PACKING6 MIN READ
Every removals customer faces the same fork: pay someone to pack the house, or do it themselves. There's a right answer for each family — but it's rarely obvious upfront.
The three packing options
| Option | Typical add-on | Your time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-pack | Free box kit | 25–40 hours | Small moves, tight budget, plenty of notice |
| Part-pack (kitchen + fragiles) | £120–£280 | 15–20 hours | Most families — the sweet spot |
| Full-pack | £250–£600 | 3 hours (day one) | Working parents, elderly, short-notice moves |
Prices are typical UK ranges for a 3-bed house. See our packing service page for detail.
Choose self-pack if…
- You have 4+ weeks of notice
- You've moved before and know your possessions
- Your move is under 20 miles and mostly boxes
- You have the time and the physical energy
Choose part-pack if…
- You dread the kitchen (everyone does)
- You own valuable art, china, glassware or electronics
- You're willing to pack clothes and books but not fragiles
Part-pack is the option we recommend to most families. Fragiles cause 80% of DIY damage claims. Kitchens take twice as long as people expect.
Choose full-pack if…
- You're moving on short notice (under 3 weeks)
- You're moving with young children or elderly relatives
- You have a demanding job and can't take annual leave
- You want to be moved-in on the same day, not living out of boxes for a fortnight
The hidden self-pack cost
People routinely underestimate self-pack time by 50%. A 3-bed self-pack averages 32 hours across the whole family. That's 4 full working days — more than the cost of full-pack once you value your time honestly. See our kitchen packing guide.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
- Is it worth paying for a full packing service?
- For families moving on short notice, working parents, or moves with valuable fragiles, yes. Full-pack costs £250–£600 on a typical 3-bed move but saves 30+ hours of your time, prevents 80% of damage claims, and lets you sleep in your own bed the night before move day.
- Can I pack some items myself and use movers for others?
- Yes — this is called part-packing and it's the option we recommend to most families. You pack clothes, books and non-fragile items in advance; the crew arrives a day early and packs the kitchen, fragiles and electronics. Typically £120–£280 on a 3-bed move.
- How long does professional packing take?
- A 3-bed home is fully packed by a 2-person Apex crew in a single working day, usually the day before move day. A 4-bed home takes about 1.5 days. Compare with 25–40 hours of self-packing spread across a fortnight.
Planning a move? Get a fixed price today.
Twenty years of British families trusted. One honest number, in writing, before we lift a box.