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Cheap Removals London

Adele MacGregor

Written by

4th May 2022 (Last updated on 28th Feb 2024) 6 minute read

There are many ways you can save money when moving in London, including using a more affordable removal company. When moving house, it’s highly recommended that you hire professional movers. This is especially important if you have a large number of belongings and items of value.

Bigger cities are likely to be more expensive, with London moves costing £610 more than the UK average. According to our data, the average cost of a removal company in London is currently £1,547. The average for the whole of the UK is £937.

Although the moving process can be expensive, it is possible to move house in London on a budget. From finding a cheap removal firm to moving on a Sunday, there are many ways you can save money when moving.

  1. Understanding Removal Costs in London
  2. What to Look Out for with Cheaper Quotes
  3. Factors That Increase Costs
  4. How to Save Money Before Moving Day

Understanding Removal Costs in London

The cost of moving in London is higher than the average cost across the UK. The overall average cost of a removal company in London is £1,567.

Prices in the city range from £740 at the lower end and reach costs as high as £2,354. Costs will depend on a variety of factors such as the size of the move, the distance and the company that moves you.

Below we look at a breakdown of average removal costs across London:

LocationOverall AverageHighest AverageLowest Average

North London

£919

£1,278

£919

South London

£810

£1,096

£525

East London

£937

£1,110

£717

West London

£1,464

£1,933

£995

Breakdown of Costs

It's good to have an idea of what exactly you're paying for when you hire a removal company. To summarise, the cost of your removal service will include:

  • A removal team to load and unload your items
  • Their expertise in safely and effectively loading the vehicle
  • Equipment such as straps, blankets and dust covers
  • Use of the removal vehicle (milage, petrol etc)
  • Goods in Transit and Public Liability Insurances

To help you plan ahead, you can use our cost of moving house calculator. This allows you to prepare for the costs involved with moving.

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What to Look Out for with Cheaper Quotes

Another way of saving money on your move is by comparing removal companies. One of the best ways to do this is by using a comparison site.

At Compare My Move, we can match you with up to 6 removal companies in your local area. Our London-based partners will then provide quotes, allowing you to compare prices and offerings.

Using professional removal services means your possessions are less likely to get damaged. It also means a lot less stress on your moving day, allowing you to focus on settling into your new home.

Before choosing a removals company make sure you ask the following questions:

Are they insured?

This is something which is essential for all removal companies. Never use a company that is not insured, no matter how good their prices are.

All our removal partners have Goods in Transit and Public Liability insurance. This ensures your items are protected during the move.

What does the quote include?

Before booking a company, check what is and isn’t included in the quote. This ensures you are not surprised by extra costs at a later date. For example, packing services are usually offered at an additional cost. There are movers and packers in London and across the UK that offer packing services at a reasonable price.

Could you get a discount?

You should also check to see if companies offer discounts. Some removal firms will give discounts to students, OAPs, key workers and armed forces.

What other services do they offer?

You could also check to see if they offer additional services which may be of use to you. This could be packing, dismantling and reassembling furniture and self-storage options.

Hourly Rate vs Fixed Rate

An hourly rate, as the name suggests, is charged per hour. Very often, there is no telling beforehand how long a move will take. If there are any delays, such as waiting for the keys from estate agents or London traffic, it will add to your costs.

Fixed-rate is a set amount agreed upon beforehand between you and the removal company. Although a flat or fixed rate can look like more than the hourly rate, very often it is the most effective option.

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Factors That Increase Costs

There are some factors that contribute to removal costs. Removal firms will take into account:

The Size of the Move

The size of your home and the volume of items being moved are big factors when it comes to the cost of moving house. More items mean bigger vehicles, extra team members and more time and effort.

Distance Between Homes

The distance the removal team travels between your old property and your new home will also be a factor. The further away you move, the more expensive your removal is likely to be. This is to account for petrol and the removal team’s time.

Time of year

The time of the year could be a factor in your costs, with more popular times of year being more expensive. In London, summer is the most popular time to move. August was when most moves in the city took place among our users.

In contrast, winter was the least favourable time to move. As a result, your move may be more affordable if you arrange a date in December or January.

Day of the Week

Even the day of the week can influence the cost of your move. Our unique data found that the most popular day to move house in London is on a Saturday. As a result, this may be the most expensive day of the week to move.

The least popular day for Londoners to move is a Tuesday, which could mean a cheaper move if you opt for this day of the week. Sunday is also an unpopular day to move in London, again meaning this could be a cheaper option.

How to Save Money Before Moving Day

There are some steps you can take before your move to reduce your removal costs.

Decluttering your Home

Your removal cost will partly depend on the number of items you’re moving. With this in mind, decluttering before your move is a great way to reduce costs. It also ensures you don’t take any unnecessary items to your new home.

For more information on decluttering before a move read: How to Declutter for a House Move

Using Free Cardboard Boxes

Rather than buying packing supplies, try to find boxes and packing materials for free. You can ask family, friends and co-workers, in addition to local businesses.

For more tips on finding boxes for free see: Where to Get Free Cardboard Boxes for Moving

Disassemble Furniture and Large Items

Disassembling and reassembling furniture is an additional service offered by removal companies. However, it does come at an extra cost. One way of saving money is to disassemble items yourself or with the help of friends and family.

Be aware that if you are moving large, high-value items like a grand piano, using a removal company is highly recommended.

Packing and Organising in Advance

Again, removal companies often offer packing at an extra cost. If you are looking for ways to save money, however, you may want to pack the items yourself.

Always ensure you leave enough time to pack before the move. This avoids rushing which can lead to items being broken or forgotten. In turn, this can cost you money when you replace the items.

For more tips read: How to Keep Your Removal Costs Down

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Adele MacGregor

Having worked at Compare My Move for over five years, Adele specialises in covering a range of surveying topics.

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