MOVING DAY5 MIN READ
"When will you be done?" is the most-asked question on move day. Here's the honest answer, by house size.
Typical UK removal timings
| Property | Crew | Total time (door to done) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio flat, local move | 2 | 3–4 hours |
| 1-bed flat, local move | 2 | 3.5–4.5 hours |
| 2-bed flat, local move | 2 | 4.5–6 hours |
| 3-bed house, local move | 3 | 5.5–7 hours |
| 4-bed house, local move | 3–4 | 7–9 hours |
| 5-bed house, local move | 4 | 8–10 hours |
"Local" here means under 20 miles. Add ~1 hour of drive time per 30 miles beyond that.
Where the hours go (3-bed example)
- Arrival, briefing, floor protection: 20 min
- Dismantling beds & wardrobes: 45 min
- Blanket-wrap and load: 2.5 hours
- Drive (15 miles): 45 min
- Unload and place in rooms: 2 hours
- Reassemble beds & wardrobes: 40 min
- Walkthrough and handover: 15 min
Total: about 7 hours.
What extends the day
- Full pack on the same day (add 3–5 hours; usually done the day before)
- Completion delayed past midday (crew starts late)
- Second-floor flat, no lift (+1 hour per floor)
- Long carry over 30m each end (+45 min)
- Overloaded loft or garage (+1–2 hours)
What shortens the day
- Packing completed the day before
- Loft and garage emptied in advance
- Bay suspension in place at both addresses
- You're on site and reachable for placement decisions
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
- How long does moving a 3-bed house take?
- Typically 5.5–7 hours from crew arrival to walkthrough handover, for a local move under 20 miles with 3 crew and a 12-tonne lorry. Add roughly 1 hour of drive time per 30 miles beyond that.
- Can you move a whole house in one day?
- Yes — up to a 4-bed house is routinely completed in a single working day. 5-bed and larger houses sometimes phase over 2 days with an overnight in the lorry or in secure storage. This is normal, not a sign of a slow crew.
- Why is my removal taking longer than the estimate?
- The three usual causes are: packing not finished before crew arrival, completion delayed past midday so crew started late, or significantly more volume than surveyed. Fixed-price quotes protect you from the cost of running late — you don't pay extra even if it goes 9 hours.
Planning a move? Get a fixed price today.
Twenty years of British families trusted. One honest number, in writing, before we lift a box.