Giga
The short answer
Plan the route before the equipment
London moving costs are easiest to predict with a simple formula: hours needed times the van and crew rate, plus mileage, stairs and any extras such as packing. The more accurate your item list, access notes and postcodes, the closer the estimate.
- Most London moves are priced from an hourly rate, then shaped by time, access, distance and extras.
- Home size is usually the biggest cost driver because it sets how long loading and unloading take.
- A cheap quote is not always the cheapest move if dismantling, insurance, stairs or waiting time are added later.
- To budget safely, estimate the hours, multiply by the hourly rate, add extras, then keep a 20 percent buffer.
Moving Service Costs in London 2026: The Real Numbers
You are moving in London and want to know what it will really cost. Here is what you pay for, and why.
In 2026, most London movers charge a minimum booking plus an hourly rate. At Giga Removals, a Small Transit and driver is £55 an hour with a 2-hour minimum (£110). A Luton with a 3-person crew is £130 an hour with a 3-hour minimum (£390). Bookings are in whole hours. If a job runs over, extra time is charged in 30-minute steps.
The hourly rate covers the movers, the van, blankets, straps, trolleys and £10,000 goods-in-transit cover. Packing and dismantling are priced separately.
The Base Rate: £55–£130 per Hour
Expect £55–£130 per hour depending on van and crew, with a 2-hour minimum on a Small Transit and a 3-hour minimum on a Luton. Mileage is added one way, collection to delivery. Stairs are £10 per person per flight per hour; the ground floor is free and a working lift removes the charge. The final cost depends on job size, access, distance and extras.
The Time-Based Formula
Moving cost is the minimum booking, plus any extra whole hours at the hourly rate, plus mileage and extras. A 4-hour 2-bed move on the Luton 3-person crew rate is £520 (£390 for the first three hours, then £130 for the fourth) before mileage, stairs or packing.
What Determines Your Moving Service Cost?
The biggest factors are home size, distance, access, packing and timing. The better these are known before the move, the more accurate the price.
Home size is usually the main driver. A studio may take 2-3 hours, a 2-bed property may take 3.5-5 hours, and a 3-bed house may take 5-7 hours before optional packing or difficult access is considered.
Distance adds travel time. A same-borough move may add only 30-60 minutes, while cross-London travel can add 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic and parking.
Home Size
Studio and 1-bed moves have fewer boxes and less furniture. Larger family homes need more loading time and sometimes a bigger crew.
Distance and London Traffic
A short move can still take longer if it crosses congested routes. Tuesday late morning is very different from Friday rush hour, even for the same mileage.
Property Access
Stairs, narrow hallways, lift bookings, long walking distance and restricted parking all add time. Victorian homes and high-rise blocks need especially clear access notes.
Packing Services
Packing is optional, but it can save you 30-40 hours for a normal home. It helps most with kitchens, fragile items, wardrobes, art and electronics.
Related reading: How Much Do Removals Cost in London? A Complete 2026 Guide and Do Congestion Charge and ULEZ Affect Removal Costs in London?
Example Moving Costs in London 2026
A Shoreditch studio to Whitechapel with a bed, sofa, desk, kitchen items and around 30 boxes may take about 2 hours. On the Small Transit driver-only rate with its 2-hour minimum, that is £110 plus mileage.
A 2-bed Victorian house in Islington moving to Finsbury Park may take around 4.5 hours because stairs and dismantling add time. On the Luton 3-person crew rate, a 4-hour booking is £520; one 30-minute overrun step takes it to about £585, before mileage and any stair charge.
A 3-bedroom Fulham townhouse to Chelsea with art, antiques and packing can vary widely. It is best priced as a fixed quote. For reference, the 3-bedroom packing package alone is £1,000 (labour and materials) on top of the removal.
A Croydon to Watford 2-bed move adds travel time. On the Luton 3-person crew rate, a 5-hour booking is £650; if it runs 30 minutes over, the time cost is about £715. Mileage is added at £1.80 a mile, one way from collection to delivery.
An office move from Islington to Hammersmith can take 15 hours across evening and weekend windows. A clear quote shows the hours, IT handling, access and setup, not one vague commercial fee. Giga adds no evening or weekend premium.
Budget Planning for Your Specific Move
Start with your property size. Studio and 1-bed moves often sit around 2-3 hours. Two-bed homes often sit around 3.5-5 hours. Three-bed homes often sit around 5-7 hours. Four-bed homes and larger can take 7-10+ hours or multiple days.
Then add distance. Same-area moves need little extra time. Cross-London moves may add an hour or more. Regional moves can add 1.5-2 hours, and longer UK moves 2-3 hours or more.
Then add access. Easy ground-floor access may add nothing. Stairs can add 30-60 minutes. Difficult access, long walking distance or tight hallways can add 30-90 minutes.
Finally, take the minimum booking, add the extra whole hours at the hourly rate, then add mileage, stairs and extras. A 2-bed house with cross-London travel and Victorian stairs might take 5.5 hours: a 5-hour Luton booking (£650) plus one 30-minute overrun step, about £715 before mileage and stairs.
Cost-Saving Strategies That Actually Work
Packing yourself saves the packing charge but costs your own time. It makes sense when you have time and the items are not unusually fragile.
Decluttering is one of the best real savings. Fewer boxes and less furniture mean less loading time, and often a smaller van or a shorter booking.
Flexible timing helps availability, even though Giga's price is the same any day. Weekdays and quieter months give you more choice of slots.
Avoid fake savings. Cheap uninsured movers, DIY vans with no protection and vague off-the-books services can cost more if items are damaged, delayed or charged extra on the day.
Understanding Quotes from Different Companies
A quote under £100 for a normal 2-bed move should raise questions. It may leave out insurance, dismantling, protection, experienced movers or realistic time.
For many 2-bed London moves, a Luton with a 3-person crew for 3-5 hours is about £390-£650 at Giga's rates, before mileage and stairs. That includes the crew, van, protection, cover and normal furniture handling.
Higher quotes for a 2-bed can be fair when the move involves high-value items, antiques, complex access or specialist handling.
Compare like with like. Make sure every company is pricing the same items, postcodes, floor levels, services and insurance level.
Money-Back Guarantees and Protection
A professional moving quote should explain what is binding, what can change and what happens if the move finishes early or takes longer.
Goods-in-transit cover protects against accidental damage, loss and theft during the move. Giga bookings include £10,000 of cover. For art, antiques, pianos and valuable collections, ask about extra cover.
If something is damaged, report it promptly, keep photos and follow the claim process. A good mover explains this before anything goes wrong.
Final Budget Checklist for 2026
Before you commit: estimate your hours, multiply by the hourly rate, add extras and a buffer, compare 2-3 written quotes, confirm insurance and check what is included.
Choose on reliability and price, not price alone. A good quote leaves you informed, not confused.
Final Thoughts: Know Your Moving Budget
Moving does not have to be a financial surprise. Once you understand how the cost is built, you can budget and choose a mover with confidence.
Clear moving costs come down to realistic time, clear access notes, honest extras, proper cover and no surprise fees.
Giga Removals moves homes across the UK from a London base. Every figure in this guide comes from our published 2026 price list.
Decision table
London moving quote types compared
| Quote type | Best for | Typical 2026 range | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low quote | Tiny moves with very few items | Under £100 for a small job | Missing insurance, rushed work or surprise extras |
| Standard quote | Most London home and man and van moves | About £390-£650 for many 2-bed moves (Luton, 3-5 hours) | Access and item list must be accurate |
| Premium quote | Antiques, art, complex access and executive moves | Above standard, by scope | Make sure the premium service is actually needed |
| Fixed quote | Clear inventories and known access | Varies by move size | Confirm exactly what changes the final price |
Clear answers
Frequently asked questions
At Giga Removals, a small move starts at £55 an hour for a Small Transit and driver, 2-hour minimum (£110). A typical 2-bedroom move needs a Luton Box Van with a 3-person crew at £130 an hour, 3-hour minimum (£390). Bookings are in whole hours, and overruns are charged in 30-minute steps. Larger homes cost more because they take longer; access, distance and extras set the final price.
The size of your home and how much you are moving matter most, because they set the van, the crew and the loading time. Next is access: stairs, lifts, parking and carrying distance can add a lot of time. Distance, packing, dismantling and storage then adjust the price. An accurate item list gives the most reliable figure.
A fixed quote suits a clear inventory and known access, because you know the total before moving day. Hourly pricing suits small or flexible jobs. Giga Removals charges hourly by default, in whole hours, and offers fixed quotes on request. Either way, check what is included, the minimum booking and how extra time is charged.
Some companies do. Giga Removals has no weekend, evening or bank-holiday premium; the price depends on the move, not the day. Weekends and month-ends are the busiest dates, so book early if you need one.
Watch for fuel charges, admin fees, vague stair charges, insurance added at the last minute and unclear charges for dismantling or waiting time. A proper written quote explains all of them before moving day. With Giga Removals, insurance, blankets and straps are in the hourly rate and there is no ULEZ charge. Mileage (one way, collection to delivery) and stairs (£10 per person per flight per hour) are shown up front; packing and dismantling are priced separately.
Declutter so there is less to carry, and pack non-fragile items yourself. Give an accurate item list so the crew and van are right first time. Arrange parking close to the door and be fully packed before the crew arrives, because waiting time costs money.
