Homsy

Moving Cost Estimator

A local two-bedroom move starts at 650 here for full-service movers and 140 for a self-hire van, before distance, stairs, packing, storage and insurance. Enter your move and the estimator returns a range rather than a figure — the total either side by twenty per cent — and prices the same move done three different ways.

1 Move Details

Type and distance of your move.

2 Home Size & Access

Size and floor access details.

3 Special Items & Storage

Anything that adds complexity or cost.

How the estimate is built

A base figure by home size is adjusted by distance, access and extras. Full-service movers start at 300 for a studio, 450 for one bedroom, 650 for two, 900 for three and 1,300 for four; a self-hire van starts at 80, 100, 140, 180 and 250. Distance leaves the figure alone up to 50 kilometres and then adds half a per cent for each kilometre beyond it; a regional move multiplies whatever that came to by a further 1.3, while an international one throws the distance factor away and multiplies by a flat three. Stairs are charged only when there is no lift: 10 per cent for the first floor, 20 for the second, 35 for the third, applied at both ends and added together.

Professional packing is 40 per cent of the adjusted labour cost; packing it yourself is a materials figure of 30 to 100 by home size. Special items are flat: a hot tub 400, a pool table 300, a piano 250, a safe 200, a motorbike 150, art 100. Storage is a weekly rate by home size, 40 to 130. Insurance is five per cent of the labour cost for a full-service move and a flat 30 otherwise. The hybrid option prices the labour at 60 per cent of full service and keeps everything else. The headline is deliberately a range rather than a figure — the total multiplied by 0.8 and by 1.2 — because a single number would claim a precision no estimator has without seeing the house.

Every figure above is ours. They are round working numbers in the region that removal firms quote in Western Europe, they are not a survey and not a quote, and the one thing they are reliably good for is the comparison the page is built around: what the same move costs done yourself, done for you, and split between the two. The duration figures — three hours for a studio up to ten for a four-bedroom, doubled for a DIY move — are the same kind of estimate.

Every figure above was read out of the code that runs on this page. Where a number is our own judgement rather than a published one, the note says so and cites nothing. Method last checked 21 August 2026.

What actually drives the cost of a move

The quote from the moving company is just the starting point. Packing materials, cleaning, utility transfers and a string of small expenses come on top, and they are easy to leave out of the budget.

A big variable is access. A ground-floor flat with parking outside the door is straightforward. A third-floor flat with no lift adds time and labour: in this estimator, 35% on the movers' price for each end of the move that is three floors up.

Special items also drive costs up dramatically. A piano, hot tub, or large safe requires specialist handling, equipment, and insurance. If you have these items, always disclose them upfront to avoid surprise charges on moving day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a local move typically cost?
Prices vary a lot by country and city, so get two or three quotes. The estimator starts a local move with movers at 650 for a two-bedroom home and 900 for three, and a self-hire van at 140 to 180 before fuel. Without a lift, each floor above the ground adds to the movers' price, up to 35% for the third floor at each end.

What hidden costs should I budget for?
Common extras are a parking permit for the truck, cleaning the old place, utility reconnection fees, mail redirection and a tip for the movers. The estimator does not include them: it covers the move itself, packing, special items, storage and basic insurance, so add the extras to its range yourself.

Is it cheaper to do it myself?
Usually, in money. In this estimator a self-hire van move costs well under half the full-service price, and it allows twice the hours. It also leaves the lifting, and the risk of damage and injury, to you. The calculator shows full service, a hybrid and DIY side by side so you can decide.

Do I need moving insurance?
Basic cover is included with most moving companies but typically caps at a low amount per item. For high-value items, consider separate transit insurance. The calculator includes basic insurance in professional mover estimates.

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