"How much does a removals company cost?" is the most-searched UK moving question and the most dishonestly answered. Ninety per cent of quote websites give a hollow range like "£300–£1,500" that helps nobody. Below is the real 2026 pricing table our own Apex coordinators work from every day, followed by every fee to check for before you sign anything.
Typical UK removal costs, 2026
Local move (within 20 miles)
| Property size | Move only | + Part-pack (fragile) | + Full-pack |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | £250–£420 | £350–£520 | £450–£700 |
| 2-bed flat / small house | £380–£620 | £520–£780 | £720–£980 |
| 3-bed house | £580–£950 | £780–£1,150 | £1,050–£1,450 |
| 4-bed house | £850–£1,400 | £1,150–£1,700 | £1,500–£2,150 |
| 5+ bed house | £1,250–£1,950 | £1,600–£2,350 | £2,100–£3,000 |
Medium distance (100–200 miles)
Add roughly 25–35% to the local figures above. A 3-bed house with full-pack moving from Reading to Manchester typically prices £1,450–£1,900.
Long distance (200+ miles)
Add 45–60% to local figures. Long distance often becomes cheaper per mile because loading and unloading are the fixed costs — the driving is proportionally small.
Hidden fees to check for before signing
- Hourly overrun charges. "Quote" is £480 but "if the job runs long" is £85 per crew member per hour. Ask for the fixed total.
- Fuel surcharge. Sometimes added on the day if diesel has risen. Apex fixes this in writing.
- Congestion charge, ULEZ, Dartford Crossing. Should be included, not billed separately.
- Stairs charge. Some firms add £15–£30 per flight above the ground floor.
- Late completion waiting fee. If keys aren't released until 4pm, a fair firm still absorbs the first 2 hours. Check.
- Materials. Boxes, wrap, wardrobe cartons — should be included on any professional quote.
What actually drives the price
- Volume of contents, measured in cubic feet or lorry loads.
- Access. Long carry from door to lorry parking, narrow staircases, or restricted-parking streets.
- Distance between the two addresses.
- Packing service level (none, fragile-only, full).
- 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.
The Apex fixed-price guarantee
Every Apex quote is a single, fixed, written number. No hourly padding, no fuel surcharges added the morning of, no "extra flight of stairs" charges at the door. The figure you agree at the quote stage is the figure you pay on completion day. That's the whole promise, and the reason 60,000+ British families have used us.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a removals company cost in the UK?
- A 3-bedroom local UK move typically costs £580–£950 for transport only, or £1,050–£1,450 with full packing service in 2026. Prices vary with volume, distance, access, and day of week.
- Are removals firms cheaper on weekdays?
- Yes. Tuesday and Wednesday are consistently 15–20% cheaper than Friday. End-of-month dates are the most expensive because completions cluster.
- What is the cheapest removal service?
- A man-and-van service is cheapest for single-item moves and studio flats, typically £45–£75 per hour. For anything from a 1-bed flat upwards, a fixed-price professional removals company like Apex usually works out cheaper overall.
Planning a move? Get a fixed price today.
Twenty years of British families trusted. One honest number, in writing, before we lift a box.