van in 2026: full removal cost estimates based on national ranges.
Moving to Glasgow costs about the UK average of around £1,700; a three-bedroom move generally costs between £800 and £1,400 there, making it much more affordable than in London or the South East.
How to Keep Your Removal Costs Down
- Book in the middle of the week or month, as the industry often charges a premium on Fridays and at month-end.
- It’s a good idea to clear out unnecessary items before getting a quote, because less volume means a smaller crew and vehicle will be required.
- You can pack the non-fragile items yourself by getting a free box kit from your removal company.
- Book your parking permits in advance to avoid the long-carry surcharge.
- Get fixed-price quotes instead of hourly estimates because, although hourly quotes may look cheaper on paper, they often end up 30–60% higher than the stated figure on the day in question.
- If possible, move during the winter month, since February is the one with the fewest moving-related searches, Google records showing this figure at 49,680. Those who move in the winter experience lower demand and have more room for negotiation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a removal company cost in the UK?
In 2026 a typical move in the UK with a three-bedroom property will cost between £580 and £950 if only the transportation is included, or between £1,050 and £1,450 if the full packing service is also provided; the average cost for a typical move in the UK is about £1,080.
Would it be cheaper to get a man and van or to hire a removal company?
A one-bedroom flat is the kind of property where a man and van offers the best value; but for larger houses or long-distance moves, a full-service moving company is generally more cost-effective, since you have to factor in the crew, vehicle size, and insurance.
What is the cost of moving a three-bedroom house?
Local: between £900 and £1,400. For long distance (50 to 150 miles): between £1,250 and £1,800. If full packing is included: between £1,450 and £1,780.
Do removal companies charge more if there are stairs?
Some companies charge an extra £15 to £30 for each flight above the ground floor. Make sure you ask if this is covered in your written quotation.
What is the cheapest time to move homes?
Midweek, mid-month, and outside the summer period are the cheapest times to move; July is the busiest month for moving services, with 98,700 searches. February, on the other hand, is the least busy with only 49,680 searches. Those who move in the winter experience lower demand and greater availability.
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