Removal Costs 2020: How much does it cost to move in the UK?
Moving house can be stressful at the best of times. Understanding your removal costs is the first crucial way to minimising this stress, and instead making your move an exciting adventure! Read on for essential information regarding average removal costs in the UK, or visit our international moving costs page if you are making the leap abroad.
Local House Removal Costs
First things first, when we refer to a local move, we mean within the same city or county. If you are moving across the UK, the section below will be of more use.
The main factors you need to take into account when booking a local move is the volume and the city or origin. For that reason be sure to calculate the volume of your furniture to save precious time when requesting quotes. The table below indicates the average removal costs within the most popular cities in the UK for a 1, 2 and 3 bedroom house. It’s time to get cracking!
| City | 1 Bed | 2 Bed | 3 Bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £330 – £400 | £410 – £550 | £580 – £700 |
| Manchester | £320 – £400 | £410 – £530 | £535 – £660 |
| Birmingham | £325 – £400 | £410 – £540 | £550 – £650 |
| Newcastle | £300 – £370 | £375 – £465 | £470 – £650 |
| Glasgow | £330 – £400 | £410 – £535 | £540 -£640 |
| Cardiff | £300 – £360 | £365 – £460 | £465 – £640 |
For a 4 bedroom house, the average removal costs for 2020 ranges from £650 to £1000.
Want to calculate the cost of your move?
Request up to five free moving quotes to do so!
Average Removal Costs Across the UK
If you are moving slightly further afield and looking to settle in a new city, it goes without saying that your removal costs are likely to be higher than for a local move. Distance usually becomes the most important variable here.
Note! Some removal companies charge on an hourly basis, while others charge between £0.50 and £1 per mile. Get your thinking caps on and be thrifty in choosing which option is better value for your move!
For the meantime, explore the following tables which indicate average removal costs to a number of popular cities with furniture from a 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom house.
Removal Costs from London
| Destination | 1 Bed | 2 Bed | 3 Bed | 4 Bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | £640 | £750 | £870 | £1,200 |
| Birmingham | £560 | £670 | £870 | £1,120 |
| Newcastle | £730 | £830 | £940 | £1,280 |
| Glasgow | £860 | £970 | £1,140 | £1,420 |
| Cardiff | £580 | £690 | £790 | £1,130 |
Removal Costs from Manchester
| Destination | 1 Bed | 2 Bed | 3 Bed | 4 Bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £640 | £750 | £870 | £1,200 |
| Birmingham | £540 | £650 | £850 | £1,100 |
| Newcastle | £590 | £790 | £890 | £1,140 |
| Glasgow | £660 | £770 | £970 | £1,220 |
| Cardiff | £640 | £750 | £950 | £1,200 |
Removal Costs from Birmingham
| Destination | 1 Bed | 2 Bed | 3 Bed | 4 Bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £560 | £670 | £870 | £1,120 |
| Manchester | £540 | £650 | £850 | £1,100 |
| Newcastle | £650 | £760 | £960 | £1,210 |
| Glasgow | £740 | £850 | £1,050 | £1,300 |
| Cardiff | £550 | £660 | £860 | £1,110 |
Removal Costs from Newcastle
| Destination | 1 Bed | 2 Bed | 3 Bed | 4 Bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £730 | £830 | £940 | £1,280 |
| Manchester | £590 | £790 | £890 | £1,140 |
| Birmingham | £650 | £760 | £960 | £1,210 |
| Glasgow | £600 | £710 | £910 | £1,160 |
| Cardiff | £760 | £870 | £1,070 | £1,320 |
Removal Costs from Glasgow
| Destination | 1 Bed | 2 Bed | 3 Bed | 4 Bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £860 | £970 | £1,140 | £1,420 |
| Manchester | £660 | £770 | £970 | £1,220 |
| Birmingham | £740 | £850 | £1,050 | £1,300 |
| Newcastle | £600 | £710 | £910 | £1,160 |
| Cardiff | £840 | £950 | £1,150 | £1,400 |
Removal Costs from Cardiff
| Destination | 1 Bed | 2 Bed | 3 Bed | 4 Bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £580 | £690 | £790 | £1,130 |
| Manchester | £640 | £750 | £950 | £1,120 |
| Birmingham | £550 | £660 | £860 | £1,110 |
| Newcastle | £760 | £870 | £1,070 | £1,320 |
| Glasgow | £840 | £950 | £1,150 | £1,400 |
Disclaimer: Please remember, the prices shown are only average removal costs and do not include extra services that you may require when moving home.
Removal Costs to Northern Ireland
Much like moving to Ireland, moving from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland is different. Just the mere obstacle of an ocean to conquer! Removal company costs differ depending on whether you ship your belongings in a container or if you get a ferry from the UK mainland across the Irish sea. If opting for the former, be sure to check out our container shipping costs page and you will be experts on the matter before you know it!
When moving via a ferry the costs above still apply, however there are often extra costs involved. The ferry price ranges significantly based on a number of factors such as the size of the van you take, how early you book and the season. Therefore, we recommend that you take a look at this ferry price comparison website to get an idea of how much you can expect to pay.
Factors that Affect Moving Costs
We have already mentioned how the volume and distance of your move are crucial in calculating your final removal costs. However, there are a number of additional factors that can affect moving company costs:
- Ease of access. Is your home located on a busy street? Can removal vans park outside? If the movers have difficulty accessing your home, then you will have to pay higher removal company costs.
- Two hour minimum. Removal companies will usually charge a two-hour minimum. This is to help them stay protected from wasting resources on moves that are too small.
- Man and a Van. If you want to take some pressure of your shoulders (quite literally!) and have heavy furniture to manoeuvre, a man and a van service is for you. Prices range from £50-£60 per hour for two removal men and a van.
- Time of your move. Are you flexible with your moving date? If so, save on your removal costs by avoiding moving during peak season (May-September) and on weekends.
- Special care. Lucky enough to own a piano? Or any fine art? If you have any unique furniture that requires special care, your removal costs will increase.
- Additional services. We don’t blame you if you are feeling overwhelmed and want an extra helping hand. Luckily, moving companies often offer services such as packing assistance or storage facilities. If you are trying to keep your removal costs low, try and do some of the legwork yourself. Our expert packing guide is here to help you along the way! Remember, no matter how tough things get, you are not alone 😊
Request Free Removal Quotes
Asking how much a removal costs is like asking how long is a piece of string? Trying to account for all the factors above can leave your head in a bit of a scramble.
Therefore, the only sure-fire way to get accurate calculations is to request removal quotes which are based on your specific needs and circumstances. You can do this by filling in our quick and easy quote form. You will receive up to five free removal quotes, allowing you to save up to 40% on your move!
Other Considerations
Unfortunately, the spending does not stop just yet. Alongside the cost of your removal company, there are other services you will require when moving home. The list below is by no means exhaustive, but we hope it helps to get the ball rolling:
- Conveyancing fee
- Home buyer report
- Packing Services and Materials
- Energy performance certificate
- Estate agents fee
- Stamp duty land tax
- Legal fees
What Next?
First of all, give yourself a pat on the back. Reading about removal costs is no one’s favourite topic, but by having done so, you are one step closer to completing a smooth and budget-friendly move.
If you are still itching for more answers to your moving house queries, Sirelo has got your back 😎 Continue to explore our website to become real experts in the field. In particular, we reckon the following pages may be of use:
- Moving Boxes: find out where to source all your moving materials!
- Moving House Utilities: get your utilities organised in your new home.
For the meantime, sit back and relax. We wish you every success with your move!
