Everything you need to know about the cost of moving in the UK

I’m getting ready to move, and of course, the question of budget is on my mind... You might even know this statistic:

That’s expensive!

... And that's just an average. Some families spend several thousands of pounds on their move.

At Yoojo, I know that each move is unique, and calculating its cost can be tricky.

But after helping hundreds of brits to move, I have enough information to show you how much your move should cost and even give you concrete examples of prices paid by your neighbours.

Plus, I'll give you a few tips on how to reduce the bill!

Everything you need to know about moving costs

Technically, if I want a good estimate, I need to fill out a lot of information and ask for a quote, maybe even have an expert come to my home.

At least, that’s how it works with a traditional mover.

This helps calculate an estimate of the price, either based on the volume of my home or by setting an hourly rate per mover.

Volume, distance, time of year, accessibility, and service level are all factors that will affect the price of my move.

I'll explain everything further down, but first, I'll give you some example prices, because I know that's what you’re most interested in.

Examples of average moving costs

Let's get serious: here are some examples of moving prices.

I’m talking about an average with a traditional mover, you know, the good old moving company (nothing like a Yoojo move, which I'll explain below).

However, the following prices give you a rough idea:

• The “ECO Plan” covers the basics: a truck and movers to drive it.

• The “Standard Plan” includes a truck, movers to help carry your items, and all the necessary equipment.

• The “All-inclusive Plan”, as the name suggests, means you don’t have to lift a finger. The mover handles everything, from packing your boxes to transporting your items.

How to quickly calculate the cost of a move per cubic metre?

Another technique: I can calculate the average price of my move based on the volume in cubic metres (try our simulator here).

This gives a more accurate estimate, and I'll show you how to do it easily.

Start by calculating the volume of your move by converting the size of your home, which is in square metres, to cubic metres that correspond to the truck you'll need to hire.

Use the following conversion table:

Once again, these are estimates, but this should give me a better idea of the price range I’m looking at.

Why such variations in mover prices?

If you’ve been paying attention, you now understand that if you see different prices on all the websites, it’s because the cost of a move depends on the types of services you ask your mover to provide.

Well-known example: the more I do myself, the lower my moving costs.

The factors that drive up the cost:

I need a quote quickly: what should I do?

⚠️ In a hurry?

It’s tough to get a quick quote from traditional movers because they need a lot of details about my home.

I can still use the cubic metre system we covered above and create a price range based on that.

There’s also another option, which is to use our request for moving help between private individuals.

It’s free, movers will offer real rates, and I can even chat with providers for free.

💰 Examples of prices for different types of moves booked on Yoojo

Nothing beats real-life examples to get a better idea.

Here are a few examples of clients who moved with Yoojo. You’ll discover their listing, how they moved, and how much they paid. 

The best Yoojo tips for a cheap move

If you’ve made it to this point in the guide, you should have a good idea of your moving cost... and it’s probably more expensive than you thought!

Don’t worry, I’ve got real tips that will have a big impact on your savings.

Do as much as you can yourself

SAVINGS ⋍ £430

I can’t do much about the distance of my move, but I can drastically reduce the cost by opting for the cheapest plan and doing as much as possible myself.

Grab boxes from supermarkets, pack all your items yourself, and organize everything so the big day runs smoothly... you’ll save hundreds of pounds!

It’s also the perfect time to call in favours from friends, and if I don’t know anyone in my new area, I can ask for help on Yoojo just to move heavy furniture at a very low cost.

Sort, throw away, or donate your belongings

SAVINGS ⋍ £430

During my last move, I got rid of all my old things: a scratched sofa, an unvarnished coffee table, a plywood wardrobe, and a washing machine from the 90s... all the big heavy items that needed replacing were thrown out by my provider or sold!

As a result, I only needed a small truck and saved almost £350 on my move. That, plus the £250 from selling random items, was used to buy new furniture.

Ask for financial help from the government

SAVINGS ⋍ £170-£850

IThere are so many government aids that there's bound to be one for you. Retired, moving for work, student, unemployed... you could save hundreds of pounds or even have most of your move reimbursed.

Be flexible with your moving date

SAVINGS ⋍ 30%

If possible, avoid summer holidays and weekends like the plague. Prices are inflated because demand is high.

For example, Thursday is the cheapest day to move because movers often have open slots.

The key is to leave a time slot open for your mover, and they’ll offer a date that works for them and give you a discount in the process.

Biggest savings with peer-to-peer moving

SAVINGS ⋍ 50%

Peer-to-peer moving is still relatively unknown, but it offers incredible savings! And nothing beats concrete examples: I’ve gathered dozens of experiences from clients who used Yoojo for their budget move in other guides... feel free to check them out.

It’s especially great if I’m moving within a 60-mile radius and don’t have a large amount of stuff to move.

By the way, I just need to make a free request to get an automatic price estimate.