A removals packing service costs around £300–£450 in the UK. The exact cost will vary based on the size of your home and your chosen removals company. Since packing services are charged on top of your standard removal company costs, it’s important to factor both into your moving budget.
For example, packing costs for a 2-bed home are around £333 compared to £575 for a 4-bed home. Packing services are an extra cost on top of your basic removals package. Other services, such as dismantling and reassembling furniture, will also be charged additionally.
Packing Service Cost by Property Size
While the average price of a full packing service is £387, the exact costs of packing will depend on how many items you’re taking with you and whether you require a full or part packing service.
Here is a breakdown of the estimated costs you can expect to pay based on property size:
| Property Size | Average Packing Service Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | £197 |
| 2 Bedrooms | £333 |
| 3 Bedrooms | £445 |
| 4 Bedrooms | £575 |
Understanding these figures will help you to budget more effectively for your overall cost of moving house and ensure you select the right level of packing service for your property size and specific needs.
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Do Removal Companies Pack for You?
Yes, most removal companies will pack for you if you pay an additional fee.
Here’s what you can expect from a typical packing service:
- They’ll usually arrange a home visit or video call to see what needs packing and provide an accurate house removal quote.
- The day before your move, a packing team will arrive with all the necessary materials (boxes, bubble wrap, protective padding) to pack everything safely.
- On moving day, they’ll load, transport, and unload your belongings, making the whole process far less stressful.
Some removal companies also offer unpacking services for an extra fee, which is ideal if you want help settling in quickly. If you’re pleased with the service, it’s common to tip your movers as a thank-you.
Is It Worth Paying for Packing?
Yes, we recommend a packing service to almost everyone moving house. It allows you to focus on work, family, and everyday life right up until moving day, without the time-consuming and stressful task of boxing everything yourself.
It is especially valuable if you are on a tight deadline, tackling a large move, or feeling overwhelmed. Professionals can pack faster, more safely, and with better materials than most people can manage on their own.
Here are the key benefits:
Saves time during the busiest stage of your move
Ideal for last-minute or large-scale moves
Protects valuables with high-quality materials
Ensures awkward or heavy items are packed safely
Avoids breakages caused by rushed or DIY packing
Lightens your mental load and frees up your time.
While a packing service is an extra cost, it can save money in the long run by preventing damage and ensuring every box is packed efficiently.
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Types of Packing Services
Here's what's included in each type of packing and moving service:
Full-Packing Service
The packing team will box up your entire home from small items to bulky furniture a few days before your move using high-quality packing materials.
Part-Packing Service
If you want to pack some items yourself, you can opt for a part-packing service. The company will only pack items you have requested which often includes bulky items, awkward furniture or belongings you don't want to get damaged.
Owner-Packed Service
If you want to pack up your home yourself, you can opt to purchase packing materials directly from the removals company at an extra cost. Packing supplies will include items such as cardboard boxes, large containers, wardrobe boxes, bubble wrap and tape.
Fragile Packing Service
Fragile packing services are perfect for delicate items or things of high value that you don't want to risk getting damaged during transit. The removals team use specific packing techniques to keep valuables safe, and many offer white glove delivery services.
Piano Packing Service
Packing and moving companies can often assist with packing for specific items such as pianos. Their team will be fully trained and ensure the piano is protected and packaged correctly for transit.
What Factors Influence the Cost of a Packing Service?
The cost of a packing service depends on several key factors. Understanding these can help you budget more accurately and avoid surprises on your quote:
Volume of Items
The more items you need to be packed, the more expensive your packing service will be. It's useful to assess the number of items you have before booking the service so you can make the moving company aware of how much they can expect to pack.
Type of Packing Service
The level of packing you need will determine how much you can expect to pay. Full packing services will be significantly more expensive than part packing.
Distance of Your Move
How far you're moving will impact packing costs because items are more prone to damage over long distances. Your packers will take extra care when boxing items up for long-distance moves and will use additional packing and protective materials.
Size and Shape of Items
Larger and more obscurely-shaped items take more time to package compared to smaller ones, and additional packing materials will be needed for protection. They will take up more space in the removals van, and a bigger van may be necessary, which increases costs.
Weight of Items
Heavier items will cost more to pack as more packing materials and potential reinforcements are required. Special care will need to be taken when these items are packaged and handled, which costs both time and resources.
Value of Your Belongings
Higher-value items risk damage, so specialist packing and moving are required, which costs more than packing standard items.
Does the Packing Service Come with Full Insurance?
Not always. Many reputable removal companies have both Goods in Transit and Public Liability insurance, but this isn’t guaranteed.
Always check a company’s accreditations and read their removals insurance policy before booking to make sure your belongings are properly protected.
How to Find a Packing and Removal Company
Compare My Move connects users with up to 6 removal companies in their local area. Fill out our removal comparison form and save up to 70% on your moving costs.
Whether you need short or long-distance moving services, our partners are trustworthy and have passed our strict verification process. Removal companies are required to provide proof of Goods in Transit and Public Liability Insurance.
FAQs
Do removal companies provide boxes?
Yes, removal companies will provide boxes if you have chosen to use their packing services. Unless you're using the materials to pack items yourself, these will be included in the packing costs.
If you request additional boxes specifically for items such as wardrobes or books on the moving day, you will likely be charged extra for these. It's useful to request these in advance to avoid any unexpected costs.
When does packing happen before moving day?
Depending on the type of packing service, the movers and packers will arrive at your home a day or two before your move to ensure everything is ready for your moving day.
For a full packing service, they will likely pack two or more days before moving day. If you’re using a part-pack or self-pack service, the movers will arrive a day before, depending on their schedule.
A pre-move survey will help a removals company to assess how many boxes and packing materials are needed.
What is packing and unpacking service?
If you're looking for additional help when moving home, some removal companies will offer both a packing and unpacking service. This is similar to a full packing service, but once the removal company deliver your items, they will unpack them and place them into the correct rooms for you.
As this service is more extensive and takes longer to complete, you can expect to pay more for this service.
Can moving companies help pack for storage?
Most moving companies can help you pack items for storage in addition to removals. To protect your possessions from any risk of damp or damage whilst in storage, they will use high-quality packing materials.
Their packing team should also have experience in moving large and awkward items, and can help when loading and unloading your belongings at the self-storage or container storage unit.
